Just to echo Peppi and David, training with small (or any) treats is very effective, since dogs will DO almost anything for them, once they get the ''message'' of what you want from them. (Especially if it's something they really love.) Training will be easier and go faster if you make your dog do something for every treat. It also reinforces the idea that you're the pack leader, since you control the treats. It's always a good idea to have your dog sit, stay, lie down, go in the crate, come, watch, wait. It's your best tool for whatever you're trying to teach/reinforce before you give them anything, whether it's food, praise or play. It teaches them to watch you, if you have them wait for their reward. I did this every time with my dog, even after she was mature. If I didn't, she thought she could go her own way, and didn't choose to listen anymore. It's better for everyone to get into the habit early on, for their own safety (and yours!) and rewarding for both of you. It's lovely to have a well-behaved dog to take places, and live with. Just to figure out what food reward will make him respond best, put several (small) different treats in a line, give him a command, then release him to go get his treat. The first one will be the one he likes most, and you'll know the best effective training tool for the most difficult commands. Save those for the ones he's having the most trouble with and you'll have the advantage. I also taught sign language with every command (hand gestures). It was lovely to be able to communicate silently with my dog without having to issue a voice command, except for initially saying their name to get their attention. It's actually pretty easy to train a dog. That book you have checked out at the library will tell you everything you need to know, and you'll both get the hang of it quickly. Try one new thing every few days, once you feel he's learned the last thing you taught him. It's fun!

I think it might work great, but white is tricky since the white of the countertop won't exactly match the white of the subway tile/cabinets. A very light grey would be probably be easier to match, although I don't know if that color scheme would be as timeless as all white. We ended up going with no backsplash (!!) and just the light grey walls. But I love an all white kitchen - and I think you might have the not-quite matching issue with most countertop color options (unless you go with a darker counter, I guess).

Hi, Troy! Did you do anything when painting outside to prevent wind/dust/insects from getting into the paint as it dried on the doors? I lack indoor space for painting and I'd like to rig something up outdoors if I could. I have to second eam44's suggestion regarding the backsplash. I made the mistake of pairing a multi-hued glass mosaic with a patterned granite and had to tear the whole thing out. Unfortunately, my countertops were covered with building paper while the backsplash went up, so I didn't get the full effect until it was removed. My reaction? OMG and WOW (and not in a good way)! I couldn't believe it because the colors were pretty much spot on ... it was all the conflicting patterns that sent it over the edge into "too many clowns in the kitchen" territory. My sample lied to me ... the effect when it covered a larger area was pretty bad. Anyway, I looked at your blog ... love what you are doing and it's looking great! Any pictures of the house?

Well, looked at Corian yesterday, some were good, but learned it can scratch easier than quartz. So, today, I narrowed down to 3 whites. Vicostone "Pure White", MetroQuartz '"Absolute White" and Silestone "Iconic White" in Suede N-boost finish, since the polished is too white. They all look good with the new cabinets. Fabricator/company where I'm purchasing from said, they are all very similar in quality and manufacturing. They feel however, that Silestone Brand is a small step above the other 2 brands. Well, the MetroQuartz, which I had never heard of, matches perfectly with the high gloss acrylic cabinets, and the Silestone came in lots more $$$. Is MetroQuartz a good choice and trusted brand? I also like the Vicostone. How do I decide?