Yes, I spin. I have an Ashford traditional, but there are many kinds out there. Get on ravelry.com. It's free, and there is a site for buying and selling wheels, spindles, carders, drum carders, etc. Also check crags list, and most importantly of all, if you have a shop close to you, go test drive as many wheels as you can. Check your local yarn shop and put up a notice asking about wheel, lessons and all things spinning related. Being in MN there should be LOTS of people who spin! It may take a little detective work, but you won't be sorry. I have been a spinner for more than 30 years. I spin to spin, I never have a project in mind when I start. I just love the feel of the fiber and how it runs through my fingers onto the bobbin. I try to spin a little every day, some days more than others LOL. Good luck in your search, I hope you find what you are looking for!! Welcome to the world of spinners. Oh, and we have a spin in public day as well (don't know when it is) just like the knit in public day.

Thanks for the morning feedback. It's nice to know I'm not alone and get some ideas going about how to get past the idea stage. The conversation and wine over at love-to-dream's is great, by the way, if anyone wants to join us. It's rather nice to have company along the way - especially if no one in your real life is at all interested in, well, obsessive kitchen discussion! @wi-sailorgirl - I do spend a fair amount of time at Houzz and have some idea books. I also have extensive GW files of inspirational kitchens, features and possible layouts. I guess I'm not finding it pointing me in a direction yet, but I'll step back and take a longer look and see if that helps illuminate! @ eleena - Glad to know I'm not alone! It sounds like you have not found your investment with a designer to be particularly helpful? I appreciate the advice to go slow. On the other hand, I actually think one of the things that might force me to move faster would be having a GC instead of this DYI nonsense. I guess I even go back and forth on that! On one hand, the money saved through DYI is pretty substantial and my partner has all the skills, though we'd hire out some parts. On the other hand, partner is busy, I am a dreamer and a GC would force us into mobilization and deadlines and structure which MIGHT be worth it. @herbflavor - I appreciate the layout advice and have posted various options over the past year - more will no doubt be coming once that wall comes down and I can template out what I am working with, as I know my vision about how much space it is going to open up is just not real in this small house. An L + island would allow me to put a pantry on the end of the cabinets opposite a fullsize fridge on the other side instead of going with a tall, skinny fridge with a pullout next to it. However, the island doesn't seem to play as nice with the new backsplash window or sit in the best spot given the 2 traffic patterns required - and many people have commented that a U seems better for me given it blocks off the kitchen floor from the front door. Definitely holding off on that until the wall actually comes down and I do think that will help me commit at least to layout. (Please, please, let it help lol) @ caryscott - You make a good point that budget does eliminate a lot of options. I also think you are right that making one decision forecloses on many other things I might love. The place where I see that the most in my situation is counter/tile choices. I find a great tile, then try to imagine what that means for counters and it almost invariably just doesn't work with the other top choices. Maybe I should ask for help with creating some idea boards... @lovetodream - the wine and reassurance that I am not alone is more help than you can know. Promise! And it is so much easier to give you advice, strangely, than myself. (What's up with THAT?) I think if you (me) could just start with SOMETHING, the rest would maybe start to fall into place. Or, start a few idea boards with a few favorite choices and have a few options to mull over instead of a million? At the least, we'd end up narrowing the field and having SOME choices made, likely. Or, on the other hand, we can open up another bottle and talk about it some more... @2LittleFishies - I agree, the good news is the bad news here. It's nice to have time to really research, ponder, take breaks, etc. However, I'm really not sure, objectively speaking, how much I've gained from the time and additional research. Minus some big moments, like seeing BrooklynGalley's Liebherr tall and skinny fridge and realizing I -could- have a pantry with a U if I went that way. What ends up happening is I look at various kitchens and say "Ooooohhhh, ahhhhh! I love that! I could totally just replicate those pendants, cabinets and tile and be perfectly happy!" Then tomorrow I see another kitchen and do the same thing... I dream of being one of those efficient, clear-headed decision-makers. lol @Kali615 - Do you mind if I ask what one thing you started with that your DH loved? I really do think that's probably the thing - to get a general direction started with that first decision. I've also decided the box stores are probably not my friend in any of this... though I am going to go into the new Lowes and HD that were just built and see if they have anything that appeals before I totally give that up. Your island sounds like it is going to be great. How did you come across that bowling alley wood? Craig's List? @kashmi - I appreciate the functionality questions. Once that wall comes down, I'm going to mock up a kitchen and play around with how I want to work in the "new space". GW is so great for considering those questions. The truth is, there are 2 of us and neither of us are huge cooks. However, I'm really hoping that changes SOMEWHAT with a new kitchen and this isn't all for superficial reasons. lol @ ArchitectMamma - This idea board is definitely something I have been contemplating. I haven't learned how to use the on-line options people around GW have been using and I struggle to find all the pieces and parts of what I want. It's really getting to be about time to take it to that step, I think. @ Marcolo - Good advice. I wonder how much I could get done in my life period if I was off the net. lol Both you and ArchitectMamma are recommending some of the same resources and it's a good suggestion. I do try to peek through magazines but generally end up not buying because nothing is really grabbing me. However, I absolutely agree that the same stuff recirculates on-line. That's one of the reasons I got bored at Houzz. I just am not finding a lot of trade showrooms in Anchorage. I need to look harder and actually get out there. I admit to a little terror that I am going to find "the perfect stone" in some obscure granite yard way before I am in a position to use it and be haunted by it forever... What I need, ultimately, is a whip and a ruler to keep myself (get myself) on task. lol And as a final note of irony, I found a thread yesterday through GW on Shiloh cabinets. There was a link to a kitchen I really liked. A little cottage - a little modern. And, I thought to myself, "Self, you could just do this. You like it. It would go with the house great. They are well made. They are well reviewed. It's a good look." Then I went to the website. They don't have dealers east of the Mississippi, basically. I'm in Alaska. And so it goes...

