Yes, I know Burpees bought the right to the Heronswood name when they bought the nursery operations, but it still irks the daylights out of me to see it bandied about with reference to their PA display gardens. Whatever they choose to call it, it is NOT Heronswood, nor will it ever be. The real Heronswood remains here outside of Kingston, WA, embroiled in a struggle for purchase by a local garden conservancy to be maintained in perpetuity. If any of you who visited the original Heronswood or if you valued that former nursery before Ball got his grubby, greedy hands on it are interested in saving this fanatstic and one of a kind display garden, check out the attached link. Here is a link that might be useful: Pacific Northwest Horticultural Conservancy

Bronzino Thank you.....I knew the father the best. Since he was the Principal for 5 years at our school I spoke with him a lot. I did some cleaning to help with tuition and when I worked on Saturdays he would come in with two of his kids and the kids would watch me run the floor scrubbing machine. Then when I remarried and became the parent of my SD she ended up in the same class as his daughter. I kind of take on the burdens of those that are suffering at times like this. I cry for them a lot. I know that a lot of people feel the same way. My heart breaks for them. I am not so sentimental about things but I am about memories. These people shared their lives with us. During some Chapels at school the Principal would bring his little son up on stage with him and the boy would crawl around while his daddy spoke to the school. Every one knew them. It makes you see how fleeting this life is and how short our time is with our kids. I have a DD20 that is talking about moving out and although we have had our issues she wouldn't be leaving under bad circumstances, if she goes now. We could use the extra room but gosh I wish she was 5 years old again for a day here and there. There are days when I wish they would all leave and times when I cry for days that are long gone. Having this funeral in a few days is making me very emotional....how does a parent part with a child like that. lamom....should you read this.....my heart aches for you. You and your dear son are in my prayers. I must blow my nose now....sigh.

ajsmama, thanks for your comments. the house was built in the 50s and the problem is not with the bedding touching the outlet but with it being only one of 2 outlets in the room, we will need to plug into it and it's an older outlet where the plugs sag out of it. My dh doesn't want the plugs from a light to be jammed against the bed, and since my son is only 3 1/2 we need a bedrail and a wall for him not to fall out so bed needs to be against wall...I guess we could have another outlet put in at some point, but not now. Polly929, I will be getting rid of the dresser soon and getting a long one to put in it's place against the wall the head of the bed in on. The curtains we have do come in red (Pottery Barn Kids)and you can't really tell but they are navy blue with colorful stitching in stipes. I just noticed they have curtains which match the bedding (see link) what do you think about that? Shannon01, the door is on the same wall as the bed. The closet wall is to the left of the door and the closet is not very long but takes up half of that wall. In the picture with the bookcase, the wall to the left is where the closet is, pretty much within inches of the left edge of photo. I like your ideas. I think I will keep the bed where it is. As for toy, we have a playroom so he doesn't really need any storage for them. Just books. And we just bought this bedding he picked out in January when he changed from a crib to a big boy bed. So that stays. Making a headboard out of the cards is a fantastic idea! Valinsv, thank you for considering the real reason behind my son's feelings. We actually have had a big year with lots of changes. We moved in October (just up the street, so same friends etc but still a move), I just had a baby, and he moved from a crib to a big boy bed. I'm with you in not wanting to make too many changes at once. The problem is that ever since we moved in here, his room has been in constant flux, now with the bed so I guess this is my last ditch effort to get it right. But I agree too much change is no good. So I think the biggest thing is the paint color. I will paint it a wheat/khaki. I will keep the bed where it is and move the animal cards down to make either a headboard or put on the wall next to his bed. And I will get a new longer dresser for safety reasons and put it next to his bed. But like you said, first the paint and then wait to see. We don't have room for a chair but we do cuddle up for a long while on his bed and talk and read at night. The problem is I don't feel warm and cozy in there, so there may be a real issue of design to address as well as being sensitive to is growing independence and feelings of fear. Wow. This has all become much more complex than when I began but it's good. I'm going to involve him in all of this too so that should help. So tell me what you all think of matching the curtains to the bedding? Here is a link that might be useful: Madras curtains

old_dirt......Until this year I used only Miracle Grow. This year I am experimenting with something different with about 2/3 of my new acquisitions. It is an organic product made and sold here in Texas called Lady Bug Raised Bed Blend. I talked to a rep from the company and while she had no knowledge of people using it for hostas (not like you see many hostas in Texas), she thought that the pH of the product matched what hostas require. I mixed in some expanded shale with it. It drains well and seems to retain moisture a little better than MG, which is good for our 90-100 days in the summer, but we'll see if it comes back to haunt me in the winter. http://www.ladybugbrand.com/our-products/soils/raised-bed-blend/