Mori - potting them is possible, but means I'd have to go and purchase pots etc. I don't have anything readily available - I just started re-gardening in a new home after a long period of not gardening. I had to move to an apartment for several years and of course, had to get rid of all garden accessories (well actually my ex, got to keep all that stuff since I had nowhere to keep it all *makes sad face*). Krista - I'm leaning towards your idea of keeping them in the plastic they arrive in/box, etc. and putting them in my basement most likely, which will be the coolest place I think. It is supposed to warm up a bit next week with the rain, and I suspect my unheated basement might be a better area for them, than even my detached garage where it may get too warm.

Kevin, that type of lamp and the colors in it look great in your room. This is some advice I was given previously regarding bedside lamps: When you are sitting in bed, the bottom of the shade should be just above your shoulder to create the perfect reading light. You probably already know this, but I am editing to post additional information I was given: Shade height should be about 3/4 the height of the base. Reading lamps need a wider shade to provide plenty of light. Be sure you have 2-3 inch separation from bulb to shade, especially for higher wattage bulbs. Be sure the top opening is wide enough to vent the heat. Compact Fluorescent bulbs are great for most lamps because they burn cooler, but you may need larger harp since CFL's are taller than standard light bulbs. The best way to determine the bottom diameter of the shade for your table lamp is to measure the lamp height from the bottom edge of the table lamp base to the top of the lamp stem, (just below the socket cap) The shade you choose for your lamp should have a bottom diameter that is within 2âÂÂ, plus or minus, the measured height of your lamp. For example if your lamp height (measured from the bottom of the lamp to just below the socket) is 14â tall, the shade you select (depending on your preference for a small, medium, or larger looking shade) should have a bottom diameter of 12âÂÂ, 13âÂÂ, 14âÂÂ, 15â or 16âÂÂ. Round lamp base - round or hexagonal shade Square or angular base - square shade Mix opposites to make a contemporary statement By the way, I forgot to mention that your nightstand is just beautiful. This post was edited by walnutcreek on Sun, Apr 28, 13 at 15:55

I agree that you have gotten some good advice. As the Mom of triplets and grandmother of four I would hope that your little guests parents will be vigilant and watch their own kids. However I know this doesn't always happen, so protect your valuable stuff and keep doors to off-limit rooms shut. (including bathrooms,they are the most dangerous rooms in most houses) My concern would be mostly safety, make sure there are no medicine bottles around where they could reach. Although ideally they will stay out of the kitchen, make sure when you are cooking all pan handles are turned inward and not sticking out from the stove. Everyone should get in the habit of doing that anyway. If (God forbid) you have chemicals in bottles they shouldn't be in, like cleaning supplies in a soda bottle, get rid of them or lock them in the garage. I remember when a cousin had to call poison control because a niece was actually served Christmas tree preservative by another guest who thought it was 7-up. As for food, you shouldn't have to do anything special. Just have plenty of rolls. You may also want to make sure you have at least one dessert that doesn't have nuts, most two year olds can't have them yet. You could always get some pudding cups or fruit cups for them if you think your dessert is too adult. Then relax and enjoy your day.

If you're retired why can't some of the rooms do double duty. For example do you need 5 bedrooms, a media room and an exercise room? Who is going to clean all those bedrooms? Why can't one of the spare bedrooms be an exercise room? For example, in our house, we have 3/4 bedrooms but every room except the master is used for dual purposes. Our guest bedroom is also our exercise room and when we have guests they sleep on a queen Murphy bed. My studio functions as a 3rd bedroom because it also has a queen sleeper sofa. My DH's office could double as a bedroom for grandkids. All told we have a total of 6/7 rooms in 2870 sq feet. Do you need an away/studio/office/etc room? The master bath appears to be as large if not larger than the master bedroom. If the bedrooms upstairs are for guests, I'm guessing they don't want a jack and jill bathroom. I can just see it now. Middle of the night and one person in first bedroom has forgotten to unlock bathroom door to second bedroom. Second bedroom really needs to go so now has to go wake up adults in first bedroom? Guest bathrooms don't need double sinks but they do need counter space to leave out all their products, etc. Why the need for a powder room and a bathroom downstairs? Couldn't the bathroom serve as the powder room? Where is linen storage upstairs? In that too narrow closet? As Bp mentioned how will you go from master to laundry if the main focal point of your living room is in the way? Where in the kitchen will you prep since there doesn't appear to be enough space between sink and end of counter? We take food out of the fridge/pantry, bring it to the sink to wash, prep between sink and cooktop before moving it to the cooktop. How wide is the aisle between perimeter counter and island counter? I also always post this. Anything in bold really needs to be questioned as to whether it should be changed. The best homes are designed to suit the site and are a marriage of a well designed interior and exterior. The best houses come in at or under the design target square footage The best houses orient the public rooms towards the south for the best passive solar heating and cooling (I'm bolding this because you haven't mentioned which way is north.) The best houses are L, U, T, H, or I shaped. The best houses are only one to two rooms deep. And covered lanai, porches, garages, etc count as rooms in this case. The best houses make sure kitchens have natural light, meaning windows so one doesn't have to have lighting 24/7 to use the kitchen. (I bolded this because the work zone of your kitchen if far from any natural light.) The best houses make sure all public rooms and bedrooms have windows on at least two walls.(Your media room which doesn't need lots of natural light has windows on two walls yet your living/dining and kitchen do not,) The best houses do not if possible put mechanical rooms, pantries or closets on outside walls The best houses do not have diagonal interior walls making for odd spaces. (Your master closets) The best houses keep public and private spaces separate. The best houses do not have you walk through the work zone of the kitchen to bring laundry to the laundry room. The best houses do not have the mudroom go through any of the work zones of the kitchen. The best houses do not use the kitchen as a hallway to any other rooms. The best houses do not put toilets or toilet rooms up against bedroom walls or public areas. The best houses do not have walk in closets too small to stand inside. The best houses have separation, such as closets, between bedrooms and between bedrooms and public rooms. The best houses do not have roofs that are overly large, and dominate the exterior of the house. The best houses do not have stick on exterior materials only on the front façade. The best houses have an organizing “spine” so it’s easy to determine how to get from room to room in the house and what makes sense. Meaning they don’t have meandering circulation paths. The best houses design the inside, the outside and how the house sits on the site all at the same time.