We have a side yard that faces a busy road. It's not very a big space, about 40' by 70', and all we do with it is mow it. I would like to do a planting that would eventually help to cut down the traffic noise and offer some privacy as well as eliminate some mowing for me. I'm thinking something with mixed evergreens and deciduous trees with some lower shrubs closer to the road under the electric lines. We're in zone 6. I would love some ideas if anyone has some. I keep looking online and am just getting overwhelmed! I have hoped to hire someone to do the design but I haven't been able to find anyone local who will do so without doing the actual labor or selling us the plants as well. Due to budget this will probably be something that is planted over the next three years instead of all at once, but I would like to get something in the ground this year!

I put monthly but think, assuming everyone gets along Ok, that it should probably be every 2 weeks or so. I also think if physically capable that the inlaws should be visiting as well.

Combining them in IEW would, I think, be simple to do. It's what every Classical Conversations parent with two children in Essentials is doing. You would just specify the checklist for what their paper was to include for each of them. I believe Pudewa says that each student's paper should require them to do all the elements that are easy plus one. In his instructional videos he even recommends that classroom teachers make different checklists based on the students abilities.

It hasn't been a scientific study on my part, but it does seem like anything I plant in the fall struggles quite a bit more than what I plant in the spring.

We have had the Ektorp couch for almost 5 years now. We bought it when it was on sale one month, so for the couch and basic white cover our total was something like $300. For $300 it has been an amazing couch. However, I do agree that the seat cushions get hard and the back cushions end up getting broken down. I just asked some friends who were over the other day about sitting on it now and they all said that they thought it was still fine and comfortable, but it's not a 'cozy' couch. For a $300 couch I am happy with this. Our cover has been washed on average 6 times a year. At one point there was a small tear but it was easily repaired and was most likely the result of me cramming too many things in our old-school top loading washing machine. I don't think it's the most amazing couch in the world, but again, for the price? I have yet to find anything better.

My husband has been throwing his own birthday parties since we reached adult-hood. He's always said that his birthday is his favorite holiday. I think maybe it would be different if you were expecting everyone to bring a gift? but for us, it's just been a wonderful excuse to have fun gathering at our house. Oh, for his 30th we did have it in a private room at a local bar and grill which was a little extra fun, but he invited quite a few more people for that one as well. We'll probably do something bigger for his 40th next year as well. It never even occurred to me or any of my friends that it's not OK to do something like this. In our group it's pretty common to get a phone call with someone saying "Hey, next week is my birthday, let's all go out to dinner!" or something along those lines. As I said above I think we're all really just using it as an excuse to have a fun gathering with friends, regardless of the size.

Have you called your credit card company to try to make a different payment plan or a settlement? Instead of using a debt management company you can deal with them yourself. If they say they can't work with you, ask for their supervisor.

that used several of the Scholastic science experiment books that were often a part of their $1 sale and had printable "lab" sheets for the children to fill in where they could color in Miss Frizzle's dress to look like the one she wore in the episode they watched. Does this sound familiar to anyone? If nothing else this is a lesson learned that I really do need to back up all the inexpensive or free school related downloads I make.

It probably varies by state, but in my state my understanding is that inspectors should NOT be telling people what is a major or minor problem due to liability.

Would she be willing to hire a walking service? I agree it's too long for a dog to be alone, even on her regular days. I have had many friends through the years who were single and had dogs though. They managed it by hiring someone to come in during the day. ETA or doggie daycare? Then you wouldn't have to deal with someone coming in to your home.

Are your counters gray? I like your inspiration pics but would make sure to get samples of the paint to see what complements your counters. The blue and green undertones in grays and teals can be tricky sometimes.

