The aspect of rearranging a multitude of plants (of unknown quantities) you already have into other parts of the yard would be very complex, and therefore, difficult. It's not probable that you could get much comprehensive help by remote. You definitely have a knack for creating, ambition and some stock to work with. Even though certain aspects of the plan are a little funky looking by professional standards, what you've done nevertheless has charm and a certain homespun appeal that many people enjoy immensely. I don't mean any of that in any negative way. There are lots of lovely things around the world that are created like this. I would like to give you some food for thought as you progress with the project. Essentially, you are creating a functional piece of art. Because the main function is that of being a space that one is able to move through, it is easiest to think of it as a room or series of rooms (as you determine) that just happens to be outdoors. Therefore, it is made primarily of plants, dirt, trees and rocks ... those things that hold up well outdoors. Like inside, the room is made of "floor," "ceiling," "walls," "windows" and "doorways." If you were creating an indoor space, though you might have general ideas about them, you would not begin by dreaming about specific lamps, drapes, tables and chairs. You'd begin by thinking about window and door placements, wall textures and colors, trim and molding, floors and finishes, and how the ceiling will handle light. Later would come objects that go in the room that blend with the room itself: tables, chairs, lamps, rugs etc. For some odd reason, when we are creating outside space, people have the perpetual habit of falling in love with things ... objects (usually plants) that go in the room and start cramming the room full with their "pets" before they give much thought about the and architectural framework of the room itself. Outdoors, a tree or arbor creates a ceiling. A tree's canopy can not only seems like a roof, but also a very tall wall. Woody plants and vines can creates walls of whatever height one wishes. Sometimes they need extra support. Sometimes only trimming. Low growing, spreading plants create floors (as do rocks and earth.) Before thinking about irises, peonies and daffodils, it would be better to forget entirely about all the plants and concentrate on the forms, arrangements, heights and sizes that will define the room itself. You've all ready got a good start with a floor made of rock. Maybe it should be (visually) extended somewhat larger with a low growing, woolly looking mat of vegetation. It looks like you have begun a low wall already to separate the view into the neighbor's yard. Maybe a higher elevation "floor" (of plant material) should transition form the low floor to that wall. There are some good looking, freestanding "columns" (clean tree trunks ... very nice! ... almost palm tree like) to one side of the patio. Maybe each would look good resting on a circular base. You could begin by envisioning these "architectural" features of a plastic, formless material. (I once liked to think of everything being made of bread dough since it can take on any form.) Once the overall forms shape up, one could begin thinking about the specific character that will make up the forms. One might turn a ball of bread dough into a big leaf hydrangea, or a hedge of them. A pizza form that has been rolled out and placed next to the patio might become a bed of wild ginger or vinca minor ... it depends on what you like, what you have, the light and moisture conditions, and what you're willing to put up with. (Some plants have bad habits but they are so beautiful they must be tolerated!) You call the shots. I've gone on enough, but I think you get the general idea. Fall in love with the plants AFTER you know what you need and get those that can fill the bill. Sometimes a hedge can be a single plant material ... or it can be mixture of similar-sized plants, depending on the character that is desired. Usually, plant lovers can find a way to squeeze in -- in a sensible, artistic way -- most of the things they love. But if you don't do the architectural exercise first, you run the risk of creating something with a hodgepodge, cemetery-ish appearance ... with things sitting all over the place. It's good that you recognize the faults of the arbor. If it was at least 2' wider, a foot taller and made of beefier wood -- and painted! -- it would work better. I'll return with a hardscape suggestion when I get more time.

Tiffy, I'm glad you're enjoying eBay and the pleasure (and ease!) of online shopping, but as a professional stained-glass artist, I'd like to mention a couple of things: - Triple-check the shipping costs. I've seen some pieces (particularly carnival glass) that are jaw-droppingly inexpensive. Then I've calculated the shipping charges, and realized I could get the same glass shipped from Scotland, from a company I trust, for less money. (No, I don't normally go and buy such amazingly expensive and gorgeous glass; only when someone has pre-paid me for those materials.) - Yes, Paypal is wonderful, and I've used it often. I've found several inexpensive rare books on eBay (again, from dealers I've trusted)and they've been great. BUT: just because your money is protected thanks to PayPal and eBay policies does NOT mean you'll be protected from the nightmare of straightening the whole mess out. Start very small with a vender you don't yet know, or who hasn't been recommended by others. I've had to make formal legal complaints twice, and they WERE taken care of with courtesy and efficiency, but it still took forever and was a major pain. - glass suppliers are all over Canada, and Halifax is one of the most expensive places I've found. There are mail-order shops in Montreal ($5 for a catalogue, and $5 taken off your first order), and there's a spot in Alberta (Fusion Glass) that is about 300km away but send me EXCELLENT glass by Greyhound for fantastic prices. These are 2 examples out of hundreds. And of course we have our favourites: mine is a little shop in Victoria, BC, that doesn't even advertise. It's all word-of-mouth, and their glass is hand-poured, exquisite, and about the cost of "normal" retail glass anywhere else. - finally, please consider putting a sign (a little post-it-sticky?) with the words "DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY BIDDING!" by your screen. I know *I'VE* done this, and I often hear from others who do the same thing. You get so caught up with a case of "ooooh....I'd like this, and I wanna BEAT that guy and WIN this!" that you don't realize you could have had a weekend at the Hilton for the price you finally pay. (oh BOY have I done this a lot...and it's a darned good thing I usually lost!) If you think I can be of any help re: materials and suppliers, please feel free to drop me an email. Glass is a love of mine (it's my "winter gardening", sort of), and even when you sell it you don't do much more than pay for your materials. But once you're hooked....ah, what a wonderful obsession! :-) Love, Merri PS: What say you post some pics of your work and let us see what you've made!

I use a top loader that does HE with my diapers - the Fisher & Paykel AquaSmart. I love the machine. I use prefolds, polyester/PUL covers, and polyester pocket diapers (I also use a wool cover but I hand-rinse and lanolize it). I use Charlie's soap and Calgon to wash the diapers (we have slightly hard water). I don't do any soaking or bleaching and rarely wash a poopy diaper anymore, just urine ones (I potty my 8 month old and have since 4 months, called elimination communication, infant pottying, etc.). Even when I get a diaper with poop, I just throw it in the washer and do my normal loads. Then again, I'm not completely satisfied with the washing process because none of the preset programs match exactly what I'm trying to do. What I want to do is a simple soak, short agitation, and rinse, all on cold with 1/2 the normal detergent. This gets out the urine and stuff without setting the stains. Then I run a hot cycle with full detergent. What I have to do with this washer, though, is run a full cold cycle with a 2 hour soak (because there's no way to shorten the soak). I usually set this going overnight because it takes so long! I love so many things about this washer, including the delay feature, but I need a shorter cold rinse cycle with maybe 1/2 hr soak. I also love how this washer can flip between HE and conventional. I wash the diapers using the conventional method, which is not too water-piggy compared to true conventional washers. I've been using the hot cycle on my pocket diapers for 8 months and the elastic is fine. I think I can contact the F&P techs to program my own cycle. Anyone have experience with this?

Hi everyone Some time ago I asked about handcleaners. Well I have tried a few and the neutrogena one my daughter gave mne seems to work. Len suggested I try some soap from his page. It didn't seem to work on my hands but I am impressed at the way it does the clothes. I made the one with the water soda crystals, it was cheap, quick and easy to make and the only problem I had was finding enough containers so I elected to only make the 10 litre batch. Works better I find in warm water and for really stubborn stains I use preen oxyaction. Thanks Len. Jan