This is tons of fun...

Cross-Vision is an online program (it's FREE) that lets you see what various tile floors would look like -- before you go to pick out your tile in the stores.

Check it out...

Our property had already been surveyed (several times) by the previous owners.

This is a fairly tricky lot to build on -- what with all the creeks and hills and rocks and required septic fields and such.

Turns out... of the 5 acres we own, there is only one tiny little spot where the home can actually go. The rest will be hilly trails and a forest of thick trees lining the creeks.

So, to ease our mind, and clarify for all involved (including the bank, the County, and ourselves), we asked the surveyor to come back out and re-survey it again for us.

Got an e-mail the other day from Michael M.

He's looking for tips & advice regarding staggered shake shingle vinyl siding.

Anyone have experience with this?...

As I mentioned earlier, we recently picked out the 7 exterior doors we will be installing in our new log home.

Now I'll share the details of the doors we picked out, in case anyone's interested.

Well here's something I just learned...

Reasons to buy paint-grade exterior doors versus stain-grade exterior doors.

There are actually lots of different ways that you can make your own rustic photo frame... using twigs.

Here are a few examples, to give you some ideas...

Those are questions I've asked myself over and over -- practically every time I see the commercial for DirectBuy on TV.

Jim says we should try it. I'm more hesitant.

I know they offer a "free visitor's pass" to familiarize you with their club. But I figure it's more of a ploy to try & sell you a membership on the spot -- and their membership fee is probably a few hundred dollars or something.

So I've been asking around...
Even though there's a DirectBuy club near me, most people I've asked haven't really considered visiting. Only one contractor friend of ours knew much about it. He said, "It's not worth it. I wouldn't do it." He knows a handful of people who have joined, and he made it sound like they didn't get too many "great" deals. He said you can find better deals on your own -- if you look.

But I recently heard from a reputable source a whole 'nother take on DirectBuy. This one is a bit more controversial.

I found it quite interesting...