Living room styles (link)

The living room styles on this HGTV webpage range from Traditional to Modern and Contemporary to Eclectic and more, yet they all seem awfully bland, except for Mediterranean, which was a bit gaudy. Old World involves distressed surfaces, btw. (I think distressing furniture and floors is silly. 'Course with my critters, I never had to work at that...) What do you think? Link: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/living-room-design-styles/pictures/index.html?nl=HGI_012914_featlink2_&sni_mid=116866&sni_rid=116866.324.547298&c32={4E6771C7-C8B2-491F-8AC7-73EFF9F12E8E}

Ideas for small spaces (link)

Here are some great ideas from HGTV.com on how to make the best use of your small space, including using an entire wall and niches. However, I'm not a fan of floating shelves. Link: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/inspiring-small-spaces/pictures/index.html?nl=HGI_012214_featlink2_&sni_mid=114470&sni_rid=114470.324.471846&c32={4E6771C7-C8B2-491F-8AC7-73EFF9F12E8E}

Home decorating ideas (link)

Here are some lovely decorating ideas in a vintage home, including murals, wallpaper, and decoupaged closet drawers; and I love the tiger maple countertop. That is a great idea if you're going for wood.

Link: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/updating-historical-home?src=nl&mag=ghk&list=nl_gga_dot_non_011814_updating-historical-home#slide-1

Preditors & Editors Readers Poll results

The final tallies are in for the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll, and Detour Trail is #6 (tied) in the All Other Novels category and Crystal Quest is #7 in the Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Stories category. And the Detour Trail cover is #13 (tied) in the Cover Art category.

Poll link: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/

Dresser makeover ideas from HGTV (link)

Check out these fun dresser--they look more like chests--ideas from HGTV.com. Using house numbers as drawer pulls is way different; and you can use decals, stripes, and wallpaper... I especially liked the little one used as a night stand. Link: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/hate-your-dresser-21-ways-to-make-it-amazing/pictures/index.html?nl=HGI_011514_featlink3_&sni_mid=110668&sni_rid=110668.324.357139&c32={4E6771C7-C8B2-491F-8AC7-73EFF9F12E8E}

Detour Trail review (link)

Detour Trail, Joy's western novel, is reviewed here: http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2014/01/clare-obeara-reviews-joy-smiths-detour.html

Toilet tidbits

I called the plumber this morning because a toilet was acting up--not stopping running and dripping in the tank now and then. Since we have company coming, I wanted to be sure there'd be no serious problems then... Anyway, I learned a few things that I'm going to share:

As the result of the lower amount of water (1.6 gallons) in the tanks today, solid waste is harder to move, and apparently they're going now from 1.6 gallons to 1.0! We may have to get the toilet with power flushing 'cause it breaks up the waste. (It's noisy too, btw.) It works with a bladder in the tank; I thought it required power from electricity and didn't want it 'cause I wanted to be able to flush if the power went out, but that's not a problem, I learned. So when we get a new toilet, which we don't need, it will have the power assist. (All the plumbers compliment us on the quality fo our toilets--American Standard and Kohler.)

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