Nice save! They would really enjoy it over on the Garden Junk forum! It's certainly not "junk" but many people would toss it out for landfill instead of "saving it" We love stuff like that! TFS Jan

Loved the pictures. Are there fewer raccoons than there used to be? Did anyone else read Sterling North's book 'Rascal' when they were young? Wild life books were once very popular, Farley Mowat may ring a bell. Raccoons used to be plentiful, when I was a kid. I saw one driving home, er, as I drove home, one night a few years back, and tried to get the neighbor kids to guess what it was. What animal: washes his handlike paws, and his food weighs about 30 pounds climbs trees can open latches wears a mask.....? might live in sewers? ...................not one, eight or ten year old, had any idea. Their tails were used on Davey Crockett's style of cap. That! finally brought one response. There seems to be a wideniing detachment from wildlife as it disappears. How do we interest our kids? They are inside, not learning outdoor rythms and norms just by hanging out. Here is a link that might be useful: Rascal by Sterling North

Thanks. She's excited as it is her 1st time having a kitchen that's the way she wants it. The colour pallete was inspired by the Denby Caramel Stripes pattern so it kicks thing up a bit: some soft beige accents with plenty of deep rust to frame things. While we have sourced all the major components it will be nice to get beyond the cabinetry and start thinking about fun things like accent pieces and accessories, I'm already dressing it in my imagination for the final photos. Way premature but the practical stuff is getting tiresome and there is a lot more to slog through and worry about yet.

Ole Joyful - THANK YOU!!! To everyone else too. The encouragement is very much needed. I think I'm so far ahead of the game right now because of the surgery. As I mentioned, I'm having so much trouble breathing that I'm thinking about getting a temp handicapped sticker. My Dr. agreed. So, as much trouble as it has been, it is good that I can't smoke - I can't even inhale enough to enjoy it. Another thing that is helping - I had an abnormal chest xray but don't know why yet. It was done in the hospital but the Dr. there never told me about the results. The discharge papers said that I needed to check with my PC to follow up on the abnormal CXR. I signed to have them fax the results to my PC. But she was on VAC, and apparently the results were never sent to her. She called to get the results but was out of the office when they came in. Her nurse told me that she had seen the results but hadn't done anything with it. I learned Friday that I have to have a repeat test this week, but the first one didn't show much of anything. My PC thinks that what they saw was a result of surgery. Plus it's bilateral. Usually for CA, it's one side; not both. So, that's another reason for me to stop NOW. Also my neighbor just lost her Mom and Dad (same month) Mom, because of smoking, and when Mom passed, found out another relative may have it too. Soooooo, everyone, please stop smoking. I lot my best friend and love of my life because of it. My Dad smoked since 8yrs old and is now 85. No CA, but COPD. His Dad smoked cigars but no CA. So yes, you can smoke and not get CA. BUT, I'm on a soapbox while I have the nerves of steel to conquer it. So smokers, please stop. It is pretty scary to have someone tell you that you are going to die in 3 mos, and mean it. That said, all smoker's rally, rally, rally - take my hand. We'll all hold hands until the urge is gone. I promise, I'll never let go. For all the kids - teens and 20s, put out those butts, please. It takes sometime 30 -40 years to feel the affects of smoking. You may not get CA but smoking does diminish lung capacity and a whole lot of stuff you don't feel until you are in your 50s and 60s. OK - nuf said. I'll sit down for now. But seriously folks, if you can, please try to stop. If you see young folks smoking - especially the teens, please discourage them. I too wish I had never started smoking. They will too when they get to be my age.