Windowswashington: Thank you for your reply. I didn't see it before I posted mine. Are you suggesting that we make the window smaller than it is now to avoid additional framing work? Will it be almost as much work to keep the window the same size as to make it a bit taller? Since you're the second person who has mentioned how much work is involved in reframing, I'm thinking that this must be a really big deal. The person who is going to do the work didn't seem bothered by it. He has built homes for a living so I hope he knows what he's talking about and this doesn't involve tearing half the wall apart. If we keep the window the same size, would the wall still have to be cut on the interior at the lower portion of the window frame? Millworkman: Can you tell me how many inches of damage to the stucco would be involved in replacing the header and approximately how many hours of work? The person doing the job knows how to re-texture the stucco. We do plan to paint the stucco on the entire house soon but I don't want to put our friend through hell to gain a few inches of glass. He's also offered to remove the drop ceiling in our kitchen, a project that my husband was horrified to take on when I suggested it.

Since I'm a DIYer on a Budget, I've really searched for stuff I can afford to help me get the stuff thats expensive ( at least to me). Here is an example of it: Backsplash glass tiles: Believe it or not, after seeing stuff at Walker Zanger for about a million dollars, I saw exactly what I wanted at LOWE'S!!! For me they are awesome, subtle beige, green and taupe in polished glass and frosted bits... Shrinkwrapped per 12" square for the generic consumer :) and a steal at only $14- in the tile section... Called "COSMOPOLITAN" glass mosaic in "Neutral" ( wowee), 1x1 "Hecho en China" and kinda thin, but still with lots of depth and glassy reflectivity. Flooring: "Monoceram" of Italy, "New Age", Sand color; 20X20 rectified porcelain. These are flat and precise as can be. I have a 1/8" line between, and each piece looks like random sandstone (Not TRAVERTINE!), with almost no repeat. 7.00/ft at my local tile dealer . The kitchen is now at the cabinet hanging phase and I'm exhausted but it looks good. Floor is in, not backspash yet..

Tali, I wanted to say (I'm not sure if I did) that in my remodel I actually went with the KD because the plans were "all done" and then...the cabinets came, and they SUCKED!!! And I can't stress that enough. So many people said "make them work" and I realized how stupid that was :) And started over again. I'm going to have a stunning kitchen, with every bell and whistle, and very very high quality cabinets, and all for around your budget. I'd love to hear that you see someone else and get everything you want, including the special stains, legs, etc. I have every bell and whistle involved, including inset doors (a big upcharge) and I'm using a very high quality cabinet company, Omega Custom, which I'd recommend you look at. They do everything custom (they have lower end lines as well, you can find them on line) but one of the things I love is that the inside stains match the outside, which I really think makes a difference in a high end design (I hate to open a cabinet and see another color or thermafoil). I'm spending about $70M for two bathrooms and a kitchen. I also was able to work in a Lacanche (look at those as well as the one you like because...they're cooler heh heh) and all of the options you are doing away with because of this designer. My tile backsplash...egads have you read the freaking complaining about it???? I'm pushing $70 a sq ft! So I know you can get everything everything everything!!!! you want if you keep searching. I only mention the costs and pushing the issue because, personally I don't care about how much I spend on the kitchen, it's my kitchen and I want what I want. I might not get it all back but I don't care, I want what I want :) But for the kind of money you're willing to spend, if I were to hear that budget for a kitchen, I'd expect to see all of the bells and whistles, including that warming drawer and subzero...(buy the Lacanche and you won't need a warming drawer...they're included) Heh heh Anyhoo, I know how you feel right now, because I've been there, and it totally sucks! But I'd rather see you take that dream design elsewhere and look to other cabinets of very high quality (that's important, I understand) but get all of the goodies as well (pot filler, etc). You can afford that under your budget :) So keep working, and when this is all done, you can enjoy that dream kitchen :) Which you will deserve after this hell is over LOL

Hardy plants in cold climates effectively hibernate over winter. Like bears these store energy before entering hibernation and then live off it during the winter, "emerge" in spring in a depleted condition. So when there is cutting of the roots and digging of these plants in spring they are being impacted at a time of the year when they are low in energy. However it is also true that the opening of stem buds in spring is what prompts the growth of new roots from cut root ends. So if dormant plants can be moved right before the tops come to life in spring then new roots will be generated immediately afterward. As with fall planting opportunity for success is maximized by timing it with specific relation to what state the stem buds are in. Winter: Activity minimal or effectively non-existent, depending on how cold it is Spring: Winter stem buds open, new shoots appear and may flower, new roots are formed Summer: Flowering or fruiting may occur, roots grow some Autumn: Fruiting may occur, winter stem buds form, existing roots elongate markedly (60% of annual total) Spring shoot and root growth is caused by the opening of the winter stem buds. Autumn root elongation is caused by the maturing of the winter stem buds. At both times hormones are sent from the buds to the root ends which cause these to grow. For modern, research based information see the print publications of Carl E Whitcomb (Lacebark Inc) - present at colleges with horticulture programs, including my local community college - the print publications and web pages of Linda Chalker-Scott (Washington State University), and the Garden Professors blog.