Forget the clay. Unless you find someone doing construction/excavation, you are unlikely to find any for sale. And 'fill dirt' is even less desirable - usually just junk soil and with the potential for all sorts of debris and garbage included. Locate your local bulk soil providers and check out their products. Chances are they will have some sort of garden planting mix that would be an ideal addition to your garden. Barring that, just add compost. If properly composted, wood or wood shavings will not rob nitrogen - it's the fresh stuff incorporated into the soil that will cause problems but that can be offset by adding alfalfa, cottonseed or other seed meals. And 86 the MiracleGro - it's not doing anything for you that can't be addressed through any number of other and much less expensive methods.

Thanks for that info! I should mention that isn't the only project we are doing to increase the home's value. We are redoing the bathroom, stripping many many layers of 1980's wallpaper so that we can retexture the walls and repaint, getting rid of popcorn ceilings throughout the upstairs, replacing all of the dated light fixtures, ripping out all the old carpet and refinishing the existing hardwood floors, installing new windows throughout, and installing new interior doors with brushed nickel hardware. DD's bedroom will get beadboard along with the new paint. We will install new baseboards everywhere (they are carpet now) and crown molding in the living room. We are also planning to finish the basement family room and put new doors and carpet in the hallway down there that leads to the unfinished part. The kitchen is going to have to sit this round out. A full remodel is more than we can afford right now so it will get freshened up with new paint and appliances. The cabinets are the 1985 but with solid oak doors and in decent shape. We will also do new light fixtures in there and a new faucet and possibly hardware for the cabinets. Eventually I will do new counters and a backsplash. In the spring we will tackle the landscaping and install a new fence in the backyard after we get our first time homebuyer tax credit. Does it sound like we are on track? Oh, and yes, the proposed master is right next to the hall bath. The ceiling below both rooms is exposed right now as well, so our plumber (dh's uncle) said it should be pretty easy to run the new plumbing.

I found something online called Shuttereaze that looks like it would be great for my plantation shutters, but it isn't for sale yet and they don't list prices. If this actually ever becomes a real product that works as described and isn't overpriced, I would likely get it. Youtube video link below. Here is a link that might be useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJSqjFHWQ8

Jant - Didn't even think about the DR chairs. Very good point. I don't care for the styles that close together. Someone will get some stools with potential for a good price! Necia - Thank you! I took some close up photos. The lady who made them sews for fun but never made anything like this before. When I got the remaining fabric back there were square pieces left over for around the bottom she pieced on. I asked her to make them as you see but if I could do it again it would be better if they somehow fit around the top of the stool. I cut out those rubber shelf liners for on the stools thinking it would help keep them in place. They're fine to sit on but when you get up they usually need adjusted. Since I don't really use them it doesn't bother me. I'm sure I can rig them somehow but I didn't get around to it. Maybe a big square of velcro. :) The stools are 24". Top is 12". I ordered the foam online from the place in the link below. Bought the 2" thick Lux Foam High Quality. The pleats are 5" long. The gold fabric is silk and she picked up that white piping stuff. She wasn't sure how to finish the piping but I think it looks fine how she did. I know they're not the norm but I do get a lot of compliments on them and I think they look nicer IRL. Hope this helps! *I see the pleats are a little wrinkled. .. Also please ignore the weights on the floor. It's a Christmas present that didn't make it in the door far! Val - We had some friends visit recently with young ones. We discovered is house is not kid proof in any way. lol I'll keep that in mind! Here is a link that might be useful: Foam Factory