Oh nice! EXTREMELY helpful information, Fotis! And what beautiful plants!! Gives (soon-to-be) my little Skylands something to aspire to! :) Thanks bunches for sharing and taking the time to teach me! I feel better already after seeing the pic of your soil! Haha! I'll do that soil test and report back! LOL Ken - despite my desires to do otherwise, depending on what the little dudes look like when they arrive, I may have to do just that! Although... it's supposed to be nice this coming weekend - in the 50s! Yay!! Ok - my latest worry - mulch. I've always just used composted horse patooties/bedding (which was pine CHIPS, not sawdust) in the past in my gardens, and everything seems to have done well with it, including the "big box store" conifers I've gotten in the past. That being said, this is my first dealings with these seemingly delicate little baby conifers. Will the same stuff work/be ok with these guys, albeit not ideal? I've been trying to read up on it and it seems like a lot of folks on here prefer the pine bark mulch, of which I have nada. The other option I have available to me is shredded bark/wood/etc from non-pine trees; one was ash, another was tulip poplar, and I think there was a third but can't remember what. But this would be freshly shredded (trees that were cut down only ~2 weeks ago). Thought I read somewhere that could be a problem? I'm sorry - my head is swimming with everything I've been trying to read! Again, I can't say enough how much I've appreciated all your help and tips and teachings!!! Many thanks!!! Mary

Back in the day, surveyors used physical elements as references points, i.e.: 20 ft east of oak tree. When digital surveying entered the picture, it wreaked havoc on the previous physical surveys. If neighbors get along, a written document outlining how parties will address discrepancy resolved the issue. It has to be registered at courthouse for benefit of future RE transactions. If relationship is less than perfect, lawyers have a field day with this one. It usually affects not just the property line between the two specific neighbors, but the entire row of residents. It can be the biggest nightmare you never dreamed of. The PRACTICAL solutions are: 1) go with digital survey and the parties buy/sell the land in question. Document it and register. 2) split difference between physical survey and digital survey and trade (buy/sell) the land in question. In many places the physical survey trumps all but if you want to show goodwill and willingness to share in loss/gain created by technology, it's a good gesture to go this route. unfortunately, the boundary issue can be a sticky wicket in high $$ properties, like lakefront, oceanfront, etc. and neighbors not so quick to put issue to bed. Also if your house/deck/driveway is built over land in question, a little harder to negotiate but $$$ is bottom line so there is a solution. Just don't try to be kept whole at the expense of neighbor. Share in the inconvenience brought on by technology. Best of luck to you.

Mtn, the biggest downside to the Miata is that it costs $10k (per MSRP) more than the Subaru BRZ. Of course, I know that nobody pays MSRP, and since we're looking at 2019 models on both vehicles (so basically a year old already; the 2020s will be appearing shorty), I have no idea how much the dealers are going to be discounting. There are more Miatas on Mazda lots than BRZs on Subaru lots (at least in my state and those adjacent to it), so you'd think there'd be a little more incentive on the Miata, but my logic does not necessarily equal car sales logic. The upside to the Miata is that I think it would just make me happy each time I laid eyes on it. I feel it's probaby more suitable to a 57-year old woman than the BRZ, which truth be told, has something about it that makes me think it's more geared towards young men in their 20s-30s. The Miata is a classic to me, and in that Mica Eternal Blue, it makes my heart sing. Too, I am sure I would love having a convertible again. DH and I have spent all flippin' day discussing it, and these are the two ACTUAL cars we're comparing ... I think the scales are definitely tipped towards the Miata, and DH understands that. He wants me to have what I'll be happiest driving, so ... we shall see. (I still think that little Miata is just a sexpot with a happy face!) We're planning to go take a look at the Miata in person tomorrow when the dealership is closed. And then if I still love it, I guess I gotta figure out how to put on my best poker face and go back for negotiations on price next week. Ugh. I hate that part.

Honestly, I look at the layout I drew yesterday. The cabinet is nice for extra storage but I should have kept some of that space for more counter. With a 24" vanity, guests can pretty much just put a tooth brush and toothpaste. Where at the other stuff go: On the toilet seat? On the floor? some little shelves above the toilet would help (but personally I don't like that (I am always afraid that will drop (either in the toilet or on the floor very close to the toilet). Again this is your MIL house, she certainly can have any size of the bathroom she wants but 7'0" is the minimum required to be to code. She could check with her contractor.