I will help you with the winter stuff. I have noted already that you can grow a lot of sprouts and shoots on a window sill in Palm Springs, and they are all very healthy and make great salads. If you are in 8b, greens will grow uncovered in midwinter for you. At the very least spinach, collard and kale, although smaller salad greens such as miner lettuce, corn salad, and arugula will make it easily. Numerous Asian greens, winter lettuces, radicchio and chard will also make it. A greenhouse is not needed, and these greens would not be better if grown in a GH, they would be worse. I access my hoop houses during thaws, and when I do that, I pick a couple of buckets of greens. They remain in prime condition for at least two weeks in the crisper, so you would be fine visiting the cottage and picking once a week. For winter stuff, you need a root cellar. It is too hot in Palm Springs for one, but what I do (for apples) I have a small, cheap Craigslist freezer in the garage which is attached to a brewing thermostat. In fact the thermostat cost $60 and the freezer $50. I keep apples at 38F in there, and they are still pristine in June. You can not keep apples with anything else, but in your case, for the whole winter, you can keep turnips, beets, carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, and daikon. In a bigger freezer, you could also keep cabbage and Napa cabbage. There is a secret to having good winter vegetables. All stored vegetables need to be picked at least two weeks after first frost, the later the better. They will taste much better, all of them. My turnips and cabbage are sweet and delicate. I pick all the storables on Thanksgiving week end. I also grow and store cardoon, but it needs a lot of water, perhaps not an ideal vegetable in the desert. You have the option of leaving carrots and parsnips in the ground through the winter, and pick as needed, though I suspect they may keep growing in 8b, and mice are more of a concern in winter. Squashes need to be picked before frost and kept in the house, and you would be better off growing only moschata types, both for zucchini and for storage. But you will not enjoy the garden if you do not have a strong fence, extending underground to keep out not just deer, but also rabbits and other smaller mammals. You will also need irrigation on a timer if the garden is unattended. And if there are gophers, you may have to fence two feet underground if you want to get anything out of the garden, and much of your working time will be devoted to extermination.

I too have this happen every year. At least a plant or two do this. I have one right now doing it. So frustrating. I have always looked for signs of SVB when it happens. I never find any. Now, don't get me wrong. I have certainly had my share of SVB woes. However, when they've struck in the past, I lose the whole plant within a day or two. This half wilting business can go on for several days until those wilting leaves finally die. Really weird. I have had luck with burying the vine where it's wilting with soil. I use potting soil just because it's handy and things seem to root better in it. The wilting plant will start perking up. In my experience, the whole ordeal sets the plant back a bit, but it will produce eventually. If you find out why it does this and figure out a remedy, definitely post it, because this wilting thing drives me nuts. Best, Erin

gbsim, you've cast the deciding vote! Thanks to you and lindac and Annie for relieving my 'guilt' over the whole dessert question. :) Guess my instincts were right but I was just afraid to trust them. My preference is also for 'plain' fruit, but I was worried that it would seem blah to everyone else. From your comments, I guess not. Teresa, something you said about that gave me a brainstorm. I have several dozen antique crystal champagne glasses that are really lovely. They're not 'flutes', so maybe they're not even champagnes, even though that's what my mother always called them. Anyway, they're wide-mouthed and shallow bowls on elegant long stems. I'm going to fill them with a colorful mix of grapes, melons and berries. They'll be on a separate 'dessert' table, along with an optional whipped topping of cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and Grand Marnier and some simple (but luscious) shortbread cookies. Omigosh, y'all have inspired me! Teresa, it's in Nov. Sounds so far away, but 4 months ahead isn't too early to begin planning, right? The weather here is incredibly unpredictable at that time of year. More often than not, it's really gorgeous between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Indian summer. But sometimes it turns nasty. I'm trying to think positive! I have also worried about the carb overload. But, hey, Michael Bloomberg isn't invited, so we should be safe. mjrdolfan, thanks for your good wishes! She's a lovely and *appreciative* bride, so it's my pleasure to do something special for her. I so understand your concern. But that's exactly why I posted here -- because I know how easy it is to get sucked in and end up leaving too much to do at the last minute and have it all go to hell in a handbasket. I promise that won't happen. You didn't 'throw a wrench' into it at all. You just reminded me, once again, how important it is to be on top of things. Thanks! sm P.S. Grace, forget the mimosas? Do you think I've totally lost it, honey chile??? :) Actually, the Bloody Mary's are what I'm famous for. Horseradish is my secret ingredient. But I've already put one of my ddil's in charge of the mimosas. And another is making bellinis. And a third is squeezing fresh orange juice. It's gonna be a partay!!

Thank you, CPartist Which windows look like afterthoughts? Sorry, I don’t understand fully. The house faces East. We don’t get 3D drawings from any architects we interviewed - it’s not part of either stage of drawing. We can pay for it after the fact but they don’t think it’s worth the money. Chispa - believe it or not we don’t even have to move out for this Reno. RES- can you see from the side view what you’re asking about? Our first contractor that we got an estimate from wants to eliminate those dog house windows and get rid of columns near garage He told me to select doors with side lights and transom. Any suggestions? Contractor also suggested using cedar shake for the outside instead of vinyl or clapboard. Thoughts on this?? Thank you !!!