I like all the ideas -- I tend to prefer the table runner to a wall hanging too, but then you know her very well so you may have more idea of her tastes. I like the home sweet home idea with a house, YOU KNOW, you could even make something like a square "table topper" that could be for a table or wall. ANYHOW -- Piece-0-cake designs does some adorable applique patterns and one of their houses immediately comes to mind. If you look at my link below, it's in the book "Applique delights" (which you could probably get for less on Amazon's used books...) but it is in the style you see on the North Pole book right below that. SO DIAN -- DO WE GET YOUR BREAD RECIPE???!!!! Years ago when I moved into a new neighborhood a lady nearby brought us two loaves of braided bread and oh my word I thought I'd died and gone to heaven it was light and fluffy and buttery and SO VERY GOOD. She gave me the recipe but I could get the bread to rise. -- but now I make sourdough and I think I can handle it! I would love to try it out, and I love your welcome to the neighborhood idea, I may adopt it myself! Here is a link that might be useful: piece o cake designs - home applique

I can't believe you have that together already!! And it's beautiful!! I also can't believe you made sense of that PP block I did. I really fought with that pattern. I will remember about using the insulated batting, too. I bought some extra when I did my bottle holders and that will be a great use for them. I enjoyed doing that snowflake pattern, I'm thinking I will do more of them. Robbi

Les, thank you for your thoughtful input. It's really not about voting, at least I don't think so. I just really want to make it all look the best I can given the colors I have chosen. And given the fact that our house has gone through multiple changes through the years. We are trying to take it back, as much as we can, to what it would have been in the late 1880's. Yes there is a disconnect between the back addition and the rest of the house. Just was not sure how to "fix" it. At one time that addition also had a porch where the window is. When the previous owner renovated he removed that porch as it was not original. This picture was taken in the late 1950's He actually removed another porch on the garden side of the house as well. In total (counting the screened porch on the garden side)there were a total of 6 porches on our house! The windows in the addition are actually much smaller by comparison to the windows in the rest of the house. The windows in the brick part of the house are 84" and that's the inside measurement. All ceilings are 12' in the house. Sorry if I get a little carried away. But making our home the best it can be is a passion with me, can you tell? :-) oceanna, that is the same way I felt the first time I walked into our home, and still feel that way today! But it seems to be a never ending process. So much to do, so little time it seems. Actually people do slam on their brakes or drive very slowly past. One lady even ran the stop sign out front because she was looking at the house. (She stopped and told me about it the next week - got a ticket too!) jlc712, thank you. We love it and hope that when we are gone the next caretakers of our home will treat it with love as well.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned fragrance lamps. These are smaller glass lamps that you fill with fragrance oils, light for 5 minutes and then blow out the flame. The oil will burn and take odors out of your home and leave a pleasant scent. The Lampe Berger system includes the catalyst (burner) and the catalyst medium (home fragrances). According to Lampe Berger, the catalytic combustion is a flameless combustion, which takes place because of the action of a catalyst. Odor-causing molecules in the room are attraced to the heat developed by the catalysis. The heat then breaks down these molecules through oxidation and prevents them from recombining. A Berger lamp is different from other types of air fresheners in that a Berger lamp actually eliminates the odor, instead of just masking it. Also, a Berger lamp actively cleans the air, also something normal air fresheners donâÂÂt do. You may be curious where Berger lamps originate from. Berger lamps were invented by Maurice Berger in the early twentieth century. Berger lamps were considered a disinfecting home appliance. Through a unique process of high temperature catalytic combustion, Berger lamps eliminates and destroys the molecules behind unpleasant odors such as cigarette smoke and cooking while pleasantly perfuming the air and destroying bacteria. You do have to follow a certain protocol when burning these or you'll burn up your wick. The top cap can get hot, so I always keep mine on a high shelf. The brands of lamps are numerous as are the oils. I buy mine at the link below, the off brand lamps work fine. I find all of the oils very strong so I mix them half and half in the lamp with 91% rubbing alcohol (available at Walmart). Do NOT use anything except the 91%. I burn mine only about twice a week or when I have company. Here is a link that might be useful: Courtney's Candles