Wow, this is a great day for interesting comments. Having so much fun reading them.

When my projects are finished and I'll ask the homeowners if I may take some pictures to show you.

Janis, one of my oldest and dearest friends lives in Canton. Sadly, she is not well. She has a rare disease which mimics Lou Gehrig's, but it is not. They have a summer house in Chatham, so on very rare occasions I get to see her. So sad. The spray is at Target.

I also would love for you to see my previous, antique home that was in a magazine, but it was in 2002 and I can't find anything on-line to share with you. Maybe I could take a picture of the pictures? I'll try that.

I'm making sauce today with meatballs and sausages (Perri) is my favorite sausage. We (Janis and I) are in store for a snowstorm tonight into tomorrow and a very cold week.

creesy, i've been there before....i was just trying to find a good map to show all our other ollds, since "they ain't from around these parts".... ;)
and good to know you throw a mean net....i've never done that before. and I LOVE shrimp!

I did read about the hood of our olld houzz though. There are only 15 houses I think....they originally were going to build 50, but decided to do a fewer amount instead. Which is better to me. Least amount of neighbors the better. speaking of neighbors....i think we have a new one moving in this week. the house next to us as been vacant and somewhat revamped since i've been there. J met him yesterday. He was not impressed. I'm scared!

Sprayway glass cleaner is very good. I had read of it before this & bought some & placed in garage...but, as a full-fledged senior, forgot to use the stuff. I used it the other day, after seeing recommendation here, to clean the ovens. You know where the self-cleaning feature does not reach. Sprayway + 000 steel wool + elbow grease. Wonderful stuff for many chores around house.

Just saw a golf course named "Cougar Point"....hahahaha! I don't think that's where the cougars go....or maybe they do, but I would imagine the pick would not be young enough... I hate golf. Not a fan. Have lived on a golf course, not my cup o tea.

i think it was ez...or someone earlier that said something about the spanish moss on the trees around the south. They are gorgeous to me as well and you will see them when you get into the olld houzz area. that will be the limo drive from the airport on your way to the olld houzz.

you will feel like you are going back in time on your way there. its very strange. you will see shacks and people sitting out in front of the shacks hanging out. it's very odd, but cool all at the same time.

See if this will work MP:
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=kiawah+island&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x88fdd48d27b09c55:0x6750bd4113a42b72,Kiawah+Island,+SC&gl=us&sa=X&ei=KbD9UNnmEoLk9ASK3ICwAg&ved=0CK8BELYD

in relation to charleston...they say about 30 minute drive from kiawah

Oh yes! The Spanish moss! Love it, but most of it is full of redbugs. Or as we refer to them, chiggers. They will eat you alive!

oh creesy, i keep forgetting. what about the wall in the bathroom. what have you decided? to do the sunburst collection or something totally different. I was going to make you one mirror for your collage, but if you are not doing it anymore, i will not.

I need to post a photo of that wall and get everyone's opinion. The more I look and think about it, the more I think I'm cluttering up the wall in there and just need to do one large picture. Thank you SO much for thinking of me with the mirror MP! You're just too sweet!

ez, that makes absolutely no sense. Why dry clean only a shower curtain?? I wouldn't buy it. It's bound to get wet and they won't take it back when it's ruined.

ez, that looks like a Waverly print that I love! But creeser is right, it's bound to get wet. Does it say dry clean ONLY??? There's a difference. I read if it says dry clean, and not dry clean only, then it's probably safe to wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle. But dry clean ONLY means just that. My shower curtains say dry clean but I have successfully washed them many times.

creeser, post the pic! I'd love to see it.

Just finished painting wall #2 in guest bedroom #1. Setting a goal of painting one wall a day is much more reasonable. I'm still pooped but I have energy left to do other cleaning.

As far as the Sprayway goes, I'm sorely tempted to spray the window and tie a rag to Rocky's nose.

well my eyeballs feel like they are about to fall out of my head! I think I'm going to take a raincheck on any more painting for tonight myself. Wanted to finish it tonight, but I think I need a day to recover from yesterday's frenzied renovation to the midget bedroom.
and I know this is gross, but I was sooo tired last night, that I couldn't even muster up enough energy to take a shower, so i slept on the couch with dog and cat! :o

@ bobbi: did I miss something earlier? What were U saying about driving a car? You don't like to drive? I thought you drove on freeways to work everyday before U retired.

j22, no I don't drive at all anymore. I was in a pretty good car accident, I can't even remember when! But since then I just can't drive. I used to make the commute to Silicon Valley in the 80's but that was then. I can force myself to drive in an emergency (like a Starbucks run!) but it isn't pleasant and I get a massive headache when I return from holding my breath the whole time. Stupid, huh?

janishill, what a great way to parlay your love of animals into a business. We have a dependable college student who pet sits/house sits for us, but sadly she is moving to AZ. Did you enjoy living in Belize?

bobbi, it is not stupid! Forcing yourself to drive will help. Do babysteps to get your confidence back.

