Animals can be so strange....you may put all your time and effort into building just the right box, selecting a 'perfect' site, and then....nothing. Or the opposite may happen, and it will seem as if they were sitting around WAITING for you to get their new home up and going for them. I think it's different for everybody, but you will have to be PATIENT. Years ago we got a booklet from the DNR that had blueprints and general info for houses that were specific for each species. We looked it over and chose to make wood duck boxes, thinking they would have a place to nest by our pond. What we learned, in fact, was that many species simply don't care if a box is not "designed" for them...if they can get their bodies through the hole, there's nobody already at home (depending on the animal this may not matter either) and the place seems safe enough, it's a done deal. Not only will screech owls use a duck box as a day haven, they will indeed nest and rear young in them. There is a slough I frequent that has three duck boxes on it, and during one spring I discovered one particular box was home to a nest of screechies. I think the slough was dry that year, but usually this box is surrounded by about 2 1/2 feet of water...a rough first flight for any chick. I can't recall how many chicks were in that nest...I will have to try to dig out the animal album and find the photos. But they will use a duck box. When we first hung out duck boxes here at our place, I was getting frustrated waiting. It was something like three years before we finally found a nest, and then all three boxes had action!! It's worth the wait, so hang in there. But I'm still waiting for bats to use their house....I don't think they need any extra places with all the shagbark hickories. But the winner in my Crazy Nester category goes to the bluebirds at my dad's place. For the past three years, there has been a pair of bluebirds nesting in his martin house. Not a thing to be seen of any martins, but these blues are shoulder to shoulder with house sparrows and to this day I don't yet understand how they are pulling this off.

Growing up, my family holidays were usually very small gatherings as both of my parents were relocated to an area that was 6 and 8 hrs away from their families. Thanksgiving and Christmas we typically spent at home, just the five of us, unless we invited friends with no where to go. Easter, we'd take turns traveling to my paternal and maternal grandparents, where we would get to see my extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. I loved that growing up and always wished that we had the huge family gatherings I'd hear my friends talking about all the time. Now that I'm married, we live 3500 miles away from dh's large extended family (one of five kids, plus his aunts, uncles, cousins mostly live in that same general area). We live 20 minutes from my parents, 45 minutes from my brother and his family. My sister and her family, ironically, now live where all my paternal relatives live, 6 hours away. They used to come every other year for Christmas, but now they stay home. Sometimes they come for Thanksgiving. So my family holidays are still rather small - now that my kids are older and in school, we never fly out to visit dh's family for the holidays. So, it's just my family of six, my parents, and if my brother is not going to his inlaws, his family of four, and sometimes my nieces' boyfriends. This year, it's just my parents, not my brother. We invited a few friends, in case they didn't have plans, but they decided to travel. With my kids' busy schedules, we rarely have a weekend of downtime it seems. I'm somewhat introverted, or at least, I'm the type who appreciates some down time, curled up on my couch, reading a book. Every year, I secretly wish we could just stay home on Christmas, stay in our pjs all day if we want, and not entertain or be entertained. Just dh, me and my kids. Though I get along well with all of my family members, sometimes I just want to relax. Alone. Not have to make sure my house is completely clean and organized. Not have to worry about cooking all kinds of impressive dishes, and then all the time afterward washing crystal and silver, etc. But then I remember, my parents are getting older, my father is 80. One day they won't be here and I would regret having that selfish downtime. So instead, we entertain here or go to my parents for every single holiday. Every year, my parents come for dinner on Christmas Eve. It's tradition. We have homemade ravioli, my father then leaves for midnight Mass at the cathedral where he is a deacon, and my mother stays and goes to Mass with us then heads home. The next day, we go to my parents mid-afternoon. My mother, every year, says, "We don't have to come for Christmas Eve. I know how busy you are." But then I think, my mom will be sitting home alone on Christmas Eve! I know she actually probably wouldn't mind, but I know that it does mean a lot to my father - the tradition. He enjoys it. So I extend the invitation every year. I know one day, all my kids will leave, and I just might be spending a holiday home alone with dh, and I'm sure at that point, I will miss the days of having a formal holiday gathering! But every year, I look forward to the day *after* Thanksgiving and Christmas, not to shop, but to relax!

I love Wendy's selection! It goes well with the schoolhouse fixture! I really like mixing and matching - so I wouldn't go with another schoolhouse fixture and I wouldn't go with a flush mount. Chandeliers are meant to set the ambiance for dining, having them hang lower sets this. I know you said not super trendy- but I think these lights would look great with the schoolhouse! (But again, love Wendy's selection of leaning towards more vintage than modern!!) Also- is everything in your kitchen finished in nickel? Is this light separated a bit that you could do a different finish?

Any suggestions welcome for paint color ideas for color for my family room walls. The orange fireplace is throwing me off! Thank you!