Runmede, Thanks for sharing this information, and thanks for all the hours you've contributed to getting the word out and working to develop habitat to support the Monarchs. If we each could educate just a few close friends or colleagues and encourage them to mention these issues among their aquaintences, then a general consciousness of the problem would grow. Already, we've seen the growth of native plant businesses and the increased use of native plants in the traditional gardens. We just need to expand on the progress that has been made and keep building up momentum. Projects like yours will help immensely. Many of us don't have as many hours to devote as you do, but we can still help. I mentioned the Monarch plight during devotions at the start of our weekly business meeting. I also gave a brief explanation of how/why I garden the way I do at my office party, for a few folk who were hanging around by me. I get a chance to talk to patients and families on a daily basis, and once in awhile we get on to the subject of gardening or scary environmental changes--especially with cancer patients. Of course, I deal with whatever the patient needs, but if an obvious opening occurs in a conversation, I mention it as casual conversation. I have learned that broaching these issues needs to be done with extreme caution and sensitivity. The last thing we need to do is come across as superior and judgmental. I find the easiest way to be gentle is to just describe how I started gardening and reading on line and discovered how fun it is to observe the increase in the diversity of bugs and birds I saw in my garden in a short time. And mention how relatively carefree native plants are, since they evolved to exist in each region without the support of humans and irrigation or fertilizers. Depending on the audience, then you can observe how much less expensive it is to maintain a native garden patch than it is a manicured lawn--no watering, mowing, or weed killers. Plus, you get butterflies and hummingbirds! I should stop wandering. This is just how I'm treating myself Christmas morning. I'm procrastinating getting work done, which is due by the 31st. But, this feels at least as important, from a global sense. And I've already accomplished much of what work needs. Hope I've provided a bit of inspiration for some of you. I'm off to check in with the rest of my favorite forums. Martha

Lisa, I've only seen one teeny-tiny snake so far this year and it was just a little striped racer. Unfortunately, it was lying under a flat of plants and we both were startled when I picked up the flat and the snake and I saw each other. I stepped back east, and it slithered west, and we all lived happily ever after. The snake thing I've learned the hard way is that if I take my eyes off of a venomous snake long enough to go into the house and get a gun, by the time I get back outside, it is long gone and then I have to wonder and worry about where it went. Having finally wised up, I have several wonderful neighbors who will drop everything and drive over (none of us are within easy walking distance of one another) and shoot a snake for me and they're all programmed into my cell phone. We leave the snakes in the 10+ acres of woodland alone, but if they're up close around the house, barn/garage, potting shed, chicken coop or garden, they don't survive. If you've ever had a friend get bitten by a venomous snake and seen what they've gone through, you do not want to go through that yourself ever. Some of the women who grew up here and who are more used to seeing snakes than I am can just take a garden hoe and chop one of them up. I just cannot make myself do that. I have accidentally chopped up copperheads with the lawn mower. Wouldn't you get out of the way if you were a snake and you felt a lawnmover coming? Dawn

It's going to be fabulous! Can you share your floorplan with us? What's worse than DH pushing himself to spend every waking hour working? DH not working on the remodel! With the kind of schedule he's putting in, the kitchen will get done. Meanwhile, you get to pretty much be a single parent while your house is torn up, and you have a second or third job as a construction worker. My nagging mommy advice: You and DH both need to get plenty of sleep to stay healthy and keep your enthusiasm up and tempers down. In your pics I can see that there's still some patching to do, but it looks like most of the heavy work is done. It's surprising how quickly things start coming together at this stage. It will get done. It really, really will! And it's going to be beautiful. And it'll function SO much better! And you'll have a clean, quiet, easier home to bring the new baby into. Congratulations!

Things are really coming together for you! I'm almost at your point. My GC is hired, I've chosen my appliances. (Well, maybe I'm not quite sure on my cooktop yet. Need to do a bit more research to check out the chosen one.) Good luck! We'll be here along the way and expecting to hear about your progress! Here comes another GW kitchen, here comes another GW kitchen.....