Carrie, you hit the nail squarely on the head -- some days the enormity of planting my roses can get to me. Most days, though, I'm really excited about setting them free from their pot prisons. Our property has been farm land for its entire history, so our soil is not the usual rocky Virginia clay that I'm used to. In most places, I can easily sink a shovel its entire depth, and the soil that comes up is varying shades of brown. My pH is a little low, but I'll be able to work with that. Since you asked, here are a couple of 'before' photos of the area by the barn that I see as becoming a killer rose garden. The soil there is even better than I've seen anywhere else -- I guess it was all those cows and stuff milling around for so many years that did the trick. Under this mound of honeysuckle is an old cattle chute. During the first day of barn renovation a few weeks ago, I had the equipment operator clear out all the rotten fencing and overgrowth while he was waiting to work on the building. Here's the equipment doing its thing: The south side of the barn, after the cattle chute was removed. We've owned this place for 5 years (though we've only lived here for 5 months) and I had never seen this view because of all the overgrowth. I left the gate that had been at the end of the cattle chute because I liked it and I thought I could use it in the garden. I see it with smallish climbers at each corner. Here's the barn progress as of a few days ago. I think it will be a wonderful backdrop to a country rose garden. BTW, it IS all Robert's fault. Without his example, I would probably have gone about all of this in a much more controlled manner. Seeing what he has created in his garden gives me the encouragement to do roses on a much broader scale, and the courage to try things without the fear of making mistakes. Thank you, my friend. Connie

I have found (around here, anyway) GW is the most expensive...even more than new prices on some of their stuff. Church-sponsored TS have the better prices. (One of the church sponsored is the '48' place.) I only go to estate sales the last hour or so...they are ready to get rid of the stuff. Normally, when the estate sale is being held by some type of auction house, they get paid a percentage of what is sold. The last one I went to had quite a bit of silver left. Added up, the price was over $250. I asked the guy if they would take $15 for it. He said, "Give me $20 and you can have all of it." YYIIIPPPPEEE!!!! The best of all is the TS that sponsors the shelter for batter women and children. Their clothes are a standard price per piece but the other stuff is not priced. The same lady is there all the time. You just pile up what you want on the counter and she gives you a price. The more you go (to buy and/or donate), the better price she gives. I sometimes feel guilty walking out. I've even given her more than what she tells me on several ocassions.

Great thread, and Redroze, thank you for the dose of reality. I just reread your post to my husband. I am doing several things I have learned on here already, such as the single sink, and more drawers. Maybe even a range hood, only I really do not know where to put the microwave! I can't do many of the amazing things I see others posting. I appreciate the genius and beauty of the kitchens posted on here. And I need to remember to love the kitchen I do have while utilizing what affordable tips and tricks I can do. :-) This is an awesome site, and it is the many generous, awesome people who make it this way.

Oh, you are so cruel to mention all those! LOL At least I don't have to go to bed tonight still wondering what the rest of the Fly song is. ;o) I am surprised at how many of those silly songs there are. Leave it to you to know a whole list. recently the Brownie's SMILE song came back to me. "There's something in my pocket, it belongs across my face..." I never was much of a singer; couldn't carry a tune in a bucket (I think I had Henry's bucket!) You're right there is nothing like those old traditionals. My favorite, like yours, are the hymns from church.