This is an interesting topic for your thread, caught my attention immediately. I have been photographing my garden a bit this year (although I am still so sluggish about the whole Photobucket to posting online thing. Never sit still long enough to learn how to post a photo here!), and I am finding out that several hours in the middle of the day produces the worst photos. I have had the best luck so far in early evening or late afternoon. But, for sheer enjoyment of the garden, I'm with Florence, I love the early morning in the garden with a steaming cup of hot tea or coffee, a warm scone or muffin, and only the wildlife for company That is as close to Heaven as I can get this side of death. Soft morning light, the wind whispering through the tall pines, cottonwoods, and pecan trees, sometimes the sun in a haze of clouds with rays shining forth. Even a cool and foggy morning can be nice, the muffled sounds, as if the creatures are in a hush, afraid to speak out in the silence... Yes, definitely morning, and any lighting that the weather provides!

i am a caregiver for the elderly,i have been since the early 1980's.my first reason was, i was caring for my husbands uncle who's children wanted to put him in a NH when they found out he had terminal cancer.this man gave to his children,when they needed money they knew when and where to go,and of course this gentle man never complained and always said good things about them.i being only the neice-in-law to this man became close to him,and as he was dying in a coma i heard one of the brothers say,he always yhought of me as his daughter because he only had boys.after that experience i thought to myself i could get paid for doing work like this, i only have to become certified.and i did,throughout the years and experiences i have had even with my husband and children involved in one particular job(alzheimers),one of my hardest jobs.my kids were young and all a part of the care routine.they are grown up now with their own children and are good kids,and are always willing to help an older person in need which to most kids these days don't give an elerly person the time of day.i remember being in a grocery store and there was this little old frail lady trying to get someone, anyones attention to reach and get something on a higher shelf she could not get herself,and you would not believe how many i watched either paid no mind or just shrugged away.whats the matter with most of us???? these are our elders,,they are good story tellers if only people will sit down and listen.we all have a past to be able to have a future,and who gives us that chance????.i am trying to be brief about this and it seems that i could go on and on. anyhow i have been on this one job for approx.7 1/2 yrs. another alzheimers patient,and my experiences on the last several years is somewhat pretty dramatic.to see what this old person is going through with all of the inside bickkering within the family. i study this old person facial expressions and what i see from what i hear from the squabblings makes me wonder,how much does this person really understand and is only not able to communicate with words that can be understood????.we need to pay attention and be careful what we say.this job i was going to leave and did go on another job interview,but when i thought of the reason i was going to have to give was better pay.....thats when i realized that i was going to tough this job out even though it is very stressful for me....i didn't go on another job interview for more money,i guess i just wanred a break...i say to each his own every family situation is differnt and some good people who care more about this elderly people than the money could maybe work someting out with such families as to where these elderly people don't get sent to these homes and can remain in teir own homes...i know it's psossible because one of my jobs i compromised with the family and got paid a certain amount of money,no matter if i worked 80 hours or 10 hours.and i do have my husband to thank for this he stood behind me on whatever i decided,worked at his own job then helped out with other things when he could...i guess you can say god sent an angel 30 yrs. ago to me and i married him!!!!ha ha my apologies for the words that are mis spelled,i am tired but thought i should post this,i am new in here by the way....

We've been in for 4 1/2 months now and overall are very happy with how our new home turned out. Things I love: Wood floors - Ours are 4" white oak, site finished in a medium stain color, satin finish(not shiny). Dover white laquer painted woodwork, mouldings, and cabinetry. We have stained cabinets in a couple of bathrooms, and I'm glad I didn't go stained in the kitchen and rest of the house. The stained acts like a dust magnet and washes out the paint color on the walls. But most of all, white wood against painted walls and hardwood floors just makes me happy.:-) Love my kitchen. Thank you kitchen forum! Definitely pay a visit over there if you're just getting started. -It turned out beautiful(white custom cabs, arched hood, wood floors) -Lots of well placed lighting all on dimmers -Functional, large layout with specific work zones -Danze faucets and pot filler -Silgranit sinks(love the big single basin and the round prep!) -Bosch ovens -Dacor 36" gas cooktop -Kitchenaid DW and Fridge -Giallo Ornamental granite -Microwave built into the island -Trash pullout -Tons of deep drawers instead of cabinet doors -Step in pantry Smart Strand carpet - feels and looks great - LOVE IT!!! Love our huge paved, curvy driveway and walkways. Lots of room for the kids to ride bikes, scooters, and play basketball. Huge covered porches front and back Exercise room off of master for treadmill and weights Walk in attic access from upstairs Huge bonus room upstairs Big laundry room with 2 washer and 2 dryer hookups, quartz folding countertop, deep stainless sink, and plenty of storage. Love that the dryers vent right outside, not up through walls and then to the roof like our last house. Makes cleaning the duct a huge pain and cuts down on effiency. Sound system with speakers throughout and on back porch Paint colors - Tobacco Road(main), Dover White(woodwork) Lots of lighting throughout almost all on dimmers Schlage door hardware and deadbolts Love being out in the country on a little land with tons of trees and a pond. Peaceful and lots of room for the kids to play and explore. Things I'd do differently - Insulate wall where upstairs bath plumbing runs downstairs for sound reduction. Put in sprinkler system - On the list to do next spring Wish we would've upgraded to satin or eggshell paint in the bonus and kids rooms. Went with flat to save money figuring we could always repaint later.

I'd have to say that even with the problems I've had with my SM, growing up with a blended family situation itself has definitely helped me to be flexible as a person, and of course it's exposed me to multiple lifestyles and even cultures. My mom and her family and my SF and his family are all Jewish; she grew up in Pittsburgh, he grew up in Cleveland, and I grew up with them in Miami. My Dad is half Italian and half Scotch-Irish and grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, very "Mayberry" or even "Norman Rockwell"-like. It still is literally like 1952 there, and I love that as much as I love the cosmopolitan modernity and excitement of Miami. SM grew up in Alabama. I now live in the South, and there are many things about it I embrace. (Conversely, there's several things about each place that I think are less-than-great.) I've learned to love and embrace ALL of it as literally parts of myself, and feel I have things in common with a wide variety of people. The travelling back-and-forth and adjustments have their down sides, as we've all discussed. But one thing I will say is that it can make a kid a bit more broad-minded, diverse and inclusive. Even without the culture or geographic differences. When this goes relatively well, this can be one of the ways a kid can "make lemonade out of lemons" and turn into a good experience. My experience with my SF has been all-around very good. I absolutely consider him a "bonus" to my life in every way, and very "parental" in a good way. I don't talk about him much on here b/c there's hardly anything to complain about! LOL...