Thanks everyone for your help. Ok, I'll leave the yews. They were pruned in that weird shape before we bought the house. You can't tell fom these pics but there is a cherry tree in front yard closer to driveway. We ripped out some old ratty looking shrubs when we moved in and easily 12 inches of much and leaves. I know new shrubs will take a while to grow to size, but the sooner I get them started the better. My winter project is going to be learning a landscape software programs, for now I am making do with graph paper, and all of your help. pls8xx: The extended landing looks good, it helps to see it done this way, and the shrubs near it look nice also. So this will be my next big, project. aegis500: The extra tree is a good idea, and the shrub placed near large picture window is perfect. I think 2 more similar but not necessarily the same shrub would do well on either end of house. karinl: Thanks for the compliment for the work done near the house. I admit I started there because it is something we see everyday. And I liked the shoes & clothes analogy. There must be something to it - I've always enjoyed shopping for shoes more than for clothes. jant: Well, we just replaced all the shutters, so to keep peace at home, they have to stay as is. Door color can be changed. But, WOW, what a difference when the big white vinyl siding matches the house color, and I did like the door color, would have never tried that on my own. Not sure how it could be done, can vinyl be painted? It is the eastern side of the house and the winter sun is strong in this part of the house. I don't get why that siding is there, the rest of the house is aluminum siding and brick. brent in nova: I ran out at bought that magazine, had to go to 3 stores to find it! It was good, they added a lot of box wood for winter season interest. I think I can use a lot of what they showed. busyd95: That is a good way to put it: with no front walk and plantings so close it doesn't feel welcoming. There are no sidewalks along the roadway, so people either use the steps from the driveway or cut through the front yard. I did plant the Nellie Stevens holly to help block that view. I think I'll plant 2 more so there is a grouping of them. Thanks again everyone.

Brenda im so sorry you cant see it ,it is so funny. I will explain it a little bit. It is the music to Funky Town its a fast beat and it is a feeder camera catching chickadees and tufted titmouse at the feeder eating. But they put it to the music and speed it up and it looks like the birds are dancing and getting jiggy with it. The titmouse is the main character and the chickadee dances along and drums with his beak. Its really cute. And it is real pictures i think they put to video ,its not computer make believe. Its the titmouse being dominant over the feeder and the chickadee looking for danger and cracking seeds but it looks like they are dancing and drumming, very funny, I wish you could see it.-------bonnie

TRICIAAAAAA!!! Why take it out on Calvin? He was trying to HELP YOU. If what he suggested doesn't work for you, it isn't his fault. (It works for me, but funny thing is (odd, not funny) that it leaves out cj's post--how strange is that?!) I do what CJW suggested, and it works fine. Just highlight the information you need and Copy; then Paste into an email or notepad or some other printable writing program; edit out anything you don't want; Save; and Print--in other words, WhatSheSaid. Sweetcicely

I'm sorry to hear of your issues and I'm not going to be of any help, but just to say I have the same problem, occasionally not always, using the Microsoft Edge browser in Windows 10.. I can type into the box but there is no green 'Submit' button, so I exit out and use another browser, however, like now, there is no issue and I'm using Edge to submit this. So intermittent for me on this browser... ...I do hope you get in resolved, but also puzzled as to how you've managed to start a thread alright, you would have to submit that, are you using a different computer for this thread? ...as an emergency interim measure, if you are able to send someone a personal message, then I would be most happy to copy and paste any response you want to make, on your behalf, if you cannot post on a topic yourself... you would have to send me a p.m. with your message - just thinking of a roundabout way of helping you out here....