Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?

SM, We're all here to live and learn! LOL Michael Chiarello is a doll. I met him at Wm Sonoma years and years ago in NY when he was demonstrating a recipe with his flavored oils. It was a small store of theirs and empty so I had a long chat. BTW, I use the recipe from that day and his book a lot. It's Pastina Risotto with Roasted Peppers & Broccoli. I'll post if anyone is interested. I loved Julia, warts and all...she still kills me when I see her old shows Ina I find simply annoying because she is so monotone and her speech pattern seems patronizing. Besides, I'm sure that she is out to kill her husband by cholestrol poisoning. Legal, right? I watch anyway...sort of a fascination with the calm. Felt the same way about the old Martha Stewart; respect for talent notwithstanding. Glad I didn't see either of them bath. LOL The there was the Galloping Gourmet! I loved him.

"I'd love to see some real style come to the White House"....isn't that a rather tacky and totally false and unnecessary remark to make on this forum? The White House certainly DOES have stlye and beauty, both inside and out! Mrs. Bush did a wonderful job, plus the Oval Office was perfectly done. The gorgeous custom rug complimented everything from the walls to the stained floors and beautiful furniture.

My former house is in Montclair, and the kitchen was done 8.5 yrs ago by Kitchen Expressions in Millburn. I was very happy with the quality. I enjoy the process so I have to say a fair amount of the layout was my idea and the design part too. As I am now reaching the end of an 19 month project on a different house in a different state, i look back on the kitchen job and appreciate that they were very close to on budget and on schedule. The kitchen held up very well too. Fwiw the project ws down to the studs and the total cost was about 125k. I dont know how to link you to an old post but there are pictures of that kitchen in a post by me called "finished kitchen".