Post Of The Month Club: August

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's here!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Post of the Month Club</div><div style="text-align: center;">for August :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yea!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Come on in</div><div style="text-align: center;">It wouldn't be the same without you</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZpoXspf7THfReJ_OYX-S9-mTjLpEG6BOfRuNB98yH4cw080f-dKAKqiUtcDgLaUbVaANlt0OkmmR1QALWIpU8LA7oLGnTthpVmZ9bRFsvfdbdIWQpx7ma5-UvrbYsa-rm1mgf34ni9g/s1600/veggie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZpoXspf7THfReJ_OYX-S9-mTjLpEG6BOfRuNB98yH4cw080f-dKAKqiUtcDgLaUbVaANlt0OkmmR1QALWIpU8LA7oLGnTthpVmZ9bRFsvfdbdIWQpx7ma5-UvrbYsa-rm1mgf34ni9g/s640/veggie1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/106742230/">pinterest</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Around here</div><div style="text-align: center;">Trees are drooping with apples</div><div style="text-align: center;">Blackberries are ripe for the picking<br />Days are getting shorter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Where are we going this month?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a little more personal for me this time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here, have a seat at my table...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8pe0-K_afMRcyNof1vZk6reTOj3YvBIwjWTKQu1XvqxPzw__wVggVd6s4y4XbqAqyGcNSYnDqiie9ErGNXiaGL6iT472hk-TxBSOz5ktM2E0gF4JlDO5gZZJFsceGCrKttvlPbXXi9I/s1600/veggie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8pe0-K_afMRcyNof1vZk6reTOj3YvBIwjWTKQu1XvqxPzw__wVggVd6s4y4XbqAqyGcNSYnDqiie9ErGNXiaGL6iT472hk-TxBSOz5ktM2E0gF4JlDO5gZZJFsceGCrKttvlPbXXi9I/s640/veggie2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saved a spot for you :)<br />[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101768749/">pinterest</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have you noticed anything about the photos, as a clue?<br />No?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmm, what about my party dress?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbt192WqHJ0KCPJSM4SJbKjVGwUrjXFMNCrRVOCW64B5p2psd6xYk7kXuvsS33j0AyGqylpuX7Vt5wdemJL8tOtzY6nIHr53LZLh5swKZr0E2r2qNvz1WnKCPBXb5eJzaflUm__FSIE/s1600/veggie-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbt192WqHJ0KCPJSM4SJbKjVGwUrjXFMNCrRVOCW64B5p2psd6xYk7kXuvsS33j0AyGqylpuX7Vt5wdemJL8tOtzY6nIHr53LZLh5swKZr0E2r2qNvz1WnKCPBXb5eJzaflUm__FSIE/s400/veggie-1.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too much?<br />[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/134448957/">pinterest</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, this has to give it away...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE3edKsqNqNTQZxoYdhy3WGSI5-R0xUVAkrx4mWnXSge_M_RmPE45lYG4AT7cQDgFxQykg2Esrd4nJqZnujM1__X21bmyY_ezXlxycaVfrS3v-LLgk9-0Er1Vg1QLJlV1DuF2GdbG7JQ/s1600/veggie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE3edKsqNqNTQZxoYdhy3WGSI5-R0xUVAkrx4mWnXSge_M_RmPE45lYG4AT7cQDgFxQykg2Esrd4nJqZnujM1__X21bmyY_ezXlxycaVfrS3v-LLgk9-0Er1Vg1QLJlV1DuF2GdbG7JQ/s400/veggie3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The party favors :)<br />[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/100461682/">pinterest</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So for me, September will be about doing </div><div style="text-align: center;">A CLEANSE*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No dairy. No sugar. No alcohol. Gluten-free. 21 Days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>{yikes!}</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Proof that you can find an adventure as close as your kitchen</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nervous - yes</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Challenging - yes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Curious - YES!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wNFFtrwVR3SlMh4k1ewociYXyYeg3L_AwyM1YzSF9_1qccHJc65S_2aoo7HZmlQw8pLZz_GO6_xRQPRyl4FQmWyuJ5RLzLnugMVJd5K69G0YXpPGPSmJ8BxGu7IrjiBDdWEe5W72CV4/s1600/veggie5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wNFFtrwVR3SlMh4k1ewociYXyYeg3L_AwyM1YzSF9_1qccHJc65S_2aoo7HZmlQw8pLZz_GO6_xRQPRyl4FQmWyuJ5RLzLnugMVJd5K69G0YXpPGPSmJ8BxGu7IrjiBDdWEe5W72CV4/s640/veggie5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling 'clean' inside & out<br />[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/116469740/">pinterest</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of all, I want to see how I feel after 21 days</div><div style="text-align: center;">What I learn in the process</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* I'll be following <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clean-Revolutionary-Program-Restore-Natural/dp/0061735337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314618358&sr=8-1">The Clean Program</a> by Dr Junger, made famous by Gwyneth Paltrow </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm receiving no compensation for blogging about it)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Tell me, do you have any adventures next month?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Alrighty then</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">To our meet & greet</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Bloggers, just link up your best post of the month *</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>And see, you've already done the work</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Share the love by dropping by a few other blogs and say 'hi',<br />if you can *</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Would you like to add my button to your lovely sidebar or post so more can join the fun? *</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Yep, we'll do this the last day of each month</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">* Don't forget to become a follower here too *</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Don't be shy<br />Jump in :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Happy September Blogging, you nutritious cauliflower, you</div><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" /></a><center></center></center></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=105106" type="text/javascript"></script>

Post Of The Month Club: August

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK It's here! Post of the Month Club for August :) Yea! Come on in It wouldn't be the same without you [ p...

