Ok, I just took my daily walk to the mailbox..and OMG, it was FULL !!!!! It is going to take me all day to open them all...you all are just too kind to me !! I thought I was giving, and WOW am I receiving. Yesterday I received a wonderful package from retsec, she sent me a PLANT ! of Candy Apple Ice Plant, and some bulbs, and sunflower seeds. I just cant say thank you enough ! I also recd a beautiful Santa card from Jenny, cottageflowers, with some AWESOME seeds...verbascums, which were one of the MOST WANTED on my wish list, and CHOCOLATE salpigloss, which will go so nice in my chocolate garden.. YIPEEEE, and now I have more to open..I am going to take my time and enjoy them..then I will post again. THANKS SOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR MAKING MY SEASON EXTRA SPECIAL !! and to think this is a gift that will just keep giving....AWESOME ! Kym

Wow, I do love this forum! Thanks for the helpful replies. Lavender_Lass you make some very good points. I have responded to your ideas below: Kitchenette: I also feel that the kitchenette with bar sink is cramped and I like your solution. We will not use the kitchenette for much, but if ever we want to rent out the basement (i.e. when some kids leave home) a bigger kitchen would be necessary. However, if we move it to where you suggested, it would take it even further away from snack counter on wheels that is behind the couch. Do you think that is a big problem? Mudroom: I believe we have the benches covered in the mudroom by planning for a built in seat to each locker (i.e. extra depth at seating height). If not additional benches can go where you suggested. TV/Seating area: Yes I do agree that the TV would be nice under the stairs, and in an earlier plan we had it there. However, with the south windows shinning on the screen the image would be difficult to see. I really don't want to cover up the windows as I crave light in basements. To clarify about the windows they cover only the top 3 feet of wall, so there is a full 5 feet below for the TV so I don't imagine having the TV in between two windows (like in picture) should be a big issue, unless I am missing something. In order to have decent surround sound the staircase location I have been advised is not the best. I do love your idea for sectional seating -- if there is any money left over we will go for it as the current furniture is rather worn. Peytonroad, thanks for your input! You made me laugh at your image of a heap of shoes by the garage door (and worried at the same time). No, I definitely don't want that! I will work hard to 100% train my family to put their stuff (shoes and all) in their own locker. Unfortunately, your thoughtful suggestion of moving the door to where the corner locker is will result in a longer passage through the garage for the walkers (i.e. the kids) and have them enter through a narrow part of the garage. Our garage is going to be around 40 feet deep as it is a tandem garage with one car parked behind the other. There is extra width for walkers to enter and bikes to be parked for the first 25 feet of so, then it gets narrower. Where I show the door now, it has people entering through the wider part of the garage if that makes any sense. Thanks again for your help, and in advance for other suggestions:) Carol

You know you're a mosaicin' maniac when ...... Working on a project right up to the minute I had to leave, and then realizing OH NO I'm late, I grabbed my keys and dashed out the door to meet a best friend at Home Depot to help her pick out crown molding, not seeing her car (she's late also) I sit down on a bench outside the store to wait, and in passing, a little girl with her mommy hands me a dollar. I'm shocked and speechless...in a panic, I go back to my car, assess myself, and realize I too hadn't showered, brushed my hair (much less my teeth), was wearing my worst stained, siliconed, and ripped jeans and t-shirt, had BLACK stained HANDS and finger nails, AND to top it off, I had painted my laundry room that morning and some white paint must have dripped on the top of my head which, to a little girl, must have looked like bird doo doo...IÂm sure the little girl thought I was HOMELESS! I was mortified, determined I wasn't getting out of my car again except to go in to my house...I called my friend and told her I couldn't make it..sorry, something had came up. It was several weeks before I could tell her what REALLY happened. We laughed so hard I almost wet my pants....but I wasn't laughing when it happened. Addiesue

My elf only sells lemon cookies. PTOENW Too late, trying again! HNBOO His note boasted of orchestras. RPOTEM This post was edited by stacey_mb on Wed, Sep 24, 14 at 21:05