Aileen, It is good that you intend to do some research and although I don't own the book you cite Colin Lewis has a good reputation. By all means remove the glued on rocks ASAP, you will probably have to add some soil to replace the volume that is lost. More than likely you will find a dark, heavy, peat based soil that should be replaced soon with a proper free draining mix. If you search this forum on 'soil' you should find some information, more on this later if you wish. When to do this: Ficus are tropicals and as such have no real dormant season so theoretically you can re-pot any time. Some recommend doing this type of work when they are in their growth period, in other words summer. By the way there is nothing wrong with a plastic pot. Pretty much the same with fertilization, since there is no dormancy period fertilization should be carried out year round. The only caveat is that you have no idea how this plant has been handled recently, It may have been fertilized recently or even have slow release fertilizer incorporated into the soil. So I think I would hold off on fertilizer for a while to give yourself time to evaluate the plant. Being near to a cold window worries me but I understand you may not have much choice right now, perhaps move it away from the glass at night. Consider some form of supplemental lighting so that you can move the plant to a warmer location. Don't do any pruning now except to remove the broken branch if it fails, which is likely. Follow the link below for more information. Norm Here is a link that might be useful: Bonsai Hunk

rhome: Yes, the Feb. 22 version is the one being worked up. The little yellow band is the current opening to the LR, which will be widened to 11 feet (almost to the little brown closet). Also we will probably shorten the island from the current 8 feet to about 6.5. I had not really thought of things the way you describe, probably because I never have used a prep sink. I wasn't really planning on using this one much - that was my wife's idea, I figured I would use the main sink. Perhaps my tune would change if I had the option, but the concept of a separate prep and clean-up area is foreign to me. Would swapping the prep sink and the microwave make more sense? The only alternative is moving the fridge down and putting the window on the other side of it, but that leaves no light coming in that corner and a big window next to a really big door. As for running into people helping cook or doing cleanup: does that *really* happen in other peoples' kitchens? I should have such problems!! holli: Thanks for the plan and comments. I wish I had the extra width to have a pantry on the one side. I am still debating the small closet we have in that space. We may put that in the adjoining living room to keep a clean line along that wall/sightline. Your distances between prep fridge and stove are similar; do you find them problematic? Also: Does the dining area serve as your dining room? If so, how is that working out for you? Thanks, all!

I'm going to try to ignore the things TOS is writing about my situation b/c I know she is just trying to cause problems. I truly don't understand why you would try to do that in a place where you should offer support and encouragement, but whatever... But I must say...of course I realize that the destruction of a family is not humorous. I was just trying to be a little lighthearted. Their marriage has been over for years. As I've written several times now, my former husband passed away. After his death I found out he had several "girlfriends" on the side. You think that didn't destroy me??? Believe me, I could write a book about destruction. Anyway... Thank you, Kathline, for your response to my post. I will admit wholeheartedly that my attitude needs to change, and that's one reason I am here. I'm hoping that by hearing other stories of struggles, listening to what others have been through, it will help me to face my own problems with a better heart. Yes, I admit that I wrote that I don't like Sarah right now. She has lied to me and about me SO much that it makes me physically ill. She has stolen money, clothes, make-up and other belongings from me and 2 of my children, she has called my 12 year old disabled child "retard" right to his face on several occasions. And it's not 1 or 2 times...this is consistent behavior. It is VERY HARD to like someone when they constantly hurt you. Sarah knows nothing about the fact that we have looked into residential treatment for her. Nothing! We have also NEVER told her that we don't want her, although her own mother has several times. At one point a few months ago, Sarah was mad at dh and me for grounding her for something and she announced, "I want to go live with mommy." She called her mother and directly there on the phone her monther said, "nope, you can't come live here. You cause too many problems and I don't want you." I felt horrible for Sarah, at the same time understanding how bm felt (b/c Sarah, if possible, often acts worse at her mom's house than she does here). We have to check her bags when she comes home on Sunday nights from her mom's house and more often than not, she has stolen something from there. So yes, Sarah is aware that he bm doesn't like her or want her to live with her, but as I said, she knows nothing about us looking at residential homes and I have NEVER said, "I don't like you, Sarah." Now she might get the feeling that I don't, but isn't that something she needs to earn, kind of like my trust. Would you "like" someone that continued to steal and lie from you CONSTANTLY??? I hope I'm not coming across like I just want people to agree with me, b/c I am VERY open to hearing all opinions. And if you think I'm horrible b/c I said I don't like Sarah much right now, it's okay. Believe me, I feel pretty bad myself and I'm trying to change that. I'm just so frustrated in this situation. Thanks everyone! :)

"without being able to sit at a table with my kids and eat (the dining room is formal and I don't have a formal table in there). " I agree with rosie - make the DR what YOU want it to be - informal if that's what you need! If you put a rectangular table in front of those kitchen windows tho, I think you'd have enough room for the 4 of you. measure it out. 2 in the back and 1 on each end. if that end of the counter is slimmed down you'd probably have plenty of room between it and the table to walk thru easily (where the stools are now). I hadn't thought a lot about the front of the counter - just that it seemed bland. maybe w/o the white trim and white counter top it wouldn't look that way? I wondered about that cab to the left of the fridge. mw's are smaller today. Those OTR mws are larger. I just had reason to measure my mw and it's 10" H x 20" L and 15" D. I think it'd look better there and a nice hood over the stove would perk things up. Check those measurements w/your mw cab - it could probably be trimmed out nicely to hold a smaller one. They aren't usually that tall. They aren't very expensive now either. I think I paid about 50.00 for mine 5 or so yrs ago. I don't care for banquettes - had something like that while raising my kids and wouldn't do it again. Someone is always stuck back there. The someone who ends up needing out of there the most often. It's a pain for others to move to let them out... and back in. and to move the table to give them room. moving the stove is a pretty good idea - except it'd then be in the walk thru area. Where it is now other people can come in the kit and get a drink, go to the fridge w/o being in the cook's way. your floor looks great! I'd spend the money on new counter top, moving the mw and a prep sink, and changing the table. Can you put that table into the DR for a game table for the kids? As for granite - well, I'm not a fan of it (tho there are many I just looove the looks of). It's hard - things dropped on it will break and glass will fly around and splinters of it will go everywhere. That's a choice you'll have to decide on. If going granite, I'd check yards for something that doesn't look like it's the cheapest tho. Those that are a bunch of speckles always look cheap to me (people have different views on that). I don't like a lot of spots anyway tho - lol! Really dark ones seem to show the dust a lot too. The granite yard might have something stuck back that someone never followed thru on or isn't the 'in' thing right now. If they do good seams they might have a partial slab or 2 that would fit your kitchen. Take a layout of your kitchen with you. I'd certainly fix the table situation as soon as possible so that you can all sit around the table to eat and chat. here's a version of an over the fridge display area - and I'd try to put in some slide outs in the cabs if possible - reusing the doors. possibly like this - or this - or this - these can be worked around you needs for what you have in the cabinets.