Thanks for the words of encouragement and photo ideas grannybj65, I have a really nice digital camera and plan to take LOTS of photos all along the way as I develop the garden. The photos linked here were taken by a good friend. I have an eye for good snapshots so once I'm down there I'll be taking dozens of photos from all angles and different weather conditions. The joy of digital photography - you never run out of film. LOL One of the things I like to do is take a series of photos from the same angle all day long on a sunny day to get a general idea of where the shady and sunny spots are. Doing that a few times throughout the year as the Earth changes kilter I'll perfect an image in my mind of where best to place different plants based on their light/shade tolerance. Looking at the photo of the front of the house dead-on, I just got a great idea. Facing the house, the living room is on the right side with the single window and the kitchen is on the left side with the double windows. In front of the double windows inside is the kitchen sink, so it is not a spot that will have tremendous "looking out the window" appeal. So, as the cogs turn in this hard head of mine, I'm visualizing lattice from the center pole on the porch going to the left corner, then around to where the porch meets the house. Then cutting a rectangular window out of the center of the front of the lattice and framing it a bit so there is a clear view out to the road from the kitchen window. And then I can visualize the lattice painted white (or more likely light gray as I'm not too fond of white outside) and covered in Scarlet Runner Bean and Clematis with maybe some "Joseph's Coat" (Amaranthus tricolor) in front and some dwarf Cannas with some "Love lies Bleeding" (Amaranthus sp.) along the side. The scarlet, violet, purple and deep reds and burgundys will all be in harmony with one another, at least until I decide on a totally different look down the road. I can have a nice metal frame rocking deck seat out on the porch hidden away behind the wall of vines where I can sit and enjoy the shade - and a good spray from the gardening hose on all the vines will create a nice cooling breeze. Well, it's a thought anyway. :) I saw on eBay this evening someone in San Diego California is selling several batches of Tillandsias (the common T. ionantha). They are offering them as a box of 50 child fist-sized clumps of them for around $20 if I recall - quite cheap. I immediately thought how neat it would be to buy 50 or 100 clumps and then carefully wire them to a wire-frame wreath for a living, blooming front door wreath, especially once the front porch is semi-latticed in and well shaded. A few sprigs of Spanish Moss draping down from the wreath here and there would further kick off the effect. It would live on the wet air, constantly regenerate itself with new growth, and bloom off and on throughout the year. During the colder months I could bring it inside and hang up it in the living room window where it can get plenty of bright indirect light. Ok, I'll shut up now.

Thanks so much for the feedback. I spoke with the architect and he was enabling the bath to be large enough for 3'0 doors and a larger vanity that he thought I wanted. I told him we were used to just a pedestal sink and toilet and would be thrilled to have the extra space in the kitchen. He is working on our revisions, but it sounds as if it will all work out. Our master bath and bedroom are on the main floor and is wheelchair accesible. So, that would be an option if ever needed for someone or us in the future. I really appreciate the comments, time and pitures. It is so nice to have real people who can share and help us get our dream homes as pefectly perfect as possible! I count down to the days we can break gound and share pictures. I hope we will be part of "It's June and...!" We closed on our 8 acres yesterday and it is just screaming for some action!!!

The Jasmine is the same model as the S300. I don't know the reason for the different names. That's probably a good price. When I bought mine nearly 3 years ago, I was told ther was fixing to be a price increase. cindaloutx, check out these videos at Toto.com. Maybe it will answer your questions. Does the retractable wand ever need cleaning? Yes, occassionally and is easily done with a soft cloth. Trying not to reveal TMI (too much information) but I just suffered thru bad stomach virus this weekend. My Washlet made made all the difference in the world :) springvillegardens, here is a photo of where I have my remote installed. No reach for it. With my back issues, I don't know what I'd do without my Washlet, not to mention how much cleaner and fresher it makes you feel. You have a choice of two rear washes, one a forceful steam and the other not as forceful and covers more area. Both are adjustable as is the water temp and seat temp. One front wash. Adjustable as well. Dryer has three temps. Also a deoderizer that automatically goes off 1 minutes after you get up. Or you can turn it on as needed. There is a power saver option. I have mine set for the features to be "on" from 9am to 12 midnight. I would hate to have to choose which bathroom feature is my favorite, the Washlet or airtub. Both make my life much more comfortable. About half way down You'll see the video links. Monica Here is a link that might be useful: Toto Washlet Videos

When my son was 4, his phobia was a motorized wheelchair. His preschool teacher's son had CP, he was about 10 at the time, and used the chair. His school bus dropped him off at the preschool about on hour before I picked DS up. His fear was like your DD's. He would go nowhere near that chair, panicked. He would have peed his pants if he had to walk past the chair to get to the bathroom. His teachers would have to pick him up and carry him across the room if he had to pass that chair. I found him at pick-up a few times cowered under a table with the chairs pulled in tight around him. If the son was on the floor, DS was not afraid of him. But that WC scared the life out of him, so when the son was in that WC, DS would run from him like his life was in danger, screaming in terror. I was so upset b/c I thought he might be hurting the son's feelings, and felt like a failure b/c no on else's kid was scared of the WC! So I found a store that sold wheelchairs, a medical supply store with a showroom. I called, explained my issue, and the staff was so nice! They made time to help us out, we went in, the manager showed him all the chairs, the parts of them, how they work, let him use one. Ended the fear! (I will never forget the kindness that manager showed DS, the time she took for us when there was nothing in it for her, there are good people!) Next day at school DS kept his eye on that WC, but he was no longer panicked. Eventually, he accepted it as part of the furniture in the room, he'd talk to the son while he was in it. It was like Sweeby's talking about, desensitizing. And he needed to learn that in a different environment, with no pressure. There were no words I could use to get him to understand he was safe, it took a physical lesson. I like Sweeby's idea about personifying her fear, talking to it, being the boss of it. That will be empowering, and it will teach her skills to overcome other fears as she grows. Talk about it to her, ask her about what she thinks will happen, what really does happen, how it makes her feel. Go somewhere every day if possible just for the purpose of using the bathrooms. It's hard to be patient with something so irrational. You are doing a great job at handling it, being compassionate but still strong.