Well that is the standing as of now: Pat 16 Dorothy 19 Susan 18 Kim 18 Cassie 6 Ingrid 18 Eloise 12 ok those are the folks that have played today and I mailed each one of you a very own hint. Pam has 7 Tally 7 Frances 13 ....hope you are ok Frances!!! ??? Amelia 19 In the morning I will send your special hint out...it does not matter...cause tomorrow is unlimited words :-) you can post. GOOD LUCK!! Glad I am on the other end of this game ha ha ha Lucy

Wow - such great progress for everyone. @Beagles - BEAUTIFUL! @gbsim - great views and house! @Mel0569 - your kitchen is going to be wonderful. @ICFGreen - LOVE it all! We just finalized stone and roofing. Coronado Pro-Ledge in Dakota Brown and metal standing seam roof in dark bronze. Windows out for bid which we are holding on our breath on as it is a contemporary home with lot and lots of windows. The architect told me again today that I should start looking at the elevation for windows to compromise on. NOT until I see the bids. We submit next week for preliminary design review approval and should know by 3/15 if we can move forward with construction drawings. M

TGIF!! Went to the house last night…alone. For a while anyway, it was awesome :) I am a very social person, love to have people around, but there are sometimes I just neeeeeed to be by myself. I locked all the doors, turned up the radio and started putting door handles & plate covers on. My electrician has been MIA for almost a week. Which is really ok in some ways, b/c he’s a bit of a know it all, and our builder & his brother are working on trim. I think they need their alone time too. Lol Anyway, so I’ve been putting on plate covers whenever I can. I might have went a bit overboard on plugs & switches. Ha!! Seems like every time I think I’m almost done, I find more!!! I think I’m going to let dd do the plugs upstairs over the weekend. She’s closer to the ground. DH showed up after a while. Had to call me to let him in…lol I guess he doesn’t have a key yet. Oops! While we were working on little stuff, we had a heck of a thunder storm. I am even more pleased with the quality of this house. I couldn’t hardly hear the storm at all! The wind was whipping thru the trees which is a new (old) sound. I grew up with a woods behind the house, but for years haven’t had that. Our current home sounds like it is going to blow apart in wind. Not this new house!! Yay!!! Let’s see… doors & trim are staying the color they are, natural. They actually are finished, you just can’t really tell that from pictures. All smooth, and just a twinge shiny. I caught myself just running my hands a long them last night while putting on the handles. I have a love affair with wood. I would love to learn woodworking. Bluemoon ~ definitely on the boots!!! I have on mud boots 95% of the time anyway, b/c I have horses to care for, but last night I sure was glad I had them! Our “storage” trailer (semitrailer on the property) is surrounded by mud. I had to climb up in it to get my door handles. Oh boy. Between wrestling the huge doors in the wind, and trying to keep my footing in the mud, it’s a wonder I didn’t land on my rear. Not that it would have been the first time. I think I’ve fallen on ice/snow about 15 times this winter. I’m pretty klutzy, but that might be a record…. Illini ~ congrats on the mantel!! Exciting, can’t wait to see pictures of it :o) Maggie ~ maybe we should have formed a budget club. I think I’ve lost all concept of decimals also! We have a certain amount left to draw. I’m really hoping it’s enough. I really like your lighting selections. I have this thing about matching fixtures, but also, if you can’t match them all, I love mismatched eclectic!! (I’m only consistent at inconsistency!) Marji ~ 77!!! We got to 59 I think, and boy did it feel like swimsuit weather ha! We used to have that same, or very similar dragonfly lamp hanging in the show room when I sold lighting. And a couple lamps to go with it if I remember right. I love your mood boards! Second one is a sure winner! Love the balloon picture. What a great idea. Ahh…and some dormer love! Autumn ~ you and I are seriously very similar. I love your pizza idea! Totally get it. GUESS WHAT I DID??? I actually went to the grocery store! More pantry items and frozen items, but some fresh deli meat & cheese. Some small packaged meals I can throw something together fairly quickly. I’m sooo tired of eating out. Grabbed some precooked baked chicken from the deli, Uncle Ben’s 90second rice packages and broccoli steamer packs. We actually had a pretty good dinner last night… at 10:15pm. But hey it wasn’t fast food!!! Ontario ~ Thanks so much for the compliments. I’m a bit partial to it, of course! I’m still a bit amazed at times that it all actually came out of my head (with help) and is looking like I thought! I posted a few light pictures in my morning post yesterday, the sconces, fan & laundry. I’m hoping to get the entryway light up over the weekend, and will share of course!! I’m glad you think it’s fast…I’m dying. I guess I don’t have enough patience! we used all SW paint, but I don’t think either of those colors. I had to go back & look. Jen, Jen, Jen ~ as usual I am in love with your home!! Floors look amazing! Hoosier ~ I’ve tried to have that get’er done attitude the whole time. A few things have kinked my chain, but I’m pretty good now I think! Paint looks great, and as always I love love love your stone!!! :o) A few pics of trim, doors, & the cool posts on the stairs!! DH walked in and said “omg those are bad @ss!!” I laughed and laughed :o)

Burr! Well, our winter hasn't ended yet. We got dumped on yesterday and last night. We have about 8" of the white stuff and expecting more today, then comes the thaw. Anj...which of the beautiful eyed Christmas project are you doing first. I have seen the title Luv 2 Paint before but I don't recognize the artist...nice work though. I went back to the Decorative store and purchased 3 books on birds and flowers.....gonna get then right sometime! I have also purchase lots of replacement bottles of paint, didn't realize how many were empty or yucky! Found a sale on Holcraft and as I can't buy them locally, I must use mail order. After doing a lot of color conversion and mixing on my UFO, I am now doing chips of each color I have for further reference. Have you ever compared the original color and it's equal in another brand......lots of difference. With the chips I can compare and mix my own. Plus it takes up my time and keeps my mind busy, can't find anything I really want to paint. Guess the winter blues have a hold on me. Cali and Marylee....nice to have you here! Although you, Anj and Punk are holding up there end and I am not. It's been a really hard month for me, but I know it will get better. And where is Luv? Hope all is well with her and that she is just busy painting! The dryer just buzzed so I/m off for now...take care! Well almost off...DH said I should share these with you...as if none of you have snow. The story about the birds. Two days ago yesterday I noticed this little guy hanging around my window feeder and sitting on the ground. Then when it started hailing yesterday I noticed him on the ground again but he was all fluffed out and it was then I noticed the dead bird beside him. I believe it was his mate and he was trying to keep the hail off of her. DH removed her and now the little beauty has taken up residency in my feeder. He is either a House Finch or a Purple Finch. Belle