Will- I have been a gardener since I worked at a nursery/garden center/landscape company in High School, but I started collecting midsummer of 2008. I started out trying to locate a Pinus flexis 'Vanderwolf' I had seen at Home Depot, but had sold before I could get back with the truck. I had trouble locating it because all I could remember was "Limber Pine 'Van-something-or-other'", however I found a lot of awesome plants, and the next thing I knew I had spent way to much money, and ordered way to many plants. By the time I got the shipment of over 30 conifers, I had forgotten about the 'Vanderwolf' and it is still in a pot in my nursery area behind the barn. It's just not that special of a plant now. Probably need to either plant it or pot it up this spring though it's getting pretty big. The overindulgence brought about another problem that my girlfriend pointed out, "where you gonna plant them all?" Now I needed to make more planting beds! This brought a neighbor down who asked me to stop my expansions since I was giving his wife to many ideas and his to do list was getting to long. I had to start tagging trees this spring to remember what was where, to which my buddy said "Most ppl at this point realize they have enough and stop planting, not you, you don't have to remember now and this just gives you an excuse to get more..." He works for a local "Chem Lawn" type business and jokes that every once in a while he is spraying a lawn or mulching and notices they have little tags ever where like mine. And another buddies wife makes jokes about going to the "museum" when they stop by. I explained that I was going to an "ARBORETUM" once, and she thinks it was a "Tree museum" I guess! To be honest though, my family and friends have all been very supportive, and enjoy seeing my new acquisitions and plantings. I think my excitement rubs off on them. My little brother just graduated college and moved to Nevada, but one of the first things he ask whenever we talk is "Any new garden projects?" Everyone ask questions and at least give the impression that they care I guess! It never ceases to amaze me, the conifers that always get the most attention are my least favorite, or ones that just aren't that rare or exciting in my opinion. My Abies kor. 'Silberlocke' always draws the most attention (Admittedly, mine is a very nice one, and one of my larger trees) even though I have a Pinus con. 'Chief Joseph' ten feet to the left or a mini forest of Picea glauca's not far away and similar situations! No one has started "collecting" per say because of me, but many have asked me to get them a plant here or there after seeing one in my gardens. When I go into my local garden center a couple of the guys who've helped me with various projects tell other employees or customers about my collection. Since I started almost a year and a half ago I'm up to aprox. 250 cvs. A few of them I had prior to collector mode throughout the gardens, but didn't know or care until recently. Most of them have a LOOOOOOONG way to go. Like you, I've popped for a few nice ones here or there, but prefer to buy lots of small ones that will get big and enjoy the ride. I figure I can move them a dozen times if need be until I'm satisfied or they get to big for moving, and that way I can continue to expand my gardens as I have time, and always have plenty to choose from already. Eliot

divamum, it was crazy fast, once it finally got rolling! I sat with a big empty box of a room for about three weeks waiting for the cabinet guy. But once he started installing, that meant Joshua could come put in my soapstone, and everything else just fell into place very quickly. I went from NOTHING to almost everything in literally 48 hours. I think that, by the end of this week, I'll be done with everything in the kitchen, except of course the backsplash! :) malhgold, the range is an Aga Legacy--and the gas is finally turned on!! Woohooo!! Wouldn't you know it, though, I have to teach tonight and then I'm going out of town for two days, so I won't be able to actually cook on it until Friday. Ugh!! fern4, the wood is cherry in a natural finish. Thanks so much for the McIntyre link. There are some beautiful options there. I will have to spend some time perusing! plllog, one of my first choices was a pale green glass tile with a little cobalt glass thrown in for accent pieces. I may have to revisit that. If I can find the pics again, I'll post them. I'm loving these suggestions. Sometimes my head gets stuck on one thing and, even though I know it's not what I want, I can't move past it. This is really helping me think outside my self-imposed box.

Greetings, Dottie ... from far-off Ontario, It really leaves a hole in one's heart to lose one of one's best friends. When it gets down to the last one, the loss is felt even more strongly ... plus ... one wonders just when the guillotine is going to crunch for one's self! (((((Dottie))))) Careful, though ... some of us have the suspicion that we may have been, " ... out to lunch ..." ... for quite a while (possibly having been accused of such a time or two)! It would be great if we could share lunch together ... ... I remember when Dances and I carried the pack of goodies from a number of KT folks to cherryfizz after her house renovation. Also visiting with Caroline and Wes while on my trip to Saskatchewan a couple of years ago ... ... maybe we can get together on my next trip out there. Maybe you can develop one of your other friends into a sense of greater fellowship. ole joyful

We have the exact same problem. We started looking at land 2-3 years ago, switched lots 2 times, then finally bought our lot just over a year and a half ago. We have been working on plans for over a year. It seems everyday someone asks how its going. Especially my parents! They constantly say- just build something already! There have already been so many problems and delays. My husband keeps complaining as well, blaming a lot of the time on me (since he's fine with any floorpan, any exterior etc.). With the amount of money this will cost, I want to get things [mostly] right. The house is already so stressful and we have so much ahead of us still