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Veranda's House of Windsor

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the official unveiling of <a href="http://www.windsorsmithhome.com/">Windsor Smith's</a> latest project. Windsor is one of my very favourite designers (and if you know me, that's a big call), and she's really outdone herself here. In conjunction with <a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda magazine</a>, and assisted by a few of her fabulous designer friends, Windsor has designed the most amazing property - complete with designer stables, gravel entryway, master suite; the ultimate fantasy home. What I wouldn't give to have been there in person at the grand opening....but instead, I'll be content with living vicariously through those who were...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpjJQtTGJOSvqD4odn8446cINBrQOZr_5F_6zvBmEBh79IphVi3V0vwo5QB62fwo3MIGffiGqtOrrv1Imns-YMIcTUhPOxm1x7Z-KtXw7Hg5j_zDxBgtlHCkbvKc_UxFOMXUC_geAQDy6/s1600/IMG_5429+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpjJQtTGJOSvqD4odn8446cINBrQOZr_5F_6zvBmEBh79IphVi3V0vwo5QB62fwo3MIGffiGqtOrrv1Imns-YMIcTUhPOxm1x7Z-KtXw7Hg5j_zDxBgtlHCkbvKc_UxFOMXUC_geAQDy6/s640/IMG_5429+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKf2xIXHlalZL7bx4ufCm0t4sUmnrTZVhn264dN-ZIoBpBqcIZxZ0GnWUQrXTLADgngmcjoxhUGwnzSLp0vNXXQi9nObB6fHHLXXMCw_qqI9L7f8Hb4kbV4ARYN5G5t08B6ZT5L1ViRpY/s1600/DSC00672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKf2xIXHlalZL7bx4ufCm0t4sUmnrTZVhn264dN-ZIoBpBqcIZxZ0GnWUQrXTLADgngmcjoxhUGwnzSLp0vNXXQi9nObB6fHHLXXMCw_qqI9L7f8Hb4kbV4ARYN5G5t08B6ZT5L1ViRpY/s640/DSC00672.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeioDQ850z-vWLutdpqTELYcKy7HvlaUHyp5WUAD4CAivetsrbNuQfm1BEEPaGi6odt5hdksoIeXhehonG8CLI6SCL__CUVApZ8KITh7qKqjBN8uL38SlxuAf5vUez3S-dvIkOgXjJ_FEB/s1600/DSC00679-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeioDQ850z-vWLutdpqTELYcKy7HvlaUHyp5WUAD4CAivetsrbNuQfm1BEEPaGi6odt5hdksoIeXhehonG8CLI6SCL__CUVApZ8KITh7qKqjBN8uL38SlxuAf5vUez3S-dvIkOgXjJ_FEB/s640/DSC00679-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">master suite</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod1zGZX7M2jDAQRz8vBKYBjAkkV_SNaTEDjl7BV69NhTHPvjhIKLP1tVZSt9HHQNgs9m6ZPpFhSSjxF7EV3VW5ew6YeynUGoVZielulLDMx_vCPHYgiNXfqMoqgCrHuxww5F7R3pr0ziS/s1600/DSC00683-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod1zGZX7M2jDAQRz8vBKYBjAkkV_SNaTEDjl7BV69NhTHPvjhIKLP1tVZSt9HHQNgs9m6ZPpFhSSjxF7EV3VW5ew6YeynUGoVZielulLDMx_vCPHYgiNXfqMoqgCrHuxww5F7R3pr0ziS/s640/DSC00683-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">master bath/dressing room. </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSmZhnnIcKMUHqc0oDykvMuspDr3LTKO7xCfhLMZAwdt4TAhO5P67CqRZA9QOEbvLySVN9if2JjpBnHqJ17Q9EMOu8mfgy4yDpQupznNj_dWD1AW7Kh4amtEF0bF3SQ8f_CNYzAmKLGGR/s1600/DSC00699-1024x768+via+sabina+vavara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSmZhnnIcKMUHqc0oDykvMuspDr3LTKO7xCfhLMZAwdt4TAhO5P67CqRZA9QOEbvLySVN9if2JjpBnHqJ17Q9EMOu8mfgy4yDpQupznNj_dWD1AW7Kh4amtEF0bF3SQ8f_CNYzAmKLGGR/s640/DSC00699-1024x768+via+sabina+vavara.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">sensational eat-in kitchen</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YgbdOj2OY8ERo3CmkuoMVVa2VnywHLHPfu_mF7P_t2Hik0rPRES8lW_W69Kqd_jkLDXKnUNBORXyzfpzVTtQFU3KFLquzo-ZrHw7wjfXQmvtL1lSi5dcLHb8ChvwxkxVAWou-yENNEMN/s1600/DSC00708-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YgbdOj2OY8ERo3CmkuoMVVa2VnywHLHPfu_mF7P_t2Hik0rPRES8lW_W69Kqd_jkLDXKnUNBORXyzfpzVTtQFU3KFLquzo-ZrHw7wjfXQmvtL1lSi5dcLHb8ChvwxkxVAWou-yENNEMN/s640/DSC00708-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and those stables - I could move in quite happily</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6ut6a3dgTKyPdIxxK0ethMPh-pPi2v5eCUFRF9XoQb32IaM1Y2ZCJ0xJ0nqI4oKfQ9lG5hDNlBlD2qITrss-7IpxDxAgoXl0yia_QC36FBXKSdWEn_V5pNeHPNEKq3YptJwNUzdlcT8-/s1600/Untitled+picture8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6ut6a3dgTKyPdIxxK0ethMPh-pPi2v5eCUFRF9XoQb32IaM1Y2ZCJ0xJ0nqI4oKfQ9lG5hDNlBlD2qITrss-7IpxDxAgoXl0yia_QC36FBXKSdWEn_V5pNeHPNEKq3YptJwNUzdlcT8-/s640/Untitled+picture8.