I have a small greenhouse that I'll keep the 1 gallons in until spring (the ones that you can buy at Lowe's for under $100). The 5g is under my deck inside my pot ghetto with the rest of my out of zone roses. I've added quite a few potted roses this year, and this is the first time I'm overwintering under the deck (the deck is elevated about 5 feet off the ground), then I have the whole thing surrounded by chicken wire and loosly covered with burlap...by suggestion of some other posters :) Plus, I'm on the 7a line, so that helps I'm sure. ~Tammy

Hello Friends, Andrew - I have ordered Tons of Stuff from them and have been so happy each time. I got a 5'-6' Foot Sweetheart Lychee, 5'-6' Foot Purple Caimito, 4'-5' Foot Jaboticaba, a 5' foot "San Pablo" Custard Apple, and a Awesome Pickering Mango tree that is fruiting right now. That is the stuff I bought. As for te Stuff I got for free. I got a Jamaican Strawberry tree which is now almost 7' feet, Barbados Cherry, A Guava, a 6' foot Grumichama Cherry, and a Sensitive Plant, and a couple of others. He really values his customers and wrote the book on customer service. Bo - Yes, I definietly believe in them and the proof is in the pudding. He really delivers and the product speaks for itself. He will do whatever to make you happy. Ask for some pictures so you will get exactly what you want and expect, and so there won't be any problems. Mickey is very happy to do so. They are by far the best Mail Order Nursery for us in California and West Coast. - Jacob

Update: Well.... the rain is absolutely making me crazy. Immediately after the pool was put in the ground, it rained for two weeks straight. Nothing we could do but keep a pump running 24/7 and wait for rain to stop. Last week, it was clear enough to allow the installation of the pipes, lights, skimmer, etc. by the pool builder. We were ultimately able to get piping across the yard to a newly installed cleanout at the sewer line across the yard & I hope the slope is enough to not cause problems later. It has been inspected and approved. We had to go rent a trench digger from Home Depot and drag it home because the plumber was "crying" about digging the trench. The pool builder covered and graded all of his trenching up, and the plumber was bothered that they did not leave the trenches open in order to make his job easier. So, we fixed the issue by getting the trench digger for him. The electricians began their work and have taken a whole lot longer than we thought it would take. Also, the pool installer dug up electrical lines to our back house, which means more for the electrician to do to repair it. Then the electrician was bothered that the pool installer buried the wires when he graded, because the electrican tried to un-bury them and couldn't find them in order to tie back in to the original cables. Therefore, the trench digger came in handy again, as the electrician then had to use it to trench to the back house in order to lay new lines. Of course, the electricians did not get finished before it started raining again last weekend. Finally, today, the "electrical rough install" was inspected and approved. Of course, it has been raining again all day today. The electricans still need to come back and finish, but at least the ground is ready for the deck.... IF IT WOULD EVER STOP RAINING LONG ENOUGH! Our back yard looks like a large ant farm... The mud is making us crazy with the wet dogs, gate that we keep having to prop up so the dogs won't get out, etc.... I finally gave up on my poor kitchen floor.... the dirt... the mud.... the dogs... Weather forecast was initially for 6 good sunny days after today, and now it has changed to rain starting again on Monday.... I actually brought a couple of tarps home this morning in an attempt to help... I guess something is better than nothing. Anyway, I am amazed that this fiberglass pool has been sitting in the ground for a month without concrete yet, with all this rain, & she's holding her own. The installer has been great with checking on us and making sure a pump is running when necessary. He was even out of town today and had someone from another pool company come by to set up a pump again, as he had taken his with him last week. I am so glad that I purchased a pool that "required" that it be laid in, and backfilled with gravel. I think this has helped us. This was the first pool in gravel that this installer has done, and he said that if this has been sand, we may have had an issue. The first two weeks, the pool wasn't even backfilled all the way.... and it remained level. Anyway, the concrete guys left their trailer with sand in our yard last Saturday.... Now we just need the weather to cooperate!!!! Tomorrow my husband and I will be turning dirt over and doing whatever we can to help this dirt dry & hopefully the rain forecast for next week is small enough that we can stay dry enough to get concrete poured early next week. I told my H that next spring we will be enjoying our little pool and laughing about this muddy fiasco........ Hope I'm right.

What are your room dimensions? What is opposite the fireplace wall? Stairway?? and tv opposite kit.? Do you want the kitchen area to be separated or more a part of this space? I'm not as far as you and I may have a smaller space, 16x16 however behind my couch is our more formal dining space so the room is about 33' long and 17' wide on the other end. I think we could do similar things. I am planning to use a large round ottoman probably 40". I want to be able to rearrange so My sofa will be facing fireplace sometimes. I am dealing with the tv dilemma also. We have hookups to the right of fp and opposite wall of fp. I am thinking of repurposing some unique armoire or antique cab. for tv. Also thought of Hubby doing a retractable television into a piece. Another idea which would work for u too is putting up shelving on your tv wall with various size compartments to display things and have your tv as part of that arrangement. Leaving some empty compartments as well. Or even hanging various size picture frames of same color, perhaps dark charcoal and building that kind of arrangement. Those are some ideas I am playing with. Am I seeing darker color paint above fireplace? I kind of like the contrast with your furniture. It makes it pop more. I can see doing it on the small stairway wall too, just the side facing into the room. Then tying that color into wall with tv. but not necessarily painting it, with fabric etc and bringing in some accent color(s). I think some trees in your corners on fireplace wall would bring the outside in and cozy it up Are you a quilter, or even by putting a quilt or wall hangings up on your tv wall that would be an idea. Sue has room arrangement ideas like I can picture. I think you might be hesitant to use larger scale items for ottomans, etc but I see them working well. I assume you are using those window treatments?? Why is it always easier to give advice to others when I struggle with my own!!! Sorry for getting carried away everyone. Lovely room with a nice view.