I have a lovely sampler...initialled and dated 1823. I bought at an estate sale out of a little old house in a tiny town near me. It was folded up in a box full of other lovely old linens. I bought the box for $20....as the bidding was going on, I said to someone also bidding, 'I only one one thing...if I buy it I'll sell you that table cloth"...and I did...I sold stuff out of that box until it was half gone, and I had more than $20..AND the sampler....then I got to thinking...that was a family piece....and likely they didn't even know it was in the box. So I found the daughter of the woman who died and showed her the sampler and asked if she wanted it.....she said no....she didn't care about any of that old stuff. So it now happily hangs in my bedroom. I have lots of "boughten" antiques and some family pieces. I like to make sure my kids know which is which! I was looking for Christmas stuff in the basement and noticed that little pressed back oak rocker that was my father's as a child....and realize that it was my grandchildren's great grandfather's....and when they have children... Well you get the idea. Post away...love to see what you've got! Linda C

Annie hahahah! You're a good egg girl! Well here is a link to that forum.... it's every day stuff; not just stuff they read online or in the news. The example I gave about the person touching someone, that was a real example of what one lady posted. I just can't imagine telling someone, a stranger who admired my skirt and was touching it to Stop Touching me! Maybe if I had a phobia of people touching me I would feel different but there are scads and scads of posts where they really are mean. I try not to lie to people BUT there are occasions where I will lie in order to not hurt someone's feelings. These people over there dont' hold back. They'll tell it like it is rgardless of who's feelings they hurt. It just seems that some of them are so harsh. Here is a link that might be useful: Etiquette Hell Forum

You can also try Angie's List, if you have one in your ara. That is specifically for local recommendations and reviews of service providers. It is fee based, but I've had good luck with them. www.angieslist.com Many people don't like to post other people's names on the Internet, either in positive or negative context, so if you make a request for a "good kitchen designer" for example make sure you allow people to email you a private reply via your profile/page.

It's nice to know I haven't been forgotten :) I came back to this thread an hour ago and got sidetracked by chiefneil's beautiful house :) I SURE wish I had high speed when I hung out on the forum 24/7 C de L, no, didn't get your email. I hope you still have a copy of it in your sent folder. My email address has changed. It's monicakm@...well, I guess I better use my gmail acct right now. Never know who's lurking. monicakm@gmail.com I can't wait to see pictures of your bathrooms. paulines, OK, I'm counting on you to keep Bill on his toes. He gets the impression, sometimes, that he knows more about stone installation than us women-folk :)) I don't know, some nonsense about doing it for a living :P mitchdesj, managing a gallery...now why can I SO see you doing that :) Perfect! Do you enjoy it? Lucky you getting to design a new kitchen...on a TKO would know that's not a sarcastic remark Those silicone spoons (with the steel handles! Every time I pick one up I'm in awe of how great they are Have we EVER seen your entire kitchen? I don't think I did. Would LOVE to tho :) Bill, Bill, Bill. Have you learned nothin'? So who have you got wanting to tan (and hang)your hide? It's not the JB forum is it? As for hides, if the color is right (can't be too pasty), I might consider hanging yours on my wall next to my Texas Longhorn cowhide THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kind words about my "Baby McDreamy"...that's what I've called him since he was 1 week old and I took this picture (link below). I can barely think of anything else when he's not here. As soon as he leaves, I'm counting the hours till he's back in my arms :) This grammuffy has it BAD Monica Here is a link that might be useful: Baby McDreamy