I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I received my wonderful package from Margo. The author was Fern Michaels and the book is The Nosy Neighbor. It sounds like exactly my kind of book! I just finished a Fern Michael's book called Christmas at Timberwoods. It's good if anyone is looking for a Christmas suspense story. I have only read a few of her books and not the one Margo sent. I got up with a very sore back today so it sounds like a good day to read. Margo also sent some seeds, a card, a bookmark with information about hummingbirds, a notepad with my initial, a pretty bracelet that she made, and a pop up vase with a greeting card. Thanks so much, Margo! Here's where we are with our swap. Mellen posted and I'm sure her swap will be received soon. hazelnutbunny: Sent (Mellen has received it.) mellen: flowergirl34: Sent (Rose has received it.) smitties: Sent (Jeanne has received it.) sandlapper_rose: Sent (Melissa has received it.) I had lots of fun with this swap and hope all who joined in did as well. Jeanne

Ksla and Lyban both said what I was thinking. I think the reason the chairs (and yes they are STUNNING) do not fit as well in your elegant dining room is bc it is so elegant. Your chandelier is so beautiful and like an exquisite diamond ring. The chairs are also very elegant but in a different more casual way. I think the chandy and the chairs are what are fighting in the room. Hope this is not being too harsh. Just my thoughts. You have a great eye so I am sure whatever you decide in the end will look fab!!!

We've had this discussion before and, while I can't recall what my previous position on the issue is, today I'm with Beagles and mtnrdredux.:) I like to read actual books and I also like the idea of books as decor. I once arranged a set of bookshelves with the books by color and height. Very pretty although not very efficient when searching for a book, so that idea got scrapped. I have bought books because I liked their appearance, e.g., a book on bridge with a brown velvet-like cover; a miniature book (in English if read from left to right and in French if read from right to left) about a mischevous cat (un chat mechant); a book on antique Japanese prints the pages of which, when the book is opened, unfold in accordian fashion, etc. I haven't done it often, but why not place a book with a beautiful cover or illustrations on a stand or easel, so that it can be enjoyed as if it were a piece of art? I have one probably published in the early 1900s about a pet dog with photos of the time in it, and I had it on a small stand with one wonderful photo of the dog and the girl who owned it showing. Most of those books were very inexpensive, costing $10 at the most, with most under $5; some are valuable (e.g., some of Teriade's Verve art and literature series). In all cases, I chose them because I liked what they looked like though. Since I can't get onto that web site, I don't know what the Danish books look like. However, I can't imagine spending anything approaching that amount on random books, particularly when common sense says that 7 random books might not even fill a bag on a book sale's $2/bag day.

We just moved to a new house and have bought many new items...one being a new dinette set. We wanted something with arms and rollers were a plus. Though we only found one, it was PERFECT! The chairs have the arms, rollers and padded seats and back. My kids made fun of them with the rollers that are a bit out of vogue but guess where they continually go sit (even when they could sit in the great room a few steps away and in full view). I know with the new dinette set, everyone sits at this dinette much more then at our old house even though it's basically the same layout of the area.