Blueberry, I consider it common knowledge that tar-paper and other creosote and cresol containing materials are toxic. I don't have a list of resources for you, but I'll do a quickie search and post a good link. Yes, the water run-off from a roof can contain hazardous chemicals. I'd use that water only for ornamental plants. Contaminate laden water is one way that these chemicals can enter the body...by drinking it or simply touching it. You'd be exposing yourself to the chemicals in cresols (like methyl phenols) and creosote on a chronic basis by using it to line your veggie containers. Did you know that creosote is a well-known carcinogen? Check out the attached link. I've only skimmed it, but it appears to be factual and thorough. I also did a search using 'tar paper toxicity' as my search words, which resulted in quite a bit of helpful information. More that we all want to know, probably, lol! Here is a link that might be useful: C'mon, let's read this together!

Wood ash and paper ash are two very different things because anything of value in wood is removed in the papermaking process. Wood ash is a very alkaline product with some minor minerals but mostly Calcium Carbonate in a very soluble form. Wood ash can very quickly change a soils pH, but the effect may not last very long. When my parents were young the soaps they used were home made and the ash from the wood stove and sometimes the parlor stove was put in a barrel and water was poured through it to obtain lye to make that soap. Today, no one that has done good research will tell you to add wood ash to your soil until after you have done a soil pH test and determined if that ash is needed. Adding wood ash to a compost pile is also discouraged and unnecessary since the high pH of that ash can slow the digestion process, it creates an environment the bacteria that do the digesting do not like. I do burn papeer such as old bank statements, and similar material and since the quantity is fairly small those ashes do go into my compost, but I am not concerned about those paper ashes pH. We could shred those papers and add them to the compost and not expends our energy in watching them burn, however, except burning does not use electricity.

I really want to post the pics I took of the doors to see if anyone can help, but for the life of me, I cannot get my Mac to copy the code from Photobucket onto this website. I never had a problem before on PCs (I'm a recent convert to Mac, and this is my first need to post a pic from it). In studying my doors / weatherstripping. It appears that if the weatherstripping were "thicker", I wouldn't be having a problem. I think what's on the door is probably what came with it, though....and they weren't cheap doors (Mahogany solid wood, double doors-- 5' x 8'). I'll keep trying, but meanwhile, thanks.

Nice improvement, but please.....center that storage piece under the mirror!! Cute pup, too!