hostaholic, zone 4, huh? Is it usual to have a wait for spring every year, or is this year colder than normal? Mike, I donâÂÂt know about planting out ferns this soon. IâÂÂm in 6a and IâÂÂm playing it safe and not planting anything out for a couple more weeks, just to be on the safe side. I know itâÂÂs tough if you already have potted plants that have to go in and out all the time, but if your lows are in the 50âÂÂs maybe you can just leave them out unless there is a sudden cold snap. But if you're really in a hurry, you could always just plan to protect them if it gets too cold. Kevin, Minnesota, huh? Well, really weâÂÂve had snow here in Massachusetts in April lots of times and once in awhile, even one in May. I hope you are only getting a flurry and not actual snow on the ground. Robins are too cheerfulâ¦.lol. YouâÂÂre a riot, Kevin! Hang in there, all! It canâÂÂt be much longer now. rouge21, I really have just a Canon Point and Shoot camera. A Powershot A630. I almost always just leave it on Automatic too. I have two methods of getting a photo IâÂÂm happy with, one is I take a lot so I will get at least a couple of good ones, (g) and I steady the camera on something solid when I can. One of those hellebore photos, I took three of them freehand and then I took the same shot from the same direction by stabilizing the camera on something and it was so much better than the three I took freehand. So you might try that with the camera you have and see if it makes a difference. IâÂÂve also taken photos with a tripod and thought it made a real difference too, but I rarely use one any more, itâÂÂs just too much trouble. Oh, I forgot, there is a third consideration that helps, and that is the time of day you take the photo. I always try to get out either very early morning or late afternoon and not usually in the middle of the day. And that is my entire repertoire of photo taking tips that I remember and useâ¦lol.

Okay, I posted some pics (links because I don't know how to do the pics) to some other pillows. They are shown for color and type NOT for the way they are placed here. I know that the consensus is that I need other shapes. I am looking. I do like the SW pottery one that was posted in a link above. I may order it if you think it would be good. Even though I don't really like the king shams (stripes) I have a lot invested in them and can't return them, so would like to use if I can get something that looks okay. I have taken pics of several different pillows. They are all basically the same shape besides the teal Euro and king stripe ones. There are two different sets of tan ones. One set is a little darker and then there is one with fringe. The fringed one seems to match both of the tan areas in the comforter. Then I found these pinkish pillows today and they are the same color as the pink in the comforter. There is also another picture on a side wall that has a pinkish hue that works with this. The last link is to another teal small pillow. I have two of these and they are in another room and could be used if needed. Another option is to buy a small decorator pillow in the matching material of the comforter. However, the only one that I find on ebay is about the same size and shape of the ones shown above. I could add a concho for decor if it would help. Ideas please???

"I see so many bedrooms on Pinterest and Houzz that are inviting , child friendly and lovely. But how that is all brought together in a cohesive look is still a mystery to me. Maybe I’m focusing on the wrong things?" I would caution you to be very careful about internalizing these images you see online. They are highly staged, have a team of professionals tweaking and moving things here and there, tight shots so you don't see imperfections, photoshopping galore. They aren't real life! Where are the science projects? Where are the plastic action figures, barbies, ponies? The sweater that someone took off and tossed on the chair, where's that? I'm 100% certain that no child had any say in a single bit of what is in these inspirational rooms. Are your grandkids old enough to consult on this? Could you ask them what they would find useful and enjoyable? If they aren't old enough to give useful input, they are probably young enough to appreciate a casual space that they don't have to be terribly careful with. I know my own kids love having a chair on their room, they love having the freedom to rearrange and decorate with their treasures, they love seeing photos of themselves with family and friends. Those are the things that make a room feel like Home rather than a picture-perfect photo shoot. Since you mentioned it, maybe you are focussed on the wrong things. Are you more concerned with impressing your children and your friends than you are with making your grandkids feel cherished? Are you putting so much pressure on yourself to create the perfect social media-approved space that you don't have any mental space to visualize the joy your family will feel in seeing you and how happy you will be to have your grandkids sleeping under your roof? Everyone on this thread agrees that the room is beautiful (a rare occurance!) and that all you need is a simple rug, a chest of some sort with a lamp or two, and a bench/chair or two. It's also rare that people agree 100% on what a room needs! So you are very very close to finished here, and once your grandkids come and add their life and luggage to the room it will come alive!

My sister bought a memory foam mattress and she and her husband had issues with heat retention. I gave them a 3" natural latex foam topper and the problem was solved. Memory foam works through a chemical reaction that loosens the bonds with heat, making it softer where it is warm and more firm where it is not warm. It is also quite dense, reducing air flow. What happens is that you sink into the mattress where you are laying and the mattress becomes softer where you are laying, so you get trapped in the hole. This will not happen with natural latex. It does not change density when exposed to body heat. Factors impacting mattresses sleeping hot are body weight and mattress firmness. The heavier you are and the softer the mattress the more likely you are going to sink into the layers and create a trap for body heat.