This is another area where it may be better to hire a registered LA over a landscape designer. A designer may not be required to disclose a conflict of interest, and even if he should violate general state law, he has only to deal with the particular case at hand. On the other hand a registered LA has gone through a lengthy process to gain registration and has a great motive to retain his title. Though the language may vary, most states will be found to have rules for the LA that deal with conflicts of interest. In Oklahoma: (a) A Registrant or Entity shall not accept or receive compensation directly or indirectly for services from any person or Entity other than the client in connection with the reparation, alteration or construction of a project in relation to which the Registrant or Entity shall have accepted employment in any manner. (b) If a Registrant or Entity has any business association or direct or indirect financial interest in a project undertaken to perform professional services, the Registrant or Entity shall fully disclose in writing to the client or employer the nature of the business association or financial interest, and, if the client or employer objects to such association or financial interest, the Registrant or Entity shall either terminate such association or interest or offer to give up the commission or employment. In Texas: (b) An Architect shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any financial or other valuable consideration, material favor, or other benefit of any substantial nature, financial or otherwise, from more than one party in connection with a single project or assignment unless the circumstances are fully disclosed in writing to all parties. (c) An Architect shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any financial or other valuable consideration, material favor, or other benefit of any substantial nature from any supplier of materials or equipment or from any contractor or any consultant in connection with any project on which the Architect is performing or has contracted to perform architectural services. (d) The phrase "benefit of any substantial nature" is defined to mean any act, article, money, or other material consideration which is of such value or proportion that its acceptance creates an obligation or the appear- ance of an obligation on the part of the Architect or otherwise could adversely affect the Architects ability to exercise his/her own judgment without regard to such benefit. To bring up an obligation to disclose all conflicts of interest after the work is well underway is apt to strain the relationship between client and designer. Better to do this on the front end. "Mr. LA, I would like to select you to do my project. Your status as a registered LA is an important part of my decision. You have proven qualifications to the state board, you have professional obligations beyond that of an unregistered person, and I am confident that any conflict of interest that may arise will be promptly disclosed to me."

Feeding the birds is a good use of bricks, too, especially when they're surprised by early Winter weather. :) Here (SoCal), we've had a couple of brief entries into Autumn weather, but always quick rebounds into general Summer. It's very confusing since it still gets dark when it feels like it should be light until a couple of hours later. If KAF actually put the recipe on the back of the bag, it's probably foolproof. That is, it's probably meant to be successful even with variations in temperature, humidity and oven climate. Edie, I just tell the truth as I see it--I'm happy to be supportive, but won't mislead you to do so. Baking bread is a normal kind of thing. Everyone with ordinary physical and mental acuity can bake bread, can dance, can sing. Perhaps there will be differing levels of natural giftedness, but all can learn to a level of competency, no matter the age. The homely arts belong to all of us. Not everyone can engineer a skyscraper that won't topple in an earthquake. Even among those well trained to do so, there's a level of magic, that is, intuitive synthesis of massive knowledge, that is necessary as well. I read once that a German master baker, who grew up in the trade, said that there was no way to learn what he knew without dedicating decades starting from puberty. I'm sure that's true. But if you're not in the business of making loaves by the dozens daily, and requiring a level of perfection that comes from professionalism, you can still bake bread. Same as someone who only has middling control over productive pitch can still learn to sing a song that won't make listeners put their fingers in their ears. Practice and familiarity with one bread, or one song, and from there to a repertoire, substitute for the lifetime of study of all breads or all vocalizations. Going wrong sometimes helps. I would never have landed on WTF Bread if I hadn't been out of it on baking day. :) And WTF is the closest I've come yet to what I've been aiming for. :) I'm not far behind you in age, or far in front in experience out of my comfortable recipes. I've learned scads in the last six months, and have learned far more from my "failures" than my roaring successes. At a certain age we have the time and head space for contemplation and a more interesting kind of learning. And we can have, oh, so much fun!

@LisaKoback We are building the La meilleure vie plan by David Wiggins also and we are looking for a basement plan with steel beams and I-joist instead of the wooden laminated beams that Wiggins provided for us. Would you be willing to share steel beam size and I-joist dimensions? Or your basement page of print only? Thanks so much. jamesmelson34@gmail.com James

Time to revive this exercise thread. Sorry, due to a glitch I couldn't do a new post. ............................................................ I have had a bad month and a half. As I have mentioned before I work around a few issues so I'm always playing catch-up. No matter...I will not give up. It's ok that I will never be in the advanced catagory. It's ok that I have to make several modificationS. My new dog added to the usual with throwing my back every which way possible while leash training. I was sitting in misery stuffing my face. Things are better now. Anyway, thought I would share some of my favorite "new" workout dvd's. I like these because they are more intermediate but can be modified to more beginner for my bad days or harder for rare good days. Two are short with one only twenty minutes (the 20 min. DVD kicks my butt). One is longer but it goes by fast. I just need light/med hand weights and a mat. There is a suggestion of a small ball for abb work but I modify. Share your workouts , obstacles and DVD recommendations (if you have any) and why you like them. My new to me fav's! 20 minute https://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Michaels-30-Day-Shred/dp/B00127RAJY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539109104&sr=8-2&keywords=Jillian+30+day+shred 30 minute & you can use a chair or furniture instead of a bar. Great for legs!!!! https://www.amazon.com/Physique-Cardio-Blast-Minute-Workout/dp/B00OP4QU92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539109264&sr=8-1&keywords=physique+cardio+blast+30+minute+workout This last one I like a lot. It's very doable. Longer but the time seems short. https://www.amazon.com/BarreAmped-Bootcamp-Suzanne-Bowen/dp/B00GVHA04C