I just wanted to say "bye" now since I guess I'm in big trouble...
6 years ago
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6 years ago
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Where to start? I'm just stuck since I want smaller
Comments (6)I would start with some practical questions, which can be useful with the short-term plans, and can help you set the 'bones' for your longer-term plans. And can help you keep things simple. Might help with the 'stuck' thing. Where on that porch do you want shade, either from shrubs/small trees or trellises with climbers? Sun in the morning and shade in the evening? And do you want a blocking of vision from the road to feel that the porch is more private? Or would you rather have that view more open? Which way does the prevailing wind come from? Depending on where you are, you may want to leave that breeze corridor open, or you may want some buffering. If I had that porch, I would want to just plain live on it [jealous grins]. But is there another area to the back or side of the house where you might want other outdoor-living spaces.... Barbecue/picnic areas, play areas, a patio, whatever? Or is that front porch likely to be the focus of your outdoor-time? Once you've thought about all this stuff, you will have an idea about where to place some of the 'bones'. Shrubs, small trees, trellises, any walls, fences, whatever. Then, *around* those bones, you can keep developing plans for later, and can plant the things you want. And there is no reason that you can't just pick a garden spot or three for some of the sun plants you want to try, preferably in close view from your chair on the porch. But you can keep the plants, and the labor and maintenance, very small. Forget worrying about foundation plantings around the house. Concentrate on the areas that will affect your enjoyment of the property in the way *you* want to enjoy it. [What do *you* want to see when you walk out on the porch with coffee in the morning?] And with the setting of your house in its landscape, you would do better with more irregular planting areas where they work well and for you, rather than nice, neat standard all-around-the-house-suburban foundation beds. Plant where and what you want, and you can add more irregular space to the bed, and more plants, later. Use a weed-whacker along the rest of the foundation.......See MoreSaying Hello Now 'Cause I'm New Here
Comments (43)Susan: chocolate covered strawberries! I call you a *real* friend (LOL) McMann and Sharon: I am in Salt Lake City, zone 5, transported via my job, hating it at first and loving it now. Actually, I should say that *overall* I like it. That's because spring keeps teasing us right now, sending winter in its place. Tomorrow, 70 degrees, then 42 on Sunday. Go figure! Sharon: Lemon Sponge Pie? I wanna get that recipe. It will be great with chocolate covered strawberries (grin). Hi Ron: Thank you for pulling up my chair. You picked the most comfy one here. (We have to behave? Are you sure?) Patti: Even though I donÂt miss the FL weather, I do love the horse country and youÂre right: rolling hills and *very* pretty. Shoulda had the beer and pretzels before the berries, pie, and cookies. LetÂs save them for afternoon on the patio, ok? Deb: Those are my favorite cookies. IÂm stuffing them in all of my pockets. Gneegirl: yes, I think TSL is a really good forum. So glad to know you. To all of you whose names I didn't mention, thank you so very much. There sure are a lot of you here. How great it is to know all of you, and to be greeted so warmly. Life is good!...See MoreI guess this is Good Bye...my last update.
Comments (33)Ima! You gotta get busy, girl! Introspection is not an occupation for sad times; it'll get you bogged down every time, & that's when we make disastrous mistakes. *Obligate* yourself to do something; it's too easy to dwell on sad feelings & become immobilized if you don't "have to" do...whatever it is. When I went through a break-up many years ago, I decided to take Jazzercise. It worked great! as long as I wasn't moping when it was time for me to drive to the rec center. The only way I could make myself participate when I felt mopey (which is when we *most* need physical activity & other people) was to sign up to lead a Jazzercise class at church. I knew all those women were depending on me, & I went to every class. Please don't focus too much on your grandson's seeming lack of interest; he's very very young, & the young can move on much faster than we can. They have to, just to keep up with themselves, because they themselves are changing every day. Remember when you were a little girl & "back-to-school" shopping every September meant new dresses & shoes & a winter coat because the old ones were too little? I remember feeling sorry for my aunts & my mother because they stayed the same & never got a new dress or a new coat. Children shoot through time at warp speed, changing & adapting & getting "new clothes" as a matter of course, & we...keep climbing into the same clothes for a much longer time. & be careful that you don't talk to him because *you* need to talk. Talk to anybody else. Talk to everybody else. Talk here. Talk to the moon: a woman told me that she was broken-hearted when her adolescent son went to live with his father; she said she climbed onto the backyard trampoline the night her son left & "squalled & bawled & snotted & hollered", & nobody but the moon saw or heard her. *but* this is my free advice (& worth every penny, but I've had a bit of experience & I've been through some experiences with friends): Stay away from that man. Stay away from thoughts that you "need" that man, that he would be any answer to any problem at all, that he would be helpful in any way. Write yourself 3 lists: a list of instances in which he's responded callously to your needs, instances of how he's been a stinker, played mind games, put anybody/everybody ahead of you, treated you high-handedly, etc, & look at those pages any time you want to pick up the phone. a list of how many times & to what extent you went all-out to make his life easier or happier, & look at those pages any time you want to pick up the phone. a list of how many times & to what extent he went all-out to make your life easier or happier, & look at that blank piece of paper any time you want to pick up the phone. I once had to get the oil changed in my car on a cold evening when I was exhausted & not feeling good, & I found myself thinking, "I wish I had a husband to do this for me". & then I remembered: I had had a husband, & he *never* had the oil changed for me!...See MoreI really just want to cry but I'm too tired
Comments (20)Janefan, I am the mother of twins, too. I never forget how hard my twin pregnancy was, but I do adore my girls (4.5) despite how hard it was, so maybe there is hope that I will love my kitchen, too!!! Bellamy, I only wish that I hired a cheap GC, so at least I wouldn't be paying a fortune for every aspect of this kitchen, but it is not the case. We hired the GC used by very close friends, friends who are incredibly demanding and exacting (husband's friend from the military), who did a very large addition to their house. They could not have praised this GC more. We saw his work in person, while it was in progress, work that was done exactly on schedule, perfectly. He was the most expensive GC of all that we interviewed, but we hired him because we were willing to pay more to have a job done on time and well, and because we trusted our friends' judgment. Sometimes you can do all the due diligence in the world, and things just don't work out the way you expect. If you read my post you will see that I never said that the KD is wrong to wait, and I didn't ask him not to wait, just frustrated, mostly with the being given false expectations, and with the carpenter, who obviously has too many jobs. I do see lots of people on this board with appliances installed before the rest of the kitchen is 100% done, and I do think the KD is being overcautious to protect his butt at our expense, but I have let him run the job the way he wants in that respect. I have done a renovation before, knew it would be long and frustrating, girded myself for the length and frustration, and believe that we have been actually quite patient. Too patient in the beginning. Just wanted to vent my frustration a little. Sorry it irritated you, Bellamy....See More
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