I was wondering about the TP rolls, too! Oh yes, there's thousands shells all over the house. For years we went to Holden Beach, NC for Christmas. When you're the only people on a barrier island, the shells are ABUNDANT! There are still shells from NC that are packed in boxes in my shed. Tons of big cockles, olive, clams, scallops, venus clams, baby ears, kittens' paw, jingle shells, turrets and augers, so pretty! Also have shells from vacations in Norfolk VA, and Hilton Head SC. At HH, I found a lot of sand dollars caught in the tide pools. Then there are the FL shells, oh my. Every piece of clear glass I can find is filled with them, and we've found a TON of great ones on Cape San Blas, just SE of Panama City. We like to camp at the state park there and took a golf cart once and made it 7 miles down a sand path to the end of the island. Wow there were shells in the bay! You're right about throwing the live ones back in, most of the really pretty shells in FL have marine hermit crabs in them (which are not the kind kept as pets, marine crabs need an established salt aquarium.) We found a ton of purple urchins, horseshoe crab shells, big scallops with pink and purple stripes, and others whose names escape me at the moment, pounds of them. My favorite are the tiny coquina shells though. After many years of picking them up, I still have only a small jar full but we add more often, it's only 90 minutes to the beach from here. An especially good haul from a camping trip last spring:

Wow Ivette - $4K! That's outstanding! How can you call yourself 'a mess' when you've done that? What's the cause? And taxes?... Celtic, how can you call yourself a procrastinator when you've got them done? I haven't even started yet! I positively *hate* doing taxes. An update on the school 'thing' -- I talked with the director of our private school, and she pretty much nixed the low-functioning class as too low, and the high-functioning class as already full. She said she'd look into the various class mixes, but I didn't hear much hope. I've started the process toward public school enrollment, and brought DS by the school yesterday when I dropped off his information. He got to meet the diagnostician and the principal, and was thoroughly charming, shaking hands, saying "nice to meet you Mrs. ___" and remembering names. It'll be interesting to see what kind of placement they propose for him. It could be a great opportunity for him - being around more typically-developing children in a typical classroom for the first time ever. But it will also be a challenge to his self-esteem, and if we go that route, he will be forced to confront his differences. Scary all around. Is everyone still here? KitchencrazyChris? Starpooh? Lori? Claire?

Yes, there is a Mrs. Fred, and he has two sons. Mrs. Fred is evidently used to him working 2 sometimes 3 jobs. And somehow he finds time to work on his own house, and work on his hot rods. (Hot rods?!) I asked if he'd like to bring her around to show her his beautiful work and he told me she'd seen his stuff and wasn't impressed because he does it all the time. I'd love to meet this patient woman. I am under the impression she thinks he'll drop dead working. I have a feeling I'll have work until both he and I die. I don't know what I'd do without him. 'Tis the season to work on the outside...

I tended to some roses today, but that was the extent of my yard work. May squeeze some more in, but it's doubtful. Electrician looks to have another full day of work Monday. He found some interesting things in my walls that made it take more time. Plumber moved the gas line from previous gas dryer to new gas range (I've got to check the specs...looks high and looks like it sticks out quite a bit) and moved the one supply line for the washer over as needed. But...I think it's too tall. But that should be easy enough to cut down if needed. I emailed GC, plumber didn't fix sink plumbing yet. Supposed to get new angle stops etc. GC's wife called and said that's no biggie, it'll get done before cabinet install, or even after. I said since they're leaking, I'd prefer it was before. She didn't know they were leaking, so it will now be before. My big accomplishments for the day were nailing down almost all lighting issues, I think. I bought the recessed lighting things (I don't know what they are each called...the attach them in the ceiling part and the plug them into that part...but don't call it a bulb), a few dimmers, one receptacle with usb holes. I ordered a few more lighting/switches related things on Amazon and should be here Sunday. And I emailed and talked on the phone with Environmental Lighting and got a plan for my UCL. I'm sure I could have pieced together something less expensive, but I understand this and can install it myself, so that'll be a savings in itself. Also, I confirmed that I need one less outlet for the UCL installed, so that will save. I 'adjusted' a few things re: the electrician's work. The GC had drawn the outlets smack-dab in the middle of the backsplash. I had him move them down and over on either side of the range. I didn't ask the one in the middle of another wall to be moved, though it probably could be. I may end up asking about that if it wears on me this weekend. And I also asked him to install an outlet in the utility cabinet so I can charge my hand vac, Braava, etc. Tacos just arrived. :)