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gima40InA99DoJOGc-UNNsUdPA9eVPMQF54sKSgQQxhyphenhyphenWyjb1QgRVL8RDRpw2MclmwIc6VDcbY6EyQ8d_7Qn-DJzn_trzZzpw_BtcWKE0apYD9Yd4PZQOHoU9qJeEtZR2rwjJa1rq0a4/s1600/DSC00724-768x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gima40InA99DoJOGc-UNNsUdPA9eVPMQF54sKSgQQxhyphenhyphenWyjb1QgRVL8RDRpw2MclmwIc6VDcbY6EyQ8d_7Qn-DJzn_trzZzpw_BtcWKE0apYD9Yd4PZQOHoU9qJeEtZR2rwjJa1rq0a4/s640/DSC00724-768x1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpdUCFyjVbARb4w9CQBQ41B5jWxxesCMVB_ZLavYOyP29O4qAH4SunV0ohM3JaYC2MszWIR1X8VqnPwfodk7KU8yh0Sz6irm5ZP_7I1t8EWlzMQynsAVo1rPZP8KZpFyEKDbfN9XmmwEG/s1600/how14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpdUCFyjVbARb4w9CQBQ41B5jWxxesCMVB_ZLavYOyP29O4qAH4SunV0ohM3JaYC2MszWIR1X8VqnPwfodk7KU8yh0Sz6irm5ZP_7I1t8EWlzMQynsAVo1rPZP8KZpFyEKDbfN9XmmwEG/s640/how14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kathryn Ireland fabrics and design....love</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFCKstgJzTssIGR2QSSISitUL5MlJ-hZADuDtQ9iZDRx_DwNNttTIjwavuxemO2Vv7KpYvti2PQzL-M7d0AZBD0YSBXY_tGybmIqfbjhxI2_tF2wOkFoN1SL8eOoIEq6gBOHW6omx4Ueq/s1600/Untitled+picture6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFCKstgJzTssIGR2QSSISitUL5MlJ-hZADuDtQ9iZDRx_DwNNttTIjwavuxemO2Vv7KpYvti2PQzL-M7d0AZBD0YSBXY_tGybmIqfbjhxI2_tF2wOkFoN1SL8eOoIEq6gBOHW6omx4Ueq/s640/Untitled+picture6.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">his and her sinks</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUURyk4Jxp9ROLmVSNfW2lRHp-AQP9-p_5T0dq2BIPeW5s1aJ2GX0t2WK-1ZytAhq_oprAJr0xf-wGLOOtLVaVUPCmE4fPGlsRp-Xjri7CL5l365ZVUXWe_iE6R9ko5AycjkOhqT0Q-RK7/s1600/IMG_5434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUURyk4Jxp9ROLmVSNfW2lRHp-AQP9-p_5T0dq2BIPeW5s1aJ2GX0t2WK-1ZytAhq_oprAJr0xf-wGLOOtLVaVUPCmE4fPGlsRp-Xjri7CL5l365ZVUXWe_iE6R9ko5AycjkOhqT0Q-RK7/s640/IMG_5434.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">family room/den</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9e-7INjHAl0OHnluzwxfFyHqzgFEE4MKAwoRmZ-O9sLJK6oUtKc4RhkmgPOmyV3PASIrlzcEqimRZbeJ3gryRc8lXdazv22AnU-84XXpp1nmRYtBdTZG-2_88_l0kXcZFkTKlUf8SdJ3/s1600/DSC00731-768x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9e-7INjHAl0OHnluzwxfFyHqzgFEE4MKAwoRmZ-O9sLJK6oUtKc4RhkmgPOmyV3PASIrlzcEqimRZbeJ3gryRc8lXdazv22AnU-84XXpp1nmRYtBdTZG-2_88_l0kXcZFkTKlUf8SdJ3/s640/DSC00731-768x1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's all in the details</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Fzi0biitmCc7rjIV5zjqdkH9WMGs6ld0Z2KozD0UfHgJWR_rqoivvx9BkcQ_tau8uR29DBeyyh3VrbOP97c8Ezcvcf7rkTNjypnf8B79FUrSdmerK2C2opri6khoMGFewVII6qGtUXj/s1600/how12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Fzi0biitmCc7rjIV5zjqdkH9WMGs6ld0Z2KozD0UfHgJWR_rqoivvx9BkcQ_tau8uR29DBeyyh3VrbOP97c8Ezcvcf7rkTNjypnf8B79FUrSdmerK2C2opri6khoMGFewVII6qGtUXj/s640/how12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">how's this for a nursery?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVX3v_rb8QKVRMicZjsx7J1qYQ46q9_yhlLcrukZOR3gNt5GKwLwv3PBA8LIeGYtTqa6SwhR7c7o8iEtlsscOqklr__3vAnhuY6QvJizqUWTlU0wRJ2aT8Kbk1HPWlgBW7mM2tKFiHZNK/s1600/IMG_5450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVX3v_rb8QKVRMicZjsx7J1qYQ46q9_yhlLcrukZOR3gNt5GKwLwv3PBA8LIeGYtTqa6SwhR7c7o8iEtlsscOqklr__3vAnhuY6QvJizqUWTlU0wRJ2aT8Kbk1HPWlgBW7mM2tKFiHZNK/s640/IMG_5450.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">white, serene....and very relaxed for such a grand home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>What I really love about this house is its relaxed feel. I know it's a luxurious, high-end designer home, but it really has warmth and charm. The emphasis is on family (ok, albeit a very well-off family), but nonetheless, I think that Windsor's vision of creating a home that brings people together has been achieved in spectacular fashion. The full reveal will feature in the October issue of Veranda magazine, but in the meantime, check out the <a href="http://www.verandaunveils.com/">website</a> for a few snippets, and a look at the floorplan - love. You can also visit the blogs of those lucky enough to have seen it first-hand...beyond jealous.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Images courtesy of these very lucky bloggers:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.cococozy.com/2011/07/house-of-windsor-spectacular-show-house.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.cococozy.com/2011/07/house-of-windsor-spectacular-show-house.html</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.sabinavavra.com/uncategorized/house-of-windsor-part-1-of-2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.sabinavavra.com/uncategorized/house-of-windsor-part-1-of-2</span></a><br /><a href="http://caribbeanlivingblog.com/2011/07/27/sizzling-showhouse-%E2%80%93-house-of-windsor-part-2/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://caribbeanlivingblog.com/2011/07/27/sizzling-showhouse-%E2%80%93-house-of-windsor-part-2/</span></a>

