Yes Deanie. Not a dumb question. You want to keep the HOSPs out of the box, and the Chickadee hole is too small for them. I don't know that a hole reducer would keep a House Wren out though. You may not have them in your yard. I had never ever laid eyes upon one until last summer. On May 1st, I had one show up in my yard. It went from box to box, filling each one with sticks. They are like the HOSPs in that they will destroy eggs and nests of other cavity nesters. They do not look or sound like our sweet Carolina Wrens.~Angie

Ann...This is my first year to host bluebirds so I am NO expert...perhaps the veterans can offer more info... From what I know, a sparrow spooker should go up immediately after the first egg is laid.... Have you seen any ants yet? I greased my pole 1/3 of the way up with vasoline, but that doesn't last long...many on this forum recommend axle grease. About the mealworms...don't leave the apple in the dish...I take the mealies out of the fridge once a week, placing a few thinly sliced apple in the container(carrots can be used as well)., then leave them out about 24 hours to feed. Try putting a few mealies in the dish and place it close to where you see Mom and Dad perch...after they discover that and get used to the dish, then place the dish back in the feeder...that's what I did and it really worked! Also, you can go to Sialis.org for tons of info about the blues! Good luck and I hope all goes well with your blue family! Donna

Thanks everyone. I was definitely leaning towards the equidistant columns plan. Holly, that's a great idea, but my concern with that is two fold--first, these columns are bloody expensive, but second, our porch isn't terribly deep, and if these are 18" x 18" at their base, it does not leave much room behind each column. Four columns would leave little space for chairs between the columns, and I'm afraid would look a bit busy. Thanks Autumn, we are thrilled with the little girl! But there are definitely some bright spots form the house planning, as well. Frankly, the plan we're getting is not clearly worse than the one I created, and in a few ways is better. And, had I not struggled over that plan and received acres of great advice here, I would not have known what to change about the plan to make it really work well for our family. Here is a cut out of the floor plan of the front. I know this builder has had problems with people copying this plan illegally, so I'm not sure I'm comfortable posting the whole thing without his approval. The plan is scanned a bit crooked, but assume it's straight (and I had to reverse the plan to match our house). I've drawn in the lines and measurements to the center of each 18" column base, the window, and the door. Off to the left is the garage; the room on the front right is the living room, and there is a 6' deep entry hall as soon as you enter the front door. See how I really don't think it changes too much to have the door move the door around--it might change the view through the sidelites and what you see when you first walk in, but I think that is minor compared to how the house will look from the street.

Hey there Lav :) The gardens...oye oya? Oyyyyyyyy (how do you spell that?) They're extensive. But with very few roses. But the one that is there is supposedly original to the house :) We'll baby that one. I'm a rose lover but know squat about them. I do plan on learning more. We expect to remove about half the gardens, but what we take out will become a dining area and an herb garden. Then I was thinking to work in roses where the lavendar will be removed (sorry, I hate your namesake LOL) Today I explored the dining room china cabinet. I have a lovely china collection I have no idea what it is LOL but I think I'll use it for my inspiration. It's deep blue and white (almost a flow blue) with hand painted roses on it. Trimmed in gold. I have a mix of different era's of the same pattern, about a service for 20 or so. Our big party is next weekend with the first guest arriving on Thursday and the last leaving on Monday. WE're wildly planning it out and figuring what we have. We have a total of 8 wine glasses, and mom gave me a few more, but 20 wine drinkers and they all probably will use a couple glasses...a quick trip to costco was shocking LOL But we're better stocked. I have searched the basement and first level and haven't found the right table for the parlor :) I have edited those rooms though and it's much better. I'll search the second and third floor tomorrow. Something must be out there LOL We did decide to move the work to another location so I don't need to do the room as much as I had thought I would. Funny...I did melt the firescreen day one. It was stained glass, looked old but I was fairly certain it was not. But it's a fire screen so I sat it (away a bit) by the propane stove in the parlor because it's frighteningly hot and we were worried about DS. LOL I smelled something....it was the lead whatever between the glass melting and the glass fell out when I picked it up. Ok that's one thing down... The tea room is now a play room. It has a very new and totally inappropriate thomas table in the middle :) And needs some art. The reject (non antique) furniture is gradually making it's way down to here. Until we do the kitchen I think we'll eat in there and keep this as a second play room (he does not eat so it's nice to have a place for him to play while we do). So tea rooms will wait...but it will happen LOL It's such a great room we're really enjoying it :) I'm afriad of the antique rose forum...perhaps I'll haunt it for a bit LOL