they definitely sell topsoil around here...by the bag or by the truckload...it sure looks pretty but it's definitely garbage. don't throw things at me though...because i just used some in my mom's yard. her soil was too rich for the type of garden she wanted...xeric. she had added so much compost over the years..i just knew the heads of all of her echinacea would be flopping over in no time! so...i had to basically cut the quality of her soil a bit. sad..huh? i added only 6 cubic feet...i'm not sure if it will make a difference or not..but i wasn't going to add compost! when i put in my raised beds, i ordered something called planter's mix. i think it was a 70% topsoil 30% compost mix...and i STILL had to add TONS and TONS of compost and manure to get that soil fertile enough to grow good plants. the soil was horribly hydrophobic too! anyway..in horticulture class..my professor warned everyone against "topsoil." he said it has no organic matter and will not support plants on it's own. in my soil class...we learned that silt makes great soil! so edie...just start adding compost and you'll be happy with your soil in no time!

we have bought home with the master and the LA/kitchen/breakfast facing north (we are in DFW TX area) the patio had a 10 ft deep porch overhang so the light is subdued at all times of the day--not really any direct sun coming in my husband want to paint all walls/ceiling same color--does not feel comfortable having different colors in areas that are visible from the main LA or hall (We do have that going on in current house but he is so used to it that he does not see it anymore--know what I mean)... the owners of the house painted most trim --except for master bath and kitchen which have med dark oak stain woodwork...the kitchen cabs do not go to ceiling which is 12 or more ft high--so there is painted trim above them and adjacent on door/way into pantry and other doorways... the trim color is medium beige with pinkish tint--think it is called "Covered Wagon" from paint cans left in garage...the walls are a tan w/yellow tint or some creamy white with tan/yellow--don't have a name on the can just a color code--one bedroom was painted a bright yellow with same pink-tone tan trim and the master/bath walls were painted sort of light green w/yellow maybe--hard to say ... when we were looking at the house prior to putting down contract--we through most walls were light tan and the trim was darker tan w/sort of olive tint--we have white trim and wood trim lighter than theirs now--but we normally saw the house later in the day for not that long a time period 2-3 times before closing... once their furniture was out and we were in house at different times of the day--the colors just changed dramatically... now trying to find a tan color w/o the yellow tint to tone down the pink in the painted trim... too expensive to repaint all house and lighten trim -- our painter said would probably take three coats to go to white-- I had a designer come out to do color consult--not someone I had a personal recommendation for--just took chance off recommendation on local posting site I visit and her web page. There is no BM color consultants in this area at all (which included Dallas and FTW which I though really strange)... her SW color deck color picks were basically too dark (I got 3 and painted samples) and many of her suggested colors had a grey tint--that was her color preference I think--and would have sucked the light out of the rooms I think... so that was money wasted-- right now I think we are going with KM color called Arizona Heat--knocked down to 75%--made up in SW paint which our painter uses but picked up some 2 oz samples from the BM store that I am going to paint in some different rooms....we kept most samples in the LA/breakfast/kitchen because that is where we will do most of our living time--if that makes sense would like to find stronger color for the dining room and for master bed but don't have the linens for that room yet... never had this much trouble in our current home--but that has 8 ft ceiling, smaller rooms, and more cross light--which makes a BIG difference I just don't want to get something too dark (especially because ceilings will be painted and not white) and get the SAD effect going... the people who lived here got a divorce which prompted their selling--so I am wondering if the paint colors contributed to disharmony... sorry to hijack the thread

Now that I see pic, I realize I was picturing your wood edge differently. Don't let dh read this, but I actually think they are nice. I just think the pure plain white counter is a little jarring against that. If you did the one you described that had some "movement" in it, I'd bet it would look so much nicer. Anything that is not so stark white will help. I also imagine that they show everything as I have old pale peach ones now and they drive me nuts. Of course I want clean counters, but mid-cooking, it bothers me how I have to keep stopping to wipe, lol. Having a multi tone, even a very light one, will not make every crumb stand out from a mile away. I think I'd go with new formica on the tops if I did not like stone. Since you already have wood cabs and a wood floor, I don't think I'd go with a wood counter. If it is not too presumptuous, I think a new backsplash to go with the new counters would refresh the whole look. It need not be pricey either, just a little less plain. If you have access to a Habitat for Humanity Restore or similar, or try ebay, you can pick up tile very reasonably and then use your creativity to add some zing. HD & Lowes have some nice choices these days too. Btw- I love a nice all-white backsplash, just not the 4 x 4s laid upright with no accent pieces or liners. I adore tile and the options to make it special and unique. It really sets the tone for the kitchen due to nature of how one sees it right away from a distance. You can't be as creative with other elements to the same extent.

Better to have this mixed news that at least he's alive and well. But his walkabout continues with something less than concern for the feelings of his family. The guy decided to take an extreme step and leave with an untidy departure. From the family's perspective, the ongoing situation remains confusing and difficult. They can't sit around waiting for the phone to ring, it doesn't sound like he'll be calling. There was a cause, whether it's a mental health one or something else going on in his life, this was what he did. He's an adult runaway of sorts. People need to come to grips with the fact that "things" will never be as they were before he left. Maybe for good reasons, maybe not. What was the cause of his actions may never be fully known or understood. Everyone concerned needs to work through this terrible and unfortunate experience. and maybe counseling would be helpful. Best wishes and good luck to all.