Purple, 2011/12 has been the mildest winter ever. During March, we had about two wks at 80-90F, and very high humidity. Then temps dropped, but the lowest was 40F. Then we had a little over a wk in the 90's. This week was mid to high 70's, days, 60's night. It's all over the place. I've never had a Sans that bloomed. Seems few ppl get theirs to flower. Maybe the cold had something to do with yours flowering or a combination. How is your house so humid when temps are cool? lol. Do you run a humidifer? I've never been in a home where oil is used for heating. Is it a dry or humid heat? Don't worry Purple, you can run different experiments with your Callisia. Remember, invasive house plant. lol. Is Callisia hardy? You mentioned it growing as a ground cover. That's one thing I don't have to worry about here; it wouldn't survive normal winters..Normal opposed to this last winter. I'm shocked a good number of annuals returned. But, I wish our winters were always as mild. People in 'Palm Forum' who live in Chicago and as far north as Canada grow palms and certain succulents in their garden. The palm in Chicago is huge. The guy lives by the lake front which is a lot colder and windier than my area..sw burbs. The wind chill makes 35F feel like single digit. I'll try getting a pic today. I'm working inside, taking a break, checking emails and GW..lol. Anyway, Congreats on flowering Sans and Callisia

Hello everyone, I've gotten my updates back and I think everything is much improved! Please note the Laundry/Mudroom which has some much more efficient space. Still thinking about what will be what in there (may stack washer/dryer, like I have now), need a shoe storage closet, etc.. Also, the kids bedrooms have been reconfigured so I now have a window in the kids bath (yeah!). My daughter gets her walkin closet and the kids furniture fits nicely in their rooms. I just tweaked the kitchen island. Recommendations from the kitchen forum is for the fridge to go at the end of the long row of cabinets, but I really would prefer to have it closer to the deck/living/dining area, even though I have to 'minor-ly' cross through a walkway to get there. I would really like the exterior to be all stone in the front- see 'inspiration' pics with the exterior shot. I think the exterior needs a bit of work too... Thanks for your opinions! Walkout basement will be what I tackle next.

Hi karen, kellykath, firsthouse, yesa (is that everyone?!) - I too am renovating a 1950s ranch and just saw this post!! I am a recent member of Gardenweb and have been mostly lurking in the kitchen forum (thank you, firsthouse, for your mudroom post!!) but thought I'd check this section out! We are just beginning to embark on our remodel - we have a u-shape ranch and are adding along the back of the house... basically enlarging the kitchen and family room while adding a hearth room and master suite. We also are going to have a terrace accessible from the kitchen, family room, and master, which I'm SO excited for! Our plans are pretty much set - minus final kitchen design... although I've been pooring over them and making notes to tweak (i.e. the mudroom and a possible bath layout change). We are working with a design/build company so non-major changes here and there are supposedly OK. We just bought this house so we haven't lived in it yet which is tough... but we moved from a couple of miles away so were very familiar with the neighborhood. Anyway, in terms of progress we are just in the demo stage - so far things are going well but I'm nervous about the excavation stage as I'm know that can be a spot where things creep up! I'm sure I'll be checking in - how are your remodels going??

Hi Jane, Well, you are on the West Coast and I am over on the East Coast. Although, looking at the map of Florida, we are directly across from each other. I am in Port St Lucie on the Treasure Coast. Btw, I neglected to tell you that I like your house. And, OH MY! what I wouldn't give for those swanky double doors! The "older" houses in my area are older than yours. Many of the houses are 70's. Mine is 1973.. but loads of them have a 60's look. Mine isn't one of the more 'cool' looking houses, although it does have some elements of the 60's style..I will add more. Not talking about going totally Atomic, I just like some of the architectural features that I see here. It's so friggin hot here that I don't even want to go for the morning walk anymore. That's a shame, cuz like I said, I so enjoy looking at the house styles. I would love to hop in the car with my camera and just explore.. but even that isn't easy. Just like most of Florida, lots of areas here don't have sidewalks. We are lucky, my neighborhood does....at least, parts of it. I'm told if you are within a certain distance of a school there must be sidewalks. I don't like the fact that some areas don't have them. Plus, just another weird Florida thing, if you are lucky enough to have sidewalks they will run right through your front lot! I scrolled back up and see that your neighborhood is without sidewalks. It isn't safe...plus, even worse, at night it is so dark here. Again, seems to be another Florida thing...I can take a road, a fairly busy road, the same road that my house is on the corner of, and get up a few miles and no sidewalks...at night you cannot see a thing. I was riding in my car and did not see people walking their dogs, literally right at the edge of the road.. and you could not see them until you were right on top of them. Scary. I don't know why they don't light the streets better. I quickly learned that you must get out to the MAIN roads and streets to travel at night. Anyway, I will take my car soon to look for your house style in a neighborhood or two. If I do find it or something very similar, I will take a pic and send it to you. Good luck in your new house and new neighborhood.....it looks really nice! Sea