Holy Moly is right!!! Where have you been my friend! You mean to tell me you no longer have to threaten yours?lol You have been missed, at least by me anyway!!! I can't believe that you of all people have managed to keep a gardenia alive for more than one year..Yahooooo and congratulations. Now, can you tell how happy I am that you are back? Now that you are, I shall have to come around more often and check out your pictures of the gardenias that you didn't threaten...By the way, after throwing that other one in the woods, do you think the this one you have has been haunted by some demon plant! That could be it too... So happy your back Mersiepoo! Here are a couple of pictures especially for you I took today of mine growing all winter! Many hugs! I also saved one from Lowes yesterday, that I only paid, are you ready 5 DOLLARS for. I will post you a picture tomorrow my friend! A couple of bonus pictures for you I took within the last couple of weeks. Enjoy Clivia Hoya Brunfelsia! See you soon.. Mike:-)

Hi Karen..thank you for your kind words of encouragement..I do believe in Prayers and Angels..and agree, that from all the wonderful, encouraging responces I've received here... I've found this forum to be a home to many. DH & I went out today to do some shopping and just enjoy the day..it felt good to be back to be doing just the simple little everyday things. kareen..thank you for your good wishes. DH & I are slowly 'bouncing back' to normal mode.. I think, any parent would do all they could to offer help or just support when needed..Funny how when you think you're not important to your kids anymore...they sure look to you for your strength in times like these..and it's also tough to show that strength when you want to just fall apart yourself. But, somehow, we manage to keep it together... I'm am so looking forward to our class with Judith...seems like there will be quite a nice size group joining in too. jane

I hate to see no response to your question, GC, but I don't know what to tell you. I've never done the indirect method b/f, so can't advise you. I love the pattern you've chosen - quite different and simpler than the original. Someone w/surely give you info soon. Only suggestion I w/offer you is: put a thin piece of regular clear glass (so you won't waste your colored tiles) under the fleur de lis - where the thin red goes, and build it up that way. Otherwise, your idea of building the area up w/thinset is a good one also. It's gonna be a beautiful piece. So very glad to see you back.

I'd suggest a pantry cabinet with multiple cabinet doors so you don't have a full door swing in there. Also if you do a cabinet there you loose only 1.5" on each side in space vs. framing which would be 4.5" for an extra wall to be added. What is the depth for the pantry and microwave? I do think that corner will be a little awkward to reach with a full height pantry there. Could you put the mw in the pantry? Then use the current mw space as a appliance garage or a pantry space for less used items. Since the kitchen is small I wouldn't worry about door crossing. Oven door and fridge door tends to be open for only short periods of time. DW is different, but i'm sure you'd learn to work around it.