Check out the FAQ here for beginners. Here is a link that might be useful: Growing from Seed FAQ's and How-To's

We've looked for the source but can't really narrow it down. there was definitely rodent infestation when we bought the place, but we did what we could to try to prevent them from reentering the house. My guess is there are dead mice bodies in the walls, but would that continue to smell months/years later? We've pulled out all of the appliciances, gutted the bathroom. Septic was emptied when we bought the house, i just put a call into the company that did it to see if they thought that the smell could be coming from that but had to leave a message. The basement could be the problem, when it rains a lot, the crawl space gets damp and there could be standing water after really heavy rains. It will eventually drain to the sump, but the concrete floor will remain damp until we have a period of dry weather. That's why i'm putting in the dehumidifier to hopefully dry the area out quicker after rain. Any other thoughts or advice that might help. This has been bugging the hell out of me. we want to enjoy this place in the summer and having it smell the way it does will not allow us to.

I have been stung by designers twice with new homes. I am a professional woman but also had four small children and grew up with a limited income on a farm. So when later decorating a large home and finally had a nice income I was so intimidated by the designers who neither had children and convinced me twice to put white carpeting in my bedroom because the "children" wouldn't be in there. Pleeeze!! The designers always looked like a million bucks and I had oatmeal in my hair and flipflops on. I had no interest in oriental design but a designer convinced me it was all the rage so I spent more $$ than I should have on wall art, uncomfortable furniture and little brass or china things to sit around on shelves. I felt like a fool. But the time before I did the Ethan Allen look with floral wallpaper and my house looked like Ralph Lauren exploded in it. Never trust a designer whose name ends in "i" like Bambi, Wendi, Mandi, Tami, etc. (Just kidding all you "i" people). So where am I today? Well, we sold our large home and I gave away a lot of the furniture to the kids (they really didn't want it) and what I didn't sell in a garage sale I gave to goodwill. Some lady shopping in a thrift store is wondering who will ever buy those ugly brass bookends. The children are all grown and my hubby and I are downsizing, we bought a cute historical cottage in a great neighborhood and with the help of an architect enlarged it some and made it fit our lifestyle. Gone is the formal living room, we only have one eating space (dining room) plus the kitchen bar/island, gone is the masterbath big enough to park an 18 wheeler in, and in is relaxed and cozy with a screened porch with a fireplace on it, rose garden, open kitchen, and a small carriage house for guests. I am having a fun time decorating it with MY style whatever that is and old enough I don't care what anyone else thinks except hubby. But it took me years to get to this place. After being married 40 yrs lots of stuff has worn out or just sick of it so it's fun buying new things. I think life for everyone is more relaxed than it used to be so lots to choose from. I use magazines, this forum, travels, etc to get ideas. I am also taking it slow, not feeling it all has to be done at once so I get something and live with that and it helps me see where I want to go next. Then I confess I do have some boxes in the attic of stuff I can't part with but really don't want and neither do the kids. I guess after we're gone the kids will get rid of it. Things like wedding presents, I had a big wedding 40 yrs ago and got silver revere bowls, silver nut bowls, candy dishes, expensive china figurines, stuff you can't quite part with but hardly ever used. We just don't entertain formally anymore. Also your taste does develop over time so probably you do have to make mistakes to figure out what you like and don't like. When I first got married we bought a large mediterranean sofa with arched cushions on the back, little wooden knobs between cushions on back, large wooden arms and it was some gold/brown mix and I was so delighted that we bought a gold velvet chair to go with it. Geez!! But at the time, I thought it was terrific. We had it through lots of kids and dogs. Don't beat yourself up, pay this designer off and tell her bye, try to make some lists of what you like and develop your style and take it slow.

Turn the duvet inside out and put your hands in the inside corners (which are really the exterior corners that you now have inside). Grab the corners of the comforter, and shake the duvet down over the comforter. I usually stand on the bed to do this since there is no way to hold it high enough otherwise! You will have it right side out at this point. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it works-just don't let DH or kids see you-they'll think you are nuts, but it is much easier and effective than trying to stuff the comforter in the duvet cover. I also bought a duvet for a regular comforter when I redecorated one bedroom and did not want to buy another down comforter for that room. This method works for that one as well.