Hi Carolina, Torrential rains don't sound ideal. If you keep them in a pot, it seems like it would be ideal to move them under shelter during the rains, then back out for sun. A lot of work, but possible. A lot depends on the expected size/height of the dahlia too. Your pot sounds a bit too small unless it is a smaller container dahlia (18-24 inches or so tall.) I've grown 4 ft dahlias in pots, but they were larger shrub pots each with a stake. (see the link below) They provided enough flowers and tubers, and got full height, but I think the garden dahlias of the same variety grew better overall. Could be the soil in the garden was better. Maybe your garden soil is more fertile as well or rose fertilizer is helping the dahlias along? I would think the sun needed for roses would be good for dahlias too, but I'd hope for at least 45 cm/ 18" all around and more space would be better for a larger dahlia. It can't hurt to try one there. Those are my thoughts without knowing much about Costa Rica, but it sure sounds nice! I wish you well in whatever you decide to do. They are tough enough to have grown this far, so you are on your way! Here is a link that might be useful: Growing dahlias in pots link

Lyfia, all great points you brought up, it really helps me plan and think. Honestly we have no set time frame for having this project done, since we have an up and running kitchen in the other part of the house and we are working on the new kitchen as time allows. I spent part of this week filling every little brad hole with putty and sanding everything. This weekend we should get a primer on and if dry time allows the walls and ceilings painted. I think we are at the point we are going to put in the cabinet order too. We still have the floor to put down, sand and seal. Tile the whole range wall, put up shelves. The wiring is done, we still need to run plumbing .. which means going under the house in the Summer .. YIKES! We live in copperhead country, not a fun prospect. Last year my DH got bit, we were very fortunate it was a 'dry bite' though! Valinsv, thanks for the help and suggestions, they are very helpful! Les, I love those 50's dinette chairs and if I was going to do a booth, I'd be all over them. I honestly don't think with a very rustic table I'd be happy with them ... even though they look super cushy to sit on. :) If I do go with these chairs I'd have seat pads made for them. I still haven't put my chair order in, I was all ready to go, now I'm hemming and hawing over details again. Part of me wants to go this way, part can really see everyone sacked out in a comfy booth and chairs playing board games and drinking coco. I know that everyone brought up very valid reasons to stay away from a booth, like people being inconvenienced by having to move to let the inside people out, etc. The thing is though we don't have those types of sit down and eat parties where I see it being a problem. When we entertain adults it's normally in a relaxed, casual setting outside on the deck or around the pool area, where we have large tables in each area. When it's just the five of us here, there would be plenty of seating that we could all spread out. I'm lucky that my girls really do get along, there is not alot of she's looking at me, touching me, breathing my air problems. *LOL* I grew up with 3 siblings, I know how that goes, we spent a lot of time bickering. ;) When it's the kids and their friends having snacks, I don't see it being a problem where the kids would feel inconvenienced. So in short I'm still stuck, I think! *LOL* Sometimes I can see right away the path I want to follow, sometimes I start second guessing myself. *sigh* Normally my Husband will chime in with his feeling on the matter and we'll work it out in a way that we are both relatively happy .. this time he really doesn't seem to care, well other than wanting me to make a plan so we know how to finish the room. ;)

The original post is very scattered. Picking through the chaff, it looks as if the house was left a mess after closing. That does happen. Unfortunately, you lost your opportunity to force them to leave the house in a reasonably clean condition when your mother closed on the house. Your realtor viewed the house for you before closing. It's not unusual for there to be bags of trash left at the property from the moving process. But, they should have been minimal and left on the curb for the trash hauler to pick up. Evidently, this didn't happen. Was the house occupied by the owner or were there renters in the house? Too bad that you had to hire someone to clean up the house and haul out the trash. Present the bill and pictures to your realtor's broker (boss). Tell them to make it right. Inspections and inspectors range from excellent to ridiculously bad. It appears that certain items in the house do not work. Did you have an inspection? If yes, did you get a written copy of the report? Did you read it carefully? Did you follow up on any deficiencies? If the oven doesn't work, unless there is a home warranty insurance policy, you are out of luck. Were you or your mother present for the home inspection? Did either of you talk to the inspector on the phone about the report? This responsibility falls on you, not the seller, to determine if things are in working order. Buying real estate is the last of the great horse trades. It's a buyer beware situation.

Hi Wynda. You have a nice family room. You just need to have a plan. I find this often: people ask how to decorate, but that is the last step. Here is what I recommend. 1) Find photos of rooms you like. I found this in your ideabook. Notice how uncluttered the room is. If you are seeking this look, you will need to unclutter yours. 2) Create a floor plan. I recommend placing the sofa about where the coffee table is now. Move the recliner closer to the pillar. (Not sure if this would work without exact sizes of furniture and room dimensions). But worth trying. Tv would go on a console table to the right of the fireplace. Not sure there is room for any other main furniture. 3) Finaly step is decorating.