@ bobbi. Not stupid at all. I'd talk with a psychologist. I do not think this is an usual problem...they have techniques that might help.

Since DH retired, he does most of driving and my driving skills R not as good as they once were. I like being driven around everywhere, but driving is a skill and if I don't use it, I'll lose it.

MP, cool!

j22, I've actually seen two psychologists, and had the same reaction from both - they yawned. And then they told me I was a strong person and I would be fine. Many, many moons ago.....

maybe take babysteps like creesy said. just drive to someplace really close every other day to start. Then when you start getting used to that, go somewhere a little further... ?

it is cool, eh? one of my bay area friends/ex-neighbor posted that! had to share it with you!

Morning all, just a very quick visit this morning, have so much to do today.......... like #1 HOUSEWORK!!!

Bobbi, trust me, see a psychologist before you attempt to drive. DO NOT try to force yourself, it doesn't work and can only make you worse. Remember I speak from experience here. It is a pity really you didn't get counselling after the accident, the longer you leave things the worse they can get. Sadly too, I am finding that strong people seem to have a harder time with things and you are a strong person. I think a lot is to do with the fact that people don't stop to think that strong people can have problems.

J22 the use it or lose it definitely applies and I think it gets worse as we get older.

Oh, I think I have scored a BIG win. GDD has been chewing BH's ear and HE now wants to get painters in!!!! Dare I hope. Have to try to get a confession out of him before GDD leaves next week and then he is toast.

Gotta go, TTYS.

Oh roo! Painters! OMG.....I can only imagine......I'm SO jealous! My fingers are crossed for you!

Ooops Bobbi, we crossed. Don't give up on the psychologists, more and more has been learned in recent years about these sort of problems - basically they are now being considered mental illness, but at least it has given it the recognition it desperately needed and deserves. Please try again and take something heavy with you to hit them with if they try that stunt again.

Ok, roo, will do!

P-L-E-A-S-E!!!

take a water gun bob.....wakes them up, but nobody gets hurt!
i brought one to my grandmother one time so that if the nurses fell asleep she could squirt them! ;)

@ bob You received poor treatment. Similar to the treatment of Roo's Miss 6. Not unusual. As a nurse, I hear so much crap about health-care professions/professionals.
Maybe the 3erd psychologist will be a charm, but maybe not. Sometimes the psychologists list the areas where they have special skills or interests...look for interest in phobias, anxiety or fears? or perhaps a book from library? Some psychologists recommend books or movies to their patients, to help them. Amazon lists these books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=phobia+or+fear

We were looking for a psychologist for a family member who has a drinking problem....many do not list alcoholism..we looked for one that listed alcoholism as an area of interest.


Maybe U R living and functioning fine with this "problem" and U do not need any help at all. Everyone is different.

Water gun! Great idea. There was this discussion in the 80's about arming every driver with suction cup dart guns, where the darts would not be removable, and then when a driver pulls a bone head move you would shoot your dart at their car. The car with the most darts was to be avoided at all costs!

night guys.......mornin roo
tl

night mp, sleep tight.

I'll tell you guys a funny story. It's funny now, but it was anything but then. I had to fly for business to a convention in Texas in the middle of winter. Of course my company picked the cheapest flight possible, so we actually had to fly to Salt Lake City, then to LA, then to Texas. Go figure. Anyway, they were having a near blizzard in Salt Lake and the plane was a 16-seater. All my co-workers were whooping it up and happy and excited, and I was sitting in my office shaking like a crazy person. I ended up in my bosses office crying and blubbering, hysterical, nose running. He let me off the hook but insisted I get counseling. That was my first experience with the psychologist! I am a transportation nightmare, but I do like BART and also taking buses. When I hit Lotto I will hire a chauffer and a full time cook.

ez, go to homedepot.com. They have EVERYTHING you could possibly need, including furniture! Who knew?

