what are the books that empower you ? for me, books are entertainment, novels and biographies are just that, imo. Unless it's a biography of someone who has accomplished something special that might inspire me. watching a tv show about someone inspiring, as empowering to me as reading about it. most useful book I've ever read : the Four Agreements, I still refer to it. Simple and basic. Out of all the self help, motivational books I've read, it's the only one that says it all within the confines of a very small book. I've read hundreds of novels, yet I wouldn't want to line my shelves with them or want to be judged on who I am because of them. They mean nothing to me but the fleeting escape I got from immersing myself in them. I do buy books as souvenirs/mementos, I am not a knick knack person at all. Frank Loyd Wright when I stayed at the Biltmore hotel, JP Gaultier book when I saw and loved his exhibit at the museum recently, San Fran Homes book when I did a tour of famous homes in that city, book on Tuscan Homes right after my first stay in Tuscany. Books are easy to stash in a suitcase, do not need to be bubble wrapped. oakley, your book nook is a genius idea, very original.

OK, I'm back. We're in the process of selling our current house, so we get booted when people want to see it. We want them to see it! so we go somewhere. mama-the new house isn't on a slab, so that's good. We do know that the range hood vents to the roof as we had to have the roof inspected (it needs to have a ridge vent installed and a few little things nailed down :( ). One of the things I love about the Stages 45 is the integrated prep space. Now I prep by hanging a cutting board over the corner of my sink, which can be iffy, so I look forward to having a sink that is designed for prep there without the tippiness factor. I can also place the prep end of the sink either to the right or the left. At the moment, I don't have a preference, but I bet I'll develop one. Either direction seems to give adequate "elbow room" for the amazing number of veggies I deal with on a daily basis. I actually cook most meals at home and many have lots of ingredients. Putting the MW next to the fridge is a good idea. That's usually what happens with the MW, out of the fridge into the MW. lavander_lass, my daughter also objects (vigorously) to the fridge near the sliding glass door, but for flow reasons. My sister thinks it's a good placement. I think we'll have to do a mock up in place; bet we'll have lots of cardboard boxes to mock up with! The thing is, that is a 10' sliding glass door, so I don't think that room will ever be dark. Good light is a strong point in this house. We'll have to experiment because that's a good question one way or the other. Much as I love your idea about the kitchen window, I don't think we'll be adding any because we already have to replace all the windows in the house with dual pane energy savers. I'm trying not to think about the cost. This is a solidly built house with lots of pluses, but it just hasn't been updated since the sixties. [now you're making want a bigger window, grumble, grumble] funkycamper - so right on blocking the flow!

I have Sensate and I have had it almost a year. The sensor is in the curve of the neck of the faucet. By raising your hand up into the curve, you will activate the on/off. It doesn't matter where you stand since the sensor is in the curve not facing you, per say. I can stand on the other side of the island to activate the faucet as long as my hand can reach to the curve of the faucet. My hose will go to the bottom of my sink and to the far corner of the shelf of stages 33. I have it center mounted. Once it wasn't behaving quite right. I checked and the plug had come out of the plug just a little because of the long hose hitting it. Once I re-seated the plug, all was well. The spray is very handy/powerful in preparing dishes for the dishwasher and sweeping debris to the disposal. If I cook pasta or potatoes, the heavy steam will activate the sensor, turning it on or off. To avoid that, just press the lever into the off position and there won't be any water until you activate the faucet again using the lever. There is a tiny indicator light on the hand lever that indicates sensor function is on and ready to go. I keep mine off unless I am cooking/cleaning. BTW, amazon has some Kohler on daily deals if anyone is preplanning.

I work with feathers a lot. They get dusty and are hard to clean up. That said, if you like it, go for it and it can always be freshened with clean feathers for other years use. On my table, something would for sure get spilled on them and since I couldn't wash them, they would be toast!