Kate, I'm looking forward to the contest! Sue, I don't know how I missed the doggie pic before! She's a beauty. That is too funny about the deer parts. I don't think I told you I got a new dog this summer. My Creton died of cancer: ( I didn't want to get another dog, but Sammie was very sad and lonely. So we got Charlie who Sammie just loves! He was a special foster dog kept out of the shelter and in a home. He was supposed to have problems.After we had him home for a few days the SPCA called to check on how things were going. I told the lady everything was great, and she said a truly skeptical "Really?" I believe she was worried we would return him which sometimes happens with the special dogs. Well, he truly has ended up being the most well behaved, well adjusted dog we've ever owned, LOL. Angie, Glad I've made you crack up. : ) Remy

Ashli, Your options are numerous. My thinking is that a row of any one thing is less visually appealing than a collection of different plants. It doesn't have to be either or...you could take out a few of the shrubs (maybe two here and one there...) and replace them with whatever you would like. Perhaps a lower growing evergreen to cover the house foundation and plant your roses in front of those. Or you could go with a taller vertical plant in one spot and lower things in another spot. I really like the look of roses against a green background. I think it makes them pop. I would probably do a search looking for as many pictures of rose plantings as I could find and determine which look you prefer from those. A good rule of thumb is to use odd numbers in your plantings. It has been found that this creates a more natural and less rigid look, if that's what you're going for. Good luck with it. Kristi

Well, they seem to have made it through ok, just a weird cold spell. It was about 36 degrees on the coldest night (Tuesday), but that night I covered all the cages and my tarp was big enough to cover them completely. I left the plastic wrapped around the sides for a few days, but it was cold and rainy, so no chance of overheating. I don't think we should get any more cold nights until fall, knock wood. Thanks, everybody.

We are also picking appliances now and made some similar choices. We will get the GE OTR advantium 120 MW, the Samsung counter depth french door fridge, and I have ordered the Electrolux induction range. We have settled on a Kitchenaid DW, one of the ones with the 3rd cutlery rack, but not sure which one. I LOVE the look of the Electrolux slide-in ranges, and I really want induction. Our pans are over 20 years old, so they are pretty much due for replacement anyway. I agree with the trim on the Electrolux, though. I haven't heard this for sure, but it certainly looks like crumbs will collect and get stuck there. I figure that it will be SO much easier to clean the induction top that I am willing to fight with the crumbs (of course I am replacing an old coil electric stove!). I think any of those slide-in choices are fine. I also considered the Kenmore and GE induction ranges, and while I would have been happy with any of them, I was really excited when the Electrolux induction was announced. I'm hoping that it doesn't have lots of bugs (being so new), but it probably will... It might just be me, but I think the Kenmore's have this weird greenish translucent looking film on the glass door front. It would really bug me as our range is very visible in our kitchen. I know the Kenmore's are made by Electrolux, but this seems to be only on the Kenmore doors. You might see what I mean if you can see the Kenmore next to another brand at a store, especially from a bit of a distance (say 10 feet). But any of them are great choices that I'm sure you will be thrilled with. Good luck!