As is usual with these "please help me" posts, I start by asking one question, only to have other posters bring up additional issues/suggestions - a good thing! I now have (at least) 2 projects - one for the long (natural) view of trees and field behind the pond. A second for a "people place" at a different corner of the pond. drtygrl - yes, there were a few suggestions to make a platform or destination area. What I liked so much about pls8xx's suggestion is choosing a different corner of the pond. That way the "people place" is closer to the house, hence more likely to draw people the short distance to the pond. Also, by putting it in that corner, the human elements (adirondack chairs?) are not competing with the long "natural" view. Initially I was a bit unsure about a platform under the ash tree, because it seemed it might turn that into a "busy" area rather than a peaceful one. By moving it to the closer corner, I will be able to have my cake and eat it too :-) pls8xx, I understand about the importance of a planned view drawing, I draw home made ones all the time (pencil), and enjoy it. (it's my engineering background) I often work a plan for a year or two before implementing it. I don't see myself planting anything new here for a year at least, because I will be too busy removing cattails and reworking that corner. I'm still really impressed how you deduced those contour lines, your 50 years of experience really show. I've also learned first hand about drainage, having made a few corrections already at this property. Fortunately, my house sits on a small hill, with a gentle grade that naturally takes all the water away. Given that my driveway on a hill was not constructed with the correct camber, I experience first-hand the effects of rain and erosion and frequent repair. While I love the idea of a large sitting area in that corner, I'm not enamored with the path through the grass to get there. I like the large unbroken expanse of lawn here, creating a plain foreground for the view beyond. And the simple addition of chairs will allow the viewer to "know" which direction to go. That corner has always been difficult. The lawn slopes down to where it meets the pond, except when it gets to the low left corner, then the natural slope goes well below the pond edge in the corner, creating a small low spot that is spongy with water in spring and after heavy rains. In other words there is a dip. For the mower, it's also a sharp turn around a wet corner at a weird angle. (because of it's small and distant location I've been able to ignore it for years.) By redoing this corner with the addition of a lot of soil and a raised area, several problems could be fixed at once. And I will pay attention to scale. When I first moved here from my previous suburban yard, nothing I did was big enough. With practice and mocking everything up with hoses, I believe I've gotten much better at achieving appropriate scale for this large country property. I also really like Michelle's photos, that was a gorgeous pond! But as KarinL pointed out, that intensely landscaped pond may not fit into my WNY landscape, although there are ideas I can glean from it. Yardvaark, He's a homeless dude instead of a statesman. yuk yuk! Actually he needs no limbing, he has a long tall muscular trunk. However, he's been running with a scruffy crowd of 10 small punk trees behind him. The scraggly branches are theirs, not his. And the more I think about it, I'm inclined to agree with you that once that treeline is opened up a bit, the field alone might be a sufficient draw without a path. The reason I envision a path now is because that would give me a visual way out of there. With it opened up, that may not be necessary. Once the trees are gone (within the next couple weeks) I will go a season and observe the field and evaluate whether to mow a path. Once again, I really appreciate all the ideas here! Thanks for staying with this thread and all my wordy responses. You have all helped me tremendously!

Lynn, When you visit the 'Windows Update' website Welcome to Microsoft Update you will be 'flashed', not by Ray Stevens and 'The Streak', but by Microsoft checking to see if you have the latest Windows updating software which validates that you have a legitimate copy of 'Windows' (it's called, or was, 'WGA' Windows Genuine Advantage). That's the valdiation you were talking about. Microsoft on occasion will upgrade their 'Validation' tool. After it has validated that your copy of Windows is legit it will give you the option of 'Express' or 'Custom' (which includes other options that Windows feels you might need, such as 'drivers', etc.) install. I prefer not to use those. For all practical purposes the 'Express' (Get high priority updates- Recommended)option should scan your computer and let you know exactly what you need (with a few exceptions). If you use any of the Microsoft office products, such as the Microsoft Office 'Power Point' or 'Excel' viewers, 'Windows Updates' will not cover updates for that software unless_________. If you do use any of those Microsoft 'Word' programs (and I'm not really all that familiar with all of them)and you want to have 'Windows Update' include updates for those, what you have to do is when you open the 'Windows Updates' site there is an option to include updates for other 'Microsoft' products. I just did this a few days ago but forgot the terminoly they used. It's just a matter of clicking on a link to get 'Office'? updates now, or something to that effect. The 'Belarc' advisor does a nice job of scanning your computer and letting you know where it's deficient, including updates. If you scroll down to 'Missing Microsoft Security Hotfixes' that will tell you what Microsoft hotfixes (KB- 'Knowledge Base') fixes need to be installed for your computer. Below the 'Installed Microsoft Hotfixes' section you can see where they list those updates that have installed properly (Green checkmark), failed (Red X), etc. Clicking on 'detail' will take you to MS and explain the update. "I guess I have 2 questions:" "is there a way I can check to see if I have these updates on my computer?" Using 'Win XP' you can check what updates you have installed by going to Start/Control Panel/Change or Remove Programs/ and select 'Show Updates' at the top and scroll down to your updates. "- if I don't, how do I get them." Windows Security & Updates It's getting late and I'm under 'full sail' again (Seagrams), but if this didn't come across maybe a few of the others here, (R'C'?), could jump in and put a cap on it. Signing off for now,_____gettink to hard to coordnate the finkers. Good luck, Witz P.S. Also, if you want to put a shortcut to 'Windows Update' on your 'Desktop'(for those who don't use the 'Automatic update' feature and need a reminder) to check for the updates (they're supposed to come out the 2nd Tuesday of every month but you never know when they feel something important should be released sooner. I have gotten into the habit checking once a week. Using Win Xp, click Start/All Programs, at the top of the list you should have the 'Windows Update' link. Right click that link, scroll down to 'Send to', and select 'Desktop-create shortcut'. This will work for any of the programs you have.

Thought I'd update. Got Windows installed without a hitch, Dell talked me through it. I debated whether to put Win 7 in since I was starting from scratch but worried some of my software might not work Everything went well except I couldn't find drivers for some things such as my wireless adapter so couldn't get on line. Called Linksys and they spent over an hour trying to get the driver in and finally did. That was the best part, finally getting on line and getting hit with a zillion MS updates. I have misplaced or lost some software. We moved here in March and I could not locate my Office disk, wireless mouse/keyboard software and a few other things, might have gotten lost in the move. I'm most concerned about Office 07. I paid for it. Dell says they can't help and I could try contacting MS and see if they would do anything. I haven't moved any of my files back yet. Otherwise, I feel like the computer runs better than when it was new. Things seem different, have to fool with fonts and views, but I'm amazed how effortlessly the machine runs. This computer always seemed to have a few 'glitches' but I was used to it. Now it seems so fast and smooth (of course there isn't much running on it yet.) I don't know how to thank everyone for all the support and help I received. You are the best friends anyone could ever ask for. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks! Thanks from the bottom of my heart... Jane

I have donotcall and the phone rings once and then stops. If it rings more than once I look at caller ID and if I don't recognize the number or name, it goes to voice mail. We were expecting a call from Apple almost two years ago and coincidentally got one of these scammers. Thankfully nothing happened but not because my husband was smart. As he talked with this guy with an accent and started doing stuff on the computer I googled the number. Guess what?.. Nigeria. I've only gotten one call since then and I let him have it.