TR, milk paint has always captured my interest,so I will look at that. BP: Gosh, at first I thought those were your kitchens, then realized. Nice pics and thought provoking. GD, that is really the issue here, how much yellow would be too much or would it matter, being that high up on the ceiling. PW: love your beadboard island. Oh my gosh, I can see why this forum is addicting and now the choices. Better made with lots of opinions though. Say, most of y'all don't use your real name on this forum yet it doesn't seem "stalker prone", lol. Well, too late now. Interesting though. Thanks, will keep thinking and hoping that others will chime in. Of course, the floor color will make a difference too. Ellie

Blanching destroys the enzymes that make the beans mushy. I blanch for 3 minutes, then plunge in ice water, dry on paper towels, freeze on a jelly roll pan then seal in Foodsaver bag. That reminds me I have to bag the ones I blanched and froze this morning. There is a discussion on Harvest about this from early this year. I have pickled some bigger beans, ran out of vinegar solution had to mix more up so stuck 2 pints in the fridge. We took some to a BBQ only a few days later and they tasted really good. Lemon Spiced Pickled Beans from Small Batch Preserving by Ellie Topp. We don't like canned beans either but these were good (of course they hadn't been processed, I'll let you know how the processed ones are in a few months). I figured they'd be good in 3-bean salad once my limas come in (or with storebought canned chickpeas). Here is a link that might be useful: Freezing beans on Harvest

Hi ladies, it has been a long time since I was on here but I first told you of the Endocrine Mender I was taking and it did help but never got complete relief so finally went to health dept and saw a ARNP. I told her I thought I had Lichen Sclorsis so she had to do a biopsy to diagnose it. It was painful but it was positive. She gave me a salve (prescription) Clobetasol Propionate. It has saved me. I feel completely normal and have since only a few weeks of using it. If I feel any twinges I put a little on and back to normal. I can not say about intercourse as I don't have a partner to try that :) but I really think I could. I hope you will push to get diagnosed if you are like I was: I could not move without tearing, it burned and/or itched most of the time, was white with what looked like scar tissue . I was miserable and depressed. Please seek help. The med is not very costly and last a long time. Best wishes to you all. P.S. I was depressed cause all I read was there was no cure for Lichen Sclorsis, well this may not be a CURE but sure is a great treatment.I can live with that.

My space is 11 x 10 Main part is 8 x 10) Over the main part I have 4, 5" cans, and a fifth over the entranceway to help light the stairway next to it. With the undercab lights that is plenty for my space. I added 2 pendants over the peninsula but have very low light in them. What about a spot over the island? My neighbor has the same kitchen - she has 4, 6" cans and it's fine, but she also has pendant lights.