OD, you should keep tabs on me! You might see somtething you want to trade! Take a look LOL Vince, on the advice of another person here on the forum (I forget who) I started using Peter's Excel 15-5-15 Cal/Mag. Its a water soluble fertilizer you can use like Miracle Grow, but better. Has all the trace/minors, and has Mag/Mang/Fe to supplement our wonderful Florida State Soil, the virtually nutrient-free Myaaka Fine Sand. Since I have started using it (I started using it just for the palms, then started using it on other stuff) I have had remarkable results with everything, even some things that were chronically chlorotic

If this is an actual wood burning fireplace - you might still be able to remove the two rows of brick, and use a concrete saw and chisel - and cut/smooth down the concrete to the required level. HOWEVER - before you do this - you would need to examine the outside structure carefully. And probably have a chimney person come on out, and give you some advice, or what he thought options would be, and how much possibly they wouold charge. Reason being - a wood burning fireplace needs a chimney. A true birck chimney WEIGHS a lot! Concrete has been used as a foundation for a brick chimney. So you need to know what the concrete is doing, purpose of, etc. before you go cutting into it. But I have a lot of concrete tools, and concrete cutting tools do exist, so it could be cut... just need to know more stuff before you go messing with it. Might even ask a structural engineer to come on out, and take a look. Depends on how bad you want to watch Frasier with the TV at the desired height :)

Slowmedown, I remember last Christmas , a group was purchasing items from us at a flea market and said they were putting them in shoe boxes. I guess I should have ask then, I just thought it was for kids at their church. Is there any particular item that you are looking for ? If I can help you out in any way, please let me know. Spiderwoman, I checked out a magazine at our local bookstore and didnt see anything in it, but I just kinda thumbed thru it. Thanks for the info, I will check again and see what I come up with. Ladyronnie, Man .. am I ever glad that you posted for Jerrysartrama, I looked at this one this morning and bookmarked it to go back and order from it, it has been a busy day and I completely forgot about going back to it. I just went and ordered some of the brushes that he can use. It looked like good prices to me, I really do appreciate all of your help and if there is anything out there I can do for anyone just let me know. By the way........ a bowling center not to far from us, told me that any of the bowling balls that are on the racks, that does NOT have the bowling centers initials on them, have been left by customers, and they are free for the taking. You might check with your local bowling center and see if the same applies there. Some of them are so pretty that you dont want to mosaic over them ! But... they are FREE ! Just a heads up and its worth checking out. Thank you so much for all of your help, and still just one post on the painting board ! Sandra

I have to disagree with sheilaaus. It is much too busy for your granite. Your eyes would be on overload! I would pick up one of the creams in the granite. If you want to jazz it up, then do so with accent pieces. Look at the Finished Kitchen Blog. I have not been on since it has been updated, but hopefully you can see specifics, like others who have your granite and what they did. My kitchen is white, I have Grazia Rixie crema subways with my dark Giallo Ornamental granite. It is as busy as yours but different shades of brown, taupe and cream.