GOPHER STEW 6 lbs. gopher meat 1/4 lb. salt pork, cubed 3 Spanish onions, diced 5 stalks celery, diced 1 bell pepper, diced 3 (16 oz.) cans sliced tomatoes 10 c. water 2 datil peppers, whole Salt and pepper to taste 3 potatoes, cubes 5 tbsp. brown flour 1/2 c. water Clean gopher meat well and drain. Fry down salt pork in a large cast iron pot. Add meat and brown. Remove meat, drain on paper towels. Add onions, celery and bell pepper to salt pork grease and saute until tender. Add tomatoes and a little water if needed and cook down to a pulp on low heat for about 2 hours. Add gopher meat, 10 cups water and datil peppers and salt and pepper to taste. Cook about 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Add potatoes the last 30 minutes of cooking. Mix brown flour with water in a glass jar and shake vigorously. Bring stew to a boil and thicken with flour mixture. Serve over UNCLE BEN'S® rice. BROWN FLOUR: 1 cup flour Place flour in a cast iron skillet on low heat and stir continuously until brown, being careful not to burn it.

I have not had a need to try this one, but my mother-in-law swears by it as an effective and harmless rabbit control. A solution of one part Listerine mouthwash and 2 parts ordinary faucet water sprayed liberally on the plants you seek to protect from the bunnies does the trick she says. I have a bargain pack of four one gallon jugs of Listerine sitting in my garage since early last year, but I have not yet had sufficent rabbit problems to motivate me to try it out. If any of you give it a go and have success, please let me know as soon as possible. I have been trying to find an honest to goodness reason to be grateful for my mother-in-law's advise all these many years, and maybe this is finally it.

Jockewing, first, condolences. Glad the protracted struggle is behind you. My first suggestion is to only spend a portion of your inheritance now and save the rest as the financial outlook is bleak for the near future. (I know, that advice is a drag!) But truly, my advice would always be to upgrade slowly since finding quality pieces you'll love for the long haul takes time. That being said, I also know how important feathering your nest is and think you will enjoy getting a few pieces now. I have lots of general suggestions below, but really want to encourage you to take your time finding good pieces which will work over many years rather than succumbing to throw-away purchases. Unless you have enough money to buy everything now, I'd start with the DR since you call attention to it with the accent wall color. I'd look to replace the bookcase with a wonderful marble topped buffet, a Danish rosewood or walnut credenza or a taller antique secretary. Really consider older furniture pieces which are generally much better made than the particle board stuff readily available. Antiques don't have to be stuffy or ornate, and with luck and patience you can begin building a wonderful, clean-lined collection. These days, without a really big budget it's hard to find quality pieces unless you have a great consignment store neraby or shop ebay. Center your new DR chandelier on your table. I think all the wrought iron legs in the DR (as well as the hodgepodge end tables) add to the busy-ness you don't like. Earlier it was suggested to place a larger glass top over a table cloth if you keep the table, or I'd consider replacing the set with a wood pedestal DR table w/o a cloth. Look for some comfortable DR chairs; I love simple leather chairs which hold up really well. Rattan is a good look but not as practical with crumbs, cleanability, etc. In the LR, start with finding a hand-knotted rug, larger than your existing LR carpet and a runner in coordinating tones to replace the striped rug. Get two small patterned carpets for the front & dining area entry doors, unless you find a nice area rug for the DR, then you will want only an interior rug at the front door.. Overstock (must really read descriptions as photos aren't always accurate and avoid lead based dyes), ebay and craig's list are great sources, but many higher-end mfgs sell dicsontinued rugs directly on line at close-out prices. The trick is to be patient and wait for a wonderful bargain rather than spend a lot for instant gratification. Hand-knotted for the large rug(s) is best as it will hold up well. Extend the drape rods as was suggested to add presence to the panels. Your wall color has to coordinate with the taupe tiles unless you can upgrade to HW or laminate. Assuming you have to work with the tile, I'd be cautious of cooler, darker hues since that can be drab and depressing and you already have a sophisticated darker tone in the kitchen/dining area. Consider deep non-yellowy cream toward raw silk/linen tones (I find it helpful to look at art mats and/or fabric and have paint matched) which will combine well with the DR wall and the aquas, green and brown you love and that you're currently inclined to eventually bring more into the LR. I like your tv in its current location because it allows you to keep a cohesive conversational arrangement in the LR. HDGuy's advice to consider whether you want/need display/storage area is a good one in determining what size piece to look for btwn the windows. I'd consider 2 love seats (in a neutral tone to accommodate changing accents as your taste evolves) flanking the media wall, much sleeker than the bulky one you have, but still comfortable. Put a console table or low bookcase behind the one on the DR side. Definitely add more lamps, up lighting behind plants, maybe a torchiere in a corner and/or a swing arm low floor lamp by seating. Replace the ceiling fan with another more beautiful fixture, even if you elect to keep a fan there. Replace the two chairs with more compact ones, even a sleek recliner as long as it has raised legs. Or re-upholster the burgundy chair and just get one new chair. Get a large leather ottoman which can pull double duty as a coffee table. Consider tucking a power strip behind the small console under the mirror to minimize the cords. Definitely place all your lights on dimmers. Before you begin, scour this site and others as well as mags to find the style that most appeals to you and use them for inspiration. Best of luck!

^^^I came back to say basically the same thing Fun2BHere wrote. I thought about your situation a lot last night and today and it really bothered me, especially after I went back and read how you were ’treated’ or rather left untreated in the nursing home. A few 30 minute sessions in 24 days is not enough. I’m not saying your sessions should be longer or strenuous, but movement is important in the days following surgery. I think you know this and it’s part of why you are frustrated. Even if you can only sit on the side of a bed, there are things a good PT can do with you to activate movement and avoid problems in the future. I ditto Fun’s suggestion that you talk soon with your surgeon and ask about home health PT and a nurse to monitor you (mine came once a week and took BP, temp, blood ox, etc). PT was twice a week and I could have had 3x if i wasn’t able to do exercises on my own on other days. I also have Medicare plus BC (Federal) &Tricare, and I know Medicare paid for it.