We got back late Monday night from Arizona - in a snow storm (what were we thinking!??). I finally got through sorting mail & had the opportunity to open my birthday blocks and they are beautiful! Thank you everyone. I have received all except yours, Michelle. I'm sure it will be here tomorrow or Saturday - depending on the mail - I will let you know. I am so excited about this block - it is like a breath of spring around the corner (and with the cold temps here I need that!) Thank you again to everyone. I will post pictures soon. Sue/polardream

Jericson, You have hundreds of photos in this post that it takes forever to download. And while it's downloading the texts/media are jumping around trying to settle in, I guess. Although I enjoy your pictures, I am afraid of crashing my computer (don't think it would). So would you kindly create a Part II or something to this post? I'm not asking only for my own convenience, maybe others are having the same issues? Again, I enjoy your pictures. But in the time it takes to download this post, I could have transplanted an adenium or two. :laugh:

I don't see any issue with your original idea of extending the table into an adjoining room for the special times that you need to seat more than 10 or 12. We do it all the time. I love a 'flexible' space that allows us to open it up. Another idea - why not do the reno and add a thinner banquet table to the porch? Then, when you have holidays, if you need to seat more than the porch table, you can seat at both dining rooms. You have the open wall, so everyone is together. Since you are seating several different meals over the course of a week, you can make sure people sit in different spots so everyone gets to visit.

I should add, the area behind the larger couch is a walkway of sorts. You can see our front door in one photo, and the archway leads to our master bedroom while the other direction heads towards the dining room and kitchen.