Veranda's House of Windsor

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the official unveiling of Windsor Smith's latest project. Windsor is one of my ver...

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Custom prints....you choose the colour

Finding artwork to suit your style and colour scheme can be tricky. Often, you'll fall in love with a piece, but the colours don't work, or the size is wrong....you know how it goes. I've just finished some prints for a client, who requested I match them to a paint colour - Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue. Of course, the colours may not be <i>exactly</i> the same<i>, </i>but I have to say, I really like the way these have turned out....soft, pretty and in a lovely, green/blue hue:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl2DJ19cDRyqByq7EXlIhIKk-6LJoNFSzj-ilj0HgUhKJLNek5Px7elZXoqzuYhN2HToDdZ9LaFq1GUAVI-mLiFuFMQh_o3dYBVH0_vjQCS9ddVHYgoZHhC63VKhFYY4sWvTewsCoxbj-/s1600/sea+coral+II+woodlawn+blue+watermarked2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl2DJ19cDRyqByq7EXlIhIKk-6LJoNFSzj-ilj0HgUhKJLNek5Px7elZXoqzuYhN2HToDdZ9LaFq1GUAVI-mLiFuFMQh_o3dYBVH0_vjQCS9ddVHYgoZHhC63VKhFYY4sWvTewsCoxbj-/s640/sea+coral+II+woodlawn+blue+watermarked2.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Sea Coral II in Woodlawn'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80696124/sea-coral-in-woodlawn-ii-print">prints now for sale here on Etsy</a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitldFEvp7UESyJb-1jPGVsrFSHma0NB5EeIzljgqyC7I_uw1y3lua4P6pfklDvQOZcDimNYP4WzBa8dbNDY6m9GnmsT0UcjArgmAC5670yFPCU8hwt_9iFjasap7IR6UmkIUiMATEBQHL/s1600/sea+coral+IV+woodlawn+blue+watermarked2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitldFEvp7UESyJb-1jPGVsrFSHma0NB5EeIzljgqyC7I_uw1y3lua4P6pfklDvQOZcDimNYP4WzBa8dbNDY6m9GnmsT0UcjArgmAC5670yFPCU8hwt_9iFjasap7IR6UmkIUiMATEBQHL/s640/sea+coral+IV+woodlawn+blue+watermarked2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Sea Coral IV'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80696256/sea-coral-in-woodlawn-iv-print">prints now for sale here on Etsy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMVAnGRtIYuP4cwZJF-UBgQvcyEpIx6m9y_wzo02uB8eyNF8HgnNcVtgpu-gIugH3suiLZvqV7-_imnLVujDcefgEf1iSZ26rjD010y-ElXSefBoQXPb6TSfHO9WHULsYqpGQqQH-w0g8/s1600/sea+fan+woodlawn+blue+watermarked2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMVAnGRtIYuP4cwZJF-UBgQvcyEpIx6m9y_wzo02uB8eyNF8HgnNcVtgpu-gIugH3suiLZvqV7-_imnLVujDcefgEf1iSZ26rjD010y-ElXSefBoQXPb6TSfHO9WHULsYqpGQqQH-w0g8/s640/sea+fan+woodlawn+blue+watermarked2.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Sea Fan in Woodlawn'</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62206469/sea-fan-in-woodlawn-fine-art-print-by">prints now for sale here on Etsy</a></div><br />Coincidentally, I was also commissioned to paint some of my ginger jars in a very similar colour, and it's a nice change, in place of the usual blue and white:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dPRzeGnAskVrumF6O3I70FpuwHweQJ3Bd9fJGGH58WBBECCw95Ysuybarojh68jXQlrXtJrUn2JUp_Cv0uxzhsDP03Dwk06MTjflJUaNQhMefErNQAA8dUCq_D3dSjdBW2_rACi8Mdjv/s1600/ginger+jar+in+silver+sage+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dPRzeGnAskVrumF6O3I70FpuwHweQJ3Bd9fJGGH58WBBECCw95Ysuybarojh68jXQlrXtJrUn2JUp_Cv0uxzhsDP03Dwk06MTjflJUaNQhMefErNQAA8dUCq_D3dSjdBW2_rACi8Mdjv/s640/ginger+jar+in+silver+sage+watermarked.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Ginger Jar in Silver Sage'<br />210mm x 297mm (8" x 11")<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80696311/ginger-jar-in-silver-sage">prints for sale on Etsy</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><br />So, if you're looking for artwork, and you'd like to have a piece custom-designed in a particular colour or size, I'd love to hear from you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Catch you soon,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Custom prints....you choose the colour

Finding artwork to suit your style and colour scheme can be tricky. Often, you'll fall in love with a piece, but the colours don't w...

