You know, as much as it was yucky to have snow this early...it was actually really pretty against the backdrop of colored leaves. In a normal winter, I get lots of deep snow so I am used to the white stuff but I can't recall ever having snow this deep with leaves still on the trees. I did lose power overnight but it was restored this morning which is fairly quick since the more rural areas are usually last. I got close to TWO FEET of snow in my yard. It just kept coming all night. I measured it and it was 22 inches here. The weird thing is that the snowfall totals around my area varied significantly. Just off my mountain and into town they only got about 8-10 inches and other parts of NH depending on elevations, it ranged from 6" to 24". I knew I would get a lot because my place is a magnet for snow...LOL. I'll be posting pictures from the storm in an off-topic thread, if anyone is interested. Celeste

I adore that chandlier...if you give up on it, I'll buy it in a new york min!!! Gad it's fabulous (and worth a pretty penny my dear...it was worth it to have to buy a house with it LOL) I have restored many of these for my house (not as cool though). I'm guessing maybe the "spot" in an area that has flaked off and rusted? You need to take it down regardless so first, take it down. I'm guessing the wiring is likely original cloth, and that must be changed, no question MUST be changed, which isn't that hard, but I had mine done by a UL Certified electrician or you can do it on your own if you're comfy with electrics. I personally learned that if I'd done it I'd have done it wrong. There was wear on the ceramic portion of the sockets that would have been a hazard and some had to be replaced (easily found so don' worry about that. So, again, take it down. I hope you didn't rip out the sink because it's about to become your new best friend (or the bathtub). You don't need to worry about the wiring because it's going and personally I wouldn't remove it so that it leaves a clear path for the new wires to follow in (sometimes they're a bit complicated). Fill the basin with hot soapy water :) Now with a sponge, scrub, scrub scrubbbbbb (gently, but you do need to knock off any lose finish). Most of it will hold strong, but don't worry if it does not...it's easily replaced). If your jewels come off, take them off and clean them separately but keep you pic so you know where they go. If not you'll have some tedious work to do but you can do it by hand while they're on there. It will take a few tubs full of water and probably two or three times to be "done" then move on to the bad spot and any others that might have developed (this is after you've dried it by laying it uside down on a big towel for a day or so to drain out any water). Time to find the steel wool...and you'll want to lightly clean up that area with steal wool. It will get caught in nicks and crannies, and remove some of the finish nearby, try to minimalize this by being a careful scrubber, but it must be done. Now first you need to prime that spot with a primer applied by a small artists brush. I used a rustoleum product in a spray can, which I sprayed into a bowl, ran my brush through and then applied (because it's best for rust). Go just past your damaged areas with the primer, but again, keep it minimal. Dry dry dry. Don't worry about little bumps and things...when on the ceiling they'll disapear. While the paint is drying, head down to Michaels. You want to buy the little 2.99 acrylic paints they sell there. I'd buy a few different greens and golds both metalic and none. And any other color you might need given the design...white? I can't tell. You also want to pick up a can of clear matte laquer to finish it when you're done painting, and some very good (and small) artist brushes with fine hair (I like white china bristles myself). Get a few different types, thicker and thinner and very thin so you can apply the paint where it needs to go. Now the fun...if you found the right color without having to mix you're blessed by the gods. But likely you'll need to mix paint. I found a little metallic in the mix will give you a better match. Apply a tiny bit on your finished area to see if you have the color right, then wipe right off (it's removable with water at this point if you really screw up). You need to concentrate on color matching, not on the final finish sheen which you'll acheive when you're done painting, so go for it, get that puppy painted. It will not look good on the first swipe. You'll need to let colors dry between coats and I normally did three coats at least. Work on your lowest surface first and up to the high relief areas. Let dry for 48 hours. (This process probably took more than that) and now is the time you hope you got those crystals off. In the best case world, you'd first spray the newly painted area with several coats of the matte clear (get a non yellowing by the way). Then you need to blend the entire finiish with a coat or two of the matte finish by spraying the entire fixture (best case) or an isolated areawhich you'd acheive by taping off the arms and crystals and then spraying that entire base. Ohhh lossen the flower on the bottom before you spray or remove it and spray separately. It will take a couple coats. Pay attention to the directions on the spray can. I'd have two on hand myself for a fixture. Are you scared yet...it's not as hard as it sounds, just meticulous because you're spot refinishing instead of total repair. The original finish is baked on and you really can't (without spending a fortune) restore that...and not on your own. You'll see when finished and next to your eyes that you see dips where the damage was and your restoration is, but if you've blended the area you repaired well with the surrounding areas, it will disapear when hung. These are fixtures I've restored using the same technique: I've done several others, but those are quick pics to give you the idea. They were all done following their original color finish paths (some very damaged). Good luck, and again if you give up...call LOL (I adore that!!!)

I forgot to mention. I'm tiling up to the ceiling. I only have one area to tile up to the ceiling - over the sink.

I not only have GERD, I have Barrett's. I've learned to - not go to bed until about 3 hours after I've eaten - even a small snack will get the gastric acid going. I have the head of my bed elevated, and also sleep on a wedge-shaped pillow, and then two others - almost sitting up at first, then later in the night I sometimes pull out the wedge pillow. No big heavy meals - small frequent meals. No caffeine, chocolate (ok, maybe sometimes), no peppermint, no "hot" spicy foods - - ever. I drink only decaf liquids. (All that stuff interferes with the upper stomach sphincter allowing acid to reflux). Losing weight would probably help me - keep meaning to try that! I also have a gastroenterologist, have endoscopies done every 2 years, and am on a prescription med - Tums and the like don't even begin to cut it. Not fun, but neither is acid reflux at 2 a.m.!