GreenieBeanie, I tried the .Mac service and was actually very disappointed in it - but that is a completely personal observation here. On June 18th I instead registered the domain name http://www.myblogpix.com (aptly named) and use it for hosting all my blog pix on my blogs (I maintain three blogs at present). For $11.95 a month I have 2 Gig's of storage, 25 Gigs a month in transfer allocated, and can have up to 25 email addresses that will hold 2 Gigs each. It works for me. I love iPhoto too BTW. It has been my primary means of keeping my photos organized on my Mac. Since I moved to Louisiana on March 15th of this year I've taken over 2,200 photos! Yes, that's a lot, but I figure a digital camera is such a wonderful thing and years from now the photos will still be in pristine condition - no fading, cracking or crumbling. And of course - I make regular backups to DVD to insure I never have to worry about losing my precious photo collection. A few days ago I started writing a Mac Software blog. I plan to add a brief review and link regularly to some kind of useful Mac application I run across. While some may be commercial (shareware) I am planning to try and cover only freeware applications as a rule of thumb. I'm finding my passion for gardening and my passion for computing work so well together it's as though that's how it all was meant to be from the get-go. I am Borg. You will be assimilated... Here is a link that might be useful: My New Mac Software Blog

Val Interesting ? - I didn't read any responses yet I found this forum late 2005 after we had a flood in our home. First finding the kitchen forum. I had so much work to do in a very short period of time. Basically an unplanned entire home renovation. The biggest being a kitchen gut & master bath gut. I could not have come to a more welcoming place. I was a maniac poster at times (might cringe if I were able to find my posts) - I had to move us out of this home, find a rental, movers to move contents out, rid of junk/flood ruined things, deal w/the insurance co., GC's, kitchen design, lead abatement, etc,etc, etc & 2 parents who were quite ill. I owe so much of how my home turned out to the talented people on GW - they helped with paint choices in each & every room, wallpaper, cabinet hardware, furnishing choices, rug choices, placement of furnishings, wood stain - You name it there was not a query that went unanswered. I felt overwhelmed to say the least. But GWers were always up to the task. I learned about hanging pics/mirrors which are typically to high, grouping artwork (still working on that one). Types of fabric/paints/carpets - Mind you I was much more concerned with the plumbing runs going through the joists in the LR and how that would be corrected. I think mostly I learned that I had capabilities and to trust myself & my own judgement. Along the way I gained much decorating confidence and became more engaged. I think previously my decorating sense was there, certainly not as educated or engaged. With confidence (much of it gained here) - I ventured out and started to do things I was interested in but afraid to really try - purchased a sewing machine & started some projects. I got an angle grinder & skill saw one Christmas & did my first tile project. I got so many ideas from looking through the eyes/homes of the GW group - still do. Where else can you go and get people(total strangers) willing to give their time and advice to help you? with anything? GW IS THE BEST - that's why I'm still here. Maybe we could have class of xyz reunions!

So very sorry to hear that your dear mom never saw the completion of your kitchen here on this earth but know that she is happily smiling down on you from heaven. I agree with Bee, your mom will wink at you from time to time. I lost my dearest friend, my mother, nine years ago. I miss her dearly but she still sends me a wink from time to time. Your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous. I love your home, it is so very charming. I lam so fond of a one story home especially as I get older. Our main home is two stories and more steps than I care for. Our other home is a one story that I love. Unfortunately hubby has to have garages and has two huge garages at our country home and there is no room for additional garage space in our other house. I will definitely return to this post over and over again for inspiration. I can't imagine a lovelier addition. Best of luck to you and your DH!!!

Nice home. You could add a weathervane to your roof without changing the roofline itself. [https://www.houzz.com/products/smithsonian-eagle-weathervane-polished-copper-prvw-vr~54912933?m_refid=PLA_HZ_54912933[(https://www.houzz.com/products/smithsonian-eagle-weathervane-polished-copper-prvw-vr~54912933?m_refid=PLA_HZ_54912933&device=c&nw=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3LGb9pr82gIVkFYNCh1dpQnjEAYYByABEgJmnfD_BwE) Wouldn't paint brick -- it would defeat the low maintenance purpose of brick. Anything that is painted will, inevitably, need to be repainted and can look really awful as it gets that way. You could add a forward facing gable centered over the front entry. Unless you make the roof steep, you could do this below the upstairs window. Keep the ridge of the gable no higher than the downstairs gable. Use this new roof to extend the existing porch forward several feet at the entry to visually make that part of the house the focus of the front of the house. You could use large wood posts with a natural wood finish to support the front of this gable and also change out the metal front porch posts for the same kind of posts. [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/suggestions-on-curb-appeal-garage-or-carport-dsvw-vd~896858[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/suggestions-on-curb-appeal-garage-or-carport-dsvw-vd~896858) http://arealive.co/rustic-front-porch/rustic-front-porch-front-porch-designs-front-porch-ideas-exteriors-porch-designs-front-porches-and-porch-rustic-front-porch-bench/ With this change you could change the style of your home to one that is more rustic. If you use formal round columns and/or add either rock or brick to the bottom of your posts, you could create an entirely different look for your home and redefine the style to be your own.