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INSPIRATION: FROM EUROPE

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_g5dj1j="908"><span closure_uid_g5dj1j="907" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With just one full day left in London and our schedule looking full, I suddenly realized my digital camera storage disks were completely full - and we brought extra... going through them to delete duplicates and fuzzy images and free up a little space, I found that I am completely</span><span closure_uid_g5dj1j="904" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> but happily obsessed with doors, windows and other architectural details...</span></div><br><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">like this amazing stone gateway</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU1PZAzlSHbBu6jSFJrwbSNR-QLjZFa5fE2BCTZy9S3_1nK2bvWvS6uWAihIKC8tTJxs5AvhCM4fs8YpZwN6UlFuoDgkIUp_u2EWUOATc0F9bwb4M5orCuWTRYfTmCuwogjFP_cGtu122/s1600/BIBURY+IN+THE+COTSWOLDS+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU1PZAzlSHbBu6jSFJrwbSNR-QLjZFa5fE2BCTZy9S3_1nK2bvWvS6uWAihIKC8tTJxs5AvhCM4fs8YpZwN6UlFuoDgkIUp_u2EWUOATc0F9bwb4M5orCuWTRYfTmCuwogjFP_cGtu122/s640/BIBURY+IN+THE+COTSWOLDS+1.jpg" width="448"></span></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burton on the Water - in the Cotswolds</span><br><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">wrought iron and stone column</span></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br><br /></div></div><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/inspiration-from-far-away.html#more">Read more »</a>

INSPIRATION: FROM EUROPE

With just one full day left in London and our schedule looking full, I suddenly realized my digital camera storage disks were completely ful...

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Althorp House & Princess Diana

