Tracy ~ I started hanging shells from my little nature tree this morning before heading off to work. I'm using a fine gold thread to hang them with. DH saw it and really liked it so that made me feel good. I told him I wish I had a small star fish for the top. Don't know if we can find any of those anywhere or not. He said they may not be 'politically correct' these days. I said 'What stars aren't politically correct? They're in the sky for Pete's sake!" (See how easy it is to take something other than what the person meant.) :-) He meant harvesting and selling the little creatures. DUH. Sometimes I think FL has her head in the flowers too much. There is a seashell place in the next town south of us. They might have some, maybe. Except they wouldn't have been found by us. DH did find a nice star fish in some seaweed one time not long ago. We had never found one before and this one was perfect! It's too large for my little tree though. I do have bits and pieces of sand dollars, and DH suggested that if I had one with the star in the center he might could cut it out for me. I told him I didn't think I had that, but I'll have to do a more thorough search tomorrow morning. I will post pictures when it's done. FlowerLady

Well...I'm looking at it and I agree with kathleen and jaybird...Then again, I see it being used for a different purpose altogether. (depending on large it is) Do you have a front entry hall table? I think it would look really nice in that type of setting and could be left out all the time. In my old house, I had a long hall table with a lamp, by the front door. I put a large, decorative crystal bowl on it, that I would drop my keys in. Also, just another thought, I don't know what type of bathroom you have...but it would look nice on a bathroom vanity (if it's large enough) to display, either empty or with some small soaps. Or, you can go the traditional route and use it as kathleen and jaybird suggested. Either/ or...It's a beautiful piece. I would love to see how you do use it. jane

Oh Creek, hang in there and do what Blondepegasus suggests. Five years ago I was where you are now, but it seems like yesterday! =) Now that the 'lil buggers are older and a bit more safe it is the perfect time to begin moving their things out of sight. That is liberating and energizing in itself. You'll be amazed at how little they actually play with once you start sorting. I so understand, believe me. My youngest just turned ten. He is a walking tornado, and all boy besides. Moving the toys was the start. I often would do my projects at night, staying up later than normal but in a way it was therapy, at least I was moving forward. It can be discouraging, VERY... toys, slop, mud, socks, wrappers, cars, rocks, sticks all still find their way into the house. But my painting is mainly done, the walls decorated, tweaks done here or there. It happens in stages. I did the big visual stuff first. Painting,wall decor, furniture moving because it provided the biggest visual change AND little hands couldn't move/break/slobber on them too much. True despair would set in when I would come here and see beautiful tablescapes and vingettes, clean clutter free homes, and green lush plants tucked artfully in corners, all of which only would get messed and neglected in my "lived" in home. I gave up and concentrated on clean surfaces during the weekend and projects that could be done one step at a time. We still can't have a coffee table because it won't stay clean and I refuse to aggravate myself by pretending that "this time" it'll be different! ERRG! =) What about the kids you ask? Often they would work or play on their own stuff while the living room was torn apart spread out with crafts on the floor, watching Spongebob on the couch shoved in the middle of the room, making forts under the dining room table. You can be sure that wherever you are they will want to be there too, but it was and still is some our best fun, we were together. I'd take the time to actually watch Spongebob, help with the fort, have lunch in the living room, and we'd do a lot of talking and listening, and dance and sing on different days. Fast forward us to now being 10 & 15 years old...they still come in and out, ask if I need help, offer feedback, perch on the couch filling me in on their thoughts, run through carrying a wet dog, make me watch really bad SyFy movies with them which entertains us for days. I'm happy for you being ready to move on.It'll be a crazy, slow, frustrating, fun journey, but you will create some precious memories along the way. Moving the toys(most of them)will really motivate you. BTW I have real green plants this year for the first time since I found them turned over on the floor many years ago!!! =D

@Flo Mangan I am not decided on having a rug in the dining area. And it is more like 9.5ft by 11.5ft per my husband, will remeasure that area and the round table. Thank you again for taking your time with the drawing, really appreciate you. @nelliebean yes feet can come off, hubby and I talked about doing that when we placed it there just haven’t gotten to it. We are about 4 months in the house now, still settling in.