Thanks so much. I figured it was in my head :) One of the "stunted" tomatoes seems to have grown a little. They both have strange tiny mushrooms forming at their base which I assume means the soil is too damp so I think I will lay off watering that section. My whole garden saw rain for the first time in its 3 month existence on Friday.... so far all that means for me is a lot of powdery mildew to deal with. Who know rain could be such a problem for plants? :)

Yes, just looks like a little frost damage to the tips, probably happened while they were still just eyes poking out of the ground.

It doesn't really matter exactly who they are. They fall into the category of pantry pests. You said "anything that's not in a can or jar is in a ziploc bag." Sorry, but that's inadequate protection. All foods should be in tight containers. Something like the heavy plastic Rubbermaid or Sterilite containers, or in glass jars which have a "rubber" gasket. The really bad news is that this requires a full scale cleaning of the pantry, possible other stored "foods" among them dog/cat/bird foods. Everything comes out, is checked for critters, the pantry/cupboards are cleaned with soapy water, and perishable foods stored in clean rigid containers.

We bought our land 4 years before we built our home. We wanted to build our dream home and were not in a hurry to rush into it and then regret decisions made too quickly. I was the designer on the project and honestly enjoyed all that it entailed. We also had a wonderful builder that made the whole process go seamlessly and stress free. After we chose a house plan and had it updated to include the must-haves on our list, I poured over those plans for hours and hours making sure each room was as ideal as possible. Now is the time to decide if you want an HVAC duct in that place or a light switch or outlet in that spot. Decide if you want floor outlets, special outlets in pantries or cleaning closets. Are the rooms the right size? Could a couple feet make a difference anywhere? I sure wish we had made our laundry room 3 feet wider. Choose as many products as you can before your builder gives you his estimate. If you want granite and he's giving you laminate pricing the cost will be more. Also, painting the interior all one color is less expensive than having several rooms painted differently. Are you going with pre-painted siding or having the exterior custom painted? Are you using brick, cultured stone or natural stone? Huge difference between brick and natural stone. Plumbing fixtures vary in price as do lighting and appliances. Make sure he's taking your choices into account with his bottom line. Think about any upgrades in insulation, soundproofing, radiant heating, etc. The best advice I can give from someone who's been there, done that, is to sit down and really think about how you want the house to look, function and feel....and cost. Are there things you can't do without? For us it was a 3rd garage, his & hers master's closets, a computer space off the kitchen area where we can monitor our son, and a particular type of kitchen layout. Break the house plan down room by room if it's overwhelming but KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. If you're unsure of that then you can be talked into a lot of stuff you will find out later you really didn't need or want. Almost all of us have to stick to a budget so the trick is getting what you want overall at a price you can afford. This website is a treasure trove of information that I'm sure will benefit you in the days to come. Good luck on your build and keep your chin up.