We had -4F here near Santa Fe, NM back in December. We don't usually get the cold snaps the same time as either coasts, so the lowest we've been recently is around 12. As few would realize, being at the same latitude as the Carolinas, we average two nights below zero each winter, and a warm winter might mean one or two nights in the single digits. But then again, we usually clear freezing by midday, since our daytime/nighttime temperatures can span 30 or 40 degrees. Even though our low temps may be similar to places much farther north, winter here is vastly more pleasant, especially with a passive solar house! More often than not we don't even need supplemental heat! At least you can all take comfort from the fact that these temps are coming during the coldest time of the year, so it's not likely to get any colder, and the plants are quite dormant!

I have looked for pillows for many years at TJ maxx and Home goods to find PB replicas and finally just bought some this year at PB. Sometimes you get what you pay for. The crewel work is lovely and the patterns unique. I have some very nice needlepoint pillows that were high dollar from Michelian Home (not frou frou cabbage flower type either) that I have NEVER seen at the discount stores. I looked for a solid year on ebay under needlepoint pillows and never saw ones there either. At least not at a price cheaper than Michelian Home.

You'll probably be able to find something you like at Smith and Noble. They have a large selection of fabrics and quite a few styles of fabric shades. I have never ordered fabric shades from them, but I'm guessing they're not cheap. You can price them out online, so it doesn't hurt to look. They'll also send you up to 10 fabric samples at a time. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Smith and Noble fabric shades

If you pull them before seeds are dropped, you should see exponentially fewer next year. The first year of a garden spot, there's usually a disheartening explosion of unwanted plants. If you're diligent this year, next year should seem like a breeze! You may be able to scrape the soil surface (like with the flat backside of a metal rake or flat-edge shovel) to get rid of some kinds of seedlings, then a week or 2 later, pull the tenacious ones that kept going. If you lose control in some spots, a string trimmer can chop everything off near soil level if you see flowers, to buy more time and prevent the flowers from ripening/dropping seeds for another crop of unwanted plants next year. Between rows/plants, you can use grass from mower bag (if mowing before grass makes seeds,) straw, leaves, mulch, cardboard, pine needles, whatever organic matter you have handy, to help with weed suppression (while helping to improve the soil at the same time.)