Karalynn and teeka, cassia bicapsularis is a great idea. I will have to think of where I can put a couple in the future. My neighbor has one that is gorgeous right now, and teeka, I remember seeing yours from your video...stunning. Ariel, I don't know why, but I kill all my salvias. I can't grow them. Have tried several types several times. I've seen your beauties though. Maybe next spring I'll try again. Yes, my coleus is looking raggedy, and I'm worried about tonight and what that's going to do to my heliconias that are just starting to bloom. Teeka, I do have a dombeya seminole that is just starting to bloom- nothing like yours. It doesn't get as much sun as it used to, but still very pretty. It just goes to show that it's important to have good 'bones' in your yard to take the spotlight when other stuff gets bitten back. It's just so early, though. Anna

Before I go, let me apologize. I did not mean to get anyone's knickers in a knot. I did come looking for expert and technical information so that I could do the job right. Just because I cannot do it absolutely legally does not mean that I can't do it correctly and safely and that is my primary objective. I do tend to believe that we are over-regulated and that the regulators can make it harder than it needs to be to live comfortably and safely, but I am not a general scofflaw. Still, I came here for help and then I tried to explain why some of the help wasn't really helpful to my situation, but....I am grateful for all of the responses that were directed towards the technical side, and if I overreacted to being told some things, I am sorry. I will proceed with caution and with consideration for my property, for my neighbors property and for .... everything.

We had four bedrooms and we needed them. I doubt if very many people coming through our home needed four bedrooms, but many commented on the traditional 70's closet although it was big for it's time. I know the buyers were going to make the smallest bedroom into a closet. I don't think making it a 3/2 will hurt resale and addition is going to cost much more. It's not always easy to deal with new foundation and rooflines. The bath conversion won't be cheap anyway and you'll have to see if they can get the plumbing where you want it to go. If they can, I think you will find a nice master is a draw. I'm not sure what you mean by a raised bungalow. Raised ranch? Split entry? I really can't picture all four bedrooms, living. kitchen and dining in that space. A room without a closet does not qualify as a bedroom here, not matter what the age of the home. Gloria

A fireplace in the bedroom in northern New England should definitely be an asset this winter! When we built our house 9 years ago, we had the master bedroom plumbed for a direct vent gas fireplace and even had the mantle/surround installed. But we never got around to putting the fireplace unit in and will be removing the mantle when the room gets redecorated this fall (furniture needs to be on the old fireplace wall). I was thinking, though, how much fuel oil we could save if we used the bedroom and family room gas fireplaces to take the chill off in the evenings/mornings. The fuel savings would probably cover the cost of the fireplace unit in one season! The important thing, as others said, is that YOU will love having this fireplace in the bedroom. And certainly having additional, safe, heat sources in a cold climate region would add home value I think!