I'd simplify the perimeter. This complicated footprint serves no purpose and will be incredibly expensive to build. The laundry door may be a problem. It's going to knock against that closet door. Options: 1) Go with a pocket door -- after all, that's not a door where privacy is needed. 2) Move the closets to another location in the laundry room and have a plain countertop behind the door. I agree that ALL the bathrooms need a linen closet -- under-cabinet storage is minimal at best. I have only a 24" wide linen closet in my bathroom, but it's plenty for towels, extra toiletries and (most importantly) a hamper in the lower half. When you find yourself in an emergency, all the toilet paper in the world doesn't help . . . if it's stored in the laundry room. I personally would cut two of the bathrooms and save MAJOR money. Plus I would never want to clean all these! I like the massive walk-in shower. Since you say this is your dream home /forever home, I'd definitely be sure it's a barrier-free, no-door shower. Of course, since it's upstairs, that's not such an important point. You said you don't understand the idea of why people suggest a reach-in closet. Here's the reason: A walk-in closet ONLY makes sense from a mathematical /maximize storage space point of view when the closet is wide enough for storage on BOTH SIDES. Look at the walk-in closet spaces in some of your secondary bedrooms. You have a square space so it's a walk-in . . . but how much storage space /hanging space will actually be available? It's really only the back of the closet (the same amount of space you'd have with a reach-in). In a case like this, you gain no extra hanging space . . . so you're building closet space that serves no purpose except walking space. In a case like this, it makes more sense to keep that open space in the bedroom, where it is available for other purposes.

I posted on my "Tricks & Treats" thread about this interesting nut "caltrop" which is also known as water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod, Singhara or Eurasian water chestnut. I discovered it when I had to help a gluten intolerant friend. From the WEB: [The main ingredient in my gluten-free naans is water chestnut flour. This flour is called singhare ka atta in India and is eaten by Hindu ladies on festive occasions or fasts, in place of a gluten diet. It is also an important ingredient in traditional Chinese cooking.] I have the nuts in my freezer, I may try to make arepas with the flour. Thanks all for posting the recipes. dcarch

It's a National Rotary B. You have an open-toed foot for it in your attachment set--it's sitting on the pile of old pins by the bobbin. I'll have to check the date for it later. Roughly, it's going to date to 1940-1950 or so.

I guess this is what people view as a success - A marriage lasting now about one year, after having 3 children out of wedlock (different fathers), one long term GF relationship. Ima I think some of your perspective comes from such a tough start that your present marriage represents an improvement . From Ima I am bio mom My Son-21 next month; The circumstances of his conception are too hard to talk about and I will leave it as I never had a relationship with his father. He met him when he was 4 and the court gave him visitation. He exercised it (I believe to torment me) until my son was 12, when he just ended all contact. My son had a step mom that, as far as my son says, treated him well. She treated me terribly. Both have since done time in prison and I don't have any contact with them. My son's relationship with them is up to him. I stay out of it. My son just moved back home with us to get his life on track. My Son-18 I dated his father (we worked together) and he stopped dating me before I found out I was pregnant. His father has never been a part of his life. Due to legal issues, parentage was just determined in November. (we are awaiting a court ruling on back child support) My son finished HS a year early thanks to homeschooling & in his 2nd year in college. He lives with us full time; My Daughter-17 Her father stepped in when I was left pregnant with my son. He was a friend from high school that wanted to "take care of me" but within a few months of my son's birth, he split (got another girl pregnant too), leaving me pregnant as well. He disappeared and we just found him a couple of years ago, living in Texas. He's got over 8 kids out there and not supporting any of them. I tried to get him to see his daughter & would give up the arrears he owes but he left the state. She is a senior being home schooled. She also helps care for my step mom when I can't. I had a tubal ligation after she was born. I was a live in girl friend I had a 7 year relationship where I raised my ex's three children (through grade school years). We didn't have any children, but I had an ectopic pregnancy with him. When he made me drive myself to the hospital, I knew it was over and I left him. The experience taught me about raising someone else's children. His ex wife was not involved at all. I was a single parent For about 6 years, before I met my husband. I was the sole financial support for three teens and I let rules slide and was inconsistent. It wasn't working for us. (it was when I was a single parent, that I nearly died. I had decided before I got ill, I would wait until my kids were grown to get married. I didn't want them to have to deal with a step dad telling them what to do. However, it wasn't a stable situation for any of us and I decided that I wanted to have a family situation, for them as much as for me. I think they needed more stability and structure. I needed adult companionship and help in creating stability & structure.) As single parents, we tend to talk to our kids about adult issues or our problems and we should really have adult friends or companions for that. I am married (my husband is also 38) for a year, together three years (my first marriage, his first "legal" one: He was "married" for a year but found out the license was never filed with the clerk) He got together with his daughter's mom shortly after his "marriage" ended and she got pregnant right away. He never married her because she's still married to her first husband (Divorce pending for 11 years)