Got to agree it was the wood ash that did it. The usual recommended application rate for it is no more than 1/2 lb. per 100 sq. feet and that is only if your soil is acidic to begin with. It's also possible that your soil sample may have been from a pocket where the ash was concentrated so the pH reading you got isn't a valid indicator of your soil pH. Also have to agree that it is now going to be difficult to get it back where it belongs. You can of course remove 1/2 the soil to another bed and replace it with fresh soil mixed in well. That would be the fastest fix, but if it were me, rather than that or trying to correct using sulphur or ammonium sulfate (the usual soil acidifiers), I would work into the bed before planting a substantial amount of good compost. It won't solve the problem immediately but will bring it back into a more neutral range and allow you some growing success this year. Wait a month-6 weeks after adding it and get another test done. I wish you luck but it will take some time so be patient. Dave

I live in NC too, and with our cost of living you should be able to build a pretty nice house for 250,000 -- but I wouldn't expect you could build that first house for anywhere near that price. It's dripping in expensive add-ons. I find it overdone, but that's personal opinon. The second house is better, but it is still going to be overbudget. You're still looking at fancy ceilings, etc. I think it'll be cheaper than the first house, but still not within your budget. I think you have two options: 1. Increase the budget with some money of your own. 2. Find a new, more simple houseplan. If you start with one of these houses, and you start chopping off this and that item, you're going to lose the overall character that you were looking for in the first place.

4" or so? More important is the comfort of the height of the seat to the countertop. Seat too low causes the elbows to be too high. Sit at a comfortable table/desk and measure seat to top distance. Use that for shortening the stools. To shorten the stools, do not measure from the ends of the legs up. Too easy to make a mistake. Determine the new leg length and lake a story stick of that length. Be sure to cut the correct angles on each end. Then, mark the two outside surfaces of each leg---keeping the correct positioning of the story stick. Then, mark the inside surfaces. All the four lines on each leg should meet at the correct angle to now cut off the amount necessary. Be sure to allow for casters/etc.

I would have gone and talked to the owner behind you before it showed up as listed -- both to reduce the competition and to possibly make it easier to negotiate, but I still wouldn't rule out making an offer now. Let them know the listed rent is more than your parents can swing and that you can add something to it to make this work for everyone, but not what they are asking. Tell them you were hoping that the $1600 they mentioned might make it possible to work something out. Make an offer that is either the max or close to the max you can do with you chipping in. If it is the max, let them know that. You know they have some flexibility because they talked about listing it for less. If they don't need max dollars out of the home, they may have the flexibility to take the $1600 or even less (asking $1600, they might have been looking to get at least $1450 or $1500 -- or they might have been firm at $1600). Some folks are only about dollars and some situations require anyone to focus on dollars, but sometimes other factors weigh in too. Doesn't hurt to let them know your DH passed and your situation is a bit more limited than it might be otherwise. Let them know you will be there to make sure everything is well cared, that your parents need help and you need them to be closer, but you having trouble finding the right solution. Tell them what a blessing it would be to have your parents hem so close at this time in their lives. It's okay to yank their chain a little. It may or may not work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Whether you talk to these folks or not, you are going to have to be proactive and stay on top of things. I looked at rental listings that are online and even a couple of senior apartment options last night. There ae not a ton of options that appear to be very close to you that are near your price range (only a couple of homes that showed active and in Kingwood - looks like there are more in Atascocita and Humble, and I don't know if those are close enough to meet your goals). But the ones that look best are aleady pending. Are you working with an agent to help you locate possiilities and to jump on new listings? You need to be getting some networking on your side to find things as they open up and to get a sense of where there may be flexibility. If you are working with an agent and they are just showing you what you see online and ask about, they aren't working for you. If that is the case, I'd find another agent. This time of year is likely to have fewer new options, so you want to jump on anything that looks good. There may also be fewer people looking to move this time of year, but it only takes one to snap up that perfect place before you do, so don't be too lax. Also, be assertive. You have every right to ask for anything. If it is reasonable or well presented, it will likely be considered. You may not get it, but you are guaranteeed to get nothing if you don't ask. Put yourself in the shoes of the landlord or seller and tell yourself all the reasons why you and your parents would be good tenants or buyers for them. Convince yourself so you can convince them. Get that agent to work with you -- they are used to seeing the needs and wants on both sides and should be able to help you make your best case. Are you the only family member? Are there others, even if out of town that can lend support and help you with all this? It's a lot harder to act and make decisions when you have the emotional involvement with your parents, they have issues that ake it more difficult and you are feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. If you don't have family or friends to lean on, at least you have this forum. Use it -- and get a good agent working for you. And I talk too much. Sorry it's so long.