Google Maps has revamped their driving directions and has added walking directions (Beta).  The following screen shots will show how this valuable tool is used by me to map out the houses I will be showing my clients. For instance, this map is of the houses I am showing this evening.  You will note the total driving time is shown of 2 hours and 58 minutes and 128 miles travelled.  Google Maps used to show how many minutes and miles between houses; something I hope they will be bringing back. The walking time and directions is under Beta but it is interesting that the walking time given is 1 day and 17 hours.  I am guessing this means that if I walked the 128 miles it would take me 41 total hours or 3.12195 miles per hour.  This will not be of much use to me since I drive to the mailbox ... 08/04/2008

Looking for an interestingly unique mud room design?  While many upscale homes have a mud room that looks classy, very few of them have the practicality or the size of this design. A Lawrence couple built a working 20 acre farm with a Federal Farm number.  They needed a practical mud room and ended up building the largest "mud room" I have ever seen!  The 28' x 40' mud room was built with a double 2 x 4 stud configuration to allow for double thickness of insulation.  It is rustic in its appearance and yet has the washer, dryer, plumbed for air compressor, heating unit, hidden air conditioner unit, ceiling fan, painted floor, various shop equipment, tools, and workbenches.  The photos help to show how the multi-purpose mud room serves as a weight room/exercise room/mini-museum/shop/utili... 08/02/2008