Corks! There must be a hidden delight, or reassurance factor to them. Gee, OK,so it hasn't been for yeears, but I used to hang on to them too. Usually just a few handfuls at a time, finally gave it up.[Never had enough to DO something with, but gosh, it felt like a loss!] 'Ferdinand the [mellow] Bull', used to sit under a cork tree, and smell the flowers. Been thinking about how pleasurable various tree products are, like say, coffee, tea, and chocolate. Fruit and nuts are nice too. So is mahogany and walnut furniture, oak floors... Driftwood, is delightful texturally, and sculpturally. Being near Maple trees make me feel secure, maybe it's syrup sap scent, or something. Sassafras is satisfing too, Is it the mitten-y leaf shapes or the scent? I collect locations of special trees, and go out of my way to pass by. When I was a kid, it was old cigar boxes. They were great for kiddie treasures like the tourist 'jewelry' my aunties would send me, like shell flowers- glued with Duco cement? Old lovely china, with chips, used to follow me home, The jars of really cool buttons [mostly M.O.P. shell] went with the corks. Now, I can fend off almost anything, but something for a friend, and old books. Wall paper sample books were so much crafty fun, when I was growing up. The patterns were great for seeing the range of taste that was out there. They were addictive, we always wanted more, sorta like Christmas catalogs. Seriously, the cork thing is funny.

I found the tax shelter in this posting when searching for a gift for my brother. He is a tax preparer and has everything. So I just had to share what I did for him. I took one of those woodcraft houses from Walmart- removed the two screws from the base. I cut a 1" block of wood that fit into the bottom of the house. I glued this block onto the base thus allowing the top of the house to be easily lifted off the base. I cut a 1/2" groove in the center of the block with the table saw so I could set a card of thumb tacks into it. This was hidden in the house until the top was lifted off. I wrote a poem for this & read it to him while my daughter did a Vanna White presentation of the house. Everyone got a good laugh out of this and I finally did a complete craft project! It's been a while. Hope you have as much fun with this as we did. Here's the poem: I drew your name for Christmas It's an honor, don't you know To get my brothers name for Christmas Ah! ashopping I will go. But then I started frettin After searching high and low Whatever will I get 'im (Twas wrong to worry so!) I went into an office shop Maybe something for your desk? I talked to the clerk a lot She tried to aid me in my quest. He could use a tax shelter Is what the lady said It seemed a bit off-kelter But there was nothing left instead. So here's your little shelter All painted so very nice The foundation has been mended The roofs' been polished thrice. The flowers are all blooming In the big pot by the door The bumblebees are buzzing And there's no sawdust on the floor. It seems to be the perfect place I do agree she's right It sure beats a plain old case And your tacks! They're finally safe at night!

Thanks lynn2006 and aliris19--love the pun, aliris! We don't have flowers all the time lynn (wouldn't that be nice though?), but I should have taken a new kitchen pic with my beautiful Valentine's Day bouquet--DH drove to the store that Friday morning (after, during? the snowstorms we had) to pick them up for me! Flaten, I have a couple sets of Chilewich placemats (one set I got at Century 21 for something like $4 each--I couldn't believe it when I got home and googled them and saw that they retailed for $20/ea!), so I know how nice some of their materials can be! Here are some pics I have in my PB showing a few of our shades: Guest Bathroom: MB (reflected in the mirror--you can see how sheer that particular fabric is): Guest Bedroom (you can see part of the shade): The shades in the Guest Bedroom and in our "Spare Room" are the prettiest ones we have fabric-wise (IMO), and those have the most texture, too. The shades in the two bathrooms, and our bedroom are solid color, flat weave, and are fairly sheer during the day--we wanted to maximize our ability to look out the windows during the day, while leaving the shades down (on nice days, with the windows open, we raise the shades to the height of the open portion of the window). We have room darkening micro-pleat shades mounted behind the screen shades in both bedrooms. We lower those at night, and raise them fully in the morning when we get up. Privacy micro-pleat shades are available as well, BTW. I haven't seen them in person, but would think they allow more light into the room. Some light does seep in with the room darkening micro-pleats--there are pinholes up/down the length of the shades for the strings that help to raise and lower them. FYI, they do NOT make the Roman Shade style Designer Screen Shades anymore (like the two in our bathrooms, and the ones in our office and FR which are not shown here). They are only available now as a completely flat shade (like the one in our Guest Bedroom). They offer a range of fabrics; from very sheer to fairly opaque, completely smooth through textured, etc. HTH!

57 Uses of the Bandanna Just ask Kit "What is a bandanna?" "A most useful thing," she will say. For this bright square of fabric Can be used in 57 ways. First as a triangular bandage For right hand, and left hand & knees, For right eye, & left eye, & headache Or for right foot, or left foot, or sneeze. You can wrap up your lunch in a jiffy, Then mop up the stuff that you spill. As a hat, it can look very spiffy. As a babushka, it will keep out the chill. It's a flag on the top of a flag pole Or on grease pit to mark the place, Or a warning on trailing tent poles That extend from bulging trunk space. You can bind up a cut from the hatchet Or a slip of the wrist with the knife, Or a burn to keep down the blister, And as a warning it may save your life. It makes a good sling for that broken arm, Will brace your leg while you use a cane, On the ground as a sit-upon serve you, On a trail show the way that you came. Round the neck it is Western in flavor On the head, a pirate so bold. Dropped coyly, it might lead to romance. As a muffler, it keeps out the cold. In a game, it serves as a blind fold In a relay, it's something to pass In a race, it marks home base line. At a square dance, marks laddy from lass. As a belt, it will hold up the trousers, Or a dress, it makes a gay sash. As a tie, it adds some distinction In a hip pocket, it gives certain dash. As an apron, it serves you at tea time Or centerpiece doily so gay Or a hot pad to lift up the coffee, Or to wrap up warm bread on a tray. In pairs their purpose is doubled. Two make a bikini, you know, Or a blouse, or a skirt, or sun shade If you know how to sew. For child care it is a blessing Tied to a chair, he won't fall Tears or tails can be dried very neatly And for play, you can make it a doll. For knot practice too, it is handy Square, clove, bowline, and more Now this makes 57 uses And you no doubt could add more. But with this, I'll end this ditty. More uses we'd name had we chose, But we'll add only the primary purpose That of blowing the nose. By Florence Bush