Dear Jeff, I thought it might stir your imagination if I shared some examples of the "messages" churches send through their use of space. the key element in most of these examples is not plant material and may have nothing to do with your church situation. Your project sounds like it will be something different, more along the lines of a way for you to share a gift and personal interest in plants. That may be fine, if it fits with the way your church makes decisions and as long as it is done well, which is probably why you are asking for input. ButÂyour project will send a message. The question is: What will that message be? What message is sent when > Members of a church use an entrance that "everyone" knows about, except newcomers who feel lost and confused after trying the locked front door. > Members tolerate a serious odor issue--I once overheard the child of a visiting family ask, "Mom, why does it stink in here?" > Additions to a church create a rectangular structure with an exterior courtyard in its center. It is tended for years by a primary donor, but after her death the tiny garden is mowed and hacked back and left forlorn. > Three times in 10 years a congregation votes down a proposal to install an elevator with exterior access, although fewer and fewer elderly members can safely navigate the 15 or so steps to enter the sanctuary or the 11 steps to go to a fellowship dinner in the basement. Now try these > A congregation carefully thinks through how to indicate the usual entrance: signs, sidewalks, greeters. > A congregation debates intensely the merits of putting in additional parking, creating a playground, or providing a memorial garden to honor the memory of members who have died. They decide on a capital fund drive to purchase a neighboring property so they can increase parking. They will build the play area on the existing property to meet a community need. > A congregation in rural Illinois discovers a desire to deepen its spiritual life and builds a prayer labyrinth in the neighboring cornfield (acreage belonging to the church). They invite the region to make use of this experience. The income from harvesting the corn goes toward local mission efforts. So, I guess I'm wondering what message your congregation feels called to send to its community? Wellspring

Just did the chimney reline for my pellet stove. There are two pipes, one for exhaust and one for fresh air. The one close to you with a separated cap is for fresh air, a 3" alimiumn pipe. The one for exhaust is 3" stainless steel pipe specially for pellet stove. I need your professional advice to see is there anything was done wrongly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lmei007 thanks

How will a "freestanding pergola" with stand hurricanes no matter what? WHat does the permit office say about this? WHat will you HO Ins. think about about insuring a "freestanding pergola"?

Lord knows and all here know I can be brutally blunt. But come ON.........P.C "Why does it matter they look pretty generic to me and very clunky. IMO the top one is just plain ugly." The top is a side table with an Asian influence. You don't like it. You're not buying it. I doubt the op asked as to whether ANYONE liked them. Particularly when we have no idea what or where they'd be going, or why, or what finish etc. She asked who made them. Answer is Redford House "Redford House delivers furniture of the finest quality. All of our furniture is "hand crafted" by experienced Artisans to make each piece a unique inspiration of Old World tradition. Redford House is your source for fine quality furnishings to lifestyle retailers. Redford House only buys the finest materials from sustainable wood suppliers in America. We manufacture in North America to have as light a carbon footprint as possible. Your customers can enjoy the beautiful quality and feel good with Redford House furniture in their home. Your success is our success and we want to be a partner for the long run. We have established a reputation in the furniture industry for customer service that is friendly and solution driven. At Redford House it is our passion to deliver superlative design and quality that your customers demand and we deliver at prices that are lower than you would expect."