I would suggest to anyone who is on his way to compose and make own nutrients, to rather draw on unlimited than on limited resources. When I went to the process of learning from scratch, I discovered that there were several methods and ways of proceeding. I finally came to make a synthesis of a few methods that seemed easiest and did fit my existing skill- and toolset best. With all these websites, you have a bit what you can observe at this and other forums: different people see and handle things quite differently but with similar (or decent) outcomes and results. Look for accordance and similarities but keep in mind that they still could provide from one and only (accurate or inaccurate) source. In fact, a lot of the info found on several web pages is accurate and valid, unfortunately some is antiquated and outdated as well. Most importantly: Look for a simple and practicable methodology (technique) and don't be too impressed or discouraged by expert talk of chemists (or alike) that can't keep their specific knowledge which isn't actually vital for the basic process, out of the equation. Do your calculus for formulas with a spreadsheet (either purchased or self-made nutrient calculator) , it makes things MUCH more transparent and a WAY easier!

A lot of things in a house are matters of personal preference. Some people like two story spaces and some people don't. People who don't like two story spaces and don't have them often say that they are useless space and expensive to heat/cool. We have had two houses with two story spaces and have not found them to be expensive to heat or cool. We live in Wisconsin in a 3,200sf house (plus another 900 sf finished in the basement) with a two story great room, 9' ceilings and a loft and have gas heat, gas water heater, gas cooktop and one gas fireplace. Our total gas bill for 2007 was $1,010.28 and our total gas bill for Jan 10, 2008 through October 9, 2008 is $966.26--that is not expensive. Our utility lets us calculate a home heating rating and then compare it with other homes built since 2000--our home's heating rating is 2.5 (excellent) and only 5% of the homes built since 2000 in our area have that rating or better. Our highest electric bill ever was for August of 2007, which was really hot, and was $168.31. Our next highest electric bill was for July 10-Aug 11, 2008 and was $149.35. We have zoned heating and have never had a problem heating/cooling our house or keeping both floors the same temperature--but you do have to plan your heating/cooling system very carefully. I also disagree that the open space is useless space. If you don't like two story ceilings then the space is useless. I like two story rooms and enjoy the open space of my great room, and the light and warmth from the sun that flows in through the upper windows, every single day so it is not wasted for me-putting an unneeded 4th bedroom above the great room would have been a waste for us. My only other comment is that I don't think that the space for your kitchen/dining table is big enough. Good luck.

exactly, kwsl.... my color was a medium gray velvet 'pewter' and the color is more like a deep loden green...i actually tried to talk myself into the color (btw, be sure to note that the fabric companies have a CYA notice on the samples stating that 'fabric colors can vary'.....well, alrighty!! that fixes it! (vvbg).... but the more i looked at the sofa itself, (it already has cushion wrinkles!) i realized that no amount of 're-working' or even a new sofa in a different color would be satisfactory...the cushions are poorly made and there is definitely a design issue with my back cushions....in essence if you are sitting on the far side of the sofa (as one typically does to be next to the end table) the cushion leans forward on you, and you are always pushing it back...it quite literally is 'in your face' if you have someone on the opposite end of the sofa (yours is 3 cushion, mine is 2, so i doubt this will be as much of an issue for you)....as i said after just two weeks the cushions are wrinkling and have developed the 'concave' spots where you typically sit....cannot even imagine what it would look like in 6 months....there was a poster here, i believe it was beverly, who even posted a pic of a LEE sofa for one of her clients and she pointed out to me that the cushion quality wasn't the best (but this was after a couple of YEARS so i didn't give it the credence i should have) i'll consider posting pictures, but i will not do so until the matter is completely resolved to my satisfaction...i plan to meet in person with my sales person and customer service rep at C&B this week i checked the date of your last posting which was only a few days ago, and that is why i decided to go ahead and respond this way....mostly though because you said you really preferred the tight back sofa, and as i pointed out, thomasville has one, which i have actually seen in person and sat on...my experience with LEE may not be the same as yours....i too preferred a tight back sofa (all of mine have always been constructed thus) but decided to go with the LEE loose back because of the overall design (just like you) anyway, it took several weeks before my fabric went to LEE for manufacture (it was shipped to C&B then off to LEE) so there was/is plenty of time to put the order on hold should you decide to do so as i doubt the fabric has been sent (although it might have been) one thing i would suggest is that you go to see the fabric yourself, ask your designer to have it delivered to him....mine was a solid color and definitely 'off' (i took a picture of my sample laid upon my sofa and the color differential is obvious but yes, i guess you could call it 'grey' certainly not the color i picked....so anyway, that would at the very least what i would advise anyone getting a custom sofa (live and learn!) i agree with you, kswl....while a $3500~$4000 sofa isn't 'high end' it is far too much to spend on such mediocre craftsmanship...i have an old sofa i bought from macy's over 20 years ago...off the floor, WHITE, and it is STILL in nearly perfect condition...the cushions look better than this brand new LEE...i am NOT joking! way back then, i think i paid $600 for it! it's very frustrating because obviously stores cannot keep every make and model of sofas (LEE has a LARGE catalog of sofas) so sitting on one is pretty much impossible unless you purchase a stock item....i sat on one of the sofas at C&B that was closest to the model i ultimately selected, and even after having the salesperson get a DIAGRAM of my sofa showing the pitch of the back (which was my biggest concern at the time) i still ended up with an unacceptable product... btw...LEE has a TERRIBLE website....they don't have side views of their sofas, let alone a 360 degree view! that should have been the 'tell' for me...how hard can it be to make front, back and SIDE views of custom upholstery? on a more positive note, the thomasville sofa was very pretty and comfortable, and if the LEE is VERY similar, you should be happy with it....looking back i wish i had probably just purchased their floor model! sorry this is so long...your basement is going to be lovely....very much looking forward to the finished room!

Hey! This is my first time posting in the bird section. Anyway, I thought I would share a couple pictures I took a couple months ago when the weather was colder here in the Midwest. I see at least 16 cardinals but I think there are closer to 20 (the ones that aren’t bright red are harder to see). I’m a beginner when it comes to this stuff. Probably a little over a year ago (or longer) I found myself in Walmart, stopped, and looking at bird seed. Not only did I find it odd that I was looking at bird seed, but it was confirmation I was getting old HAHAHA… Furthermore, I bought the seed. I placed seeds on my back deck rail and would watch the birds in the morning as I drank my coffee. After about a week I found myself getting more and more birds. Then I started feeding them at lunch time. Before long, I told my husband it was time to buy a bird feeder. I bought the cheap ones but they have held up. Long story short, I started with a bag of seed, which lead to one bird feeder, which eventually lead to several feeders. I don’t use them all during the summer months. I’m also starting to look for higher quality feeders. I bought my first droll yankee feeder the other day at Walmart (finch feeder). I was so excited too. I was at Lowes first but didn’t see any finch feeders I liked. Plus, they were all made in China. So I checked out Walmart and was happy to find an American made feeder. I started seeing the yellow finches within about 3 days of putting the feeder out there. Far away view from my back porch... close up (sorry it's blurry)