Ok, I don't know what I'm doing but I'm going to have a go at it too... You have a large, complex, and beautiful masonry area. It dominates everything and I'm sure it gets hot in the summer too. So I can understand the desire for lots of trees. Get them laced and open so it is more light, dappled shade rather than heavy and dense shade. Like everyone else, the old Eugenias (or whatever they are) against the fence have got to go. European cottage-style plants would make it too busy and they would be far, far too messy for around a pool and hot tub. I would keep it simple. In that planter along the fence just about as evenly-spaced as you have the shrubs now...I would plant Agave attenuata. This is a very soft-textured agave that gets to sufficient size to hide the brick part of the fencing. It is clean, likes it hot and dry. Also in the middle of the planter, I would plant one Distictis buccinatoria vine (Blood red trumpet). Connect a heavy duty wire (or something like that) just beneath the top of the wood panels and train the vine up to the wire and train it to spread along the wire. The vine will droop and drape along the trained main branches, above the Agaves. Once the vine is of sufficient size it will need to be kept in bounds about once or twice a year but it should be fine with the generated heat in that area. Even if one doesnt' like succulents or cactuses, they would do really great in your environment. They require minimum water, would thrive with the heat generated by the bricks. Also, if the plantings are kept simple and with a mix of thick-textured, heavier leafed plants and perhaps a few select vertical succulents, the generated debris is minimized and the simplicity would off-set the complexity of the masonry. I would especially keep the plantings rather sparse because of the size and complexity of the masonry. Maintenance, watering, and heat generation are the big issues that I can see limiting your circumstance. Just my two cents. -Ron-

"just that -- paranoia." well put - How many options do you think you'll have in the USA if you install that valve? Think there isn't any proprietary design/sizing in those? Look, if you like it and it meets your needs - go for it. Just don't talk yourself into thinking it's better because of fear of an imagined problem - it's not. Re: you sis- all valves can be replaced - they all hook up to 1/2" or 3/4" pipe inside the wall. you simply solder/crimp/glue in the new valve to pipe after you cut out the old one. It'll be more work (which many plumbers seem to be averse to) than unscrewing a union/fitting , but he'd be looking at the same amount of work if a totally different valve were glued into CPVC pipe or crimped to PEX or even soldered directly to copper instead of installed with a union like she has/had. Don't let your jackleg plumber's hangups and bad habits pull a jedi mind trick on you - but do get what you'll enjoy using and like to look at. After all, you will use it everyday.

My advice would be if they aren't spreading enough then there is a bit too much flour. Try cutting down 1/4 cup and do a test cookie, if it's spreading too much then add a bit more flour until you get it how you like it. Betty Crocker cookbook has this tip in their old cookbook. I think most people are trying to figure it out when it's really just as simple as too much or not enough flour that affects the spread of the cookie. Try not to over-think it so much. EDIT TO ADD: The cookies in the picture look good though...they don't look like they didn't spread enough to me. Here's a thought too, why not use a round cookie scoop to form them and flatten them out a bit with the bottom or a glass or something? This post was edited by arkansas_girl on Thu, Dec 27, 12 at 10:31

Chispa, you are awesome! Here are the mattress topper descriptions: "LUXURY The Luxury is a stretched surface, adaptable top mattress with a soft cottonfilled summer side, a wool-filled winter side and a central section containing Talalay latex. Practical and comfortable all year round. Height: 9 cm (3.5â³). PREMIUM Top mattress Premium boasts a talalay latex core with a fibre filling. Comes with a washable, overlap-stitched stretch fabric with embroidered logo. A beautifully soft, highly adaptable top mattress featuring an eye-catching design. Height: 7 cm (2.8â³). PRESTIGE Prestige is a highly adaptable model filled with natural latex, and includes a removable stretch material cover, machine washable at 60ðC (140F). Height: 5 cm (2â³)." Although, seriously pricey. A commenter on Remodelista wrote: "FYI to other Remodelista readers, these beds start at $14,000 and go up to about $25,000. They actually cost even more than Hastens ($10-20k) or Duxiana ($6-15k). For these prices they better be stuffed with hair from unicorn tails." LOL. But knowing what the toppers are made of is useful. Edited to add: unicorn tail hair-stuffed beds are unfortunately not in the budget. Here is a link that might be useful: Carpe Diem Beds mattress toppers This post was edited by feisty68 on Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 22:09