I am so sorry for your loss. First, you MUST report this to law enforcement immediately. Even if they tell you that you cannot press charges against this person(which I cannot imagine as he was guilty of trespassing at the very least), the law enforcement officers should make an 'information report' about the incident. Secondly, find out exactly what the law says where you live. I live in a rural area with no leash law, so dogs can run free as they please. HOWEVER, once a dog steps off its own property, it can be shot if it is a threat to any person or animal. Thus, in our area, your neighbor could have legally shot the dog on his property or even if it was on county property like in a roadway, but could not come onto your property and legally shoot it as he did. Third, in addition to reporting the incident to the police, report it to the humane society if your area has one. Fourth, consult an attorney about how to proceed in protecting your property from this person and his animals. In some jurisdictions you must clearly post No Trespassing signs. In others, you must mark your perimeter with a certain color of paint. You may have to send a "cease and desist" letter informing this person that criminal charges will be filed if he trespasses onto your property. You obviously need a fence to keep your animals home, and his animals out, and I realize that is a major expense. Consulting an attorney is also an expense, but you have a very difficult situation on your hands and need to be careful every step of the way to ensure you understand the law and comply with it yourself. It also will help establish firmly for you just what your legal rights are. Fifth, you need to inform this neighbor that the encroachment of his animals on to your property will no longer be tolerated. It is best to do this in writing. You will have to decide for yourself what steps to take if the animals come onto your property again. It is best to think about this and decide in advance what to do. That way you don't make a snap judgement in the heat of the moment that you might regret. I would find it almost impossible to even attempt to maintain a friendly relationship with someone who came onto my property and behaved as your neighbor did. I suspect it is time to worry less about getting along & being a good neighbor and time to worry more about protecting yourself, your family, your animals and your property. You know, a person who would kill an animal in front of its family on its own property might do just about anything. Be careful. Finally, if you want to forgive this person, fine. Do the Christian thing and forgive him if you can. BUT, do not forget! I suspect that a person like this, if he knows you have forgiven him, might do something similar in the future because he got away with it once. Again, my condolences for the loss of your beloved pet, and especially because you had to witness such a heinous event. I hope everything works out for you and your family.

My next door neighbor does rather "contemporary" decorating for Christmas. They use some of those extra large ornaments just laying in the greenery on the mantel and on the hearth. I was really surprised at how nice they looked when I first saw them. You can also use them out in your yard like a "garden globe" to add some color. You can often find those wide, metal casserole holders or candle holders at the TS to use as a "base" for them. Not sure if you could take the caps off and use them upside down on a dowel or garden stake--the wind might whip them around too much. If I had them, I think I would just hang them along the front edge of my porch--maybe with some big bright bows at the top. Luvs

Re: painting, just remember this is not a room it is your exterior. Whatever color you paint it should go on your other exterior (non brick not trim) surfaces unless you close it in and screen/wall it. Just for fun, I really love this where steps go all the way around instead of railings. My deck is like this, I love it. It would look great in brick like this, with the brick pillar as well. Also like these, although any work like this seems like a great opportunity to face the stairs to the street as has been mentioned : ^^ no double columns for you (too fancy) but I love the brick walls and stair railings ^^Forget the style of the beams but the brick pillars at base of stair with white/cream railing returning to simple white posts would be nice What not to do: bulky pillars are all wrong for the house^^ ^^awesome with simple railing

writersblock I remember that look from the 70s, but usually in commercial settings. ************************************* Just needs some refrigerated display cases filled with meat underneath Wouldn't it be funny if this was part of the old roof kept when an addition was added?