Since you’ve been talking about sisal carpets, and I think a few of you mentioned Berber, I have a cleaning question. I have very light Berber carpet in the bedrooms. The other day I wore a pair of sneakers I’d worn during the hurricane, and I realized after-the-fact, had dried out dirt in the shoe treads. No matter how I tried to pick it up, it turned to dust & went right into the twists of the carpet, and I couldn’t vacuum or scrub it out. I find Berber frustratingly hard to clean, even if you try immediately. Help!!

@Janishill – Is Libby a Shiba Inu? I would like to play with animals too, now that I’m retired .. but the requirements to do wildlife rescue are too much, and there’s no one nearby with whom I could “apprentice”. My thrill for last year was being able to pet the baby raccoons, when they came to eat.

@Judy – Are you sending your snowstorm north to me next?! There were a few flurries mid-afternoon, but they warned us about having to shovel by the end of the week.

Astraea, does you vacuum have a beater bar? The kind that vibrates the carpet threads, pulling the dirt into the vacuum?

Bobbi
My 60 inch ss sink is from a demolition sale. Our local historic preservation group runs the sales so the best part is my money is all going for a good cause. That sale was 3 houses and 1 apt building which were being razed for a church hall. The quarter sawn oak flooring came from one which had been rented for many years while the kitchen sink came from the nuns' residence. I also got a floor mounted cast iron janitor's sink which eventually I'm going to put in my own basement to replace my deteriorating utility sinks. I also pulled some 1 1/2 x 3/8 oak flooring for my stash and some oak trim, baseboards and a couple of door jambs.

I spent a grand total of $80 for the materials and then another $200 or so in labor to help transport everything and denail the flooring. All told, I figure I have about $300 invested and buying those items new would be at least $3,000. Elkay makes that model of sink and the cheapest price I've seen is $1500 and the janitor's sink is about $600.

Yes it does, but I don't think the non-electric beater on the central vacuum has as much umph, as a regular vacuum. Ugh .. you reminded me, I do have a regular vacuum I could haul upstairs for this .. never got rid of it, but it's too heavy to use on a regular basis.

Dang, Linda, that's awesome! You know, I live in a cow town (really, tons of tons of cows) and the farmers use old claw-footed tubs for feed. Aghhhh!!! So frustrating to see farm after farm with these beautiful tubs rotting in the fields. There are also many abandoned barns, if these guys only knew they were sitting on a gold mine of weathered boards!

Astraea, do you have a shop vac? They REALLY suck!

No, sorry .. not one of them.

bobbi, it is a control thing. I don't fly, not because I think the plane will fall out of the sky, but because I want to be able to come down when I want to; I want to drive, not because I think I am a better driver than you but because I want to put my foot on the brake when I want to; I just want to be in control and when you lose that feeling it is not good. I am not sure a psychologist is the answer. Maybe an anti-anxiety med, low dose, like ZoLoft. And should someone try to shoot you down, call 911 for them and then leave the scene.:

Eztia, If you have a Target nearby take a look at their shower curtains. I have been quite impressed with their selection of fabrics and liners.
Linda, I love the idea of your salvaged treasure hunt and re-purposing discarded/unwanted items is green as well.
Astraea, pick up a Little Green Steam Machine...great for spot cleaning. With three dogs at my house it is invaluable!

Shiba Unu? There is this most wonderful young boy who works at the market. He could hardly function from anxiety. He was paired with a S U, trained for the anxious, and he can now go to work. The dog is White! Pure white! Astraea, I am sure you know they are Japanese dogs. So elegant with those tails.

Bobbi, you are not alone! I don't drive highway anymore and it's extremely frustrating! I have to have my dad pick my husband up every time he comes home. I've been planning on calling someone but I have other issues I'm trying to take care of first. Just know you are not alone and it has nothing to do with how strong or not strong you are. It just plain sucks.

MM...I loved Belize. Andrew hated it. I played with all the neighborhood kids. Most of the parents can't read, so I would sit on a little bridge and read to them. Then I would ask questions and they could pick a prize out of a bag if they answered correctly. It was grand fun for them all.

astraea...good guess, but the answer is no. She is a Chinook. I have been in rescue for close to 30 years, so it was a natural. It's great when you get paid to do what you love.
I used to live on 60+ acres. I had a huge dog run and what we called the puppy pen. I volunteered for an organization that rescued all manner of critters, but mostly dogs and cats. I specialized in severely abused dogs; those that mistrust humans.
Wildlife rescue to difficult and there is a lot of red tape (for good reason) to get into it. Who knows though? If you make contacts now a door could open up.

