>"Gary, any thoughts as to how it came in so strong after a redo? " jdruding holds the answer to that question, but I suspect disturbance of the soil when making the seedbed by either core aerating, using a dethatcher etc etc, or bringing in foreign soil or compost (*see picture) to level, top dress and etc. >"I'm wondering if the seeds were sitting dormant in the soil, waiting to pounce." Sounds like they were wind blown, since wherever you have a wind break, ie house, fence, shed, you are seeing weeds. How long they have been there, and where they came from, lord only knows. Poa annua seeds remain viable for many, many years. I am a huge proponent of NOT core aerating and advocate "let a sleeping dog lie" for this reason. ----- * Now I have been told, that probably the bag was damaged and THEN a wind blown crab grass seed found this bag .... (in the middle of a concrete jungle of a big box store) I disagree. I'll bet the seed was in this compost and germinated once the bag was damaged, receiving warmth, moisture and sunlight, just as it would when applied to ones lawn or garden. Funny thing, read the instructions - it says to till in to a 6" depth. Yeah sure - till in MORE weed seeds and bring your existing ones to the surface. That sounds like fun!

Everything you've chosen is lovely -- you have a beautiful and tasteful eye. I read that you already chose armchair #1 and now I want to tell you why you made the right choice (in my opinion, that is): We have chairs similar to your #2 choice and reading that you have NOT sat in them I'd like to offer my (twenty-)two cents. Yes, they are deep and comfy for cuddling little children, curling up to read a book or take a nap. However, they are also difficult to get out of -- during both my pregnancies I could not sit in those chairs without either somebody helping me out or without first piling loads of pillows in the back so I was more upright. My father occasionally walks with a cane -- his stability is not great. He, too, cannot sit in our armchairs without assistance getting up or the pillows wedged in the back. I don't know your age / life circumstances, but it's something to think about .... Also, our chairs have wheels in the front bottom too, and they do wiggle! (We have hardwood floors -- might be better on carpet.) So we have little cups for them which look a bit ugly but better that than vroom-vroom armchairs! I'd also like to pipe on about your barstools: I happen to love a rush seat (love it!), but think the Pierre Deux barstools with their carving might, as kmcg85 wrote about the mantel, bore you after a while. I don't know, I guess based on all your beautiful choices I'm pulling toward the third barstool pictured. I'm not sure I can put my finger on why, but to my eye it just makes better "sense" with the other pieces / fabrics you've already selected (or are in the process of selecting). I'm really looking forward to seeing your space -- you have beautiful taste! (and I just might get some of your barstools myself!)

Here is the main view of our kitchen, please remember we are nowhere near done yet. The panels for the pantry and fridge are not in yet, and the fillers are missing, and nothing is level, etc.... So it is hard to get a good feel for what effect the slight overhang will have. I have a feeling it wont look too bad... But now I am more concerned about the discoloration! And yes, we definitely stated we wanted flush. I attached a picture below of the other piece of granite that was installed correctly as flush. So it is possible. Also, I attached a pic of the kitchen that was our insipiration. We saw the showroom for this kitchen and loved it and decided to copy it. That kitchen had flush countertops AND we actually hired the exact same company who did the countertop for that showroom!!!! We hired them because we thought they would know what they are doing and be perfect for the job. I guess we were not lucky. Hmmmmm, what should I do? I wonder what that discoloration is? They installed the counters on Wednesday, so I cant imagine the discoloration is from dampness. I supposed if we have to redo the counters due to the discoloration, then that would solve the overhang issue. Main Kitchen Pic: http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/02/main_kitchen_pic.html Cabinet Closeup Pic: http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/02/cabinets_2.html Not Flush Countertop Pic: http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/02/countertop_too_wide.html Flush Countertop Pic: http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/02/flush_countertop.html Pic of Kitchen we are Copying. http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/02/kitchen_we_are_copying.html

Thanks again everyone for the replies. I have to say my uneasy feeling is not going away. Here's the latest. So please chime in if this appears to be red flags. At this point we are thinking of canceling the order. I had only talked to the fabricator once. This was when she set up the appt for the template. I went to the granite warehouse (2 hrs away) and only saw 2 slabs that were not really to my liking. I did tag one as the warehouse wasn't sure when they would get more slabs in. They said I could tag one and wait so I did that. I was told by the warehouse that more granite would come in. First it was a few days, then they said no, its more like a week, then its 2 weeks. So I have called every few days to see if more granite is in. I can tell they are getting annoyed with me and now have been told "they will call when they get a truck." At this point, I have no idea when they will get more granite. I put in a call to the fabricator to find out what happens if no more granite comes in and if they could work around an undesirable spot on the slab I did put on hold. No return call. After 3 days Im getting peeved. Each time I call it always goes to voicemail. On the 3rd day I left a message stating I really wanted to hear back. When no call came my husband called HD to complain. HD manager said she would contact the rep. So the installer comes to do the template. I ask him about my concerns with the slabs and the one I have on hold that has an undesirable spot and if it can be worked around. He said I need to talk to the fabricator. He just installs. Okay fine. He said he had to take my sink with him. After he left, then it dawned on me. I just gave my new sink to someone that I don't even know where he is from. I say this because he mentioned he works for so and so which is a different name than the fabricator. So it appears so far there are 3 separate companies involved in this process. The granite warehouse, the fabricator and the installer. Fabricator calls me early this morning. She sounded nervous and a bit frazzled. Im sure she got a phone call from HD or the rep from her company. She apologized and said its been extremely busy and she has had some family issues to take care of. I told her my concerns about everything. She asked me to text a pic of the slab to her phone so she can see it. She said if the undesirable spot is in the middle of the slab, it could be a problem trying to fabricate around it. She didnt sound too encouraging that the undesirable spot would be left out. She said I can come and see it templated on the slab. I don't even know if I want that slab anymore. I feel like I don't have a choice. Not that she didnt say that but if the granite warehouse can't tell me when they will get more it bothers me. The fabricator told me I chose a popular stone, it could be a while before more comes in. I got the feeling she was trying to rush me off the phone. I could hear maybe some kids in the background and then a car horn beeping. Could be just a neighbor or whatever but I got the vibe someone was honking for her because of how fast she was talking especially after the horn beep. She said she would contact the production manager about the undesirable spot. She hopes she can call me back today. I told her that we were thinking of canceling and I wanted to know where my sink was. She said the guy that did the template works for her but he is located in such and such city which is pretty far away. (Great) So I hung up with her and now its back to the waiting game. Now I feel its all just a hassle. I am really leaning toward canceling all of this but now I have track down my sink and more than likely go drive to get it. Well so it happens my husband has to go to that particular area for work tomorrow (a complete fluke) and he said he could swing by where that installer is located and get our sink. He is leaving it up to me to cancel and I am on the verge. If this is how its gonna go before I even have the work done, what happens if we end up with a problem? What you do think? Red flags? Is this how it goes? I mean I understand its a process but I got a bad feeling. Thoughts?