I'm fortunate enough to have a basement in addition to my pantry, and two chest type freezers. I grow my own beef and pork, so I'm not dependent on the specials for what I want for dinner. I also have a big garden and can or freeze vegetables, so I nearly always have something I can turn into a meal in a pinch. I stock up on things like paper goods, canned broth, peanut butter. Like Michael I don't buy things I know I won't use or eat, other than cheap frozen cheese pizza for Ashley and the grandkids. I sure won't eat that but there's always a couple in the freezer, somehow. :-) Staples for me are baking items like flour and yeast because I bake all my own bread, and cleaning supplies. My only real "grocery" type items are dairy product and fresh produce, I even have my own eggs. When both girls were at home I'd hand them a stack of cookbooks and they'd plan meals, a week each. They either chose favorites or something new. If it was something new they bookmarked the recipe and I could check it for necessary ingredients. I try to go to the grocery store (only one, it's half a mile from the house) once a month but milk won't stay good that long, LOL, so it's more like every week. Now it's just me and Ashley I've abandoned the weekly menu method and tend to cook whatever one of us wants. Ashley didn't feel well a couple of nights ago and wanted chicken rice soup. I made it, but I'll be eating that soup for lunch all week. If I'm making something "messy", like meatballs, I'll make a triple batch and freeze some so I have a quickly "poof"ed (Pull Out Of Freezer) meal in a pinch. Somehow, though, I tend to end up with eggs or cereal in a pinch, that freezer stuff stays frozen until one of the kids finds it. Annie

To steal another poster's word, I don't think the entry is "comically" large -- but it is large in comparison to the other rooms. Thinking about the whole-house plan on the other page, I hadn't realized the rooms were this small. I agree that the dining room is minimal in width. You might consider a built-in banquette on one side instead of chairs. This isn't ideal for such a long room, but those things are massive space savers! Another off-beat idea: Instead of one huge table, how about multiple small tables? I'm thinking of perhaps 3-4 small rectangular tables . . . and for every day you could have just one . . . but for parties you could bring out just two, allowing space in between for movement . . . or you could bring out all of them for the set-up you're discussing right now. You'd need table cloths, of course. Of course, the real issue isn't whether you can seat people in this space -- you can. The real issue is whether those people are comfortable in the process of being seated. Are the first people to be seated "stuck" because of the chairs around them? I also agree with the poster who asked about HOW you'll serve food. For example, I'd say that in my current kitchen (which is not optimal) we always do self-serve buffets: I put out the main dishes on my peninsula, place drinks on another spot in the kitchen, and use the breakfast table for desserts. A better set-up for serving is one of our future kitchen goals. Regardless of how you plan to serve guests, you ought to think through where you'll place things -- and don't forget dirty dishes. You mentioned serving "family style" from the middle of the table. Eh, that's easier with a round table than a long, rectangular table. Things I'd consider: Could you incorporate some type of multi-purpose furniture in the living room /formal parlor . . . furniture that could double as perhaps a place for desserts or drinks during parties? The first thing that comes to my mind is a drop-leaf table, which could sit behind a sofa everyday . . . but could fold out to serve for parties. I do like the butler's pantry concept. For example, it could allow you to plate salads . . . and then they're ready to pass down the table. Well, I thought I had more ideas than two. I guess I didn't. Another vote against the fluorescent light. We had one in a rental house in which I lived years ago, and -- yeah -- it puts out some serious light, but it was very ugly and today would be considered outdated. Your kitchen will be visible from your very-important dining room. Your choices aren't fluorescent lights or pot lights -- other options do exist. Most importantly, consider the function of that light: You're going to be standing in the kitchen facing the wall . . . and if your main light is a big ceiling light behind you, your shadow is falling on your work. In this kitchen, undercabinet lighting is essential. You can also use pendants...

Glenda, sounds like a good time with Linda. Your lunch sounds good, too. Sue, I used to like grocery shopping, if you can believe it! Maybe if we ate out before we went, our darned bill wouldn't be so high!! Shirley, yum--French toast! Sorry about your son. I guess they don't realize it takes some "gearing up" to face surgery. I don't understand how they could have an "emergency" surgery. And how would that affect tomorrow's schedule? So sorry he had to go through that. Georgysmom, your dinner sounds yummy. I like local theater but we don't go anymore. I was surprised the first time we went at how professional they were. And you had an fun evening with friends so that more than makes up for the special effects! Pam, that must've been fantastic to see JCS on Broadway. Lucky you! Yes, Harry's last INR was 2.1, which is within his range of 2.0 to 2.5. Thanks for asking. It's always iffy if it'll be within range or not.

Beautiful sunrise and that other photo reminds me how much I appreciate that for once there is no snow or freezing rain falling here today. Supposed to be coming tomorrow and Monday but all clear for our FL trip on Tuesday.