We had a similar problem at our previous home. There was a drain outside in the entrance way to our basement. Every time we had a lot of rain, that drain would overflow and after a while starting coming into our laundry room. I was talking to somebody and he said that was probably no more than a 3 lb. coffee can inside that drain, and on top of that there was a swail that ran between our house and the next door neighbor, taking the run off of rain water off townhouses built next door to that neighbor. Water would stand in that swail so we dug a trench all the length of that swail on our property, and laid down that black corregated pipe with holes in it and about every 10-12 ft. we built a box frame and found a business that sold cast iron grates that size. We repeated the frame and the pipe all the way to the public sidewalk, took a post hole digger and dug under the sidewalk to the grassy area between the sidewalk and curb. Continued our drench, of black pipe, broke up a small piece of curb so the water could flow out of the black pipe and patched the curb, so the water ran off when it rained hard into the street and down into sewer nearby. We installed a small sump pump in that basement entrance way and it was hooked up to an inside electric plug that would pump that water up another pipe and out into that drain field we'd installed over that swail area. A lot of back breaking labor in 95 degree heat but hey, it worked and still exist today. I am sure a professional company would have charged us a fortune to do what we did. Maybe they would have done it a different and more efficient way but we didn't have that kind of money to spend.

Richie, I started a post called, 'Richie, where are you?' Can we continue on the new thread..this one is a tad long, and takes forever to download. I'll never remember the questions you asked, so I might as well answer here..lol First, how are YOU doing? I hope your're well. And your mom? G/f? About my new Gardenias, I'm very upset. I guess the weather did more harm than I thought..I doubt any gardenias will make it..the temps were just too cold. I dont know if I should notify the owner or not, since he waited a long time before shipping. All the leaves are frosted, every last one. I dont know what to do. They turned black and crisp. I didn't mention it because I was in denial, hoping I was wrong, but they've pretty much had it. BTW, the nursery ships wonderful plants, it's not his fault. It's my fault for not asking him to hold them longer. Sounds like you got a bunch of new plants too..it must be the season, or maybe we can blame it on a full moon..lol For us in Il it's the season..tonight rain AND snow! I dont want to see snow until next year..lol Foxtail, Ming, Spreng and Plumosia Ferns are well, but need new, big pots..they are huge. In fact, you know those huge square pots to plant outdoor plants? The pots I'm talking about are orange, square. I might end up potting ferns inside each planter..the problem is I need 4 and they've gone up in cost. If they're 7.00, I can afford it, but if they're over 10.00 I'll have to devise another plan. Dividing! Variegated Ginger needs a huge pot too..gotta find a place that 'gives away' free pots..lol.. You're lucky you finished gardening..family helps..my family have no interest in gardening, so I don't ask. A lot of digging and planting..sigh..I feel like spraying weed killer, but won't..can't because of the dogs for one. Our little dog would be rolling in it..lol.. We had to give him an emergency bath a few mins ago..dh took them to the woods, and that little brat found a mud area..of course he came home with 4" of mud on his little body. He ran up to me, telling me he needed a bath which he got. The sink was filthy..he had enough dirt to fill up a plant pot..lol.. Richie, dont forget..I started the thread here on GW looking for you. Please answer on that thread..my puter takes too long to dl long threads..thanks, and I know I can speak for others, we're glad you're back..hugs, Toni

I ADORE Dody. I cannot believe I found a spaz woman SO MUCH LIKE me right here in Jenks. And I met her here on GW, and she lives like 3 minutes from my house. Who is luckier than me? And I was so happy the day KelleyP moved back in with her folks. We go for daily walks, giggle, post silly stuff on eachother's facebooks, and are just generally really good friends. And she is RIGHT next door. I have a gate from our backyard practically to her garage. We pop in on eachother a lot. I must have GREAT karma, because after several years of feeling lonely and isolated after moving to the Midwest with no family or friends nearby, I have some of the coolest people in my life I could ever hope to know. Jo

Well...before one considers building, (or reading a book about building), one might beneficially want to understand and consider: --One's budget and appropriate contingency fund; --One's needs vs wants, and how the needs might be best organized and related to one another; --One's land or site, and how it will significantly affect how a house may be designed and constructed; --The design options, and how the design process works, for a home, on a specific site, for a specific budget, to address needs and as many wants as feasible; --The requirements, schedule and costs for required local jurisdictional approvals from start to finish of the project; --The options for competitive bidding versus a negotiated construction contract; --The various category of construction contracts, and how they can be written for either the owner's benefit, the builder's benefit, or a reasonable shared benefit. --How to understand and manage allowances (hint: zero allowances); --How to manage project close out and occupancy. If the book addressed all these, it's an exceptional book. If it didn't, keep looking for reference books! But chances are, there are few books which address all of these critical issues.