<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ahKwG5jp0HoeLXKfm4dTDtnQkeGIhN0encEGZTmvXeOkxaB_EztodsoRwoi7lzppSMLhQunIB3ddZPTn8ghSHpeerwUwYkncfBoHI4e7heijetHkZ5ymRVstIKKpuKI21v0UE6jfFm8/s1600/IMG_1568-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ahKwG5jp0HoeLXKfm4dTDtnQkeGIhN0encEGZTmvXeOkxaB_EztodsoRwoi7lzppSMLhQunIB3ddZPTn8ghSHpeerwUwYkncfBoHI4e7heijetHkZ5ymRVstIKKpuKI21v0UE6jfFm8/s640/IMG_1568-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Althorp House, Northamptonshire</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A girlfriend of mine just returned with rave reviews from the Spencer family home,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">but I had to hurry if I was to visit this famous estate</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">before it closed to the public for the season</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So off I went!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdNoVMFd8d82uGnGli_CcbZzebtowD_M-O_wTTfy_5qxBEoTKscxMoGz2dq78YVX5nvNS7xG_YSS3GOkYgEs55CZZnCX6dbU6ULncZvsPLkwVrx6pt-ZW1WO7JLXdBe2vzp4ZFiidlEc/s1600/IMG_1555-112.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdNoVMFd8d82uGnGli_CcbZzebtowD_M-O_wTTfy_5qxBEoTKscxMoGz2dq78YVX5nvNS7xG_YSS3GOkYgEs55CZZnCX6dbU6ULncZvsPLkwVrx6pt-ZW1WO7JLXdBe2vzp4ZFiidlEc/s640/IMG_1555-112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Spencer dynasty has lived at Althorp for twenty generations<br />Not a museum, this house is has been occupied uninterrupted by a family since 1522,<br />making this house a home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Covering 14,000 acres of beautiful countryside in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Norfolk,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the estate includes cottages, farms, woodlands, and <i>even villages</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Charles, 9th Earl Spencer (Princess Diana's brother) lives there today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9ZIGcjQ_ICQgVyyN3UXXKHmce42OnJBsFKzZN2-UfpV8brwkW_7_vwpeyqaTqmRNSo79WLc-NjPgmAzThs_geZ8Q_thhs-7s8VfrGE41z7te4nut3r7l6JKgpuZuFXTbZMthwe-tTdw/s1600/IMG_1633-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9ZIGcjQ_ICQgVyyN3UXXKHmce42OnJBsFKzZN2-UfpV8brwkW_7_vwpeyqaTqmRNSo79WLc-NjPgmAzThs_geZ8Q_thhs-7s8VfrGE41z7te4nut3r7l6JKgpuZuFXTbZMthwe-tTdw/s640/IMG_1633-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oaks & sheep line the driveway</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Making their fortune as sheep farmers since pre-Tudor times, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the Spencer estate leases much of its land for farming today</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">In many cases, the same family has farmed the same land for generations</span></div><div style="color: #7f7f7f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">As you could imagine, the Althorp House holds many stories</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">including courtly balls, a secret marriage (1755), a small pox victim (19th cent), and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">royal overnight guests including </span>William of Orange (1695), </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Queen Mary and King George V (1913)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">One guide assured me there are no ghosts or secret passageways, </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">but</span> I was always on the lookout for a trapdoor or hidden panel :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINtwHsNu3y-Ga0ivbLrPR-oMhbjAWA-79Nwsv52WzP1rxH03dXnFDsjPpU9LrhSHrQ3RsNpfQw9DHe3Z8v70oJLT3ViuOLiGxFyV9EkOTXfyq9C3s6SWmOQpQZQ7eqdUVWmUBlzBUn1w/s1600/Happy+Homemaker+20118-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINtwHsNu3y-Ga0ivbLrPR-oMhbjAWA-79Nwsv52WzP1rxH03dXnFDsjPpU9LrhSHrQ3RsNpfQw9DHe3Z8v70oJLT3ViuOLiGxFyV9EkOTXfyq9C3s6SWmOQpQZQ7eqdUVWmUBlzBUn1w/s640/Happy+Homemaker+20118-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince William Room & Marlborough Room</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">Exploring the nineteen rooms and a few private apartments,</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">I found the house to be large and grand (as expected)</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">with an accumulation of countless portraits,</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">artwork, antique furniture, and books that spans the generations</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F00L_mMpUk8wxF2azZX9w_ziuh42LpeMQGfuSAqhNmoBAgOzxUaTCcoLEMg1HMlezK_R41wZLnosZWEESMFwD9HHvfxfFTXFGSxyQU3cjuwTOPfjVojMzxd-P0pmRQCzpp6WcjEkoOM/s1600/IMG_1591-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F00L_mMpUk8wxF2azZX9w_ziuh42LpeMQGfuSAqhNmoBAgOzxUaTCcoLEMg1HMlezK_R41wZLnosZWEESMFwD9HHvfxfFTXFGSxyQU3cjuwTOPfjVojMzxd-P0pmRQCzpp6WcjEkoOM/s640/IMG_1591-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Althorp Stables</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The stables hold an award-winning exhibition celebrating the life of Diana, Princess of Wales</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">including the famous bridal gown, her childhood letters and artifacts, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">and details of her charity </span></span>work</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My favorite part was seeing some of her dresses displayed next to</div><div style="text-align: center;">photographs of her wearing them</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She was definitely an amazing person with all she accomplished<br />What a difference one person can make<br />(and how adorable are her two sons?!)<br /><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfUWCKcCwaBkHNo1uHTLV4-BsbeTp9qOfMAfqVz7Y25Ovwc3a6ihgOkDXjAMYs8XCIapNSe6gaMwOfky7FAuts4-WZkJdg1sUiSlSGidCt1IBIp6_Vp4H-LQHOUvaWff1UgqAKsjgkvQ/s1600/IMG_1577-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfUWCKcCwaBkHNo1uHTLV4-BsbeTp9qOfMAfqVz7Y25Ovwc3a6ihgOkDXjAMYs8XCIapNSe6gaMwOfky7FAuts4-WZkJdg1sUiSlSGidCt1IBIp6_Vp4H-LQHOUvaWff1UgqAKsjgkvQ/s640/IMG_1577-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sad Day: At rest on island, September 6th 1997</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I saw a visitor leave flowers here...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT_appH77hHEqMdp7ZT96o-DUYxetJmPDSxJ-0XxwNKbqhBf3Ni4c8xjT_2rotfwcl9_cTmmKzcv7WaNOWwL5v9Drjnr8pT8bRLBwPqHTh4EUaj0X_RQS-cWdWM4USvnzf4cf-mUdwEo/s1600/IMG_1583-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT_appH77hHEqMdp7ZT96o-DUYxetJmPDSxJ-0XxwNKbqhBf3Ni4c8xjT_2rotfwcl9_cTmmKzcv7WaNOWwL5v9Drjnr8pT8bRLBwPqHTh4EUaj0X_RQS-cWdWM4USvnzf4cf-mUdwEo/s640/IMG_1583-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Located beside lake</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"></span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">Although the 2011 summer open days have almost past, </div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">there are opportunities to rent out the house for a wedding or special occasion(!)</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">or visit when it is open next time (the more economical choice):<br /><br /></div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">Althorp Garden Art Weekend (Sept 3-4)</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">Winter Warmers at Althorp (Nov 25-27)</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">It was definitely an unforgettable day<br />Thank you for coming along :)</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="line-height: 2em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Time for another Post Of The Month Club day - yea! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is a great way for you to promote your best work</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and meet other fantastic bloggers</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Join me Wednesday, August 31st</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yep, right here :)</div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" /></a><center><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Ooh, wouldn't this button look lovely on your sidebar?</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">You can grab the code from my sidebar :)</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">All bloggers are welcome to join</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">It wouldn't be the same without you!</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">(more details <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/03/post-of-month-club-linky-party.html" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">here</a>)</div></div></center></center></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Exterior photos: by me</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Interior photos: <a href="http://www.althorp.com/">Althorp</a> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Content: <a href="http://www.althorp.com/">Althorp</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Althorp">Wiki</a></span><br /><br /> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Althorp House & Princess Diana

Althorp House, Northamptonshire A girlfriend of mine just returned with rave reviews from the Spencer family home, but I had to hurry if I w...

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House of Turquoise feature

<a href="http://www.houseofturquoise.com/">House of Turquoise</a> is one of my daily must-reads. Without fail, Erin manages to find the most spectacular homes from around the world, and they all feature one of my very favourite colours - turquoise. So you can imagine my excitement this morning when I woke to find her latest post:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeKSiYYuNITIqqiN3yQC3nU7iy1pSuFNLI6VUtFarUI3ekSHm5wUKQ-H5JYi1-T5f0qsJ82Dm7I9P_u0rq8LQNyiwpIAWx0PuKILmL9AywudKXTLJE1ncclWd6C1Em1asnOJdLBLyzHdj/s1600/houseofturquoise1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeKSiYYuNITIqqiN3yQC3nU7iy1pSuFNLI6VUtFarUI3ekSHm5wUKQ-H5JYi1-T5f0qsJ82Dm7I9P_u0rq8LQNyiwpIAWx0PuKILmL9AywudKXTLJE1ncclWd6C1Em1asnOJdLBLyzHdj/s640/houseofturquoise1.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/driftwoodinteriors">Sea Fan Series in Turquoise</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">as seen in the Stately Homes by the Sea Designer Show House</div><div style="text-align: center;">room designed by the very talented Lauren Guarcello of <a href="http://porterdesigncompany.com/">Porter Design Company</a></div><br /><br />Thanks so much Erin, you've made my day! You can see the whole post <a href="http://www.houseofturquoise.com/2011/08/porter-design-company.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

House of Turquoise feature

House of Turquoise is one of my daily must-reads. Without fail, Erin manages to find the most spectacular homes from around the world, and ...

