The story is true----BUT!!!!!!---you need to read the ENTIRE Snopes article. At the end of the article, there is the disclaimer stating the Four Paws manufacturer has voluntarily recalled ALL the defective design Pimple Balls, redesigned them to be safe, repackaged then new design in new packages with the redesign information---and did all that in August, 2008. So, as terrible as the injuries were, they will not happen again.

Thanks, Autumn 4! We have a large covered porch right now, and although I love it, I can't say it gets much use. I think if it didn't open onto such a ho-hum yard, we'd use it more. I'm a bit up in the air about a covered porch for our new house. On the one hand, it would require a change in our roofline, and that ups the cost. And the downside of our current covered porch is that we get less light in our kitchen /dining area than I'd like -- so that makes me think that the answer'll be no. However, we are planning a pool and nice patio out back. We're in the South, so such a spot would get plenty of use. I'm leaning right now towards a covered area NOT connected to the house, but located 10-15 feet back -- to be closer to the pool. This would have a nice, substantial roof, a built-in cooking area, a fire place and an eating area. Then, when we have large groups, we could add more tables outside the covered area. If I had to pick right this minute, the desire for a light-flooded kitchen/dining area would trump the convenience of attached. In the end? I'm not sure. Which direction will our house face? That's a good question -- one to which I've turned my attention numerous times, and I haven't decided yet. We have a little over 40 acres, so our options are not limited: If I do the easiest thing and place the house near the main road /facing the main road, the front will face East. So that'd give us sun in the bedroom /living room /study in the morning . . . and hot western afternoon sun on the patio. IF we do this easiest thing, I'd probably flip the whole plan so that the garage would be to the North and the side of the bedroom side of the house would face South. This easiest thing would also cost less because we'd need less driveway. Finally, the large trees are laid out in such a way that this would mean less clearing. Honestly, I think this is the way we'll go -- too many things seem to conspire to make this the easiest, best choice. The only thing holding me back from saying, "Yes, this for certain" is that hot, harsh afternoon western sun. Or, I could do a little in-road onto the property and could face the front of the house either South or North. I see value in facing it North. That'd mean that the kitchen/dining area and the patio/pool area would have the Southern exposure. If I do that, when you turn off the main road, you'd approach the garage, which would give a little privacy from the main road -- but with this relatively large piece of land, that isn't something we need badly. Also, this would cost more because we'd have to bring the driveway and the utilities farther onto the land. And I don't think this option is as attractive as having the house simply face the main road -- regardless of how far off the road we may choose to build. The whole piece of land is fairly well flat, and any number of sites would do for the house. We're set to pick "the house spot" the first weekend in November, so I guess we'll be making up our minds about the house's orientation then. I'm excited for that day to arrive and to walk the land with an expert and hear his opinion.

Most of you know my mom died just two months ago, and we are all still devastated. I dug out my old home movies---some of them 30 years old---and made DVDs for my sisters, their children, and my mom's sister, all of whom spent countless hours with us at the hospital during Mom's last week. The videos include footage of my mom...and seeing those old video has been very helpful to me in the grieving/healing process. I also bought each of them an ornament and printed them the below story, which I'd never shared with anyone. MY NOTE TO THEM: About this time of year in 1987, Mom sent me a letter. She and Poppy lived in Florida at the time, and she wanted to explain about a Christmas ornament that accompanied her letter. Funds were extremely short that year. There was no money for Christmas gifts, but she wanted to send me something. She explained that she had lots of Tiara, but that "pretty things, clothes, etc., go away or you tire of the color or whatever, and they are gone." She was also feeling very sentimental because of losing her own mom earlier that year. Mom's letter read: "I was thinking of the little gifts Mom sent us each year that always meant so much to me and the other girlsÂthings we still cherish. So I decided to send you something that you could have from now on (and on and on), and every year you can hang my ornament on your tree and say, ÂMy mom gave me this. And maybe youÂll always feel me and Dad are there with you whether we are here or somewhere else. IÂve have had this a long while. I donÂt know why I bought it and never used it. But it just seemed like a little memento I wanted you to have. I feel it is a little treasure IÂve buried and put in a safe place. I know it will be guarded and loved. You wonÂt use it enough to tire of it, and I (and Dad) will always be remembered for a long time to come." So every Christmas for the past 20 years, I have read her letter (and cried) and hung that ornament on my tree (and cried some more). This year was no differentÂexcept I cried a little harder and a little longer. Now I know just how badly her heart ached for her mama. I bought you a little ornament this year because I know thatÂlike meÂyou love and miss ÂB so much. Maybe youÂll drag it out once a year, hang it on your tree, and remember meÂand remember herÂand remember that little things mean a lot, but our loved ones mean the most. And I hope the DVD brings you as much joy as it brought me when I put it together for you. MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE, Rita December 2008

Thank you. I worked with a builder who did angled garages and I just like the look. It creates a different look you don't see very often. This builder was a $1M+ builder, so I'm assuming he was used to doing whatever you asked. We've changed the kitchen layout to be reflective of the alt. layout @lyfia posted. With that change, I move the FP back to the Hearth room and added a vault. Currently with Covid, My husband and I WFH, and my children attend school 3 days a week and have 2 "home days." My plan is to use the Hearth room as a "study area." My youngest 3 are in Kindergarten and 1st grade. We are assuming most of my family will be in the Kitchen/Hearth room area, but with the new layout that opens to the Greatroom- they could also be in there. There is a small loft area upstairs, so I'm sure as they get older they could use that too. Hope that answers your questions.