Thanks for all the suggestions guys!! Keep 'em coming!! Winter interest is definitely important, but unfortunately, with the way the house and the sidewalk are, there isn't room for both shrubs and perennials in the foundation gardens. I did leave the cone shaped yews on the ends of each garden as well as some other evergreen shrubs that are next to the sidewalk leading to the breezeway. I've already pulled out the remaing boxy yews though. I considered planting a few evergreen shrubs like heather or holly or something else with the foundation plantings, but decided against it. The area is really too small for most shrubs and I felt I would prefer perennials there for spring, summer and fall. During the winter, we get so much snow that pretty much whatever is there is buried anyhow. I planted a few Rhododendrons in the bump outs. I do like the idea of adding a few more. Karinl brings up an excellent point that my house is so large as is my lot, that it dwarfs most of what I plant. I'm hesitant to put any large or even mid sized conifers only because I am concerned it will block out the light we get in the house. I had orignially planned to make the gardens in front larger with mass plantings to help but decided that might be a bit overwhelming to do all at once. I think what I plan to do now, instead, is in later years, add some more large island beds in the front. And yes, Karinl, perennials are a MUST! I love flowers!! As you can probably tell, I also love trees so we are adding lots and lots of those as well. Saypoint, thanks for your comment about the colors running together! I didn't think of that. I guess it may not be that important then that the shutters are a different color. And I am certainly doing large flower gardens in the back too! Thanks again for all your suggestions! I'd love to hear some more! Tara Here is a link that might be useful: Photo Album with additional updated photos of the current progress

Yes, that's the place. They are 10 minutes down the road from me. It's hit or miss there. They do often have gems that you don't usually see and once in a blue moon they have something for a good price (possibly mis-priced? LOL). But I agree with Kate they are usually very expensive. I got a large leaf tibouchina there for less than $10 about a year and a half ago and in Jan I went in looking for blue sky vine and they gave me all 3 they had for the price of 1 b/c they had gotten zapped by a few nights in the 30s. They are all looking lovely now! I sure do love a bargain. ;-) Naomi

I just found this one as well.... Canning experts? I think I like the sound of Jessica's version a bit better. Fresh Fig Chutney Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2003 2 1/2 cups red wine vinegar 1/2 pound light brown sugar 1 onion, chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds 1/4 lemon, zested 1/2 cinnamon stick 1 3/4 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1 1/4 pounds firm, slightly underripe fresh figs, rinsed, stems removed and halved In a large saucepan combine the vinegar, sugar, onion, ginger, mustard seeds, lemon zest, cinnamon stick, salt, allspice, and cloves and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until mixture is thickened and reduced by 2/3, forming a thick syrup. Add the figs and cook gently until the figs are very soft and beginning to fall apart and most of the liquid they've given off has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Transfer the chutney to a non-reactive container and allow to come to room temperature before serving. The chutney may be made up to 3 weeks in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. (Alternately, hot chutney may be ladled into hot sterilized canning jars and processed in a hot-water bath according to manufacturer's directions.) Jessica, I think the Udon Noodle recipe is tomorrow's lunch! (By the way, the fig-vanilla bean jam is the only one I make now... it's by far the best of what I've tried.) Glenda, Thanks. Puff pastry is sometimes more calories than what I'd like. Good idea to put it in a quesadilla. And as an added bonus, DS eats about anything if I put it in quesadilla form! Annie, Thanks for posting Diane's Fig Newton recipe. The one I used last year was so-so. I like the orange zest addition... think it will make the difference. Kayskats. if I get past the "pickle" title, the recipe sounds good... it's in the running with the compote and the chutney.

Everything except the rug and lampshade are off of the greater Monterey area Craigslist. Chair-$229 Sofa-$600 (I think this is actually a set with a loveseat, which you may or may not want) Side table-$25 Lamp-$695 (yes, this is ridiculously expensive; it sounded as if it were from a known artist.) Art-$100 Rug (Overstock.com)- $456 Lampshade (Target)-$35 Total: $2139 While chasing down Craigslist items can be a time-consuming pain, if you want a furnished room in ten days, you may not have time to purchase something new. I think it would be a challenge to get something delivered withing two weeks from most retailers. Plus, getting everything you want at the price you want would be a challenge.