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Blogging Tips Series: Increasing Comments On Your Blog

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bloggers love to receive comments, don't we?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It provides the fuel to keep us posting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Motivating. Validating. Connecting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few ideas to keep the love comments flowing...<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzuf8YFrNm_LqWMBTKDhWLxkhjk5enoBfSFiQ4GpkIY_DaRDhHoqlG35UViDHg58jx-FdxkQQP60D7ccUXTbyKdc6qZf1derb11PqYgQ5lrJihJ4UBcR_t7g_PunYa-iCfI9WbMgVqMw/s1600/9328626_cuce4gCh_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzuf8YFrNm_LqWMBTKDhWLxkhjk5enoBfSFiQ4GpkIY_DaRDhHoqlG35UViDHg58jx-FdxkQQP60D7ccUXTbyKdc6qZf1derb11PqYgQ5lrJihJ4UBcR_t7g_PunYa-iCfI9WbMgVqMw/s320/9328626_cuce4gCh_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heartfelt comments<br />[via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9328626/">Pinterest</a>]</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">GIVE THE BOOT TO THE CAPTCHA<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Deactivate the 'captcha' in your comment section - you know, that warped text of nonsense words used to ensure a real person is writing a comment? You'll notice the well-followed blogs do not use them. They are not user friendly.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNTiEf2lfjdzCavJWolVnQtg_nI4q3RaWsUjr0ROYIuCdS07M3rLC0T7WfkqeUf9eXlAc8xrCuMbD7gkuN_Lf9xegRsja-aDGi0rTm_cCmm-7Yk2h4o0Ahe9ZOInm7eqSPizx5H2aUX0/s1600/Capture+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNTiEf2lfjdzCavJWolVnQtg_nI4q3RaWsUjr0ROYIuCdS07M3rLC0T7WfkqeUf9eXlAc8xrCuMbD7gkuN_Lf9xegRsja-aDGi0rTm_cCmm-7Yk2h4o0Ahe9ZOInm7eqSPizx5H2aUX0/s1600/Capture+1.JPG" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[sample captcha]</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Many people read blogs from different devices such as smartphones and iPads, on which can be cumbersome to write (or see) the captcha. It takes time, and simply is an extra hoop to jump through.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Do not fear inappropriate comments. Although I receive them occasionally, I just delete them. Plus, you can reactivate the captcha feature anytime you rethink your decision to eliminate it. All comments will continue to land in your inbox, so nothing will sneak in under the radar. Really, just try it.</div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoboqYt0kD5VA9Zl7rJxF0opLamCx5feEbBh2H6GRHzkU5y3DHpI2chWsDdjv5arhBbNFj-dpkSB-d-58QOX5L6PKmzan8XUhVlSxmOdIWSdYDo_WNLJan0OjJVVUd8nmqba8FBZLjqI/s1600/115153595_Ued2UVJT_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoboqYt0kD5VA9Zl7rJxF0opLamCx5feEbBh2H6GRHzkU5y3DHpI2chWsDdjv5arhBbNFj-dpkSB-d-58QOX5L6PKmzan8XUhVlSxmOdIWSdYDo_WNLJan0OjJVVUd8nmqba8FBZLjqI/s400/115153595_Ued2UVJT_c.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loads of comments<br />[via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9328626/">Pinterest</a>]</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">COMMENT BACK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ideally, comment back on other bloggers' posts if they comment on yours</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think it increases blog loyalty and forms connections</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{However, I must say life often gets this in the way, </div><div style="text-align: center;">preventing me from doing this as often as I'd like}</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8GFdZy8_HPEASyLVPsqpCsdP996JrqmVXtYCqKjJUPR7qJSTc9ZIWApEZqu7dDHwf-yoSiZ-QVDTwjjHWwUGT2f_mesehiwyTWbZYj0SUxKukNBjtZQlU_a1H9sQfyCTCJ-U8V7yhGk/s1600/5434639_umuwpfcr_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8GFdZy8_HPEASyLVPsqpCsdP996JrqmVXtYCqKjJUPR7qJSTc9ZIWApEZqu7dDHwf-yoSiZ-QVDTwjjHWwUGT2f_mesehiwyTWbZYj0SUxKukNBjtZQlU_a1H9sQfyCTCJ-U8V7yhGk/s320/5434639_umuwpfcr_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute comments<br />[via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/5434639/">Pinterest</a>]</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">COMMENT PLACEMENT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Personally I like when a comment box is not isolated from its post</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a very small memory and appreciate being able to refer back to the post</div><div style="text-align: center;">while writing a comment</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2H9rVtvtw3Y81BmQVrOTTCozDv2GL4VfWXKKAQB4GyBxgKTTkX8-r8nOwsflCpHxeQm3WSKJNuZ0WTB_qMD68ZEGZqCxlJd2axyLPzTMekJ9opwrmQofBXkCi9D3mR8M01dAOC_Gl9A/s1600/9552310_uq6J1AvQ_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2H9rVtvtw3Y81BmQVrOTTCozDv2GL4VfWXKKAQB4GyBxgKTTkX8-r8nOwsflCpHxeQm3WSKJNuZ0WTB_qMD68ZEGZqCxlJd2axyLPzTMekJ9opwrmQofBXkCi9D3mR8M01dAOC_Gl9A/s320/9552310_uq6J1AvQ_c.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowery comments<br />[via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9552310/">Pinterest</a>]</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">INVITE DISCUSSION AND OPINIONS</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">End your post with a question</div><div style="text-align: center;">This gives a clear message to your readers that you would like their input</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What suggestions would you add?<br />(that's a 'ending your post with a question' question)</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I really would like to know ;)<br /><br />****************<br /><br />Coming Wednesday, August 31st<br />Hope you will join in the fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" /></a><center></center></center><br /><br />Details <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/p/post-of-month-club.html">here</a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><u>More Blogging Tips:</u></div><div style="text-align: left;">Increasing Blog Traffic (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/08/blogging-tips-series-increasing-blog.html" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">here</a>)<br />Photo Editing (coming soon)<br /><br /></div></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Blogging Tips Series: Increasing Comments On Your Blog

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK Bloggers love to receive comments, don't we? It provides the fuel to keep us posting Motivating. Validating...

