Brown recluse bites are VERY SERIOUS and need immediate attention. I didn't even know I was bitten until my shoulder was itchy. I touched it and I had a swollen place bigger than a half dollar and about 1/2 inch high. I had gone inside a seldom used garage and was checking a clients seldom used car and I guess thats when I was bitten. I worked as a case manager for senior citizens. As soon as I got home, I checked it and went straight to the ER 25 miles away, received antibiotics and benadryl. By the time I got to ER the site definitely showed the typical "bullseye" crater. I was fine by Monday, no ill effects. But I have seen pictures of the havoc it can make. Especially in children. Please, please, do not wait for medical attention. If caught early, there are very little side effects, but a few hours waiting can make a terrible difference. If you have spiders, acquaint yourself on what they are and what they look like. Recluses hide. They want to be by themselves. If you have dark places that don't get used much, storage places, attics, even storage boxes. They run from the light. I live in central Illinois and they are here too. Be watchful please.

Good question and a couple explanations. 1) Our patio is fairly large - 24 x 26 and I built it with a crown and a grade away from the house. Accordingly, the with the pier heights all level, the clearance from the pavers to the top of the piers differs at all 4 corners. Also, I capped the concrete piers with 1.5" treated lumber, then 3/4" PVC. That gives me the base proportion I wanted and it's watertight. 2) We get lots of snow and rain here. I did not want the support columns in contact with moisture for extended time, thus the height. I know it's overbuilt but that's what I wanted to do. If you pour your piers level with the patio, and create a grade with the patio, your column heights will need to vary for the pergola top to be level. That will work fine. In order to build one with interlocking pieces, as ours is, it is critical that the "puzzle parts" fit well so being level is necessary. Hope that helps.

"He said they'd turned the man in to the police because he was canvassing the entire part of town, and had no license or permit. So....was he canvassing for thievery? Possibly." very possibly. I used to do the licensing in a nearby town. those going door to door were considered 'peddlers' and needed licensed also. for them that involved a police background check - fingerprinting and they had to carry a photo ID badge. That I made for them. Surprise - one day when I went home for lunch - to find one at my neighbors painting house numbers on the curb. Imagine his surprise that I didn't believe he had a license... lol! If he did I'd recognize him - and he would have recognized me. I called the city PD to come check him out/run him off. our city was serious about keeping strangers/unknowns out of the neighborhoods-they encouraged people to report anyone suspicious in the area, including anyone going door to door who could not produce the photo ID card. privacy: at this point, my bedroom window faces my tv/computer room window... my front door faces my back door - lol! living in the country on over 2 acres, I don't worry a lot about who can see in. I usually sleep with a section of my bedroom curtains pulled back. I'd move into the new place with no window coverings except the bedroom - those windows I'd want covered while sleeping. my boy used to be cabled out front close to my window so no one could get near it w/o me knowing. temporarily he is penned in the back while work is being done. I'm sure i'll end up with something on every window but it's not a priority right off. It will be by June - to block the sun/heat tho. outside - I don't think too much about being seen when I'm on the land - there aren't that many people around me yet - and about half of those in close view are gone during the day. but I will be having new people to the west of me - I'll be planting numerous trees on that side very soon. probably 4 fast growing evergreens! it's more that I just don't want to see them than concern that they see me. The number of homes close to me (w/in 5-15 acres) has tripled in the past 12 yrs! on the back and west side I'll have to put up some sun blocking coverings for summer time. In the summer I'm closed up pretty much (from the sun/heat). Late Oct thru late May I like things pretty open- except on the very windy days when dirt is blowing everywhere.

So I'm a year late in commenting but SO happy I got to see this amazing kitchen, thanks to the "best reveals" thread. I followed this with interest and worried a little, you seemed so ambitious in including a gazillion good ideas and I wasn't sure it would lead to a cohesive, attractive result. It is a stunning kitchen, full of beauty and functionality but it is more than that, you've infused it with depth and soul. Congratulations!