Sanding frees the lead into the dust---NOT GOOD. Stripping keeps the paint damp and cohesive---GOOD. (Unless the resulting goop dries out.) I can say fairly positively that wood is not poplar(poplar is listed as a hardwood---but is relatively soft and does not wear well under use.) I should have been more precise. The back woods do indeed look like pine, but the drawer fronts are mahoghany, IMHO. Mahoghany cut over 50 years ago(Old growth) had a much more dense grain than modern stuff(New growth).

Hi Donna, Joey, Fred and Carl ( and everyone else ), Stella Lace came my way early this year as a mislabel from a very generous gardening friend of mine. Not the one I expected when it came to flowering, but most welcome. No seed was set this time round for me, but I have read of one other gardener having no trouble with seed production from this variety, but she didn't mention if the resultant plants looked anything like their parent. I will be happy to send over any self-seed or pollen produced on the next flowering- although I think seed would be the safer of the two. The plant looks healthy and happy enough, but I haven't had it for all that long, and I would hate to send any unknown problems along with the pollen. As for the other varieties- if seeds matures next year from the ones you like, you are welcome to it. I have more than I can possibly use. The Maguire's are very strong pod producing plants and germinate well ( except for 'Nana Parnell' and 'Margie Bruton'...I haven't had any luck with them so far ) . Maybe I could try sending seed over to a few of you ( if it manages to get through ) and you could distribute it among yourselves once over there? I know, Fred, had his eye on one or two of them :) Joey- I will look after that spotted one a little better, and try for seeds for you next October/November. Let me know what others you are interested in. Thank you for your generous offer- I'll keep an eye out for your blooms ( you never know! ), but to tell the truth, I think I have already over-done it here! The above is not a complete list! And then there are all the seedlings coming on! I really will have to do some culling over the next year or so.....but which are the ones that should go? Not a decision I can easily make!! The seedling table! These three pots are last year's seedlings. They grow quickly here, and it's easy to be over-run with hippeastrums in a very short time ( happy thought! ). Julie

This was as close as I could find on ebay; presumably you've searched there? Perhaps this dealer could help you i.d. it. Antique-Onyx-Marble-Cloisonne-Table-Lamp This one popped up on pinterest, was listed on ebay for 149, but says it's out of stock. No way to know if it actually sold for that. Yours looks much finer than either of these examples. This dealer has many vintage lamps for sale. You might also contact them: https://www.ebay.com/usr/sunzza

I think you all are at the stage where looking at a lot of stock plans of smaller homes can be really useful. As you imagine how your daily routines would work and where you would value having space allocated, you will begin to be able to identify good traffic flow, wasted space and ideas from one plan that could be incorporated into another. It's a good way to try things out in your head and will help when you go to an architect or residential draftsperson to help you finalize a plan that will work for your family and for your lot. Pay attention to the floor plan...the exterior can usually be made to look reflect the exterior style you like. I have been helping a friend who will be building a small, lower cost home. Looking at plans online has been helpful to her. One company that had quite a few 2BR, 1Bath homes in the 900-1100 sf is drummondhouseplans.com. There are many others. Being that you expect to have a basement, it will offer additional living and storage space so your main floor need not be large. You might consider having a 2d bathroom downstairs along with a family room (and plan for a possible 3d BR in case you need it later). Stack the bathrooms for cost savings. If you make the ceilings full height, insulate well and finish this lower area well, it will not feel like a "basement" but just another part of the house especially if you have a walkout or lookout foundation. Keep in mind that a straight flight of steps down will make it easier to get furniture downstairs if you don't have an exterior door in the lower level. One thing that I found when living in small homes is that as long as you have one room or open area that feels spacious, the other rooms can be compact. The suggestion to read the Susanka books is a good one. When there are real estate open houses again, walking through smaller homes may give you some ideas ,too. You might even find one you like. Given the huge recent price increases of lumber, an existing home might turn out to be a good choice. Good luck!