Karin, it's interesting and enlightening to read what others think of our house and landscape, even if we may not agree or take up some suggestions. We live in an area where we don't have a large number of options for landscape/garden design, unfortunately! So no worries about me being offended by criticism/suggestions, etc. We appreciate the help and we will work to think about each decision in terms of its purpose. We originally had purposes in mind for each bed in our backyard, though it may not look like it now - with the exception of the hydrangeas along the back fence. They were originally planted behind our garage (where the pool equipment enclosure is now). When we put in the pool, we moved them to the side bed (which didn't exist before the pool) along the fence, but the neighbor's black walnut tree hampered their growth. So rather than throw them away, we made a new bed along the back, sort of a temporary spot until we figure out what to do with the rest of the beds. I won't bore you or anyone else by enumerating the purposes of the other beds in the back, but just want to add that we also did have more visual interest and contrast in flower, foliage, and form - but many of those plants didn't survive. We've been in a sort of holding pattern back there for a couple years - and I'm looking forward to improving that landscape. But back to the front yard/landscape. One of our goals for changes remains to revise the long bed along the drive for the dual purposes of easier maintenance and including more variety in its plants to provide more interest in months other than July. Another goal is to revise the small bed near the side steps to make it better looking (instead of a hodgepodge of plants, as it is now) and as a memorial garden for our daughter, with beautiful plantings. We also still want to improve the visual impact/visibility of the front door. To me, that is a separate goal from emphasizing the front entrance, if by entrance one means the wide front steps (which aren't truly the entrance to the house, but visually they do give that impression). We understand the goals of Laag's ideas about beds in front of the steps and a wide path from the driveway to the steps/porch. But in terms of practicality, we don't want people to stop midway up our driveway and walk up the path, because then they block the entire driveway. Also, the steps are covered with snow for the entire winter (it's too expensive to pay to have them cleared each time it snows), and a walkway would also be covered in snow, so the practical function of a walkway beginning partway up the driveway wouldn't apply during those months. I've been bothered for a while by the sense of imbalance between the long driveway bed and the expanse of grass on the other side of the drive, so another purpose of making changes is to see if we can balance that. Laag's suggestion about a grassed area in the long bed was so helpful - I just don't know whether that is enough to achieve balance, or if we will need a bed under the birches. A new purpose resulted from a number of comments here, and that is to soften the impact of the veranda wall. I think we are just so used to how our house looks that we don't see it for how it really appears. You all have opened our eyes to this issue! I haven't been in the back yards of the houses above us (in the back) to see what they can see of our back yard. It "feels" private in our back yard most of the time, probably due to the fence, but I still don't do any skinny-dipping. ;-) The front feels very public to me (it's a busy street and in the spring/summer/fall, a very busy golf course), with the exception of the veranda. On the rare occasions when we are seated there (it's usually too hot/buggy/raining/cold), we have at least the illusion of privacy behind that fortress wall - though with close neighbors, we have to watch how loudly we talk. My sister mused aloud a few years ago about the idea of putting a hedge across the front of the yard (on the lawn on the house side of the sidewalk, if you're facing away from the house) to screen the street and provide more of a sense of privacy. A neighbor a couple of houses down has a partial bridal wreath hedge in the yard and she was noting that at the time. I'll update as we get further along in this process; meanwhile, if anyone has more comments/suggestions, we're very happy to have them.

i have to say, when i saw this paper for the first time it didn't strike me as anything special. i spoke to a vendor and after explaining what i was looking for he suggested the elinor pattern. i saw it on the website and didn't think i'd like it but he wanted me to see it and sent me a very generous cutting. it was perfect. the whole thing is printed with iridescent inks and is very shimmery, without being flashy, like a foil. it really is stunning in person. i have tried to go through several vendors in the UK, including wallpaper direct but they are all out of stock. the pattern in this color is discontinued so i had been searching and finally think i've found someone who has a few roles in stock. no more is available from graham & brown. so my search continues! Here is a link that might be useful: elinor in duck egg

Badgergirl, your granddog looks very similar to my baby, Bella, who lives with my STBX POC DH. I miss her terribly. She has black spots like a cow, though, but has the same smile as your sweetie. Pits (and Rots) are incredible dogs. (My Rot, Shelby, died a few years ago. I still miss her little dances.) They're so smart they'll do anything to please their owners. They're great natured, but because of their quick intelligence, easy to ruin. They learn what makes the owner happy, and if it's horrible, how are they to know? Their owner is happy and safe, and that's all that matters. I'm all for the death penalty for those who train these smart, loving dogs to be aggressive and dangerous. I'll get off my soapbox. They're fabulous. 'Nuff said. Fori, your baby looks like he got caught doing something! That's a funny place, a log! My Morgan sleeps on a cold tile floor. She can tear up a bed in less than 10 minutes. I started buying comforters at the thrift store, which she'll fight with, roll around with, and eventually sleep with a paw or sometimes her head on the blanket. They'll last about 6 months. My foster Pugs sleep on the comforters. They're just weird, sweet, funny little dogs who could do a bed, I'm sure, but they don't care as long as they're together. Thanks for the bed links, though. Morgan is 12-14 years old and I'd like to get her off the floor!

Find out what is inside the cover too. Some fill it with cheap polyester fluff that won't hold up to the weight of a dog and will soon mash down to the ground. I like the insert that contains the little beads like they put in beanbag chairs. The newest thing is memory foam. That's now my choice for dog beds because it's so much better for their bones to be sleeping on a bed that supports the spine (just like us!). When my dog was younger he loved snuggling in his "Nest" bed but as he grew older and developed back problems I had to look for a more therapeutic type of bed that he didn't have to twist his body to get out of. This C&B bed (and others like it) is good because it supports the dog by allowing their body to lean against the side. Choosing the right bed for a dog depends on many factors, age, size, weight, and physical condition of the animal as well as the construction of the bed. Here is a link that might be useful: Orvis