Hello ladies and happy every Holiday I missed. To those of you who do know me, I am back and mentally back on track (I think). To those of you who don't, well I was I am a member, love everyone here. Went away to do some great mission work and had some very tragic things happen. Many hours of therapy later, and actually returning to the Dominican I think I have healed, I am not bitter, sad, or frightened to leave my house any more. I am able to talk about it and I feel that I can share with postive feelings now. But enough of that. Am I to late for April? Please tell me that I can play in April? Max is 4 and we just looked at Co-op preschool. HE is a mama's boy and didn't want to go to big boy school yet. Maryanne~ I have a box for you that I need to send, but um lost your address.. So Merry Christmas when it comes. Ahh. I just don't know what to say or who to say it to because I am scared I will leave someone out. I tried to read as many posts as my brain can handle, but I am sure that I will need some help. Babies and ornaments, tornados and ahhh.. I am not in Kansas anymore. Please feel free to email me with any personals that you'd love to share. I apologize for being gone so long. If there is anything that you want to know email me. If I need to re-join let me know if there is room. Mayanne_ my big sis.. I hope all is well, miss you and thanks for all your support thru this, even though I was a bad lil sis and became an introvert. But guess what? I am back and better. Missed you all Laura.... beans

Ahh yes, the math skills are really horrible (I don't know if this is just an epidemic in WV or if the whole US is calculator spoiled). I'll never forget one time I was at McDonald's and my total came to something like $4.96 and I gave her a $5...she messed up the register and was completely lost as to how much to give me back. I said "it's just 4 cents, don't worry about it"...but she said "well, then my register will be off"...so I waited for her to go get her supervisor who proceeded to use a calculator to figure up my change. I was completely dumbfounded. I'm not sure those were the exact amounts..but it was very simple math...so sad. The bad thing is I've seen several examples similar to this. For a short while while I was in college, I worked at Shoney's. I ended up quitting after about a month or so because the supervisor kept forcing me to work over when I had exams yo study for and things I really needed to get home to...but when I went in to quit, the manager came into the office and tried to talk me out of it because they had been having trouble finding people who can count back change! Amazing to me.

On the kimono side (left of fireplace) I would put the tall vase to the left of the kimono, the low table and planter (that are currently next to the chair on the right) over to the left side, to the right of the large vase. Move the small chest over to the right side of the fireplace, as a side table for the chair. I didn't mind both chairs, but it feels a little airier with just the one. The vase on the fireplace is the right idea with the greenery, but needs to be taller and fuller. Consider adding some stems of bamboo for extra height. Take the little pieces off the mantel - they are lost up there, I think. Instead, move the red vase that is on the hearth up there, and also the blue plate that is on the coffee table, put on a plate stand to show off the color, and bring that color blue up to the mantel. The brown pot that is on the left side now on the floor might also work on the mantel or the hearth - hard to really see the detail. At some point down the line, I am wondering if you might consider re-matting the framed art piece? Right now it reads mauve. I am thinking that you could pull a stronger color out of the art that would be a nice compliment to the kimono and vase on the other side. Just love your home!

I was in Bellevue for 35 years and have been in the Seattle area longer than that. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Philly, so can't make a comparison. 1. For upholstery fabric, I look at Joann Fabrics (whatever is closest to her -- quite likely Renton Highlands), or at Pacific Fabric in Seattle. Their downtown outlet has fabulous prices... the other outlets can be expensive with snotty clerks, IME. Calico Corners has wonderful drapery/upholstery fabric, and can be pretty expensive. Outside of that I'd go to the web. For clothing fabrics, Joann is my favorite. The Hancock Fabrics in Renton Highlands is pretty large and I like it too (it's been a while since I've been there). 2) Right, we don't have Home Goods. I think she needs to snoop some of the malls, and cfritz made some good suggestions. She might also enjoy Michaels. It depends on what she's looking for. 3) Restaurants: Moghul Palace in Bellevue, near Bel Square, on 10th has THE yummiest Indian food... the smell makes your knees weak when you open the door. In the summer, go down to Carkeek Park in Renton on the lake and eat at Ivars, and sit outside and feed your french fries to the seagulls. Or bring your own picnic. The farmers' market at Crossroads mall is a good place to feed a lot of fussy kids inexpensively; one can get pizza while another gets fish and chips or Chinese food, or Italian, or Indian or whatever, and you all sit together to eat from the many restaurants. They also have a GREAT news stand there, and a fun used book store. Shopping: Bellevue Art and Frame is a fabulous place to buy unexpected and wonderful gifts for kids that tap into their creativity. It's loaded with cool art books, coloring books, art supplies, etc. Bel Square is lots of fun. Factoria Mall is less crowded. Chiropractor: Essential Chiropractic in Bellevue, see Scott or Aaron (not Mike). Veterinarian: Animal Hospital of Newport Hills hires vets just out of school, to give them a fresh start. Most of them are great, and they have good prices. Hope your friend has fun with this. She's lucky to have you as her friend.