"But you can't felt knitted items in a FL washer!" Ummm, yes you can ;o)...and here are the directions: Place your finished item in a mesh laundry bag or pillow case which is large enough that your project has room to lay flat and move around. Make certain that all your ends are finished off before you felt, as once the felting is complete, you'll have a hard time. Set your washing machine to HOT WASH - COLD RINSE and SMALLEST LOAD SIZE. Use just a little wool friendly detergent such as Woolite or Eucalan. Place your felting project into the washer alone. Set your washer away, and now you're felting in a front load washing machine. At the end of the cycle, remove your project and adjust to shape. If you're not yet happy with the way it has felted, then repeat the washing process again. You can wash it as many times as you like until you reach your desired result. So - felting in a front load washing machine truly is possible, but make sure you do exactly the same process with your swatch as with your finished item. That includes doing EVERYTHING the same...using the same size hook, same yarn, same cycle and measuring all the way.

For that much laundry, you may want to consider a commercial washer/dryer. They are built to withstand more loads over a longer period of time and often allow the used much more control over additives and cycles. Many manufactures (Speed Queen, Miele, Viking, UniMac, just to name a few) make them in sizes ranging from 20 lb up to over 125 lb. They are more expensive ($4000 for a 27 lb Speed Queen). You might even check with a local hotel to see what they use or watch the "closing business" ads and auctions. I've seen them as low as $500. They are still typically called washer extractors rather than washing machines. If you would prefer a standard size machine, I really like my Bosch 500. In addition to doing a great job of cleaning everything, it can be set to delay so a load of laundry is clean first thing in the morning without having to start it the night before and have it sitting in the machine wet.

Doh! I just realized that my U-galley takes a 30" drawer base after corner cab to make a 42" wide aisle (not a 6" pull-out). Total brain-fart! That being said, I actually like Buehl's layout #2. I would DEFINITELY wrap around the corner, whether you close it off or leave it with an island open on both ends. There just is not enough counter / storage / specific prep areas for what you do with the galley. The "L" with island will be MUCH more useful and efficient. But, if you do have enough space for bulk storage in the storage room behind the kitchen, I'd still consider shifting the fridge 12" into the pantry area. That way you can create a a longer (48" to corner sink) prep area between the range and corner sink dedicated to your activities that require water and heat (cheesemaking, canning, meat prep); that stuff takes up a lot of space and is MESSY! I would REALLY try to keep these activities totally separate from the dry grain / baking area. Based on Buehl's layout #2: Shifting fridge 12" into pantry space = Fridge, 33" drawer base (groceries, hot pots), range, 18" drawer base, 30" drawer base (meal prep, cheesemaking, canning etc). Corner sink base separates wet / dry prep. Along the end wall I'd run a 54" counter with two 27" drawer bases (instead of 48" run). This is because you loose at least 4-5" of actual drawer interior, so two 24" cabs = approx 19" wide drawers, whereas 27" cabs = approx 22" wide drawer interior. The end will then line up with the back of the island. This would be the baking zone. On the island I would use a 36" sink base, not 30". This will make the short aisle between the island and baking center 36" wide, which is fine since it's not the primary work zone and there are no major appliances there. -- You said that you like to bake "A LOT." I'm wondering if maybe you want an extra oven? If so, in the baking zone you can put a 30" wall oven installed under the counter after the sink base and then a 30" drawer base. This will extend the "L" to 60", so 6" beyond the back of the island, but it doesn't appear this would interfere with your dining room. The oven door will open into the main work aisle, not into the island side. Honestly, it sounds like you live on a farm and are really into the Homesteading lifestyle. That is pretty much my DREAM, and my "Dream House" and kitchen is designed for just such a life (no meat though, I'm a vegetarian ;) Unfortunately I live in the burbs, and I am still making sure to eek out every inch for separate zones with as much storage and counterspace as possible. My pantry will actually be outside the kitchen in order to do this, and since you have that storage room, you can afford to lose 12" to gain a larger canning / cheesemaking area. 3 ft. just isn't long enough for that, especially if someone else is making a meal at the range at the same time. Also, I really think you will want one really big sink, 33"-36". Great...

You've gotten some great advice so far. However, I don't see why you'd lose 'joint' if you went back to court. I'm not savvy on the law. DH and I haven't had these issues w/ his ex in years as the kids are grown, and I tried not to interfere back then and become overly involved, just supportive. Why wouldn't THEY lose 'joint' if it went back to court? I always thought the courts were more apt to give a BM custody - at least in the past. I assume his children w/ his wife are very young - about a 2 y.o. and an infant, so I doubt she was taking the cell away so the others wouldn't be jealous. I think she is trying to prevent communication and could be damaging him emotionally if he isn't told just how often mommy is calling to speak to him. Look into the above suggestion about dr. appt. and a mother taking him over the sm. Is she unable to be rationalized with? What about your ex? What is the reason you got the short end of the deal in 'joint' back when it happened? The silver lining is that the SM is concerned and seems to love him but it's in an all too possessive way at your expense. What is your take? Is she jealous you and your ex have a past? Did you ever have words w/ her? Is she very young and immature? Do you think she loves your son or is just controlling. Elaborate if you can. I still don't see why he isn't one week w/ you, one w/ them... Dana