OK, most everybody probably knows this about Photobucket, where a lot of us store our pics to post, but this is a reminder to all. Go to your PB home page. On the Blue Banner that leads over to your name; move your cursor over the "Home" button;on the banner that drops down below, click on "Stats". This will show you just how many views each of your posted pics have had in a day, a week and a month. Kind of eye-opening! For example, on August 4th, the day after I started this thread, there were 155 views of the photo I posted of my mantel. That's just one day for that one pic. There were more both before and after that. You all should check your own to see for yourselves. Now, I was about to tell you to check your privacy settings over on PB, but the drop-down button for it only appears infrequently, which has me a bit concerned. Just a few minutes ago, I could go to my PB Home page. Go to the blue banner; hover your cursor over the Home button; on the drop down banner below it, there sometimes is a Privacy button. You click on that and then click on Privacy & Emails Settings; click on Privacy Settings/Content Privacy. There . . . if you can get there (they don't make it easy), check the box "when I upload, permanently remove information about where my photos were taken". Also there, uncheck if it's checked, the box that says, "allow others to copy my photos and videos". That is, if you want to keep you photos a bit more private. If you do get there, I'd strongly suggest reading all your options and making decisions then and there. You may not be able to get back to your privacy site for a while. Just a heads-up. Lynn

Iceanna, I drooled over those fireplace surrounds in the gallery - breath-taking antiques. Franksmom and Kswl - I do not want to hang those portraits over the fireplace. The fireplace is gas and emits a lot of heat - and a lot of it goes up (ask the poor fresh wreath I hung over the fireplace this Christmas). The woman is my grandmother and probably is 115 years old. I am afraid of the heat. Kswl - there are only two chairs upholstered the same - the two flanking the fireplace. I gave a lot of thought to comments here - a lot - and then DH decided to go shopping with me on Friday. He very rarely goes as he figures everything is a matter of opinion - and he couldn't figure out why I wanted to replace the piece currently there. Anyway - off we went in the snow. I looked at a lot of prints and saw this one. Were the colors good? Yes, perfect. More importantly, did it reflect me. I looked at the scene and immediately thought old, calm, serene, could almost see people walking up the street in days gone by. Life is more than intense right now and I am going for quiet at home! So we bought it knowing we could return it -but alone it seemed to small. We trooped through a few more stores and started looking at scones. He liked these as they mimic the fireplace surround which we do love. We came home and I told him I was going to wait until my DILs came today - he told me he liked it and "just hang it" - so we did. I do like it. Is it forever? Probably not. Will I always keep looking? Yes, but I do like it. The sconces look amazing lit (am going to look for battery-operated candles). So for now, I like it and certainly better than the purple print, which now has a new home. I don't know how the colors are going to come through but here goes: For years I have been wanting to take the ugly mirrors off my dresser - the picture is perfect - picks up the colors in the comforter: I still need to "dress" the dresser ---

Thanks all. I did go with the Allure Blossom. It's coming today. I don't think I could go with a mirror on that wall because there is a hutch to the right which has mirrors in it. I really like the purple and yellow bowl from Pier One; will see if they still have it or something similar. Might be sending more pictures of my next dilemma in the living room. Another picture where I can't seem to find another piece of art that compliments.

nice job! what a difference. The art you have hanging looks really off. It's hung a bit high, but the square shape just doesn't look right. and neither does the design. it competes w/the stone movement. you could try black and white or something very muted. this shape (rectangle) and image design, doesn't compete w/the stone like the other one does I'd leave it blank, or if you have the room to walk by, perhaps do a taller potted plant.