I am thinking up plans on making my own compost so I can dump it in loads when the time comes. Depends if I can find a large enough chipper :) Planning on things I can plant, get established, and forget as far as no water, no fertilizer. The area under the pines will be something outside of my plans for a yard in the future. My planned front and back yard will not have any pines, I have the backyard mostly cleared out, minus all the trees, still planning on what I want to keep. The whole back yard will be a wooded garden, the front will have a small bit of grass, garden around that, and lead into the wooded part of my property. I think I've come up with my idea, not narrowed down to specific plants, but a basic layout and what I want from it. My current front yard area will just be a pain to get grass growing, bermuda since those trees really don't provide any shade, hoping it kills everything else (lots and lots of weeds), and by the time the trees grow up to kill out the bermuda, we'll be moved further back to our new area, and it can go back to being cover in pine needles. Which leads me to another question, tried to decide if I should start a new post, since it does differ slightly, but oh well. Containerized trees. The few trees in my current backyard/future front yard will have to go, there's 6 young pines. In that area, and once the single wide is moved, I'll be planting some trees, oaks, bald cypress, hickory perhaps, redbud, some other smaller ornamental. Wondering if I should get some seedlings, and keep repotting them in the years to come until I'm ready to plant them? Instead of paying $100+ for taller trees when I'm ready for them. I'm not good with pots, I'm forgetful, lazy. Wonder about winterizing them. I could set up a pvc irrigation on a timer from my well house to water them if need be, our summers are super hot. Perhaps keep the pots mostly burried? I would plan on getting around 10 trees. The arborday website has a good deal going on with 10 seedlings with membership ($10?), and if they live through my neglect, would be as tall as those $100+ trees at lowes and the nurseries by the time I'm ready to plant them.

The Moroccean chandelier would appeal to DH but I want something "lighter". Thanks for thinking of it! I happen to like the Edison chandelier too. I'm just not feeling the bronze though I know it would go over my table. Hence, my dilemna I mentioned earlier. Still don't know... can I/should I mix finishes? I do think a wood one would work. Especially since I already do have the bar stools. They were one of my crazy craigslist finds. I paid for all four for half the cost of one and they are essentially new. Just an unbeliveable deal and I fell madly in love with them. Since they will be on the sunroom side I"m hoping I can still put in a slimline couch/chaise whose materials will tie into the barstools. Down here there is a plethora of indoor/outdoor furniture that fits that bill. So now we'll have to bill my home a Mid 20th Century (hey! I'm mid 20th century!)contemporary earthy tropcial touches and a clean line feel! Here's a couple of others I had found and marked. BUt I sitll don't know about them... that's why I need you guys. This one I can get in a number of finishes including SS or Mahogany> This one combines wood, SS, and glass: I had found another kinda similar that the globes were kinda clear with what looked liked reeds inbedded but they were acrylic and I don't knwo how I feel about acrylic. So, jsut to clarify... what about mixing finishes? Crud.. won't imbed. I hate usind DH's computer.. mine is down. Link to the Bellacor one: http://www.bellacor.com/fullsize.cfm?Sku=973606 Link to the other one from Lighting Universe: http://www.lightinguniverse.com/products/view.aspx?sku=2719097

Jennifer- didn't you post your layout already? Yours is the house with that beautiful original wood bench in the foyer, right? Beautiful! I remember, you got some great ideas for your kitchen, powder room, and moving the laundry upstairs from some of the best designers here on GW. You mentioned it being hard for you to get to a big box store or cabinet store as they are all an hour away from you, I wondered if you could call the nearest Lowes and set up a phone or email appt. with the KD. You could use one of the layout suggestions you received on your other thread for now just to start the ball rolling. There design service is free. That way you could get an idea of the cost. The first time I priced my cabinets at Lowe's, it was way over my budget for even for the middle cabinet line (Kraftmaid I think?). My budget was much less then 20,000, but my kitchen is probably smaller then yours. Disappointed, I decided I better wait and save every penny for a while. However, in desperation, I ordered a sample door from one of those RTA lines that are not "made in the usa" since I could afford those. Thank goodness, at this time I discovered GW in researching that particular RTA brand. I read comments from Sophie (hollysprings) saying they were total "----------crap" I am very thankful for her blunt comments as it helped me from making a huge mistake! The sample looked exactly like she said after only about a month. I next looked into Scherrs as they seem very nice, but they cannot ship to me. I was leaning heavily towards Barker at this point. Then one day, after about a year and a half, I go into Lowe's and they were having a great sale on the better quality Schuler line (which I believe is the same as Medallion?) I again did my same layout with the same KD (btw, she is an awesome woman who has been a kd for over 35 years and out of neccessity has been at Lowe's for like 20 years! Sounds like someone on here!) After the discount, I was in the ballpark! I even added a few extras to get me into the next price category for an even bigger discount. The sale also included a free sink base and free paint upgrade, and a Lowe's gift card for 10% of the total price. After all was said and done, I think I saved about 7,000+ from the original Kraftmaid quote from the year before. I didn't change the layout either, in fact I added stuff. I got a way nicer cabinet brand. And I have a gift card to use still. I think the Schuller brand is very nice. Mine is the maple white icing paint, full overlay, plywood box, soft close, mostly drawers, stacked uppers with glass. They pretty much fill the needs you said you wanted above. I'd check them out. Maybe ask if they have any idea when a sale might be coming up. They might not know exactly when, but should have some insight. I know you want quality that will last. I will let you that my mom redid her kitchen with the Lowe's Kraftmaid in a maple with espresso finish about ten years ago. I was so glad I didn't go with this brand. Her finish is wearing off by all her knobs, it's dull in other areas where you don't even touch them, a couple cabinet doors fell off the hinges, etc.... She's single, immaculate, and not rough on her cabinets. I feel bad as they are not holding up well at all. Point being that I would not go with that brand if you want them to last over ten years. Well, I have rambled on long enough! :-). I am so bad that it is a running joke in my family! Ok, sorry have to add something else. See! I cannot help myself. For the record, I did not take your response to Sophie as negative at all. You explained that was indeed not the case. That is why when I read a post I try not to add tone, body language, or attitude into it. I do that only in posts where I want to have a good laugh! Not where it will make me offended to do so. I have appreciated and used so much advice from Sophie over the years. She always has the OP's best interest at heart. I find her short, simple, to the point delivery exactly what is needed sometimes. In fact, she has made me laugh out loud many times with her honesty. I never took it as brutal, just honest, with a hint of sarcasm when appropriate. I love her! :-) Best wishes on your cabinet hunting!

I am here, too! I remember the glass "flowers" being a hot item when I checked in more often. There were many, many discussion on the best adhesive to use. I still have plates, cups, pieces of rebar,etc., "ready" to be made into a flower or two. This is hopefully this Spring will see the final stage of turning an early 1950s concrete birdbath into a colorful Fairy Garden. I got it sandblasted this winter but am waiting for warmer weather to take it outside for painting. I have all the basic furnishings - including a pair of tiny Napcoware rabbits, a teeny-tiny ceramic frog, a ceramic bird house that resembles an English cottage, a twig fence, a terracotta flower fairy, a pair of ceramic butterflies to attach to the painted base, and a "found" piece of old rusty barbed wire that resembles a seahorse - or dragon! I am going to be so excited to send "it's completed" photos to my young niece that requested this project be done."