Gas fireplaces (link)

This HGTV article recommends direct-vent gas fireplaces. Find out why: Advantages of a Direct Vent Fireplace : Home Systems : HGTV Remodels

NaNoWriMo winner in 2011!

I finished my 50,000 words and my novel Monday night! 'Course it needs a lot of editing, but I didn't finish last year's novel until the beginning of this November so I started this year running late, but I caught up. Now I can catch up with other projects.

Home design ideas

The August issue of This Old House has a lot of suggestions for the home owner, including taking pictures of staked buried utilities (I'm sorry I never thought of that! I have photos of new trenches), running a kitchen cabinet flush to the counter instead of having an appliance garage on the counter, framing one of those huge bathroom mirrors with wood, glass tiles, or a piece of salvage. However, tearing up a vintage book and papering a wall with the pages is not such a good idea. You've wasted a book, and it just looks busy.
Another idea I appreciated in this issue was a cut out in the wall between the kitchen and dining room. We considered it in our remodel, but decided agains it because of the cost. (We couldn't rebuild the whole house!) Anyway, we would have lost part of a wall that we're using, and I do not like the look at all, though possibly it could be done better....

And I love that new color for hardware--caramel bronze (Amerock).


Note: To learn more about my home remodel, check out my e-book:

Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure: Amazon.com: Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure eBook: Joy Smith: Kindle Store

Or: Smashwords - Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure - A book by Joy Smith

Decorating and entertaining ideas

The December issue of Southern Living has the most mouth-watering selection of cakes and other dishes than I've seen a while, including soups, desserts, and sweet potatoes.

Plus lots of entertaining and decorating ideas, including gift decorating. I like the idea of attaching a real cotton boll to a gift package. The home design photos and ideas are lovely! I really like that Florida beach cottage. And one woman has decorated her home with, among other things, her collection of books with red covers. There are also travel suggestions and an interesting interview with poet and author Maya Angelou.

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Pretty Pink Planet (free ebook)

My free ebook, Pretty Pink Planet, is an introduction to a series. Hot Yellow Planet is the sequel. I just hope no one notices the spoiler in the Hot Yellow Planet blurb.

Pretty Pink Planet link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93615

Homes for Gnomes

I just got the Gardener's Supply Company, and it's full of fun stuff for your landscape, including flower pot homes for gnomes and my favorite: Northern Lights solar spheres.

And though I've never played with Advent calendars, there are two that look like a lot of fun: a handcrafted tree with mulitple bird houses and a Noah's Ark (little doors in the body of the ark.).

Catalog link: http://www.gardeners.com/

Hot Yellow Planet

Hot Yellow Planet is now available on more e-readers. In this sequel to Pretty Pink Planet, Lori and Chiing continue their adventures, meeting up with Chameleons, Ghosters, Splurts, and other aliens and humans.

Look for it on: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94029

And Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Yellow-Planet-ebook/dp/B005TCN9UC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318279993&sr=1-1

Pretty Pink Planet , which introduces Lori and Chiing, is a free e-book:

It's available FREE on:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93615

On Amazon you'll have to tell them that it's cheaper elsewhere: http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Pink-Planet-ebook/dp/B005RI53KC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317610193&sr=1-1

Dining room decor ideas (link)

Check out these ideas: decorating, design, and styles, colors, showcasing your collections, table settings, and more: Dining Rooms - Room Ideas Fresh Home

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Tropical Storm Sean

TS Sean is heading WNW and is expected to turn away from Florida, partially herded by our upcoming cold front.

Update (11-9): TS Sean is heading north and expected to become a category 1 hurricane.

Two Sentence Stories

My Two Sentence Story is up today: 2sentencestories

Remodeling books

Here are a couple of remodeling books out on Amazon:

"Designing Your Dream Home: Every Question to Ask, Every Detail to Consider, and Everything to Know Before You Build or Remodel" by Susan Lang

"Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want" (released on November 15, 2011) by Duo Dickinson

And don't forget my remodeling e-book:

Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure: Amazon.com: Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure eBook: Joy Smith: Kindle Store

Or: Smashwords - Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure - A book by Joy Smith

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!