I really appreciate the effort people are putting into their suggestions. I have thought about this a fair bit since I started furnishing the office and saw how it was shaping up. Two of the guesses are right on: the art does need to be themed, and I will be looking at it quite a bit. The pictures are intended for one wall only; there is a large expanse of behind where my clients sit, that will be facing me every day and all day. At the risk of sounding off-putting, I'm pretty definite about what I like, and I'm willing to respect that. My post was an admittedly rather last-ditch effort to give the universe a chance to bring me just what I'm looking for--one never knows when that will happen, so I figured it couldn't hurt to throw out there. I would actually prefer 3 pictures over 4, but couldn't think of a subject that fit that number that I want to stare at that much. I really need some meaningful (to me) symbolism and beauty. Plus, the walls are a lovely (truly) shade of green, so that places some limitations. Honest, I'm not the most particular person in the world--really! :-D

jannie, I've been going over to my friend's home 3-4 mornings a week since mid-Jan. We have stayed with the Flylady zones as a way to keep us focused. The first time through the zones we only decluttered. Items could only go in a give away or throw away catagory. If something could be put away, we did. But if the item didn't have a home, we left it right where it was. I took the give away bags with me daily and dropped them at the thrift store on my way home. Our trash service only charges $1 per extra bag, so it's much easier to pay the few dollars extra than try and make a trip to the dump. They charge $35 per van load. The second month through the zones, we needed a lift, so we did 15 min. of cleaning. Just wiping walls, woodwork and baseboards. Amazing how just that little bit of time on one day really helped. Then we went back to decluttering again. Again, only throw away or give away, but since we had gotten to most closets, many items could be given a home. Even if the "home" is a laundry basket in the family room for toys, everything is finding a home. Now we are on the third round of zones. Again, still decluttering as we go, but now we are able to get her set up on some systems within the zones. Paperwork, laundry, more organizing in the kitchen cabinets. With Flylady's weekly home blessing time, we have focused on the floors. All of those other jobs are just too much for right now, but getting the floors vacuumed and the kitchen floor having a quick once over on a weekly basis really helps. The kids are on Spring break this week, so we haven't been working together while they are home. But, it's zone 4 which is the Master Bedroom, so I just send her some emails reminding her to keep an eye on the piles and at least give the master bathroom and good swipe. We plan on finishing up by the time school is out, so the next round of zones, I will try and help her set up zone cleaning which will work for her. And then our goal is to get the garage done, since it will be warm enough in May to haul stuff in and out of there. Just keep at it. The more stuff that leaves and the more the surfaces are cleared off or have thing away from them the easier it is to just grab a damp cloth and wipe while you are talking on the phone. Gloria

Hi! Thank you for your replies. I will definitely stay with the diagonal now. ngng: Your kitchen looks so lovely! I want wood cabinets in the next house. Mine were an ugly, grainy, weird oak so I painted them some years ago and don't have it in me to redo them again since we plan to move in a couple of years. remodelfla: My floor plan is not an open one. The kitchen/breakfast area is separate from the family room. However, I like way the bronze Fleur de lis picks up the bronze looking flecks in the granite. I thought about smaller squares of the granite used as an accent but wanted something a little different. It's so hard to only do a bit of updating! I start to get carried away as so much needs to be done, but I really don't want to invest anything (time or money) since we aren't staying here. But it's so outdated and yucky!! We rented this house before we bought it 15 years ago and only bought because I was having a baby when the owners put it up for sale and didn't want to face a move after only just moving in a year prior! I never really liked the layout of the kitchen or the floor plan of the house! And here I am 15 years later! Time flies! Thanks for your suggestions! It has helped me!

Sue, I'm not sure who you are asking, but I can give a few reasons why I like the Thanksgiving get together so much. For one thing, it isn't preceded by trying to figure out what presents to buy. I love buying things for my children & grandchildren "on-the-fly," all throughout the year. But birthdays and Christmas are more difficult for me simply because gifts are expected. So it requires a lot more thought and planning. Secondly, I love the decor of Thanksgiving. The cornucopia filled with gourds, dried ears of corn, Autumn leaves, etc. I get out my Pilgrim and turkey candles and my husband and I "argue" about lighting them up when the family arrives. It's an ongoing joke that has now become tradition. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, but I love the few hymns specifically associated with Thanksgiving. So I enjoy banging out "Come, ye thankful people, come" on my piano and singing along. Or maybe I should say, croaking along. I really like the fact that Thanksgiving isn't as commercialized as Christmas. There's no "Thanksgiving" music blaring in every store. Very few, if any, TV specials. There isn't a 3 month prelude of Thanksgiving stuff -- activities, music, media, etc. It's still a rather simple holiday. Also, I honestly do like the meal, even though ours is never as elaborate as many other forum members. And I really like the turkey scrapple I make with the carcass. My husband and I look forward to eating it for breakfast.