Bobbi...so long as you can ride in a car you are OK. Don't let anyone tell you differently. We all have fears, just some are more obvious than others.

Nice new curtain track all installed by a lovely guy and I got my old linings back up again before the sun comes round and blasts the loungeroom. Luckily he arrived 3 hours earlier than he thought.

I absolutely hate freeways here, mainly because when I had to visit my mother I had to use the worst freeway in Sydney with idiot hoon drivers. I could use a freeway to dd's house that would maybe save me 10 mins but I'm happy to toddle up the back way. The wierd thing I find is that a road near me that has a 90km speed limit, I find myself constantly doing 100 on and have to keep slowing down, where on the freeway where I can do 110, I start to freeze up at 80. That does not compute!!!! I totally avoid going across Sydney anymore, mainly because the roads are so congested now and also they keep changing things and unless you do regular trips you could end up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean before you realise. People are so impatient these days although fortunately we don't resort to horn blowing as happens over there. I think it is one of the things Americans notice first when they come here. Most of our expressways are toll roads now and they have all gone cashless and we have to have E-tags. I refuse to have one and that lets me out of everything very nicely.

Astraea, I'm surprised at your berber, normally it is very easy to clean as the thickness of it stops things getting down into it. Did you try just using the end of your vacuum hose, with my old carpet where it was wearing that was the only way I could get bits of fluff off at times, otherwise maybe your vacuum suction just isn't strong enough, which would be a worry as it means over time the carpet it will have it's own eco system down under.

Judy, I wonder if it is an age thing or are we just control freaks - you said the other day about how you had to leave a party early as after a certain time you have just had enough and I can really relate to that. Maybe I have had too long being able to please myself what I do and when I do it. I really have no routine in my life unless I decide to make it so. I hate driving with other people, especially when they don't drive as I do, in fact I drive people mad stabbing the imaginery brake on my side of the car. I do take heart though in the fact many of my friends are more than happy to drive with me because they can relax and feel very confident and safe. I will only drive manual cars, I feel so much more in control with gears but they are so second nature to me now that my friends are in absolute awe that I can drive, constantly checking mirrors and thoroughly aware of everything around me, be part of a conversation and change gears all without missing a beat.

Just had time to check out those photos you posted mp - I am so in love with the second one. I have seen a few similar photos and decided a large collage like that is just what I want for my loungeroom and then you post that. It is perfect. Now you are gonna have to win that house so I can get my photos.!!!!! I will have to scour our beaches but that sort of grass isn't what normally grows here.

roo, nothing like a stick transmission. That is how I learned to drive and I frequently buy them if it is a turbo. Downshifting on slippery roads gives the best control. Yes, to the party thing. I love my friends and I love to get together, but when I am done I am DONE! I mean how much chit chat can you do? I have my drink or two and that's all for me. Hangover days are gone. There is nothing like coming home to my house, my bed, my jammies and my lovey, dovey cat. We lock the door behind us and it is just an ahhhhhh moment. I am most happy at home.

trazz, addressing the issues when you can handle them is what is important. Do what you can when you can.

Good morning ladies! Anyone started 1/22? I'll look and if not, I'll start.

Judy - I read that Shiba Inus are the smallest of 6 original spitz breeds from Japan; I don’t think of them as “small”. I’ve read that talk therapy combined with medication when necessary, is best. Too many doctors put patients on medication, and leave them on it forever, without checking whether it helps or they could cut back.

Janis – I love a program on the “Animal Planet” channel called, “Too Cute”. They follow 3 situations where a dog or cat has just had a litter, and you watch them grow up, until they’re old enough to go to “forever homes”. They recently had Chinooks .. which I’d never heard of before!

I was working at a nuclear power plant, about 35 miles north of NYC, when the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists in 9/11 2001. I think that all public transportation was shut down in NYC, as were all the bridges & tunnels connecting the boroughs, and to New Jersey. I was lucky working outside NYC, so I could cross a more northern bridge to go home. Since then, I've avoided mass transit, and only went on a bus trip for the first time last year, because of that "control" issue!