Posted by bumblebeez (My Page) on Fri, Mar 18, 11 at 17:00 "We have a screened in porch that I have decorated and each spring, when pollen is winding down, I bring in a hose through the front door and hose everything down. It works like a charm and is clean in several minutes. Now, this would deeply distress dh so I always do it while he is at work. But I've been doing it for 10 years so somethings right :-) I might do it twice during the pollen season. And I always pick a warm, sunny day and start early in the morning so everything will dry out. " I do a 4 step process that is similar. First, I put on a mask and take the leaf blower to the porch. Then, I pull the central vac outdoors through a window (reminds me that I need to have the vac guys come add an outlet closer to this window.) Next, I bring in the hose and water down every surface from windows to floor. I don't touch the ceiling because it is wood, but do knock down the cobwebs. Luckily, we have a waterspout near the porch and do not have to come through the front door with the hose. :) Lastly, I wash the windows, glass tables, etc. with window cleaner.

I think Kat may be right about the regions affecting color choices. As for me, I love burgandy but not red, and no pink (if I was single, yes, but wouldn't ask DH to put up with it). I've decorated with purple (a very grey purple)that was beautiful, and I love, love, love peach but don't have any in my home because I remember people making fun of the peachy 80's. I also love grey in other people's houses, and even thought of painting my MB in grey, but decided against it because I'm just not sure I could live with it. I'm trying a blue/green (mostly blue) in my family room right now, and think I'm going to have to color wash over it with a green - just too blue for the rest of my house. I love navy but tried it once in a room, and never could find the right shade for me. I also think some houses 'talk' to you about what colors to use in them.

Bumble - Thanks for posting photos of your room. It's very pretty! I love the red and white bedding and those plates. Hey Rrs! I had a bunch of different bedroom threads over the last few weeks so I'll recap on everything... I kept the last red coverlet. Haven't found a mirror or any art. I moved my nightstand to DH's side and have a round table on mine. Santa is bringing me a burlap tablecloth so I'm excited about that. I still need to get a glass top. Since I lost my storage, I bought a neat basket for under the bed but getting organized seems to be a bit challenging for me. I'll be tackling that head on during the new year. I'm going to paint the room SW Dromedary Camel probably in a few months. No change with curtains. I'm leaning towards something brown and machine washable but I should probably paint first. I now have a larger floral pillow to replace the one that's on the bed but I'd like to get a fluffier insert. Feather maybe? The smaller pillow that was on the bed in the photos above now sits on the web chair in the corner of the room. I was considering moving the chair out and getting a bench for in front of the window but I'm thinking it will take up too much space. I need to do a mock up with something. I'm not sure if I talked about the bathroom in this thread but, just to recap in one spot, I'm still planning on using the floral fabric for the window valance. The shower curtain is on hold until more of the original fabric comes in. So the floral fabric will be on the valance part and the body will be a smaller houndstooth. I decided not to use that calico corner plaid or the one from house fabrics. Both I think would compete too much with the floral and be too busy for me. Didn't paint the bathroom vanity or walls yet. See the original houndstooth plaid pillows with buttons from the inspiration pic? I accidently stumbled across 3/4 yard of that on fabricguru the other day and ordered it. I still much prefer that fabric and, without going into great detail about my poor experience(s) with NH again, I'll probably have mixed emotions when it shows up but one of two things will happen... 1. I'll be able to add a piece of that wonderful fabric to the bed in a pillow or throw or 2. I'll see red and won't be able to stand looking at it on a daily basis. I'm aiming for #1. But please, please don't somebody go and find a bunch of yardage of the large houndstooth now trying to be nice. I don't want to see it because the pillows (all but the solid red) I have stay. I have too much money invested in this. Heck, it may not work at all but we'll see. The fabric should be here in a few days and I'm pretty excited about it. Ha, did you want to know that much? :) Thanks for asking!

I only used the term 'Lurker' because that is what Texasporch used about herself. I think of the term lurker the same way as reader, internet speaking. There isn't any difference in my mind. Stalker is different. I've been stalked on the internet and have received police involved death threats. That is a whole other situation that involves the ($$) work I do. Here, we can be more flexible on terms used, right? But the readers/lurkers just think they have nothing to contribute. In reality, they can change up everything (for the better). Just sayin'. UDKM is the perfect example. There must be more of you out there, so chime in! We need new blood.