Thank you all--you have given me great things to consider. I do want to keep some lawn up front since I have a whole acre of woods in the back already and I want to grow my sun-loving beauties in the front. The barn was put in on Friday (8x24)and sits right at the woods line...about 230 feet back from the road and offset to the left behind the house. I am going to have a corner fenced in and then have it open into one long pasture (70x200) running towards the front and then about 50' by 220' running accross the back from the woodsline--leaving about 50' behind the house before the fence starts. I will be able to alternate pastures at this point for the three minis. I will be fencing in the back acre of woods as we go as well, but have to think "now" first. This is a horse community, so there is a 15' easement for trails at the back of each property. The horses are the reason we bought here, but I still want the house to look good too. So--there isn't quite as much "lawn" by the time you take those chunks out. I do want some trees to soften things up and balance and my daylilies, butterfly bushes and other perrenials are all trades or gifts, with some treasured heirlooms passed down from my husbands great-grandmother. It is the balancing bones that I am trying to place. I have a soft color palate (with one red heirloom rose that sticks out like a sore thumb, hehe). I want the beds to arch around and frame the front lawn and let the house be the focal point. Man...I really need to scan some of the layout pics I have been working on to show the whole thing together. I see what you mean about not having to have "bookends" and certainly don't want a funhouse mirror look. Hmm...this is a puzzle! I am also rethinking the hollies...I think my objection is that every fast food joint and gas station has them. hehe. Ok...so balance doesn't need to be as uptight as I originally thought...avoid the bookends look...and think of going with softer more rounded shapes to unify...luckily the new place is only about 5 miles from the place we have rented for 12 years so I know basicly what works here. So...I have the horse areas marked off, would like to have an outside sitting area behind the house to watch the ponies and relax, want wide sweeping borders with my perrenials and would like a decent front yard with landscaping that makes the entry of the house the focal point...and maybe a nice little heirloom garden area to the right of the house. Tall order on a shoestring...but am looking long term. Man...I never thought this part of the decision making would be so tough! I know WHAT I want...just can't quite put the front part together. Here is my little barn..still needs the ridge vent caps and will be painted to match the house (used the same shingles...the rain will wash the red footprints off). The water spout is about 10-12' off from the barn, not right on it as it appears. Again...grass is getting tilled and seeded tomorrow or the next day. Amy

Eagle customer service is just ok compared to other manufacturers. I recommend to my customers Marvin or Jeldwen Custom. The service for both is great.

We are needing to replace our windows. Our house was built in 1988. We live in St. Louis, MO. We currently have builder grade aluminum windows. I very much like the windows except for the condesation that happens during the winter time. I assumed I could solve this problem by getting newer aluminum windows with a thermal break. But, per a window installer who came to the house to provide a quote (Genesco), he commented the aluminum windows we have already have a thermal break. So, my question: Is there an aluminum window out there that provides a decent amount of insulation. Or is that an oxymoron? I, like other people who have posted, am somewhat paralyzed by the complexities of picking a window that will work well. Another question: I saw the Pella vinyl windows. They had two styles--the entry level and then the next higher level. On the next higher level the entire frame was smooth. There was no seam where the corner of the frames met. Since there was no seam, does this mean the corners were not welded, and therefore, the window will not hold up as well? Thanks so very much for any input.

The house was built in the early/mid 30s by a very affluent family in the area. It stayed in the family until I purchased it. The house is a mix of victorian and craftsman. Most of the interior design elements were "over-the-top" Victorian. The house is the largest/nicest house in the area and is one of the houses everyone knows. There are quite a few things that are not strictly to-code in the house, but the house is grandfathered so most I don't need to worry about. While updating, if it is possible I try to correct any issues, but some things it just isn't possible. FYI, the radiator sits back into the wall under the window. The cubby is 8.5" deep. We've never worried about burning ourselves on that radiator. The one in the basement my knees touch while on the toilet, but they don't get hot enough to actually burn (hot water, not steam). I WILL be fixing that one in the future. I actually found the original blueprints to the house in the basement. From it, I can tell there have been A LOT of changes, and additions to the house over the years. Generally you can look at the material and have a pretty good idea what decade it was done. When I spoke to the previous owner (his father built the house) he told me they didn't care about keeping it era specific or anything, his comment was "we like what we like, and wanted what we wanted", and they had the money to do it... I am NOT a purist, but the bones of this house are of a grand nature. I am trying to restore what I think the house should look like in my own way. I am keeping with the mix of victorian and craftsman as well.