I'm trying to catch up on everybody's posts but wanted to comment on your pretty blooms especially. That 'Larry's Obsession' is a remarkable work of art. It reminds me of 'Berry Cheesecake' which I have, but with more teeth. I also like that 'Old King Cole' seedling, but then I love 'Old King Cole' so any children of his are guaranteed to be pretty...he's one of my favorite daylilies. Thank you too for posting those cute kitties of yours on my last thread. I love Little Boy and Caramel and they made me smile. Celeste

Pretty rooms. One option is to hang roman shade bamboo blinds over the windows that you can pull up/down as needed, under a curtain rod placed up by the ceiling, with stationary curtain panels on the sides. The panels would be just for decoration. I'll attach a photo of where I've done this in my kitchen. I think this would look nice in those rooms, because it makes the room appear taller by using the space that you have over the windows. I have a similar space over my sliding door, and the bamboo blinds sit there while not being used. I'm sure my description isn't great, so hopefully the attached photo will help. How wide are the large windows? I got my bamboo blinds from overstock.com, they may go up to 72 in.

Love seeing your yard! Thanks for persevering to get us all these lovely long shots of your garden. Your ALMD is wonderful. I have a yearling in my yard that is doing well and also just put out a flush. I cut bunches of the flowers off to let her grow more leaves, but she is determined to bloom.

Thanks for the messages folks :) I would like to slow down. I'd like more time. The trouble is that our father needs a home right away, and by building he will live on the main of our house (and the kids upstairs). It makes a pretty big difference to be able to have him here as it's his farmland we live on. The benefit of the second plan, with the kitchen, dining, and living room on one side, is that it is almost an exact replica of our current home, 20 ft from the build site. It is an old Eaton's catalogue home. Instinctually I prefer it, because it is familiar. I know how our family flows in that space, yes, even with three kids and one two door bathroom. The other one is my attempt to change things up a bit with the living room at the front. Our architect helps tighten everything, but for the conceptual decisions like this I am hoping for some help. He pretty much is used to designing for city folks who want the kitchen at the back, and we are the opposite. I need to see the whole south and east yards from the kitchen for when the kids get home.