I saw my first Junco last week. I am hoping that I'll see more. I have seeing White Crown sparrow lately, too. The gold finches (no longer gold) seemed to have come back from where-ever they had gone. I am hoping to see some American Tree Sparrow next. They are the most common birds in my yard during last winter. Now that it's cold enough, I put up my modified suet feeder (with a tail extender attachment). The woodpecker found it within 5 min. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make the Red Belly woodpecker that comes infrequently to come more often. How long do the ducks stay? I thought they have left by now with the water staring to freeze, but a large group seems to come in the morning to raid the feeders. I am hoping that they leave before more of the Junco comes back. I can't keep anything in the ground feeder. Paul

I had a mat, but the chipmunk who lives in our shrubbery decided to eat it. I don't know where the little beastie put all the mat; he must have welcomed some of his rodent friends over for the feast.

I, like you, currently like the look of grey cabinets but like white as well and I think that long-term I'll be glad that I chose white since grey will probably go out of style (or apparently from what I've learned reading this thread it already has). On the other hand, since you're using IKEA cabinets you could just change the doors out in 5 or 10 years if you get the gray & get tired of it. The floors on the other hand are a lot more work to change. I love the color that you picked but with a large family you will probably have a lot of dirt & a dark floor will show it all. In my last house we refinished the hardwood floors and used a beautiful dark stain. With 4 kids & a dog I regretted that dark stain within a few weeks. The natural oak never showed dirt like the dark stain did.

Check into Accoya real wood products. Its a pickled wood and that non-toxic process makes it impervious to termites and water. I used their dyed gray wood so when you cut it, the color is through out, so you can lightly sand any scratches that may happen. It never needs treating, staining, painting or maintenance with a 50 yr warranty. It will always be gray. Here it is on my house. It's one of my favorite things on my remodel.