Here's a new album of Fall pictures I made in the garden. It's mostly maples I raised from seed and selected as they grew to size. I selected seed from colorful maples to begin with, hence none are named varieties. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/568443560KeHNFM Here is a link that might be useful: Fall garden

We have somewhere around 140 sf of granite in the kitchen; big kitchen with big island plus a buffet separating kitchen and family room. So the $14k price from the second place is about $100/sf (for both material and install). This is a quote for the exact type of granite we chose - we went to yards to look at various slabs and chose the Blue Eyes as the one we liked the look of best. Then our GC sent out the dimensions of our requirements to the two shops for quotes for our specific requirements. From what I have seen/read the Blue Eyes is on the expensive side, it reads more as a gray with blue highlights than blue, but it does have the blue which I guess adds to the expense. But DH is in love with it... The Costa Esmerelda slabs are cheaper - $8500 installed for 4 slabs. I think we're about 110 sf there (quote includes slab granite for shower walls in addition to counter and tub) so about $77 per square foot. I think what we've chosen is on the more expensive side for granite; funny how it seems to work out that way. Original allowances from our contractor were $10k for kitchen and $4k for bath, so we're over that (bath one was for granite countertop and tile shower, but I'm really leaning towards the granite for both and no grout!)

I am definitely a "3 ring binder with page protectors" scrapper. I started making these scrapbooks this way before I had even heard of Creative Memories and they work great for me. I definitely like the flexibility it affords me to move pages as I am organizing. Norma - I am in the middle of doing a heritage scrapbook of my maternal family. It sure is fun but a lot of work! Where have you gotten some of your ideas for arranging pictures on the pages? Do you have any advice for the heritage scrapper? I would love to hear any ideas and suggestions. I am looking for 5X7 embossed frames with rectangular centers but can't find any. They only carry ovals. Any ideas? Thanks! :-)

I totally agree, Carrie! Mini gift albums are SO FUN to make! I kept hearing about them and seeing them at Michael's but didn't give them too much thought. But Christmas came around and the idea became just too cool as personal and unique gift. I'm so glad I finally decided to try and make one. I found that the little pages aren't limiting at all -- you're right, Carrie, you can do so much with them! I made a gift album for my df (link below) using all my "leftover" pictures -- I was at a loss with what to do with them. It was sooooo QUICK and easy to make. I believe it's Sue who has a link to a mini album on this forum as well. Hers is really cool! EVERYONE, DO TRY THESE AT HOME! :o) Here is a link that might be useful: Leah's mini gift album