WOW!! THANK YEW, FOLKS!! You are an incredible lot!! Such thorough answers...I really appreciate it.

This will be a slow process, at least to begin with; I am trying to be extra patient. I have one thing I have to wait for, from the IRS, then will, first, look into refinancing as, just in the four years we've been here, we've built up good equity. We bought this place for $63,500. Houses, on our block, which are smaller, less land, and not in nearly as good of shape are now selling for over $100,000 and the prices just keep going up in this valley.(Refinancing is a must, anyway, as the loan we have right now does not allow a insurance clause in which the mortgage would be paid if something happens to one of us.)

Bobert, you are a doll. I will be PMing you. You, too, Barry!

Mets, thanks! Will answer your PM later today. Yes, we will have to live here while it is being done; just no alternative. I am thinking what we might do, in order to have more privacy among family members, is to put the screened porch on the existing back wall, then add the master bath and bedroom on the other side of that, so it would be more like an enclosed central patio type thingy. Does that make any sense? Then the existing wall wouldn't need to come down at all and the roof should be intact, too. As much as I love my fmaily, I like the idea of having a place apart, so to speak, where I can go for peace and quiet.

Thank you, once again, everyone! I will keep you posted and please know how much your help means.

luvyakat