The "kids" are asleep, and so I was doing some more research. Don't know if you're conning or not, Georgeiii, but this disabled person sees a big flaw in your idea! We aren't in wheelchairs, but we aren't very strong anymore either. (Just to catch you up a bit on info about disabled folks -- more often then not, disabled people aren't in wheelchairs, and, looking at them, you wouldn't know they were disabled. The disability, whether in or out of a wheelchair, is often strength stealing, pain related, and/or is just what the word implies -- an inability to do one or more things able-bodied people can do. If you're going to try to sell us something, you might want to try living your life, just for one day, from our viewpoint, which, because of the number of reasons already stated, is often about two feet lower then what you're doing in that picture above. Just a little business advice, from someone who used to be successfully self-employed.) I can't lean over or stay up straight for over an hour, and neither of us can do anymore then 3 hours of work per day, including shopping, housework and physical hobbies, like gardening. (We also are reduced to taking 1-3 days completely off per week, because of needing to do physical work, which causes extra pain. Of course, I try not to complain about extended "vacation time." LOL) Looking at your picture, I don't see how someone in a wheelchair could make that structure, and I can guarantee we are too weak to do it, too! (We meaning hubby and me, nothing to do with the stuffed animals now.) How are disabled people able to make such a big structure? Sorta kills the whole concept of "dis"abled there. Much easier to pluck an occasional weed out of a container, or deadhead for a few minutes each day, then to create such a huge piece of construction. As for getting the carrying cases for the Pepsi bottles, I was rather hoping contacting Pepsi would convince them to let me buy some from them, or, if need be, buy old beat up wine racks and place them on their sides, sticking the 2 liter bottles in each shelf, instead. With my web sites for children, obviously, I have no intension of stealing. Still, whether this is a con or not, if you check over in the container gardening forum with his post there, he includes pictures that does start to give enough info to imagine the project without buying anything. Might be a pared down version, but, it does look doable, even for the two of us diabled folks. And Dangsr2, would love to see a picture of your container too. I didn't ever consider making more tomato plants from suckers! Doh! Thanks for the idea, and, hopefully, yours is doable for us.

I don't believe I have ever swapped with Tod65. But I am going to try and get a bunch of Heirloom Tomato seeds and other veggie seeds out to him before the Holidays. I can imagine how devastating it is to lose so much so quickly :( It would break my heart to lose my seed collection like that . But I am glad to here that no one was injured in the fire.That is something to be thankful for :)

Am in my late 50's. We don't have longterm disability insurance. It's a real gamble. My dad died young, was cared for at home by my mom--no real expense there. My mother just died this past November at age 85--she was at Thanksgiving dinner with us one night, and gone the next. Long term disability? Nope--she was still living independently in her own apartment. Now, note that in her 40's she had a number of health issues--anyone guessing would probably have figured that she'd either have died early, or have been disabled for a long time, and needed a lot of care in later years. Fact is, other than her regular check ups, visits to the podiatrist to care for her feet, and having her cataracts operated on, Mom hadn't had any serious medical treatment for over 20 years when she died. My father-in-law went very quickly, too--at age 82. He was still working as a plumber in November, spent a couple of months in the hospital, then died the beg. of February. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't get the insurance--only you can decide if it's right for you. But to my way of thinking, I don't see all that many people in my life who actually need longterm care. Most seem to either go quickly, or be able to manage their needs anyway. And the insurance companies are banking on the fact that their scare tactics will get lots of people to sign up--many who will never make a claim. For example, I've got an aunt who has had earthquake insurance for many years--no matter to her that we live in an area of the country that has never had a major earthquake in anyone living's memory. But they were more than happy to sell her a policy. I think she also has flood insurance--but she lives on the 6th floor of an apartment building. We also don't get floods of any size around here. That would have to be some departure from the norm for her to collect! And what about the safety of investing in an insurance company? What if the company goes out of business in years to come? Or waht if the funds are mismanaged or depleted by embezzlement. There is a huge scandal in the country right now regarding pre-paid funerals. People paid ahead to make sure their wishes would be taken care of, and many of the funeral homes have stolen those funds and families are having to come up with money to pay the cost of a funeral twice--the second time at a much higher price. Personally (and I'm not telling you what to do)--I prefer to save and control my own money. I'm not a fan of allowing others to take my funds--as in prepaid funerals, extra insurance, IRA's, etc. I do have one small SEP account, but only because I had a year where I needed some serious deductions, and that one was a reasonable way of keeping a few more of my own dollars. It's important to me to have the freedom to invest as I choose, and to move my money from here to there, depending upon what the economy is doing. I've just known too many people who have relied on others to nurture their savings, and lost everything. My sister is a case in point--worked for over 30 years for one company, was up in corporate management when the company was sold and dessimated by a larger one. She had a GOOD pension plan--but the funds were stolen by the new management, and when the company folded, she got a measely, one-time payout of $16,000!

Patricia your feedback is helpful. thank you. I realize my drawing are rough... The cabinet will be accessible under the overhang. Is this not a common island plan with corner seating. Again the last pic is a different layout idea. I appreciate the note about cleaning. Something to consider. however I don't see how 30-35" from either side could be that bad to clean. I realize I'm not a professional, however is this design really that bad. I've gotten a lot of criticism and not understanding how my design is that bad.