I think the take-home messages might be these: that it's good you've noticed the relative tackiness of so many mass-produced/imported garden and home products that are readily available; that they are relatively inexpensive and don't require much labor by the homeowner--that's why they're so popular--and the alternative is either custom-build or higher-end "kit"; that such a product can still work well. That it might be a drawback in selling a home, but not necessarily for you while you are living there, so you can change that later if you need to. It might also help focus you on what you like and don't like. For example, it lets you see how you like the change in lighting and temperature created by this structure next to your house; did you only need the screen/shade function, or did you want a 4 season room; do you have trees growing that will eventually shade the area and you won't need the structure eventually--stuff like that. Meaning, if you WERE to build something, or even buy something "grander", how would you want it to be like, or different from, your Target thingy? Relative cost and delayed gratification is a common struggle for homeowners--in this case, the $200 does not appear to be holding you back were you to decide to upgrade to something else, and it's very functional for you right now; whereas, to me a common mistake is for someone to spend $500 one year for an improvement that's tacky, when $1000 would have resulted in a super look--for that, one might try to learn to save up and wait. It's also a marketing thing in which so many "things" are waved in our faces; we could afford to have one or 2 really good items or designed and built in a marvelous way, but if we want a dozen or more items--a water feature, a screen house, a patio, lots of outdoor furniture, multiple walkways, a fence, a hedge, etc, etc,--and want them all NOW, then each one will have to be the cheapest possible. And then there is the problem that so little $$ and effort is put into the outdoor features in the construction of most homes--all the things that you really need to enjoy your yard --and we buy as much "house" as we can and then only later try to think about the outside. Well, that last was a rant... You might also try to avoid continually buying the next best screen thingy--at some point, they may all share certain "temporary", or even tacky, features and a more costly one might not really be worth the extra $$, not to mention sending the first to the landfill (unless you can find a buyer). So just enjoy your current product, and give some thought to whether you might eventually want to have some much more permanent, classic structure built, or whether there's something else you need more.

Any time you use oil based paint, it must be 70 degrees or higher. Oil based paint takes a long time to dry and even longer to cure. I am curious how humid or damp the room is because the humidity and moisture will affect the drying time. Keep the room warm until the paint cures. Get your second coat on once it is dry enough. Don't wait a week to put your second coat on as the paint will be fairly cured and the surface will have to much sheen to accept the second coat.

Wow, such interesting thoughts on the subject. As I said before, I am so glad I asked. jamies: your first paragraph described the situation to a T. I basically run an unofficial bed and breakfast at my house. I live in a vacation destination and have a constant stream of family, friends, friends of friends, my siblings' in-laws, and all manner of people either closely or loosely related to me staying here all year long, especially in the summer. I live in a small town, and most people already know I went to cooking school. I would never bring it up in conversation or name drop, unless someone directly asks me. I want to hang the diploma for myself, because I love it. I love to look at it, and it reminds me of one of the best experiences in my life. I will get it out of the closet and take a pic to post later. I think I am going to reframe it and hang it in a small hall that leads to the kitchen. Again, thanks for the honesty. I am not a boastful person and don't want to be seen as such. That being said, I am generally very confident and outgoing, so I don't want to give the impression that I'm showing off. I am a down to earth person (I hope) who loves cooking and feeding people. I'm not a snob or a highbrow foodie. Food is my life and has been since I was a child. When people come over, they expect to be fed, and fed well! It was the same way before I went to school. I am just better at it now:)

Yeah, it's too hard to overly assume something on this when it's coming in third hand. I'm betting it was a joke. My brother or best friend and I would totally say something like that to each other. Or even add: "where's the money" when a card is given? Don't others joke with certain friends like that? Of course, there are some I wouldn't feel close enough to joke with like that... Or, like cynic mentioned, there may be some other reasons for the response. I find there's almost always more to the story especially in these so called 'unbelievable conversations'. I'm thinking your daugther was probably a little worried about not having a physical gift (I'm guessing for the 1st time in years) so she read more into the response or took it more negatively than it was meant. Or, maybe the friend was really hurt that the 'gift exchanging' (and friendship, so to say) had come to an end. I wouldn't buy the friend anything; then again I wouldn't much worry about the conversation either. It's over, a card was given, the end. Sometimes people say stupid things for bad or good reasons. Let it slide and see what happens on her b-day.