Sorry, have not had time to take or post pics, The day the work I described above was being done, I spent the majority of the day taking out and killing the stumps on some weed shrubs, vines and a tree which were rooted beneath and growing through and back again amid that backyard, chainlength fence. The hole clean-up took me a while, because the chainsaw I was using had to be cleaned and adjusted quite freqently during, what should have been a simple Two, at the most, hour job. The next day I spent resting from being out in the heat so long, but did manage to drive all the way into the west side of town at a nursery which had the 17 non-invasive, trees and shrubs I am going to plant for privacy along that now cleaned-out fenceline. Then, today, I worked in the heat again digging holes for 7 of those items, and after taking a few hours to rest and recover from all that work. Now I am about to go over to that house again and dig holes for at least 4 more items, so that only 6 will remain needing to be dug early tomorrow morning. Once I get a hole dug I put one of the potted trees or shrubs in the hole and water it well. I was hoping that digging the holes now would make my job of planting all 17 of those items on Saturday, more feasable. I am planting 6 Thuja Green Giants in front of and along that fenceline, then I got 5 more of those to plant in a staggered fashion in a row in front of the first. Since the design I created presents a problem of 4 feet on each end of that second row looking too bare, it created the perfect opportunity to plant a Red blooming 'Dynamite' Crape Myrtle slightly in front of each end of that shorter front row of Green Giants. They are all 7 gallon potted size trees and shrubs. Small enough to make the job feasible for me, but still big enough to make it quite a massive undertaking for my current, strength and stamina levels. Then to add more seasonal interest, I am planting 4 Itea 'Little Henry' shrubs, which leaf out in the spring, then bloom with white flowers that look like they might be found on a butterfy bush. After the blooms fade the leaves remain the same shade of green as seen on the GGs new growth. That is followed in the fall with the leaves turning a bright red at about the same time the 'Dynamite' crape myrtles' final bloom flush is going to seed and when those CMs are preparing to go dormant for the winter. These 4 shrubs to be planted in front of the shorter row of Green Giants will remain red then until the first of each late fall/early winter freeze, which is when those 4 shrubs drop their leaves. Hopefully the, previously, nearly empty back yard of that house will become an enjoyable place instead of the ugly almost vacant look it had when it was nearly completely filled with only invasive, Bermuda grass and weeds. Best stop this post now, so I can get 4 more holes dug this evening, as our triple digit heat should be just beginning to show the promise of breaking for the day. I did forget to report that my plans to plant the seventeen items on Saturday, is because of that being the first day when the triple digit heat-up pattern has been forecast to break, and when we are supposed to begin getting days filed with the beginnings of our fall pattern lowering temp changes.

Thanks, Kay and Val. You know how the FFO's are - sometimes they are the utmost gorgeous bloom to be had on the plant, never to be quite so stunning again. I hope that's not the case. I couldn't believe my eyes when I measured it. I had to do it three times to make sure. I've had a few of the fall-planted tet seedlings in the backyard bed to bloom this year, but not many. I wasn't expecting any more from them this year. I think the unusual amount of rain we've had this month has really helped. Last year I asked some questions here at the forum if anyone knew about the importance of early morning sun, and no one seemed to know if it made a difference. (Our daylilies were getting at least 5-6 hours of sunlight, but the ones at the back next to the fence were not thriving.) We had an existing 6' board fence across the back (as well as the sides), so we had it and some trees removed or trimmed, and installed a wrought iron one. That and the rain have made a tremendous difference, especially in those planted in the last row closest to the fence. Nancy

Before the dust was settled, we had our annual pumpkin carving party last fall. A few families with children of similar age to ours come over to carve jack-o-lanterns, get sugared up on desserts, and just hang out. We have a bit of counter next to our fridge that used to be occupied by the microwave. After getting an OTR microwave, I had enough room to move the stand mixer over there. As my five-year-old and I were baking desserts like mad before the party, I noticed that everything was going so much faster and more smoothly than it used to. The extra counter space let me work on more than one recipe at a time. I wasnÂt using the stove as counterspace. The new sink was big enough to hold loads of dirty dishes. Honestly, moving the microwave only gave me 2.5 linear feet of space, and I added a couple more square feet by angling some countertop into a corner, but the difference is huge! Plus, now that I have granite instead of laminate, I can put hot pans directly on the counter without hunting for something to set it on. That night I realized that without changing the layout, my little kitchen was actually efficient. Not to mention much more attractive!

Thank you for the nice comments. : ) It is so rich and warm--I am loving it. I only wish I wasn't such a perfectionist--I notice the flaws too. But I know that most anyone who walks in won't be looking for them/at them. I should put out a public "thank you" to members of this board for suggesting Carrington Beige. I was looking at something even warmer, and it was pointed out to me (correctly so!) that it wouldn't work with my runner and upstairs hall carpet. I had worried the Carrington would look more grey, and it certainly doesn't! Lynn, I'm thinking something warm and beige/gold for the dining room, too. I could go green, but I wonder if it might be too dark against the moss green end chairs. I'm open to all suggestions--as long as they will look good with Carrington Beige. : ) The small living room (in back of the dining room) has the same color scheme, though more transitional furniture. I don't know much about the wood. This was not a custom home. We bought it 95% finished. The floors are oak. I don't know any more than that. I'm sorry! The little boy is my 4 1/2 year-old, Joshua. : ) He has a 7 year-old older brother named Jack. : )