"long bank" ... "steep bank" ... "thick wild onion plants" This area will be in almost full sun and likely has only a thin cover of topsoil over a compacted subsoil rich in clay. Eradicating wild onion from this site will be a long and difficult process and will also kill everything on it. The result will be heavy erosion. I suggest you stop and consider what a bare eroded slope that won't grow anything will look like. First you should determine the degree of slope you have. Then consider changing to only those things that can be done successfully on that steep of slope. It probably isn't flowers. Work on this slope in phases. Do no more than a 5 foot strip accross the slope at any one time. Make sure the soil is stable and the ground cover is well istablished before starting the next strip. Construction on a slope should start at the bottom and work up. But planting should start at the top and work down. The reason for this is that erosion starts at the bottom and goes up. If you start at the bottom and amend the soil for good plant growth you give erosion the foothold it needs. The erosion will follow you up the slope. Start at the top!

Ready to record....I like to watch it after it's over so I can skip the commercials! I can't wait!

I'm the party pooper, I guess. I suggest you do not pick the tile for the back splash until the cabinets and counters are in. You will not believe the difference it makes. When the counter is horizontal and bigger, it will look much more different than that little sample. The lighting in your space is different than out in the tile shops. Also the cabinets when installed will give your space a different look. There is nothing lost by waiting. There have been several GW members who made their decision based on a door and granite sample only to be disappointed later. In our future house, I plan on just painting that drywall area and then deciding. I know I probably will want to go with the arabesques again, but I really want to see it before making that decision. But, while you are out there looking, check out the Mandala Tiles, especially their Sinu collection. The tile is subtle but really does have some depth to it without stealing the show. I know srg215 used it in her kitchen in the color: Stingray. Gorgeous. Good Luck!

Great idea about the foamcore Kippy, that would be fabulous and so much easier than painting. I'll give that some thought. I need to get bold, there are so many amazing paints out there. Everytime I go to Home Depot, there is a new line of metalic spray paints. jlc712, I think that the bookcase is where I can make the next biggest impact in the room. I hate to get rid of our beloved Little House on the Prairie set, but if I find a niece to send it too, that will make the parting a little sweeter. Maybe if I thin out some movies I can store books below in the cupboard. My audiophile husband loves his sound equipment, however. To think, I can't turn half of it on! Great idea about the calendars. Clever and budget-savvy. So hard to throw away those beautiful calendar pictures. I've got to put 9 frames of something above the fireplace. That wreath comes down this weekend, its the Feast of the Presentation so the time has come. Maybe I'll find 9 pictures of the Blessed Mother to frame. There is an endless number of painting of her, and I could gaze at those forever. Of course, my husband would want pictures of National Parks, so I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do. Tibbrix, you are right, this big room needs big furniture. The coffee table is 48" and the sofas are 72" so it gives a foot on each side to sit. Remember, we walk behind the sofas, in front of them, beside them AND we chase Captain around the room! It's really a dog run, I guess. I would have loved to buy large English-arm three cushion sofas and lovely accent chairs, but it's the fact that we move the loveseats (sometimes daily) to watch television or play video games. I know this seems crazy. We only have one functional TV. With seven kids on board (well one is gone but we still have her bedroom that she shares with a sister), all of our rooms are full of kids. I figure that when the time comes to change the furniture once again, I have seven people who would love free sofas. ; ) Need to work on paint, don't have a budget for that now. Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies. It means so much to hear your opinions. -Cupofkindness