Lady Jane, I have a girlfriend, Nancy, who lives in Mississippi who exists for yard sales...she checks out the yard sales the day before in the paper and plots her routes...riding with her is taking your life into your own hands...she's a maniac only when driving to garage sales...I think the most accidents occur in Gulfport Mississippi at 6:30 a.m. by women trying to get to the same garage sale before anyone else. After a morning of tearing through streets and trying to beat the other women to the next sale, plowing over small children and animals for that lamp or dish towel and finally making it back to Nancy's, I threw myself onto the ground and kissed it, thanking God that he'd let me live another day. I kid you not...this is how it is so I've decided it's safer for me to visit my best friend on any day but Saturday.

Thank you Louisa...Victorian is so pretty...I was trying to go for country but I think it's more Vic than the other. Do you miss wallpapering at all? It's in my blood and I have to do it ever-so-often...3 years ago I wallpapered my MIL's kitchen.
Doilies can add such a soft feminine touch and can change the look of an area. I love them. The one on the large dresser was crocheted by my grandmother and I've had it for years...there's no telling how old it is...it has holes in it and is stained on one spot but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The Opal colors sounds so good...I've never heard of it but the next time I'm in a place that sells that brand I want to look it up...that's pretty good having one color that picks up other colors and makes the room uniquein color. Very smart.

Louisa, girl, you are the one that had the paint I was asking about in a thread of that purpose - me wanting to know what paint and the maker... you just answered my question of a couple of months ago...
I've got it now - OPAL - answers come when least expected sometimes...
Such pretty rooms, dee.

I think it's in England where so many homes offer B&B. The guest rooms are integrated with the rest of the house. So maybe you could fullfill that dream afterall? I bet you would be a hostess with the mostess.
I love your staircase and the French doors! Just lovely Dee.

Dee, you've done such a lovely job! Congrats on the new redecorating.

Louisa, I'm going to look up Benjamin Moore's Opal....sounds heavenly! Dee, I'm not a die hard yard saler like that!!! In fact, I only go to a few here and there whatever time of day I feel like it. But I do know some who are exactly like your friend, Nancy...realllll fiends!...crazy women! And also, up this way we have loads of B & B's and I know one place who has only 1 room to offer (maybe 2)....so there's a lot of huge ones and some very small ones. Great idea...but you become married to the thing. I had friends who owned one for years and finally got out of the business so that they could do some living! I'm sure Larry has a VERY good idea of what I'm talking about!!

My husband agrees with you Ladyjane...The B&B was lots of work in addition to his fulltime work with the RR. Plus, he was married to a nut case at the time and so it was not a pleasant experience for him. I would love to have a B&B but we're not in an area condusive with having good business. And, too, I'm not sure I want to open my home to complete strangers. Now, my Boomer ladies are different. I'll fill this house to the bursting point for those wanting to come visit. Just say the word!!!

Dee I think your home is beautiful.
I had a trademan hang my paper knowing that thereafter I could keep it fresh.The orginal paper lasted about five years before I lightly emusioned it.(My son did it between jobs)
This house is old with thick walls.I know it like the back of my hand..
MA

Hannelore,
I stayed in lovely B&B's when I lived overseas...I remember fondly one in Edinburgh where the owners had a dog named "McDougal". And a dear woman in Glencoe Scotland (I went there because my grandparents lived in Glencoe, Alabama and our family comes from Scotland). Parts of Harry Potter were filmed in Glencoe Scotland (the scenes with Hagrid's hut for those of you who are a HP fan). The history of Glencoe Scotland is amazing. I think I've talked about this before. Anyway, the sweet lady at the Glencoe B&B had tea and scones by the fireplace in the evening and told us stories of the area. It was wonderful. I'll take a B&B over a hotel any day.

Dee,
You've done such a beautiful job remodeling your home. Really it could be a brochure for a B&B. WE remodeled summer of 06 from May 11th - Sept 30th...Not one room left untouched. I'm still finding things I'd of done differently. One issue to be resolved this spring or Asap. We continued the carpet from the living room side of our Great Room into the dining area. I never realize how much time my DH spent at the dining table w/ his boots on or what a messy eater he is. Since we went from dark carpet to an light cream color. His "spot" was literally transformed into 'HIS SPOTS".. SO, we're taking OUT the dining area carpet and replacing it with the same flooring as the kitchen & utility room on opposite sides of the dining area. Our Buck wood stove/fireplace is also in the dining area and a spark hit the carpet a week or so back. LOL I saw opportunity and said "That's IT, this carpet's outta here!" Much to my surprise Honey-do didn't fuss, he just sat there and says,,OK. If I'd only known I could of said "That's IT You're outa here". LOL just kiddin'. He remodeled casue he'd promised me for 15 years we would, then when I almost didn't make it during my transplant, he got on the ball to make things 'happy' for me. IE: got the loan, hired a contractor and turned me loose. It must have been so nice that your husband had ran a B&B, giving him wonderful insite to decorating. By the time our remodel was complete I almost worte a book titled.."How NOT to remodel" (a guide to doing it right).

LadyJane, you are in southern ME? Not sure what part is what, but we go to Ogunquit a lot and Kennebunkport. Some of the most beautiful B&B's and Inn's there. My favorite if the Kennebunkport Inn. I've also been to the Haraseekit in Freeport.