I use a seed planter and love it. It makes planting a whole lot quicker and saves bending and having to handle individual seeds. It is great for a handicap gardener. Although, this year, has been a disaster, garden-wise. It has been waaay too hot for someone with Lupus to get outside. I cannot get out in the sun and the heat gets me. Usually, we have some cloudy & rainy days that I can get outside and work in. We have had less than an inch of rain since spring. We have cracks in the yard big enough for a shoe to fit in. Real dangerous!! I have my tomatoes mulched a foot deep and still have to water each plant twice a week for quite sometime. We have not had much rain since last fall so it is taking a good bit of watering even with mulch. Normally, with mulch that thick, we can go at least two weeks between watering or rainfalls. This year, we are barely keeping anything alive watering twice a week. So, the only things that I'm watering are my tomatoes. My humingbird vine has done well as have several of my perrenials. The plants which have suffered most have been plants which are normally grown in dry areas. Beats me!!

I love white lilacs and free is always the best price! I changed my center bed to a circle and my son gave me a great idea to put a bean teepee in the center. Now I'm not sure what to edge it with. I won't have enough marigold and alyssum but I do have 9 pink/yellow mini roses. (good sale at the food store before Mother's Day.) But, today, I also thought about adding in some globe basil to look like little boxwoods. Or, should I scrap that and just direct sow some dwarf zinnia and sunflower. I also switched from attempting a step-over dwarf pear hedge to installing 4 blueberry bushes to divide the potager from the hop yard. I still would love to try the step-over pears, but unfortunately, only so much time in the weekend and my wallet seems to be filled with receipts instead of dollars at the moment.

Law- I understand about wanting the cooktop and ovens close together! It is much easier, than hauling hot pans around the kitchen (and dodging kids in the process LOL). Here's another idea. If you're using a CD fridge, why not take advantage of that depth and put it closer to your work area? I put the fridge next to the door to the deck (close to the table and easy for kids to grab drinks). You still have the beautiful bump out window (for light and herbs) with the sink centered underneath. I put the dishwasher between the fridge and sink, but others might like it better on the other side. Whatever you decide, have you thought of DW drawers, rather than a raised DW? It gives you the standard countertop height, but a quick load can be put in the top drawer. If bending over is a problem, maybe a DW drawer on either side of your sink, with the trash moved to the island? The cooktop is now on the other wall, facing the kitchen table, where you can really see the backsplash and decorative elements. The ovens are on the wall to the dining room, with a nice countertop/landing space, next to them. I left your pull-out, since it brings the oven doors over to a better area, not right in the doorway. The doors to the dining room are moved over a bit, and the desk/storage area is smaller, but still there. On the island, you could put a prep sink, if you like, or use it more for a work area. It's really up to you. Same thing with the microwave. You could put one in the island, but with younger kids, you might want the kind that locks. For me, I also have back trouble at times (so literally feel your pain) so I'm planning to have one oven with the cooktop (or range) and one raised oven with the microwave over it. I have this oven/microwave set up now...and I really like it. Hope this gives you some more ideas for your kitchen! Oh, and sorry this is kind of rough...still getting used to paint, but hopefully you get the idea :)

I urge you to at least find a low cost MLS listing service. Without the exposure in the MLS, you are unlikely to be abel to actually find a buyer in any length of time. You would be relying on word of mouth vs. being exposed to the entire world of people who might be searching in your location. Plus, it would also be wise to re-assess your price. If you have to sell, cut your losses and SELL, rather than having months and months of carying costs that cost you more than it would if you wer just to cut your price up front.