sowngrow: Well, I've been thinking. Since we now have a TWOFOLD question--what to do with a wall, AND a wall on a slope that may retain water, let's deal with the water retention first. You seem to have a solid concrete wall, so I wouldn't be nearly as concerned about it accepting (and holding paint) as I would a block wall. There are plenty of good water-based paints (thin, and clean up with water) that adhere to concrete. You have only to call your paint store and have them point out WHICH paint they recommend--and if they're guaranteed not to peel. People have been painting concrete steps and porches for years--not only concrete, BUT, concrete that receives heavy foot traffic, and most of it wears extremely well. You don't even have to worry about the foot traffic--you have a wall. You can mention the part about the water retention, but I doubt whether that will be a factor. If they think it is, they'll probably try and sell you a water-sealant paint (like you would paint a leaky basement with), and you MAY not need it. You be the judge--taking into consideration that paint that holds back water is 2 or 3 times as expensive as regular latex paint. If you're still concerned after conferring with your paint store, buy some latex paint (listening to their recommendations, somewhat) and paint the TOP of the wall. Let it stand a year or so--through your rainy season, and through Winter, and see if you're satisfied with it. If so, continue the pattern on the face of the wall. I'd certainly give it a try, if it were me. I'd at least talk to someone knowledgable at a good paint store--not someone in the paint department at Wal-Mart.

Susan, Observant! You asked for it. My DH has horrible or no organizational skills. He NEVER puts caps back on. He has ruined many slacks because he puts uncapped pens in his pants pocket. He absent mindedly uuummm--collects pens at work and brings home a variety of pens because he has not writing instrument preference. Recently, he came home from a conference with a Mont Blanc. He had no idea what a Mont Blanc pen was. I explained how much it cost and we try to find the owner in order to return it. So, to answer your question about the caps--I try to make a point of how outrageous this habit is by corralling the pen caps that I find around the house.

Another method you may want to consider is using plastic chain. Home Depot sells it and it comes in various colors. Just screw it to the top of your pillar and either wrap or just let it hang straight down. Wrap your twine around the roses canes then around or through a link of the chain. If you don’t attach the bottom end it can sway in the breeze. I use #14 black house wiring instead of twine to hold my climbers up. It is easy to cut with the pruners and holds with just a twist or two. AND it is reusable…..

My house is 8 months old. I have a list of projects I am planning to DIY like we are going to be changing out the builder installed mulch and shrubs with red cedar mulch and new plants. That is something I can do and not mess up. After living here for 8 months the houses personality is starting to take shape. I know it sounds funny to say it has personality but my master bath and bedroom tell me it is not happy being agreeable grey and would prefer to be Iced Blue Silver so my son told me as his Christmas present to me he would get me paint and paint my bathroom and bedroom. When I placed the furniture in my bedroom I thought I had the perfect set up but after being here awhile and once the room is painted I have in visioned my bedroom furniture in a different configuration and can see the whole design layout with new paint color and drapes in my head. I hope it all looks as I think it will or my son will have to move my furniture back to the original spots. I am going to finally tackle drapes/rods and decoration my living room and dining room. When I moved here I wanted to live here a bit before decorating rather than rush out and do it right away. My house looks bare right now because I have nothing on the walls and only wood blinds on the windows. I know I have my furniture placed where it will stay so ready to hit the stores for some color and pretty things to put out. Projects I feel better left to the professionals and heck someone has to keep them in business so it might as well be me. :) I know my limits. Granite in my kitchen and bathrooms. I bought the house without it because I knew I'd want to change things as I got more comfortable in the house. My livingroom, kitchen and dining room are all open to each other and I want to match the granite to the decor I am going to use in all 3 rooms to tie them together. I have a 5'x4' tiled entry way at my front door that leads down to the kitchen dining room area. They carpeted all the way from where the tile ends. My garage door entry is right across from the kitchen and that area is carpeted but the kitchen is tiled. It looks silly and dirt is starting to build up near the garage door entry even though I have a rug there. So I want to have the carpet ripped up in that hall area and have tile installed from the kitchen all the way to the front door entry so it is easier to keep clean. I want to have a 15'x20' sun room put on the back of my house. If I tried to do this myself it would probably lean and leak.