The lack of overall space is aggravating. However, today, I am fixated solely on the kitchen. "Why?" you ask. It's really quite simple, actually: copper farmhouse sinks. No, seriously.

Not only are these sinks beautiful, they're actually healthier. Copper, by its nature, is an antimicrobial. Bacteria that survives for weeks or months on stainless steel surfaces, is killed in a matter of hours on a copper sink.

In fact, one 2004 study showed that the amount of Salmonella enterica on a copper surface was actually non-infective after 2 hours of contact at 25°C. At 4 hours, the results were even more dramatic. Of course, that doesn't mean you don't have to keep the sink clean, as you normally would.

It just means if you don't get it perfectly sanitized, the risk of cross-contamination is greatly reduced. Pretty cool, if you ask me. Now, I just need more room.

Three or four same-size panels would probably stand up better on carpet; less chance of randomly falling over. But I also like the idea of a longer, unbroken span across the area. Ah, me.

The whole point of the rearranging was to give the room a ... roomier feel. If I stick a 6-foot-tall tri-fold screen across one corner, isn't that going to make it seem crowded again? I suppose if I kept it light in color and texture. And zig-zagged it between the back edge of the TV and the side of the desk, without pulling it out into the room, it could work.

Maybe something not quite as tall, so that it still gives the feeling of space over the top and into the far corner? One of the things that makes the area seem more roomy is the uninterrupted span of carpeting. With a screen, it would visually break up the space and, correct me if I'm wrong, cramp it up again.

Hmmm. Looks like I need to give it a little more thought. Any ideas out there? Well, other than "learn to live with it" ?

We recently chopped up and reconfigured a computer desk that has always been too large for our living room. Perhaps, if we had a second bedroom that could be used as an office, it wouldn't have been a issue. But we didn't; and it was.

The same with our television. It's a rather large HDTV that seriously eats up floor space. Putting it up off the floor, just a little, gave us storage underneath that we desperately needed and a home for a side table that was unusable elsewhere. Viewing the television isn't an issue and, in fact, is slightly improved, since the screen is above most of the lighting in the room and suffers less glare.

Win-win.

I looked at Carolina Designs' Outer Banks vacation rentals last month and pretty much fell in love with the area. It's near the water, has four seasons, and is cactus/scorpion free. Renting a home would give us a chance to spend time with our kids, while exploring more permanent living options.

Five bedrooms and three floors means that the whole family could fit, with privacy and room to spare. Just a perfect vacation option. Every couple has a room, most with their own bath; sharing common areas or enjoying private time as each prefers.

With the holidays approaching, the upper level of the Seahawk made me think of planning an old-fashioned Christmas get-together. I can imagine a tall tree covered in twinkling lights and glittering ornaments. The smell of pine boughs and popcorn popping; a crackling fire and carols playing softly in the background.

After all these years, the idea of sharing the holidays with family brings a smile to my heart.

Quick Afghan 001

Similar to one of our Banded Afghan Styles, this Quick Afghan is crocheted in wide stripes, using three yarn colors.

The Primary color is used throughout the Afghan, combining with the Secondary color in the larger sections and with the Accent / Third color for narrower bands at the top, middle, and bottom.

One of the design hurdles we had to address was the Primary Color option. After much deliberation, and several less workable ideas, we decided to offer black and white as the - for lack of a better phrase - canvas on which the design will build.

Whether light or dark, we believe that all of our other yarn options will work extremely well with these base colors. Personally, I think this is going to become one of our most popular styles.

There are so many possibilities ~ whether combining tints and shades from the same color family (as in the pictures) or pulling contrasting colors, such as purple and yellow, or orange and blue. What about bright green and red with white for Christmas? or gold and orange with black for fall / Halloween?

See?! Almost endless possibilities!

Because the patterns were more time-consuming in our Block Afghans, the larger sizes took nearly 4 weeks to complete. This Quick Afghan should take about three. We're anticipating, and hoping, that delivery will actually be closer to only 2 weeks for most of the sizes.

I know that, in the middle of sweltering summer heat, the last thing anyone thinks about are warm, snuggly Afghans. But that is one of the reasons we're not as busy from April to September. Once the weather cools, the orders increase and, though rare, processing delays and order backlogs are always possible.

