Thanks for the advice to my meager message. I had a longer, more detailed post, but my system crashed. So here goes: Here's a link to the front of the home: http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/wookiemouse/New%20House/?action=view&current=8fb2.jpg The immediate front: http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/wookiemouse/New%20House/?action=view&current=d15c.jpg It's not unattractive, but it has a distinct style that I want to stay true to. It is the only house of this style in the county, according to the builder. Most homes in the neighborhood are the traditional Texas rock style. I am well versed in Texas plants and did the design for my last home - which was a nondescript 20 yr old tract home on 0.19 acres, so an informal native Texas garden was quite easy. I have seen similar homes in other areas, but they're situated on less than a 0.5 acre lot - which would be totally manageable. This front yard expanse alone is approximately 2 acres. What's not seen in the photos is the street with a graduated wire fence on metal posts. It blends in with the landscape fairly well - I need it to keep my dogs in, and it doesn't block my views. I also have a small "island" of roses and 3 oak trees just to the left on the main photo. Surrounding this is a circular rock drive lined with larger rocks (seen in the corner of the photo). The drive by the gates extends all the way to the front of the property, about 300 feet or so. It is pebble paved for about 50' and then the rock extends to the street. The property continues with the weeds/rock about 200' to the right of the house in the first photo. It's a large expanse of basically nothing. The only thing I need to be concerned with out there are the septic sprinklers (which release chlorine-treated grey water). I have no desire to irrigate this area, but I need to incorporate it into the landscape somehow or it will simply detract from whatever I end up designing. The previous owners trucked in about 20 loads of topsoil to get the grass growing that you see in the close up. I would rather work with the remaining land than go to that extreme. I need to somehow direct the eye to the house as a focal point. The weeds are mowed in the photo, but they get 2' tall within a week or so and makes the entire property look run down. If I pull the weeds, all I have is rock and dirt. We've just been dealing with the run-down look for now - it takes 5 hours to mow the property, which we do once a month, such that we're not slaves to the house. My current thoughts - - keep the hedges in the front right of the house. I think they work well, but there is a lower bed beneath the hedges that is currently empty. I was thinking possibly blue plumbago in there...something that would spill out over the rock wall. The area in front of the bay window are azaleas. They're ok. I was looking to possibly add a skyrocket spruce (8-10' variety) on either side of the entry to replace the scraggly bushes. The scraggly plants in front of the curved rock wall are lantana. They've filled out nicely but are the full variety. I might replant with New Gold to hug the wall better and not be so bushy. I want to extend the pebble paving to the dirt parts of the driveway - that will help to define the circular drive area, which has the nice grouping of roses I'd like to clean up and keep. I will likely encircle those with a curved stacked rock and add a solar fountain. I was contemplating lining the central drive with a narrow raised bed as well with Japanese boxwood. I could easily run a drip system through that bed and keep the boxwoods shaped. I also plan on keeping the existing lawn and all trees on the property. I usually plan my landscape by working with photos, but I have yet to come across anything that works. My local library has nada, and I don't want to spend $$ on Amazon without some recommendations - the few books I saw that were promising also looked to be more about working with a small landscape. I feel comfortable substituting xeriscape plants for the English varieties, but what I don't want is 2 acres of formal gardens. I need to somehow tie in the "wild" aspect of the yard yet stay true to the style of the hosue. I will hire a professional if need be, but I feel I have some experience and definitely the plant knowledge for this size of a project. My biggest hurdle right now is finding ideas to steer me in the right direction. If I can get a hold on the large 2 acres of weeds, I think the immediate front of the house will be rather simple. Stacy

My bad.. Meant to post in discussions- not the Image gallery.. And I can't find a way to edit the post. Here's my inquiry there- http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ponds/msg0416355429534.html?2

While remodeling, ran out of hardwood flooring. Purchased cheap untreated flooring & tried to match paint to no avail. Called Hosking to get pricing on hardwood I needed. Sales rep gave price quote & explained since I didn't purchase my previous flooring from them, might be slight color variation. I understood as I knew it wasn't from same "paint batch." She told me to check on invoice that hardwood brand, color, size is correct & then respond acknowledging there’s no returns. Got invoice emailed which stated description of my order, “LAUZON (brand) SOLID MAPLE (wood type) TRAVERTINE (color)” & confirmed. Two weeks later I opened box to see different size, wood type, & colored flooring. Enclosed shipping package shows these are not Lauzon. It looked the same as my initial failed attempt. Called Hosking about the MISTAKE but was told that since Lauzon is so EXPENSIVE, they use CHEAPER 3rd party lumber molding company that uses GENERIC hardwood & ATTEMPTS to paint match. I asked “Why wasn’t I told this BEFORE?” Rep responds “I don’t know what I may or may not have said…” I ASKED for Lauzon, PAID for Lauzon, I should be GETTING Lauzon. Why would I agree to pay for GENERIC, SUBSTITUTED product & be charged same price as the authentic? She was unapologetic & connects me to the owner. He doesn’t answer & unsurprisingly doesn’t return my voice message. I was willing to return INACCURATE order & have correct one sent. Now its been a month so had to resort to disputing charge & informing others about this UNSCRUPULOUS company & their blatant BAIT & SWITCH. I had to order again from QUALITY FLOORING 4 LESS, paid same price & got correct item. Would you buy a FAKE Rolex that is the same cost as the real one? If your answer is no, then AVOID ordering from Hosking!!! The pics of the invoice of what I expected, the packing slip of what came, and image of Lauzon Solid Maple Travertine & the "generic":

I live in a very snowy climate and snowpants have to go over the regular pants. They need to "slide" over the clothing or everything is bunching up. Are you meaning the kids wouldn't have pants on under these? I can't imagine my kids standing in the hall in their skivvies while I hung up the snowpants to dry. Especially since they have to have them for recess every day. It looks like the supplex is like rip-stop nylon and then just the fleece. Would they be needing these for a cold climate or just a once in a while thing? Also, what about the bottom. We don't like gathered bottoms because they don't go over the boots and bunch up. For the smaller kids we only use snowbibs, not pants so they don't end up with the snow going up the front or back. Sounds like a good idea for occasional use, but I would not have elastic at the ankles. I would also go with the next size larger sweat pants if they will have other clothing underneath. Post a pic when you get them done. Gloria