Cienza--I am doing the exact same thing! I think about the kitchen 24/7. But I say embrace it! How many things do we get to look forward to with childlike excitement as we get older? I was thinking about that today...there aren't always things to look forward to, so why not enjoy this time and visit the granite and all that? :) Elba--I cannot believe that! We must be on the same wavelength, but just missed each other! Isn't MP the best? They are so great to work with and have such an awesome selection. Yes, I am getting the Rohl Country pullout too. :) We decided on a Julien SS 30 x 16 x 8 sink. I brought it home last night--it's HUGE! What are you getting? I can't believe that this is actually all of my stuff sitting here in the living room with me...it's like a dream. We got Colonial Brass hardware from them as well--great prices. Will definitely ask Kathleen to show me your slabs; I've never even heard of quartzite before! And soapstone...I'm jealous. It's so beautiful. :) Enjoy that light for your sink--it's the first step to all the great new stuff that will be in your home before you know it. :) Tomorrow we empty out all the cabs and DH starts the painting process. I also lose all countertops and my kitchen sink tomorrow for a whole week...wish me luck!

Thank you all so much for your nice compliments. We had so much fun making this piece. There were a lot of changes along the way. I originally intended to paint the whole thing red, with walnut trim on the box and behind the latch and the key...First we made the box...I worked on the box first...stained it, then painted over the stain, then stained again and another two coats of paint. Then I used poly... Well, I didn't like the shiny poly, even after sanding it down. So, I sanded the poly off and painted it again...then we put on the walnut and I didn't like it...so, we did the trim over again in oak. That's how I decided I wanted the table in oak and not painted. The bird was a cute bonus. In my original plan I wanted a shelf, but changed it to a criss cross to accommodate the bird. I finished the box with four coats of butchers wax and got the soft luster that I wanted. The red trim under the top shelf was another -- after thought. Or as hubby always says, "the Joann changes along the way!" Anyhow, I'm glad it's over and not glad it's over. No, Jen, we just make the pieces for ourselves. I dream up the projects and hubby makes them come true. :) We made the piece to top off at the arm of my couch. 26 1/2" high. The box is 11 1/2" wide x 10 1/2" deep and 7 1/4 high. My next piece is already on the drawing table...I have left over paint that I need to use up. ha, ha. Again, thanks for all the sweet comments, I appreciate it :) Oh, Baby does too! :)

TRADE OFFER UPDATE: Garlic Bulbils Another trade option I am now offering is top quality, organically and sustainably produced German Brown rocambole hardneck garlic bulbils (NOT bulbs) in trade for your pepper seeds. These bulbils are nice size (1/4 inch avg. diameter) peak quality stock remaining from my fall planting which I completed on November 05. German Brown is a hardy, cold climate variety, my favorite garlic (excellent roasted). This is generally the proper time to be planting garlic in most areas, especially zones 5 -6. Getting late for zones 3 and 4 but can be planted as long as the soil can be worked. If stored properly they might keep until spring planting time, but no guarantees. Planting bulbils is a cheap, easy to ship, minimal-risk method for acquiring and growing out a bunch of garlic. Downside is they take a couple years to size up to market-grade bulbs. Anyone who has priced gourmet-type seed garlic bulbs knows how expensive that stuff is to acquire, and most suppliers will not even guarantee that their stock is disease-free. Bulbils are produced above ground, and as such do not carry soil-borne pathogens harmful to garlic or other alliums that could unintentionally be introduced into your soil. They are a safer way to introduce garlic into your gardening repertoire. My Offer: Two ounces of German Brown rocambole hardneck garlic bulbils (approximately 100-110 count) in trade for quantity 6, 12 seed count packs (or equivalent) of my choice of your available pepper varieties. For this trade I will also cover the higher cost of shipping bulbils. I will certainly consider multiples of this offer if someone wants more and has the pepper seeds available. :-) Thank you. -Tom

Jess, Love it! I think you definitely made the right choice to omit the island pendants! We are still leaning toward no island pendants as well. I already said this above, but, there will be a breakfast nook at the end of the island and a dining table along the front side... and I want a big George Nelson bubble saucer light probably over the dining table and something else hanging above the nook table. I think that'll be enough hanging lights in that open room! I also don't want to take away from the view out the windows in the nook. Who knows, we may change our minds, but my husband says he will support my "No island pendants" choice if that is what I want. I will come back and post a pic of what we finally end up going with!