Order today and beat the crowd.

Quick Afghan 002

This simple pattern - two contrasting or complementing colors, crocheted together with a great big hook - is named for its start-to-finish speed.

While our block afghans, with more time-consuming patterns, took up to 4 weeks for the larger sizes, this Quick Afghan takes less than three. In fact, we anticipate delivery will be closer to two weeks from date of order for most sizes.

Unlike variegated yarns, where the manufacturer decides which color combinations you get, this afghan pattern lets you create your own. As it is crocheted, the yarn twists and turns - giving a unique pattern to each Afghan. No two will ever be exactly alike.

If that weren't exciting enough - we are happy to announce that, despite additional yarn requirements, Quick Afghans are actually less expensive to create. A savings that we are thrilled to share with our customers.

It may seem odd - in the midst of summer's heat - to think about Afghans. However, our busy season starts when the weather cools. And, since we don't crochet until you order - first in, first out - there is always a chance (however rare) that an order could be unavoidably delayed behind those received earlier.

Order today and beat the crowd.

To start with, I can't use the same floor lamp everywhere; though I did try, desperately. Next to the television, we need diffused lighting to brighten the room, but not blind everyone. Between the recliners, task lighting would be better - for reading, using the laptop, and crocheting, but not really to light the whole room because it would create a reflection in the TV. (Our issue with Harry Potter.)

Then, we have the desk. Mark really needs something that lights up the keyboard, but doesn't get in his way or create a glare on the monitor or shine back in his eyes. Ideally, a desk lamp that clips or clamps to the top shelf and has a movable arm that he can pull down or push out of the way.

No single style is going to do all of these things and, since we rent, we can't exactly rewire and mount fixtures on the walls. My best hope, at this point, is three different lamps in bronze or brass (personal preferences) with shades that are similar enough to complement each other and not look like we just threw something in the room. Oddly, not as difficult as I imagined.

It all started with taking the dining table apart, which isn't quite as radical as it sounds. Sitting in front of the living room window, the table was basically just an extra flat surface for storing what didn't fit anywhere else. With it gone, Frankie's bed moved under the window and out of the way. It even gives him a headboard, by butting up against the side of the computer desk.

Of course, the table wasn't the only thing on that wall. But moving the portable washer into the walkway between the bedroom and living room, freed up half of the wall opposite the window. The 'stuff' crammed into the corner is now neatly stacked across the room. The whole area just feels bigger now.

Today was the real test of the new set-up. Every month or so, maintenance comes in to 'inspect' the apartment and replace the furnace filters. In anticipation of this inspection, we decided to do a quick steam-clean of the carpets. (We do that twice a month, anyway; but it was a good excuse to pull out the machine a little early.)

Needless to say, with all of the furniture and 'stuff' out of the middle of the living room, cleaning the carpet was almost fun. Well, if not fun, at least a whole lot easier. I will never scoff again.

Okay, I'll probably snicker a bit. He does have some wild ideas, after all. But I solemnly promise to never pooh-pooh out loud!

He'd post a link to a page of rugs and ask me to pick three, or four, that I would buy. Now I'm not trying to pat myself on the back here (okay, maybe a little, because it seriously surprised me). With the exception of one or two, I consistently chose the same ones that he had either already ordered or was going to order for the store.

Approaching something in that way - Would I offer it to my customers? And if I did, would it sell? - tends to alter one's shopping perspective. Especially for someone who's criteria usually boils down to "Oooh! Pretty!

Since I barely recall having or attending a baby shower, I was amused to find that there are still silly games and favors. Most seemed like fun. Some suggestions were more practical than others: creating scrapbook pages or redeemable coupons sounded like great activities. The creativity behind some of the ideas for couples showers that I ran across was actually inspiring.

Do most people still hold the shower before the baby's birth? or are they waiting? Waiting always made more sense to me. That way the baby doesn't spend the first six months of his/her life dressed in the somewhat limited range of non-gender-specific items on the market.

Although, frankly, the baby doesn't care. And Mom and Dad are going to be too bleary-eyed from lack of sleep to even notice what color sleeper they just pulled out of the dresser. So, maybe before-or-after isn't that important, after all.