at first it sounds funny , but i dunno. iam a general contractor and sometimes i laugh to MYSELF at someone trying to build their own home or garage or deck or whatever, but to do that out in the open or online? my tomatos look good too but in part, from some of the good things i have learned on here from people willing to help! we all need to be able to laugh at ourselves thats for sure! you should have seen the first tomatos me and my wife tried to grow 20some years ago! but this is just my opinion,doesnt mean iam right. but i come to this forum to learn more about one of my enjoyed hobbys.not to make fun of someone. but i have to admit i would follow the thread! lol, to learn what not to do!

I believe the limits for the top post are that you cannot edit the title and only have an hour to edit the message. Or something like that. Congrats on the success of your test.

Rob, great to see you! Your life sounds full, hectic, but gratifying. I second everyone's kudos in the mom department for you! We seem to have a lot in common. I'm a researcher/writer/editor/teacher/historian by profession (it's so hard to explain what I do, haha!). And music is a HUGE part of my life. I worked for 12 years as a professional musician before going back to college to do whatever it is I do now. My parents were so supportive of me and my music growing up. I didn't realize until I was at least in my 30's how exceptional they were. I cannot remember one single time them asking me to stop practicing or even goofing off with my friends on the piano, drums, guitar, trumpet, whatever...and I didn't know for a long time that other kids' parents weren't like that. Lass--we are lucky here in Washington (state) to have several excellent writing grants available to us. Think positive! If you don't get it this year, write and ask them how you could strengthen your writing to be competitive for next year. Then follow up and apply again! Also, check out Jack Straw. It's an amazing fellowship where they have you share your work on NPR and other venues. IIRC, the deadline is usually in October. And thanks for the encouragement! I'm celebrating small successes. If I do a little each day, it will eventually get done. :-) I'mhappy--have you tried opening your printer on your hard drive and making sure it's properly installed? Sometimes a printer can go offline even after it's been fine before. One easy check would be to uninstall it from your computer and then reinstall it. llucy-- I'm glad things are OK with your mom, but sad that you have been experiencing anxiety. I don't have first hand experience with that, but definitely second hand, as my daughter Joy has a lot of anxiety issues and full on panic attacks. I understand how frightening it must be. You're in my prayers. Steph--so very sorry you've been sick!! This heat sure doesn't help! I know you feel internal pressure to get stuff done every day, but remember your health is job #1 and getting the rest you need to get better IS doing something! Laundry and dishes aren't going anywhere. They'll wait until you're feeling up to it. :-) Audrey--that cake looks amazing, just like your name, lol! I swear if I didn't have diabetes I'd bake, then eat, that entire cake, hahaha! murraysmom--how cool is it that you have such wonderful friends to vacation with!! That sounds delightful!! And YAY for recycling! Shades, if you ever line your entire yard with empty wine bottles, I'm driving over the state line to have a serious chat with you, hahaha!! ;-) Schoolhouse, let us know if you try the tea again and how it turns out. Maybe it was just something different about your digestive system at the time and it will go down like it's supposed to now.

Drawer Essentials, that second pic makes my heart pitter-patter with organizing love! I've measured what I have available, but need to look at those odd tools like ladles. A fair number of my kitchen things are in storage but I do have my most, and moderate, use items. OK, I'm armed with a list of things to stuff into the display drawers! They're 36" wide drawer stacks on that wall so there should be plenty of room...I hope. I've been saving a lot of vertical storage pics these last few weeks, so that's definitely on my mind. As far as what and where, it's a work in progress. I forget what I have because so much is packed away. Pantry - canned and dried goods, quick breakfast and lunch foods, items waiting to go into point of use rotation, basic food storage needs, ziplock bags, DH will have a junk bin somewhere in this area unless I can figure out an option in the laundry room. Bulk flours/sugars/etc. Baking area - Measuring tools, scoops/spoons, mixer accessories, sifter, wax paper, cling-wrap (may be in secondary prep), pie plates, baking tins. Sink - colanders Trash/recycling. We compost but I've realized that it needs to be taken out after prep or they let it sit. Prep - knives, can opener, graters, other prep utensils, towels, bowls, mortars and pestles, food processor, blender, casserole dishes stored vertically (or big pots) depending on room. Cook - spatulas, spoons, ladles, etc., saucepans, skillets and sauté pans, vertically if possible. Secondary prep/oven area - towels, oven mitts, foil, parchment paper, accessories for oven and TO on counter, thermometers, tupperware type containers. Deep drawer will be for large pots (or casserole dishes). I'll have to work in there before I know how I really want the large drawers arranged. Above oven - sheets pans, cooling racks, oven racks Below oven - other bakeware or grilling items Pullout for broom, mop, Swiffer, paper towels, cleansers. I'm still pondering how to utilize it well. I need something there for my side-opening oven clearance. Cleanup zone is opposite and there are drawers and cabinets for silverware, dishes, glasses. Fridge wall is ~60" and perpendicular to the work zones. Between the dining room and next to the fridge I have an 18" drawer stack for coffee/tea items, cups, travel mugs (tall!), shelves for cookbooks, above, and a squat upper cab for vertical platter storage. Cabinet above fridge - infrequent use items I'm remembering more tall things during this exercise. And, I'm feeling overwhelmed and have to take a break! I'll read about someone else's indecisiveness/conundrums for a while, LOL.