I live in the south. In NC, USA. My favorite winter activity is bundling up with warm clothes and a blanket and coffee while I sit on the porch in the am. Sometimes if the wind isn't too chill, on the deck at night to look at the winter stars and the moon. LOL, it gets sooo cold I can't see the stars if I breathe because of the breath fog in the cold air. So I hold my breath: the stars are literally breathtaking!

We lost electricity for 6 days over Christmas. No power, no internet, and in the rural area, no power means no water from the well, either. Neither did we have propane. Got really annoyed at radio stations saying to tune into their websites for updates. hello!!! Wore multiple layers. Closed up some of our rooms, moved mattress into the living room; had some methyl hydrate for boiling water for tea/coffee, heating soup. Filled jugs w/water from local store - kind owner let us do it for free. After 3 days & down to 3c/ 37f in the house & it being apparent we weren't going to get power back on anytime soon, we were able to buy a generator - let there be light! Had to buy gas daily for the generator but at least we could use our portable heaters. Got the house up to 14c/57f. by the time the power came back on. One memorable Christmas!

After 21 years of living in the same house, I have just moved into a townhouse. The walls and carpets are all cream throughout the entire house.This year I just want to make it feel like home. I have been here for three weeks and somehow still feel like I am staying in a nice hotel. My first project will be updating a main floor powder room. I will wallpaper a damask print on the walls and install a new vanity with a marble or quartz countertop. I will finish it off with a mirror that makes a statement. The room is small, so this should be a manageable project.

To get a little crazy - that is affordable housing and high-performance! We're shooting for $60/SF in the Midwest for the main structure - the arms, decks/ pool etc are on top of that. One of the reasons I want to build it is to document the cost and process so it can be sold as a "DIY". Location makes a big difference in cost not only relative to cost of living but also accessing the material and having people know what to do with them. Sound proof is a tall order especially with low frequencies. There are people that live in flight paths that have completely acoustically broken rooms to sleep in - $$$. Usually suspended and supported with dampened springs. I have been known to be awakened by the sound of my cat walking across the carpet at 2AM. Sure don't appreciate the "riding clubs" (Harley's) that go by my house at 8AM on Sundays. New seats - when I see it I'll believe it - what gets me is I could make improvements to their current "design" in about ten minutes that would not cost much of anything - how about starting by not having a bump at the back of my head that makes it impossible to sit up right? Take that bump, split it in the middle put it on hinges so I can nestle my head between them and have it support my head while I sleep in a natural position? For starters. Makes me tired just thinking about it. Sure would be nice to have clean water to swim in - I live in Iowa where industrial agriculture and politics are more important than clean water. The mindset is embarrassing. Garden when you can - we're in the middle of a cold spell here - it does keep things from bolting though.