I remember how difficult it is to get started when you have a bare, flat yard. I kept staring out the windows, trying to imagine what I could plant where. It helps if you have someone stand outside while you look out the windows. Have your helper walk around from place to place, waving his/her arms, and maybe even holding a broom up overhead. Try to imagine your helper is a bush or a tree. When your helper gets to a spot that looks good from the inside, make a note of the position, or have your helper plant a garden stake (much easier to move than a tree!) Then go stand outside, or across the street, and see if that really is a good place for a tree. Use pots of annuals which you can move around until you find a space placement that suits you. THEN dig a bed. You can always set out empty boxes, or laundry baskets or even chairs to find spots for a shrub. Anything of a similar size that's easily movable will do. Here are some general principals I've found helpful. If the front is your main entrance, plant things that you will be happy to see when you come home. Start planting close to the walk and steps. This will encourage you to expand. Take it slow. I read once that you should live in a house though one set of seasons before you do any major changes. I translated that into planting annuals at first...which will have to be redone anyway. Fall is really the best time to plant trees and shrubs, as then they will get lots of rain. And, they will be cheaper at the 'year end' sales. Plant evergreens and long season perennials in the front as you and the neighbors will be looking at this area every day. Don't be afraid to take out something you don't like. Try to transplant it, or give it away. If it lives, fine, but you don't have to put up with something you don't like. Bare ground will make you feel better than a plant that irriates you. Don't plant acid loving plants close to the foundation of the house or near the cement path or sidewalk. They won't thrive. I figured this out after losing a row of azaleas, one by one. You can buy spray paint that is specially made to be sprayed holding the can upside down, so you can mark the edges of the beds. Just make sure that it isn't 'clear' paint. (Yes, it does come that way - a friend did this!) Or take a container of flour out and use that to mark plant placement or bed edges if you want a very temporary marking. The front yard is your house's public face and a place to show off your gardening skills. Rather than screening off the street, plant so that people driving or walking by will have something pleasant to look at and your visitors will find inviting. And for safety reasons, you don't want to 'hide' your house. Burglars go for entrances that are screened off from the view of the neighbors. Re paths: Make sure you leave good access to the utility boxes. Make sure you can get a lawnmower and wheelbarrow everywhere they'll need to go. You won't want low branching trees too near paths, either. If you don't have a pleasant view out the windows, one small patch of bright color will draw your eye away from the eyesore. Try a few pots of color, just set out on the ground, and see how they draw your attention. You do want to 'hide' the foundation of the house with taller, more solid shrubs. This will help transition the house into the lot, and help it look 'planted' rather than just 'plopped' onto the lot. Place lower plants further away from the house, along the path and sidewalk. You don't have to have ANY lawn in the front, but you don't have to take it all out at once, either. Have fun! Daphne in Tacoma

Doc says I'm still in good shape - B P O.K., maybe on edge of being low. Cholesterol nearing edge of being a bit much ... but not so far. A couple of visits ago, he said plans to retire in 2013 ... within a few minutes said 2014 ... I asked him whether he was sure that he had it all together?? Next visit, said he should tell me which ... as I felt that I'd have to die first... when he asked, rather shocked, the reason for that ... I said that everyone knows how hard it is to find a doc, these days. This trip ... he says that he figures to retire ... in 2015! I got a pair of knee-high pressure stockings two and a third years ago, and a third pair a few months later, about 40 bucks per pair, ten less if one uses their stores's loyalty card. I wear a pair of regular socks over them, to deal with the wear and tear provided by boots. The medical supply store called a few months ago, to know how my stockings were doing. When, shortly after, I took them in for inspection, she said they were O K, which pleased my frugal heart. She says that the way that one knows that they're about ready for pension is when the tops get slack, and start to slide ... ... wait a minute ... haven't we been down this road before ... with the under-wear, about whose habits I felt that I needed greater under-standing? About how to hold them up ... when the elastic had developed slackening habits ... stubbornly? Wiseacres here, usually so capable, didn't provide a lot of help. ole joyful

My shephard eats Barbie clothes! Then barfs them up a few days later. He is bored. DD has to keep door closed and toys off ground. I agree with the advise given, restrict from room and praise in a squeeky voice when pottying outside. My bro had a beagle that did not like one of his friends. Friend was over and left his briefcase open on the coffee table- yes he was a lawyer. Dog got up on table and took a wee in the briefcase!!!!!!! Dogs are a real good judge of character.

Sherry, I see alot of comments about what others would do or wouldn't do. Here's my take..I've been in these shoes. lol We live in my mothers home, she NOW lives out of state, and has off and on over the last 15 years. There has been times in the past 15 years, that she's moved back to her house with us..(It's a small house 3bed/1bath!, to small for a family of 5, then throw another adult in..'nough said. So space is the key!) Anyway, some problems are..parenting now is NOT like it was 20-30 years ago! She has her opinions and sometimes she did step in on the boys. She really didn't like being in that position, and I didn't like it either.(So she has for the most part learned to bite her tongue!) There was a time, when we didn't pay mortage/rent, but paid all the utlilities, I did all the shopping, cooking and cleaning. She'd pitch in on some things when I was working and she was on the "bench" with her consulting firm. We have always talked about getting some land and building two houses or having a duplex or splitting up a large house into 2 fully functional homes. So I certainly see where you and your kids are coming from. It's nice to have the family unit together. And it was done for generations! So here's my take as the married kid with kids who's lived with their parent... I still think it's a grand idea...I also think that what others have touched on..space, own kitchen, TV room, bathroom, entrance..are KEY! But certainly you and hubby and DIL/DS know your family dynamics. I think it's amazing that are really thinking all of this out ahead of time. My brother is sucessful and married..trying to adopt now..and lives 5 hours from the family home..He has NO desire for "fairness" of mom's time. I think you should approach your other children and ask their opinions too..