Looking at RR's bottle tree, loving it and thinking that perhaps it's all in the artistic talent and eye of the maker.....and of course placement and lack of resin gnomes and frogs that make is pretty. When he retired, my uncle started "making things" He had seen a wind chime made from various cut off bottles, with a hole drilled and carefully arranged so they all didn't clang together at once. So he took to glomming on to every empty bottle he could find, cutting it and stringing it up and giving it away. His next project was wind chimes made from forks and spoons strung on a bent coat hanger. They clanked in a breeze. Then there was another man who took up rug hooking when he retired. He bought kits and tied knots like mad. Their house was covered with furry rugs, hanging on benches, on the back of the sofa, on floors and piled in a corner. Another person took up needle point and in 5 or 6 years all available space was covered with needle point renditions of someone else's art. We had Pinky, Blue Boy, The Mona Lisa and even Van Gogh's sunflowers. A beautiful home was turned into a display of kitsch....but it kept them off the streets! LOL! I have seen some very lovely "art" made from broken pottery....but I have also seen some stuff that is pretty much broken dishes glued to something. The line between art and craft is fine.....and the line between craft and junk perhaps even finer....and some don't seem to see it. As an example, I made a trip to New York several years ago to see Christo's Gates. I found it moving, exilerating and endlessly fascinating. I posted on another forum what I had done and how wonderful I thought it was.....and was booed and hooted at ridiculed for bothering to view something quite as silly as that. Art doesn't need the approval of others to be "art". Van Gogh died penniless with a stash of things like whirling suns and swirling clouds and flowers beneath his bed. Pollock also died broke. Frieda Kahlo's work never sold until after her death when Madonna started collecting. I have seen several gardens that were full of "repurposed" items, the toilet planter, the shoe planter, the frog under the hosta and the elf sitting on a rock. Some were lovely and charming, while a few others were a collection of junk. What makes the difference? I guess it's the skill of the person putting it all together. Scuse the ramble, I guess it always boils down to "To each his own" or "chacon a son gout", but I never understand why someone feels the need to defend their own taste, or feel insulted if someone else doesn't like what you like. Why would anyone feel threatened because I don't like plastic gnomes in my yard, nor Robert Kincade (however he spells his name) on my walls nor canned soup in my casseroles? It's your house, do what you like. Linda C

Muffins and breads freeze well, as does cookie dough or baked cookies and cupcakes without frosting. Pizza freezes nicely, as do calzones, cabbage rolls, savory pies like chicken or beef pot pie, meatballs and pot roast! Anyway, soup. One of my favorites is beef vegetable, but I have no recipe. I take every vegetable that I can get my hands on and chop them up. Chop up some beef into bite sized pieces, brown in the pan with some onion and celery. Add a couple of quarts of water and all the vegetables and cook until everything is done. Add salt, pepper, herbs. I like tarragon. If I have a jar of tomatoes open I'll add that, or leftover spaghetti sauce or whatever is in there. Leftover gravy? In it goes. Part of a jar of home canned beef stock? Double bonus, into the pot. I've used hamburger in this, venison, leftover steak, Italian sausage, kielbasa or a mixture of things, it's all good. I keep adding to the pot, adjusting seasonings, until it tastes good and the refrigerator is cleaned. (grin) It's never failed, but sometimes it grows quite large, which is how I know it freezes well! Good luck to your friend, I hope she comes through with flying colors. Annie

Lou, Yup, that's it. On spaghetti sauce cooking day grandma's menu was: BREAKFAST=eggs poached in sauce LUNCH=when all the guys came home for lunch, DGM scooped out enough sauce to make a pot of pasta e fagioli DINNER=spaghetti with sauce and various meats baked in sauce SUNDAY=lasagna made with leftover sauce I never knew it to vary from this routine and I pretty much use the same schedule--except the eggs (I don't do eggs!). The sauce was an all day production.

Thanks to everyone for helping out. :) plllog... the only thing being paneled is a single dishdrawer (small kitchen!). I do have a 36" 2-drawer base which would preferably have a single wide pull instead of two pulls on each drawer. blfenton... I'm liking the Revitalize a lot. Thanks for the Lee Vally endorsement; it seems like a well-liked company at GW. dianalo and breezy... Hi! Gosh I am really starting to kick myself about not getting a chrome faucet. I drove my husband nuts right up until he installed this one! I am happy enough with the faucet considering it is a budget-friendly one. But it doesn't come in chrome. breezy... I've read several of your posts elsewhere, and you're one of the reasons I've been second-guessing chrome! (I mean that in a complementary way!) But I am a little confused about your choice of Westerly since it only comes in satin nickel and graphite. traceee... thanks so much for the tip! I will definitely look into that site. I like the matching round Westerly knob, too. The one that matches the #4 pull wouldn't look right in my kitchen, so this is a good suggestion. celine... I didn't know about polished nickel until recently. You're right; it IS so pretty and warm. And I didn't realize you are so close to being done! It's going to be beautiful, can't wait! artemis78... how nice to see you! :) Have you posted finished pics yet or did I miss them?! I love the glimpses I've seen. Thanks for the Rejuvenation idea; that's a really nice pull, too. You make me wish I had gone shiny! lazydaisynot... at first, it seemed like this was going to be an easy vote of #4, but you are right about the Westerly and Revitalize each being really nice. p.s. to shanghaimom... your kitchen is gorgeous! Thanks all!