Ginzhomestead, Yes. I went to three different yards. I had seen Bross blue polished in a kitchen display. I ended up seeing three lots of Bross blue polished and two lots of Bross blue leathered before I tagged my slab. (And that was after I drove my fabricator crazy with quotes for Tan Brown, Steel gray, and quartz lol) For us, it really came down to soapstone or the Bross blue leathered. The Bross blue had a similar look at a significantly lower price point and with tougher wear. Given our household, we thought our pets, kids, etc would take us past soapstone patina and into soapstone destruction. DH and I stayed up late getting all the doors (except the lazy Susan, which is going to require reading the instructions) and drawer fronts on. Since the electrician and plumber address coming soon, I'll go get dressed and save photo updates until the _appliances are in_. I may actually have a functional kitchen before the day is done!!!

Even though I love tahini and blue cheese, I think a vinaigrette would work better with salmon. I just made this lemon basil one that was lovely and might work well (it's not too basil-y): Lemon Basil Salad Dressing 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon table salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, basil, vinegar, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until blended. Refrigerate up to 2 days.

Joining in the praise, and I can truly relate to value of a (good) decision made. I was curious to see the view count but I don't see it now. ( we need to know how many bridesmaids still counting)-- I don't see it though I have looked. I wonder if I need to sign in? lol

I definitely like a 4-season climate and, in my younger years, enjoyed the snowy season. However, once I became disabled, enjoying snowy-season activities ended! Now snowy-season is hazard-season and cabin-fever-season :-( A friend with the same medical condition as I have had a fall on black ice earlier in the winter - she broke one knee-cap and damaged the other! Another friend fell on ice around the community mailbox while walking her dog in one of the recent storms. Luckily she was wearing several layers of bulky winter clothes that gave her some protection when she fell flat on her back and hit her head! She didn't have a cell phone with her and there was no one else around. It took her awhile to find an ice-free area where she could safely get up. I never walk alone in winter - but I also never go out unless the road is bare. I've spent far too much time indoors this winter and am very bored! :-) Like floral_uk, I don't do well in heat either so late May/early June and September/early October are perfect weather condition times for me. I'd be happy if the snowy part of winter started a week or so before Christmas and wound up around the end of January - enough to give a white Christmas and satisfy any 'winter wonderland' viewing cravings without the drawbacks of months of restrictions on activity!