Did you moisten the materials when you put the pile together? FYI for future reference - I wouldn't layer materials. You'll end up with a bunch of leaves clumped together and clumps of wet slimy grass clippings. This mess typically doesn't compost well (the voice of experience). It annoys me when I read things about composting that advise people to do this. The materials need to be moistened and mixed together from the get go. BTW, the sawdust in the stable bedding does actually make nice compost. And don't discount the urine being a green. You could add some Starbucks coffee grounds for more greens. The nicest compost I make is in the bin where I put nothing but shredded leaves, coffee grounds, and horse manure (including the stable bedding). The compost turns out a wonderful texture and is loaded with worms. Deanna

I am so glad that everyone has liked what they got so far! Now, I just have to find some more seeds for Gary! LOL! Thanks again to Gary for sending in so many beans! You really helped everyone to gets beans they really wanted! Gary, are there any other veggies or anything seed wise that you can think of that you really want? PLEASE let me know! I am going to be putting in a seed order soon somewhere and I would really like to get you something special. Please email me some ideas! Christy

Many instances happen just as Dixie's experience. An item is ordered without being fully cleared through the customer (or their spouse). That always results in wanting to return something, but the vast majority of the time decorators don't use things from stock goods, but custom-order. Then they frequently want return privileges on these custom order pieces which usually are not mainstream items and difficult to resell. Personally, I would never use a decorator that works 'free' or charges a minimum rate if you buy furniture through them. When you do that, they must make their money on the sale of the furniture itself rather than for their time. This then limits them to making selections where they can either buy wholesale or get a kickback from a store. Your choices then become limited to what they can easily source. Decorators also tend to work quickly, and they must if you are not paying them a contract wage for their work. That limits choices as well. If I were to use a decorator, I would pay them either an hourly wage ($80 to $ 100 per hour) or pay them a contract price for the entire plan. I would then have them draw the layout, a list of recommendations and stores to go see those things, and go shopping myself. At the end of the day - YOU have to live with the pieces, and in most better stores the salespeople are better versed in options and choices within a brand than a decorator - and not under a time crunch. Also, if a mistake is made, you stand a far better chance of working with a store to return a custom-ordered piece as the store has the retail outlet to sell it, whereas a decorator cannot take a piece back as they have no way to sell it. No store ever likes to take a custom-order piece back, but if you are polite and respectful, you can usually work something out. Decorators have their place. You are paying for their designing expertise so go ahead and pay for it, but there's no such thing as a 'free lunch' so the cheap ones or what I like to call "Decorettes" (non-professionals who work out of their homes)mostly lead you down the road to an unsatisfactory result. Use Pros on a fee-for-service basis - they will be expensive - but the job at the end will be superior. Don't expect a decorator to make all your selections for you, or hold your hand all the way through. A lot of what they do is spatial proportion rather then matching colorways. Getting the right size pieces to fit a space is more important than making sure the colors blend. Use a decorator to show you options and choices, but don't them make the purchases for you - that's my best advice. When its all done and the decorator has left, you still have to live with the results. -Duane

Sallysue......funny about taking it to the nursing home with me!! Actually, I should stick with the on-going joke I have with my son. I constantly tell him that I will be living with him forever...I'm sure his future wife (whoever she is) will have noooooo problem with that. Maybe he'll just stay in this house, he does have the same last name (obviously) so the initial in the backsplash won't be a problem at all!! Luckily he's got a great sense of humor for a 19-year old. I do really love the tile, but I guess it might make more sense to hang it on a wall or put it in a stand on the countertop some where. Of course I can always see what my husband thinks too. AND, this still leaves me with what "little" thing I want to do behind the range...