Many thanks for your responses, words of encouragement, sensitivity and understanding...you've been where I am now. It's amazing how this situation has affected me. I worried all night, struggling with making the right decision for me. I had intended to spend the next few days thinking it over, perhaps with a clear head and armed with all the needed info. Again today, attempting to enjoy the morning, Mom and Daddy blue flew to the nestbox...NO HOSPS in sight nor did I hear them. Then WHAM...5 seconds later, two females chased away the little couple. I stood there for a minute, chased the HOSPS away and then it hit me! That's it!!! As painful as it is, I know what needs to be done to keep the blues safe. Kathy, I will order the trap you suggested and I will read and re-read all the info provided in the links, but I do have some questions. Is the trap easy to set up and use? I am very mechanically challenged! How do you keep desirable birds out of the trap? What will happen if HOSPS are still around when nestbuilding time arrives? Will the blues continue to be interested in the box even though the HOSPS have chased them away these past two days? Last Jan. and Feb., activity really accelerated with the blues constantly going in and out of the box. Nestbuilding began on 3/13. Gosh, there is so much to learn..it's pretty overwhelming! I'm thankful I found this forum in Jan. and began to learn about these destructive birds, otherwise, their sudden appearance here wouldn't have concerned me one tiny bit, setting up disaster for sure! Yes, Tammy, I'd like your email address if that's ok..mine is beachgirldwk@comcast.net...anyone is welcome to email me, too. It will remain a mystery how these HOSPS found this neighborhood so suddenly. It is no where near the large stores and fast food restaurants where they hang out. My grocery store is only 2 miles from me, but there are absolutely no birds there at all. Too, I feed the backyard birds only the good stuff. Oh well, since they are here, unfortunately I will have to deal with it. Thanks so much again! I'll continue to need your support and patience, for surely there are many questions to come. Donna

There is no license needed to install tile. It appears that your installer had little experience with marble installations. When installing marble or Limestone tile ALWAYS: 1.Before grouting, on a very clean and dry floor, apply a grout release or a first coat of sealer onto the tile to make it easier to clean off the grout. Use only clean water to rinse the flooring. Note use a penetrating sealer and if you don't want the color of your stone to darken, do not use color enhancing sealer! 2. ALWAYS USE UNSANDED GROUT. Sanded grout can scratch the surface of your stone. 3.After grouting and a day or two to allow the grout to dry. Make sure the surface of the marble is clean and apply a final coat of sealer. 4.DO NOT use a haze remover that is acidic only use one that is specified for marble floors. Acid will etch the surface of the marble and ruin it. 5. CLEANING , use stone soap which can be purchased at most big box hardware stores or tile suppliers or water and mop with a damp mop. Rinse your mop frequently and change the water often as the dirt in the water can get into the grout and/or scratch a polished marble surface. I do hope that your tile problem has been resolved. There is nothing prettier than natural stone for flooring.

This is a common problem with crocheting. You must be sure to do the turning chain which is in your pattern, then work back into the last stitch from the row before. You are reducing your work each row if you don't do this. Make sure every row you work is the same number of stitches--count as you go. Another crocheter had the same problem recently and you can read the responses for more help. See below... Here is a link that might be useful: Shrinking crochet work

If you begin your kitchen transformation by painting the cabinets white (NOT antique white) and replace the handles/pulls with the old rubbed bronze ones that you mentioned, I think you would see a dramatic difference. Maybe even appreciate your counter tops and backsplash! Then for the second step, I would remove those corner cabinets and paint the walls a green color very similar to the color of the walls in the 7th photo that Jillius posted. FWIW, I don't care at all for the white subway tile backsplash. I would keep what you've got -- provided you paint the cabinets white. So that's paint (cabinets and walls) and removing the corner thingies, and I think it would make a h-u-g-e difference. Good luck!