Hi there, What if we have a long indian summer? You could be in tomato heaven... I don't mind topping or pruning...so I'd prune anything that's not going to make fruit - but I wouldn't want to top plants if they are flowering...until you KNOW you are a week or 2 from a cold snap. If you have these in a row, maybe add a few taller stakes, and string 1-2 wire lines across the top to support any higher fruit? Another idea: I have a friend who uses 10' green plastic coated steel rods (rebar) stakes - with cloth strip ties (I'd use red - to stimulate more fruit production) and his system works great! Bamboo also comes in about 12' lengths and can do the job. Do you have another garden item for support you can move there temporarily? For example - an 8' Arched Trellis, or a tall paint ladder? I don't agree that new fruit won't ripen...sounds like these folks all grow only giants - which I don't. I prefer to get more for daily cooking rather than a few big ones for show. Ripening depends on many variables - the size and variety -and in my experience - your weather, access to light, & level of care/neglect. If they get any color change at all they'll ripen even - even off the vine. As soon as the season turns cold, I pick ALL fruit with any color beginning to turn, and top plants back to then next existing viable fruit. After watering and pruning, I dig and bring in as many as possible to extend the season. other people just add a cold frame - but I don't have anything that large - and still don't trust it to protect plants from the evil black stem. I keep mine going that way for 2 months months - in a chilly sunroom. I think the coldframe people may get just a few weeks. (peppers make it all winter and go back outside) Good luck designing your own system! Here is a link that might be useful: as many staking methods as gardeners!

I think it's going to be very tight, especially given the width. If you LOVE the table I'd get a 4'x8'x3/4" piece of sanded plywood and some 2x4's and make a top that will fit over your tabletop for when you want to seat 8 people. Basically use the 2x4's to make a frame large enough to go around your table with the leaf in it and hold the plywood centered on the table without sliding around (and without mechanically attaching it to your table). I'd keep this in the basement or something and only pull it out when you are going to have 8 (or more, you might even be able to do 10 on a table this size). You won't see the table with table cloth on it and most of the time you have your nice table that is scaled better for 4 chairs and your room.

Tannatonk - Whoa, I didn't see that with the review, thanks! Ok, I'm confused. Franksmom said "the width measurement given would be the width for a pair, at the narrowest point" Val said,"125" would be the width per panel at the base" Is it per panel or per pair? I'll talk with a salesperson this week and see what they say. My JCP is as about as helpful as Lowes so I'm not convinced they'll be much help. :) Ramble alert.. I really need to figure out how far back I want to start. I know I said 10" but I feel bad because I have the metal cat bed in the corner and they ALWAYS sleep there. They seem to love it even more since I covered the foam piece with the extra red pillow sham that matches my coverlet. Anyhow, I'd like to keep that there and currently I have a small table and Christmas tree in that spot. The cat bed is in front of the window, which looks stupid, but I can deal with it for a few weeks. Closet door gets in the way so I can't pull whatever item is there out too far. Not the best angle but you can kind of see the cat bed, closet door and the side of the curtains. - The bedskirt is back on now. My LR curtain brackets starts at 8" from the trim so I'm going to at least want it out that far and that will interfer with their little bed too so I guess I'll have to find another spot for it. Not sure where because I'm out of corners and don't want to use it elsewhere in the house. Other quick update, I know I talked about a bench for in front of the window and then I'd move the chair from the other corner out of the room but after looking and measuring, I think I might feel it's too crowded in front of the window.

Oh, I love your bedroom set! The handpainting is so nice, such sweet little scenes. I also really like your paint colors. It's going to be beautiful. I'd probably keep the white duvet, and do white curtains, as you said, keeping the focus on the furniture. I'm not sure about placing the bed by the window, or doing a window seat. The window alcove looks a bit narrow for the bed- how much room would you have on each side? And the window looks a bit low for a window seat, but the picture may be deceptive.