I'm thinking taco bar? I could cook all the meat on the Friday before the party and just put it in the slow cooker Saturday afternoon to warm up. Dice up all the toppings the day ahead as well. Maybe some rice in the rice cooker the day of, but that's quick. Chips and salsa to munch on. Is that enough? For reference it's my daughter's 4th birthday party, but soon after we scheduled it the morning filled up with a variety of other commitments. I can't cancel as it's really the only evening that works and I do need a full meal, as a few people will be traveling 3 hours to get here. I don't need to impress anyone with anything fancy and it doesn't have to be "kid" food as all the children there are good eaters. Is there something that would be easier, other than ordering pizza?

I wouldn't rule out a local kitchen design company. We had our design done at one and also at Lowe's, and the local place ended up up being several thousand dollars cheaper for the cabinets. We did our own install. I also would get prices for new cabinets compared to refacing. We had quotes for refacing at our first home and some were more than all new cabinets ended up being.

My sister put an indoor/outdoor rug under the table. When it's bad she takes it outside and hoses it off, plus it saves the carpet in her dining room.

I need to make a freezer meal tonight to drop off tomorrow. I don't know the family who will be receiving it very well, but was told they were gluten free. Meals are being organized because of a new baby. I realize it's silly, but I never know what to make for these types of things. Do I cook the meal entirely and freeze it, like I would leftovers? Do I just put all the ingredients in a freezer bag for them to thaw and cook in the slow cooker? Should it be more like a casserole in a disposable aluminum pan? I regret agreeing to do this. I'm more of a paper products and restaurant gift card kind of person. I need to go grocery shopping tonight anyways, so there aren't really any limitations.

:grouphug:

Didn't read replies so someone may have mentioned it, but it is possible to have a landscape architect do your design and then you do the labor. About 10 years ago for a smaller city yard we paid about $150 for a design. DH and I did the plantings in stages, a little the first year, a little more the second etc. It was great to have a plan to work from. In a way I think we saved money by not wasting it on plants that weren't quite right for the area, plus the many many hours we would have had to spend researching.

All the positive thoughts I can summon up go to you today!

We have coat racks as well, but I find in smaller rooms where space is limited, hooks behind the door are more useful. I have some smaller ones above larger ones in my room. On the larger ones I hang my robe, hoodie towel etc. On the small ones above I hang jewelry. I don't have a lot so it's perfect for the dozen or so necklaces and bracelets I have and I don't have to have a jewelry box on my dresser. I have also seen small hooks used above dressers for the same purpose, wherever there is wall space.

I am way too happy about this and don't have the time, but jeez. Now I know what I'll be watching when the kids head to bed...for monthsðŸ˜.

Our Kroger carries Duke's mayo - and we're Midwest, not the south.

Had unexpected vet bills last week so I was thrilled when my FIL dropped by with leftovers from a conference he had catered at work. They provided breakfast and lunch for participants and we were gifted with several loaves of bread, orange juice, 2 gallons of milk and enough of 'lunch' to provide three meals. I told DH it basically worked out to exactly what we spent at the vet! If I stick to only doing a produce run at the end of the week I think we'll be able to end the two weeks spending less money than budgeted! My other huge success for the week is that I was out very early on Monday and passed the only donut place in town. They close by 10am and I am never up and out early enough to get donuts. It was so tempting but I managed to keep driving on. It's these little $10 splurges that really kill my budget, so this was a big deal for me =)

We have the smallest room in our home. There is no traditional master with an attached bath, so that wasn't a part of our decision either. We chose it because of it's location at the top of the stairs, so no littles can sneak downstairs without our knowledge, and because we just need a bedroom. We don't need room for a dollhouse or the huge matchbox car track etc. It fits our furniture decently so I feel it still looks nice despite being small. ETA: Yes, the kid bedrooms get messy because of the toys. I prefer that over my living room looking like a preschool. We do a quick pickup before bed instead of the multiple pickups every day to keep my living room at a place that didn't make me twitchy. And I'm not a neat freak.

You can put in your own RO filter system for drinking water for under $400. I love ours and wish I would have priced it years ago.

After talking it over with DH some more it looks like we'll probably be going at the beginning of May. He would like to be able to camp a bit more than I realized. Will it still be too cold then?