the first couple wouldn't swallow a house but perhaps one side of a garage 'Crepescule' can grow to be 20 feet tall and more, and unlike many climbers it has excellant re-bloom. It's an apricot-golden color with red at its' base and quite fragrant. The foliage is attractive. If you love yellow roses; 'Marechal Niel' is a marvel to behold and deeply fragrant. It re-bloom well and is in full bloom today on April 5th. I'm growing mine between two purple 'Royal Robes' it blooms more often than an average Hybrid Tea, here. R. gigantea odorata at Berkeley Botanical garden in California blooms in early spring with several hundred charming saucer sized pale golden rose blossoms, , it is climbing a tree with great enthusiasm. I've espaleried a Mermaid to keep her within bounds, against a wooden fence in my back yard. I have an Albertine too, and it has splendid large pink and salmon blooms and c. 33% re-bloom in the autumn on mature plants. For Ramblers, I'm devoted to 'The Garland' with its millions of palest pink, tiny dainty roses with pert squared-off petals that offered a sweet pervasive scent that surrounds the plant like a cloud of bliss. I'd love a 'Silver Moon' but where to plant it? my neighbors backyard on a moonless night? White Lady Banks is one of my 3 favorite white roses, I once lived where the rose garden was surrounded by a low fence where those beautiful white roses bloomed all over it in spring. Oh what joy. there is such a variation between bloom shape and character between white roses, and this one thrills me down to my toes. I was at Berkeley Horticultural nursery today and took a whiff of 'Snowflake', another member of the Banksiae and was pleased with its' sweet and moderately strong scent. I don't know how big this gets. Lux

"If you are never IN style, then you will never be OUT of style." I think I'm paraphrasing Magnaverde there. That's my rule for clothes as well. IMO it is downright stupid, yes, I'll say it straight, stupid, to throw out perfectly good things because some wonk (who is more often than not trying to sell you yet more stuff you're expected to throw out and replace in a couple of years) says it's no longer "fashionable" to have whatever-it-is. flyingflower, my grandmothers (from Scots families who moved to Maine - can we say "squeezing a penny until Lincoln screams"?) pounded a similar verse into my head all through my childhood, but the one I know goes: Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or do without.

I love the idea of a house that is 'fully lived in' as sister3 says! And 'human scaled'...so much empty space in really big houses. The guest conundrum is funny to listen to...we've been lamenting about not having room for our relatives to stay when they come (usually for at least a week) and I don't think they enjoy the idea of camping that long in a tent, so its always an issue. Last year it rained 9 out of the 10 days my sis and 2 children (who fit the previously mentioned category perfectly)were here! Cramped to say the least! I think I'll not worry so much about trying to make them comfortable in the house (there's talk this year of them borrowing a camper trailer! Hee hee!) Cleaning and maintenance is definately a bonus, but like amanda I find it gets cluttered and the floor gets dirty so darn fast! But a few minutes each morning (well, ideally every morning...)seems to keep things under control. Also, we dont have seperate kitchen, dining and living areas (all one room) so our computer sits amongst it all. We got a 19" monitor so we can watch movies on it, which keeps down the electronic clutter. We even have no trouble with one phone! And heating is a cinch...in fact, right now I'm baking a rhubarb crisp, and the oven is heating the cabin nicely on this rainy, cold day! Not to mention filling it with yummy aroma! The list of benifits just goes on and on...if only people just realized!

I've never heard of most of these blogs, but went to see the HoH house. It does read like catalog, but more Grandinroad than Pottery Barn. Love the home of Brooke (Velvet & Linen), but I only click on her blog a few times a year to catch up. I enjoy the humor of Victoria Elizabeth Barnes and try to check on hers twice a month. I'm with Tinam. Many of the bloggers are paid and/or get free items from various sources to actually do things to their houses. Those that are good at it - like Miss Mustard Seed - end up with contracts or TV shows (Pioneer Woman). I used to check MMS on occasion but find I don't have the time to read blogs, and when I did, I didn't find them very interesting. I don't want to know how to do a tablescape, decopauge or watch them unpack a desk chair (I kid you not!). Atticmag founder Jane (Rococogurl @GW) reached out to me via GW to feature my kitchen, which led to me writing for Atticmag for a few years. She later featured my home. We posted something from our own houses maybe a few times a year - if we were doing something worth showing readers. Would I want to blog? No. Did I like writing about something going on at my house or DD2, as it is quicker/easier for me to write about! I only wish I had been writing for AM when DD1 was living in San Francisco since she had/has great taste!