Colors to make a room look larger (link)

Here's a selection of colors that are supposed to make rooms look larger. See what designers have to say and what colors they recommend: Choose a color

Moving on--again

So, we're finally getting serious about downsizing. We're been browsing a lot of homes in the area 'cause we love this neighborhood; and we've even thought about building if we can find a lot... AND I've started another house diary. My last ones resulted in two books: Building a Cool House for Hot Times without Scorching the Pocketbook and an ebook, Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure.  Oh, and I have to buy another house journal for keeping track of the project, whatever it turns out to be...

Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure (non-fiction) is available on: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71560   and  http://www.amazon.com/Remodeling-Buying-Updating-Foreclosure-ebook/dp/B005FSHP0K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312428906&sr=1-1
How one woman bought and remodeled a foreclosure; it didn’t even have a kitchen sink! 

Goodreads giveaways (links)

Goodreads giveaways:

I have three of my books scheduled for Goodreads giveaways: Detour Trail (western romance), Strike Three (post-apocalyptic novel), and Sugar Time (time travel tales):

Detour Trail giveaway

Strike Three giveaway

Sugar Time giveaway 

Moving on again

We're downsizing again--though this time it's the house and not just the five acres in the country. When I built our house in the country--and our mother's house next door later--I kept a diary, bought a number of house books and magazines, did more research and then wrote Building A Cool House For Hot Times Without Scorching The Pocketbook.  After moving into the city and remodeling our next house, I wrote Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure. Now it's time to get out another notebook and start documenting this process (finding a Realtor, looking at houses, talking to builders, and prepping this house for sale).

Building A Cool House.. is out of print, though I've got a few copies in the closet, but my remodeling ebook is available at: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71560   and  Amazon 

Good landscaping advice (link)

Here is some important landscaping advice from our local garden columnist, Charles Reynolds: The best gardens have curves

And I love what he says about those would-be gardeners who go out and massacre their trees.

And I add: Think about the size of your space--and forget instant gratification.  Nurture your plants! Watch them grow!!

Open shelving ideas (link)

I much prefer closed cabinets to keep my dishes, etc. clean, but here are some interesting suggestions. At least they're not floating shelves, which are such a waste of space!   From HGTV.com: Open kitchen storage

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