As far as I know, Brucemore only does this once a year. But they are hosting the Eastern Iowa Garden and Landscape show again this year and that usually has several vendors. Diann IA Z5a

Here's one thing that has worked its way into DH's and my hearts: a battery powered drink mixer that you place in your cup and stir the powder (or whatever) into the liquid with! Oooh boy, I never reaized, when these things first came out, what a *qualitative* difference they make. People in natural foods stores would try to sell them to us and we'd say "um, we can stir our drinks ourselves--what is this world coming to!" but I have to say I stand and sip corrected. There's *such* a positive change in the taste of drinks I've been stirring by myself :) and having for years, specifically whey protein & milk, and endurox (mixed with water). The stirring is *so* much more thorough, and you can even put a little head on the drink if you want! We also do coffee drinks with it now (iced lattes). I got mine at my favorite store, NIB -- it is probably our most used kitchen tool now. *highly recommended*!

1) I had finally got a hair cut (^_^) 2) Machine knitted hats for charity (^_^) 3) Set up another 3-tiers book shelf and had organized all the knitting books that have been laying everywhere around the house (^_^) "To do" list for the next few days and weeks: 1) Routine back up the laptop 2) Clean the dining room to make room for knitting machines. 3) Clean out stored stuffs from the 3 bedrooms. I really need to do a garage sale. Sigh... I say this every year and haven't gotten to it.

For your project to succeed (fiscally and functionally) you need a talented architect and perhaps a structural engineer. What exists between tear down and do nothing? A world of possibilities. I am a preservation carpenter. I am privileged to have worked with some wonderful homeowners (and many less than!). When they are really committed to the project, wonderful things can happen. In this example, and architect had been retained, but facts on the ground presented themselves as we tore into the building that actually made it more desirable to abandon the 1920's remodeling to an "open concept" and replace the walls as they had been built in 1817. The structure of the house had been severely compromised by the "opening up" of the rooms. Who'da think? There was a 7" sag in this poplar summer-beam. It is the attic floor. It got a steel I-beam dividing it into two half-spans. The second floor framing was all sistered, and four steel columns support the deck. The first floor framing was entirely replaced, and eight footings for posts to support it were added in the basement. A new ledger was bolted to the masonry walls front and rear. The end result: This work also added three new full baths, reframed the entire roof (from beneath, as the standing seam metal roofs were only 10 years old). No kitchen work (except paint, new disposal, some plumbing repairs to tie in to the rest of the house, as that was completely new). The finishes included some very nice touches; Central A/C, keeping the old hot-water radiators; Original windows kept, weatherstripped with spring bronze and new locks; millwork to match original profiles; the old first floor boards all were carefully taken up, re-milled, and re-installed with some new reclaimed heart pine worked in. The second and attic floors were retained in place and just cleaned and waxed. We were able to pull this house back from the brink, literally. It was collapsing in the very center. All this was accomplished for 1/3 the cost of the house. That made good economic sense for the homeowners (and the historic tax credit doesn't hurt either). The house is in a village that is entirely a National Historic _Lamdmark_ district. And the work had to be approved for its authenticity and appropriateness. So even this level of gutting/restoration to an authentic prior appearance _can be done_ if it's carried out by thoughtful and skilled people. Banish the thought from your head that "it can't be that bad" because it probably is worse. Casey Here is a link that might be useful: Photobucket of this house, others