@Royal Kitty "Hey, Can anyone tell me how to get a hot wash with a cold rinse and also how to stop a cycle early and (if needed) drain? AND how do you soak a load??? Isnt that the “Delay” button somehow?" You need to reference the model number of washer involved in your questions to get answers specific to it. In general, all washers nowadays always run cold rinses and there is no switch or option to select a rinse temperature. Hot wash is a matter of selecting it on the wash Temperature options. Some cycles may not allow Hot temperature, so in that case choose a difference cycle that does allow it (example, Heavy or Allergen or Sanitize). Note also that the washer may mix in some cold to purposely reduce the Hot temperature in the machine to lessen the energy usage of the washer, particularly on the designated Normal cycle which is the basis for energy ratings. Canceling a running cycle is typically by pressing and holding the Start/Pause button for a few seconds which makes it function as a Cancel. Canceling may drain but not spin. Use the Spin Only cycle to spin the load (which also will drain first if the Cancel didn't do it). How to select Spin Only may vary from one washer to another, which is why you need to state the model number with your questions. A Soak option or cycle is provided if the washer can soak. It is not provided on all models, which again is why you need to state the model of machine with your question. Delay is not for soaking. It is to set the washer to start running a selected number of hours later.

Jan, perhaps our "expectations" just weren't realistic. Almost nothing will stop tree roots from invading forever. If I could go back and do it all over again, would I? Yes. The spinout bags bought my hosta time to grow. Without them, they began to grow, then stopped, then declined. Another option is to grow hosta in pots in the ground. I have had a hosta in a pot for 4 years (?) now. Nothing is an easy fix, but the trick (maybe) is to not to have too big of a pot---and if you can turn the pot once or twice a season---much better. But I didn't turn the pot because it was too big and heavy (and I forgot). After a few years, I dug around the pot to find tree roots circling around the outside of the pot and in the pot. I cut the roots going into the pot and removed the roots circling around the pot. This year will be five years in the same pot.