Afternoon Jen, That scout camp was at Alpine,NJ. Not bad sites decent size but they were quite a trek from the parking lots. What one lacked in distance to the sites was made up in elevation. When I packed, I packed as if it was "van within 50 feet" camping. Not within 2050 feet camping. Luckily, I brought a Little Tikes wagon but was repositioning the cargo constantly. Unfortunately, it was very uncomfortable during the seminars and show and tell sessions the camp was providing and the kids couldn't wait to leave. I waited as long as possible for the weather to break but it never did. With my 10y.o. clinging and telling me that everyone else was leaving, I had no choice. Packing up after the rain, sleet, snow, and hail in 32° temps was a real trip. I ended up putting my numerous ice ridden mounds of nylon in large storage containers I happen to bring. I've never partaken in winter camping before. With forewarned exposure, it would be different experience when prepared. Thankfully, my son had mentioned he still enjoys camping and we went again as soon as possible to get right back on that horse. I, myself, can't wait till the next outdoor excusion. Maybe in April or May this year cause next year, when he's a "boy" scout, it could be any time during the calendar. I think I have a few purchases to make before then. Enjoy the holidays, Elliot

Welcome Alberta...I think you will be glad you have this spot to vent & perhaps get some sound advice for all the problems your family is facing. My parents are 87 & 84 and Hospice is now involved for Mom. I have taken a leave of absence from work, my sister who has been able to live in with them must leave by Oct 20 to return to work. I am almost frozen in terror of the prospects of what I'll face going it alone, from the medical & paperwork aspects. My DH has said he'll be more helpful than in the past but there are some things I know he won't do.We do have a live in caregiver who is a Godsend, but she's 78 & I worry about her health as it's such a monumental task.I am flying up north for 5 days as my DH has been up there all summer at his old job. He has a cyst at the top of his spine that must be removed & I felt I needed to go even though Mom is so fragile right now.Last Sat. we found out my DH's best man needed brain surgery yesterday. You do get to the point you want to hide under the bed when bad news flows like a river.I do my best by just focusing one day at a time, not looking back & not looking ahead either.I gain more strength knowing there are people like me struggling along with elder care.

gl - thanks for suggestions. Agree, that wood strip will ease the pain! Agree the backsplash is too busy. I think my challenge is complex because it not only has to work with a granite with tons of movement, it also has to work with my wallpaper. Not easy. As for a sink - a trusted friend, who is a real estate agent and see tons of kitchens, told about Swanstone and Blanco granite type sinks. She said they just disappear into the granite. I like them but probably leaning more towards stainless for the "safe" factor. yes, I will do an undermount. I do not have well water. Now I am concerned about my cooktop ventilation. I need to review with my contractor rebuilding my island! Of the colors in the mult-color backsplash - should I go more gold, more taupe, more brown - help. I am worst at decorating and color!

With your eat-in kitchen and the window ledge seat (for when you have company) I would reconfigure the island without seating. Make it double deep for storage/oven/prepsink and maybe make it 4' x 5 1/2' size. Get some cardboard and mock up different sizes and locations and see what works for you. Keep aisle widths in mind at all times. The fridge - I have a 36" counter depth fridge which I really like but my kids are almost gone. With a young and maybe growing family I would be tempted to use a normal depth fridge (with french doors - saves on crowding the aisles) and use the place where fridge drawers would have gone as storage for kitchen stuff. That's just my opinion on that. You and your wife know the look you want and how full your fridge is now etc. The counter depth fridges definitely hold less. Are you going to extend your counter run and upper cabinets to be closer to the larger window? If you downsized your sink to a 33" single bowl (with a prep sink in the island) and then extended your cabinet run by 9" you would gain 12" of counter and cabinets. If you think about extending that cabinet run don't go out too far towards the window because you don;t want to create a pinch point between corner of the counter and your table. Your point #6 - I think it would depend on whether or not that corner is going to be become a focal point. I would, aesthetically, like to see the cabinets squared off because I think it would feel more spacious, and if you do a tile backsplash you could run the tile right up to the top. Hopefully this gives you something to start with. Happy planning!