Funny meeting you here bigthicketgardens! :) I love butterflies the best, but I still enjoy all of nature. The snake wasn't real long, probably about 3' - 4 long - I've seen these before, some that were bigger, and some that were smaller and blue! speckled with white. I feel sure that this is a speckled king snake, but I'm not sure at all about the little turtle. I've never seen a box turtle with red on its back like this baby, and it doesn't really match any of the pictures in my field guide - maybe I need more than one field guide. I'm happy to post pictures, Mary Ann - there's nothing I like better than making pictures of the wildlife I love so! Sherry

Thank you ttodd for your pics; your room is beautiful. Your pictures convinced me that I could add blue to a BT turtle room. I love the hydrangas in your room! I think I have decided what I will do for now, anyway. I have 2 weeks to change my mind! I decided that I just didn't like baby turtle in my light about 1/2 the time. It was beautiful a lot of the time, but other times it was kinda of murky. I also think the dry sage is too dark for my family room as I am trying to keep a light and airy feel to it. For the living room I will paint the window wall and one sofa wall Gray Mirage, which is the lighter version of dry sage. It is not an exact match, but the curtains work well with it. It looks nice over the sofa too. My kitchen (which flows into the FM visually and has dark cherry cabinets) I will paint dry sage. That room can handle a darker color and the dry sage will look lovely near the dark cherry cabinets. The little back entry mudroom behind the kitchen (it is located on the other side of the kitchen from the Family room) I will likely paint Gray mirage or perhaps November rain (one shade lighter than gray mirage). I am looking for a complementary color for the dry sage, but I think gray mirage will look pretty and it will make the space flow better. I still have barely beige in the family room and a bright yellow sunroom - all open. So, I think I need some gentle flow to contrast the bright yellow and the sage. I like the gray mirage/dry sage combo whether I decide to keep the curtains or not. I think it will compliment the sofa/ottoman/rug regardless of whether I keep or change the curtains. That takes some of the pressure off. Thank you all for your help! I really appreciate your veiws and comments on this journey. I ordered the side tables today and the painters come in 2 weeks. I am still trying to figure out how to get some blue in the room ( the dinning room is a gray blue and the library is gray as well). I did consider painting the kitchen Beach Glass (which BM says is a nice combo with gray mirage), but I didn't think I would love a blue kitchen for years, but a green one I could. I'll have to get the blue/gray in with some accents or art! Thank you again- any comment are welcome and appreciated!

A very inexpensive but pretty look you could do for a guest room is matelasse. I use an ivory matelasse coverlet (actually, I have 3 different sets complete with shams) on my bed for 9 months of the year. They are easy care, washable, allow for other accent colors in throw pillows, folded quilts, or anything else, and they would be fabulous with the slightly cottagey look of the beadboard on your lower walls. I have Baby turtle in my living room, and down my hallway. I use reds and bronze greens and black for accents, but almost any color could work with the BT. Ttodd had it used with a soft blue at one point. Perhaps she will post photos. Anyway, if you decide not to go the solid matelasse off-white route, just take your paint chip or a painted sample with you to go bedding shopping. I doubt you will have any trouble at all. The only caveat I would make to working with the color is not to go too drab in your fabrics. A soft muted pattern shows better with light walls. I think this wonderful mossy browned sage looks better with more color. Red

This may be radical, but with a farmhouse look, I'd put up old-fashioned shades and sill-length curtains. I'd do a valance and then cafe curtains on clips below it, so that they could be easily opened. The only issue with shades is that they're not adjustable. I have shades in our guest room and den, as we want the privacy and blinds/shutters would not work (and are too expensive). You might think of going to the Country Curtains website, browsing it and perhaps ordering a catalog. They will have a very large selection and many of their styles suit the farmhouse look. They are quite inexpensive and their service is superior. You can choose from solids, lace, florals, and all sorts of checks and stripes, and they will send you as many samples as you want. They also offer matching fabric with some designs. Am thinking tablecloth, placemats, pillows, etc. I've been using C.C. for over twenty years. If I don't need something custom-made, they're the only place I go for window treatments. Many other posters here also use them. Here is a link that might be useful: Country Curtains