chuckling,.. Michael, lately I seem to get the bus situation on a regular basis, with no regard for actually being a car. I'm sure that here in Alberta that is where the truck limo came from. answering the REAL question: no you have not achieved fuzei. Fuzei is in actuality a specific air of 'fresh breath/breeze of mountain', that is, go to the highest mountain, where the air is the purist, crispest cleanest, most envigorating that you have ever felt, combine this with a deep ancient forest earthiness, that connects the souls of your feet in a sense of completeness,... now perhaps we are getting close to the sense of fuzei. --however, I am trying to use its concept as a working design tool. You would need to ponder what your definition of 'tranquility' is. I actually read your needed 'air of fuzei', as '+happy thoughts+balanced immediately'. comments on the rest: - your viewing platform is the key. It should be a rustic outside teahouse (chaso) that has the stream running through it, with a finished interior to the barefoot standard. It would be surrounded by woodland. -This would likely be the elevated part of the garden, with the waterfall emerging from directly outside one wall to the inside 'flow through' area. This outside area would be defined by the sense of deep woodland, large leaves, high humidity, cool, etc. that would eventually when built answer 'fuzei'. The inner patterns would be attuned to your cultural taste. I would suggest that the entering waterfall area be natural (so) with stone (perhaps with an inset basin, and within a foot or two after the basin, transition to become highly finished (shin), the (perhaps offset) kneeling stone being the transition device. After this point the stream would be of high finish, and by using several right angles or reversals (Okinawan pattern) would slow the water. - At 39% or 61% of the length of the teahouse, the right angles will again transition through gyo to so, using both manmade finished items and natural stone, which has one internal 2" waterfall of stones tuned in the mid and low range. At the edge of the teahouse, the stream would emerge off center with another slight waterfall of 3". -Koi would be able to swim into the teahouse and back out to the pond. Alternatively part (39%) of the inside floor of the teahouse could be cut inwards, under the roof, as a 'bay', docking area, with sitting boat stones doubling as walkout stones. The stream would run directly into this 'bay'. Details for the stream are numerous, not mentioned here for simplicity. -The inner workings of the teahouse: I would suggest that the shape be a large square, or if no limits exist on budget, an elongated 8 sided teahouse. This would be to accommodate the inside stream, the outside area, and provide the high level of acoustics that fulfill the separation of outside and inside. The inner roof panels, the angles should be adjustable, lowerable for control, when entertaining. The construction of course goes back to your cultural patterns (childhood = 3 generations). These roof panels or side panels that are part of the design of the walls would also direct cool air or retain heat when the sunken hearth is in use. Once you've built this much, or something more attuned to your taste, and feel a sudden need for an intaking refreshing breath of purity and air, that is invigorating to deeply inhale, physically releasing to exhale, you are getting close to a feeling of fuzei. ______ An alternative would also be to use different heights inside the teahouse. Highly controversial at first thought, yet practical & suitable if designed well, using outer perimeters as 'levels to the inside'. This would create a 'boathouse + teahouse' combination. The definitive social order of 'approach' would need to be well addressed in the design and building phase. small refinements along the way: your 'enclosure/perimeter' would be the Douglas Fir forest, the 'device' by which you bring the pattern of that forest into the garden, is shakkei. -if separation is wished from the house then use the stroll garden to do so. -any elevation except what is gained from pond excavation is not really needed, unless more of the up/down plane of motion will help you separate from the 'outside'. -that would be the time to call the trucks with soil, I would first call the backhoe. fuzei has more connection with human perception ( & scientific reality) of the sensory experience of space, its enclosure and our response to it, specifically in regard to 'how good it makes us feel'. At one level of the art of placement (fusui/fengshui), this overlaps in that 'if fuzei exists, then everything must be in its right place'. Beyond this, in my experience so far, no other relationship exists. edzard

dht Dealer 1 is offering an older A1 version of the XR14. The configuration below offers the best performance numbers for the XR14,C1 version which you want. 1382135 Active OEM XR14 WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWR4024C1 4TEE3F39A1 24000 13.00 15.00 24000 9.00 12500 1382247 Active OEM XR14 WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWR4024C1 4TEE3F31B1 24600 13.00 15.00 24000 8.60 13900 Dealer 2-I would not have the XR13 model.This model is light in heating BTUs. Dealer 3-The XL15i is overall the best of the three choices and obviously the most expensive. 1382158 Active OEM XL15I WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWX5024A1 4TEE3F39A1 25000 13.00 16.00 24000 9.00 13800 1383391 Active OEM XL15I WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWX5024A1 4TEE3F31B1 25200 13.00 15.25 24000 8.60 13900 You want a thermostat that controls the blower speed for best dehumdification in cooling. My selection would be the Honeywell Vision Pro IAQ or perhaps the new Trane 900 series. Do not accept anything else. I believe the XL15i offers a rebate-ask the dealer. And because you are changing refrigerants, you should insist on a new and properly sized lineset. Do you mind stating area of country you live? I assume you are certain a 2 ton is correct size. What are you doing about air quality-you have a central return? IMO numbers provided from the CEE HVAC directory

Stay away from ceramic tile. Stick to glass or porcelain. Ceramic is porous and will expand/freeze/crack in frosty temperatures. As for adhesive, you want to use thinset. I use sanded grout that I mix with an additive. If you go to one of the home improvement stores, tell them you want thinset and grout for exterior work. They SHOULD be able to tell you what to buy. Every store carries different products, so it's hard to recommend specific brands. Sounds like a fun project!

The only plants I can think of are Pothos and Philodendron vines. Were you looking for edibles to row indoors?