I would disagree with plantcompost. Many clematis require a year or so of root development so that they can survive well in the ground versus in a pot. Some have few issues and I put in the ground when young (like the viticellas), but most I pot on for a year once purchased typically "young". This is after years and over 100 clematis, some of which died before getting established in the ground. This is especially true of type 2's. You will have a huge advantage planting older plants, though you will pay for it. You will also have an advantage planting now in the late summer/fall versus spring. The top three for me would be Joy Creek, Chalk Hill and Brushwood Nursery. Completely Clematis comes in as a strong fourth, though their website is not as well designed, I think, and their replacement policy not as easy. I believe they all sell 2 year plants. Planted now, next year would be their third year.

I was in JC Penneys last week in their curtain department and had already done my on-line shopping ahead of time so I was aware of the prices. I wanted to see the curtain panels in person before buying on-line. The price was higher in the store and when I discussed that with the saleswoman she said she would honor the on-line price. I then also told her that I had received an email that morning for an extra 20% off anything on-line that was only good between 7am-11am. I was in the store at 10:20am and she said she would also honor that!!! It doesn't hurt to ask...the only risk is to be told "no" and have to go home and place the order on-line. Instant gratification is SO sweet!

I have some JCP panels I'm fixing to hang after I get the curtain rods right. The law here in Texas is specific, and consumer oriented, and I'm not going to be rooting around in some store trying to find matching lengths if mine don't match. Here in Texas we have the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. It is not about cost, it is about truth in advertising. If it is advertised as 84 inches it dang well better be. If two panels are off by 1/4 or so I probably wouldn;t fuss, but much more than that? Yeah. Would I take them to court? Yeah. Many states have similar consumer friendly laws, to protect consumers. I do believe that a custom panel might have finer materials, finer workmanship. But a panel sold new at any cost which announces that it is 84 inches long, better be. I'm not a rug that manufacturers can walk on me, and being from Texas, I'm not afraid to rodeo with them. If consumers insist that 84 inches means 84 inches, there's no question in my mind that in a short while, 84 inches WOULD mean 84 inches. Made in China or anywhere else does not have to mean shoddy and mismeasured. After all, Swiss-made watches are said to be some of the finest anywhere. It is all about consumer expectation, and I expect that 84=84 and I believe it is the manufacturer and not the area of origin that is responsible for lax practices in manufacturing. One last comment: Sellers love to make YOU dance when THEY are at fault. No, I'm not coming into the store. If my panels are off, THEY can find a seamstress local to me.

Here's some advice I have for you that will go a long way without costing too much money. First off, you need a new photographer. Those were horrible photos with unnecessary lens glare. My second biggest piece of advice is to lighten up and neutralize the wall colors, declutter and store a lot of your furniture. People are looking for light, airy, open and spacious. They want rooms to feel light-filled and to have lots of open space. When we got our house ready to sell we put a lot of stuff including extraneous furniture in storage and painted some of the rooms light, neutral colors. Those things made a lot of difference in updating our home. Front exterior: trim back the shrubs so that you see the porch railing and windows. They are also blocking the front walkway. You have a classic style house with lots of curb appeal but the massive shrubs will make it look dark and forbidding when they aren't blooming. You want people to see the front door and the inviting front porch from the street and right now your biggest asset is blocked. Green living room: I would paint the dark green living room and stairwell a light neutral color since the green doesn't photograph well and makes the room cave-like. I would also remove the giant chair next to the fireplace. It blocks the focal point and makes the room look too small. I would also remove the rug so you can better showcase your lovely hardwoods. Kitchen: I would also paint the kitchen, declutter the counters including removing the coffee cups and remove the valance. If you can't afford to redo the kitchen I would at least paint the bottom front of the peninsula the adjoining wall color to help it recede into the background. If the kitchen table is in good shape I would remove the tablecloth, candle, and placemats. Put a low bowl of fresh fruit on top. The ideal would be replacing the kitchen cabinet doors but even painting the cabinet boxes white would help update the the kitchen. Next I would declutter the buffet in the breakfast nook and remove the wreath. Pull back the curtains and open the blinds. The wall color is dark so the more you can do to make the rooms light filled the better. Dining room: remove the rug so that the buyers can see that you have pristine hardwoods. It will also make the room feel bigger. Living room: remove some of the chests. Having that many of them in the room is making it feel small and crowded. I would also remove the recliner if possible. The more open it feels the bigger the space will feel. Orange bathroom: paint the walls a light neutral color. If the floral trim is wallpaper, remove it. Paint the bathroom trim a glossy white. Master bedroom: Replace the curtains with neutral sheers. The ideal would be to remove the blue carpet but I know that's probably out of budget. If you have a neutral rug that's much larger than the bed float the bed on top of it to neutralize the blue carpet. I would also get an inexpensive bed in a bag that's a neutral color to replace your bedding. Your goal is to make the blue carpet less over whelming. Purple bath: I agree with everyone that the stairs have to go. You also need to paint the walls a neutral color. Hallway: either remove the bookshelves or pack up 50% of the books and most of the decorative items on top. When people see stuffed bookshelves and full surfaces they think the house doesn't have enough storage. I know the list looks overwhelming but these are all things you can do yourself without hiring someone.