Attention Future Architects and DIY Junkies!

Google has a free program called Google Sketchup that allows you to model objects in three dimensions. From their website:

"SketchUp is a simple but powerful tool for quickly and easily creating, viewing and modifying your 3D ideas.

Click on a shape and push or pull it to create your desired 3D geometry.

Experiment with color and texture directly on your model.

Real-time shadow casting lets you see exactly where the sun falls as you model.

Select from thousands of pre-drawn components to save time drawing."

Sweet, huh? Particularly the shadow casting. I don't know how that could be helpful, unless you want to know if the new gazebo will shade the rose garden for too much to the day, but it's totally cool that it can be done.

I haven't tried it myself since the Mac version is "coming soon," but I heard lots of great things, so you can be sure we'll have a go as soon as we can. If anyone has a chance to give it a try, let me know how it works!