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Spring it on

It's cold and rainy here in Brisbane this morning, and just between you and me, I'm completely over winter. So, if I can't hurry Spring, I can at least indulge in a little virtual daydreaming, courtesy of <a href="http://www.sigbergamin.com.br/ing_index.html">Sig Bergamin</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoHjPHqVx5bVp5JgYjRsQI3z7wf9J1mwrr-HLyas-uAVUaOeHYTR4kzEOqz_wUhRca5AlNBUuSe869r5tx898VgY1zgC7ly2mRJLTHup1qUWLH6RvfN33qtVbrF19cOzSCmIHG4w0gmKN/s1600/Untitled+picture5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoHjPHqVx5bVp5JgYjRsQI3z7wf9J1mwrr-HLyas-uAVUaOeHYTR4kzEOqz_wUhRca5AlNBUuSe869r5tx898VgY1zgC7ly2mRJLTHup1qUWLH6RvfN33qtVbrF19cOzSCmIHG4w0gmKN/s640/Untitled+picture5.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr1FnTVVMEBKET7vmF0wpeFQyjALPj0S17KMyV0jgLBTODYzFOBhdtydliPNUlnFI9SeOVgm-SRWAmrw35IeVO0tB5Tel_XTAGmOJnoeQGDSMdg-ZT7RGRo-S1YUBnnyz90jbc7ewFDJ2/s1600/Untitled+picture8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr1FnTVVMEBKET7vmF0wpeFQyjALPj0S17KMyV0jgLBTODYzFOBhdtydliPNUlnFI9SeOVgm-SRWAmrw35IeVO0tB5Tel_XTAGmOJnoeQGDSMdg-ZT7RGRo-S1YUBnnyz90jbc7ewFDJ2/s400/Untitled+picture8.png" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF0OEft3OythyphenhyphenETqRC1jDPLFW1TMZRoTzOf8RaqkKsAWBn4VBjzljOcYGzc50KWn1j2DAe3YjY0LLpLW6jWc56KYtMM1iouGIEw_9cJwMXTewExrRPpLVB0W0XcdudvsXvr_2UK5YK7Zv/s1600/Untitled+picture7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF0OEft3OythyphenhyphenETqRC1jDPLFW1TMZRoTzOf8RaqkKsAWBn4VBjzljOcYGzc50KWn1j2DAe3YjY0LLpLW6jWc56KYtMM1iouGIEw_9cJwMXTewExrRPpLVB0W0XcdudvsXvr_2UK5YK7Zv/s640/Untitled+picture7.png" width="472" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebLxpYiLmbZyq3gzG3GK4V5qcKlcBXoy8teX_LiuVgHiZte5ojiRIRgp5BvkvVbNMjBJaBg4E4_CLIFriszqquX5jKSXeBSdQnuZ97vBMf4WOWnXEtXvPLdHkyPT-y3AoP-tYzw_VLRtE/s1600/Untitled+picture6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebLxpYiLmbZyq3gzG3GK4V5qcKlcBXoy8teX_LiuVgHiZte5ojiRIRgp5BvkvVbNMjBJaBg4E4_CLIFriszqquX5jKSXeBSdQnuZ97vBMf4WOWnXEtXvPLdHkyPT-y3AoP-tYzw_VLRtE/s640/Untitled+picture6.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe3zSqe46lE4E2rgqdzd0Tcymuq_f8TgdvbC10yw6iHIlXBq8trkHjaF9zBXSqhBKG0TFMXKDVCGtZyvP7udiihavep4TGgVw8ZEVhfF-rdvNE7YR-V700pBtE4B7D4yE_E6zf-vWmj0i/s1600/Untitled+picture4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe3zSqe46lE4E2rgqdzd0Tcymuq_f8TgdvbC10yw6iHIlXBq8trkHjaF9zBXSqhBKG0TFMXKDVCGtZyvP7udiihavep4TGgVw8ZEVhfF-rdvNE7YR-V700pBtE4B7D4yE_E6zf-vWmj0i/s640/Untitled+picture4.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGnhgKtKxRnPLLh9Gc9SFdXYeC-WIKBLZG9Fphv5XX6o4VgOhgj5TNzLa58vFTf_sAbZCaFnLvbIG_AfIQg3W94xnBP0Xek_BjtKGlM4lhYGx8ZitBNqGHNL8fsTH5FIDLwk1la9517A4/s1600/Untitled+picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGnhgKtKxRnPLLh9Gc9SFdXYeC-WIKBLZG9Fphv5XX6o4VgOhgj5TNzLa58vFTf_sAbZCaFnLvbIG_AfIQg3W94xnBP0Xek_BjtKGlM4lhYGx8ZitBNqGHNL8fsTH5FIDLwk1la9517A4/s400/Untitled+picture3.png" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbBfhdMA-_A64Pyjud9tgz52bTQ19y5jG7FJxwctlDkkc3EHysJUc1hdq-QZMyt5SCd_uPDiMCoFzD_qzrodIDd2owGL0rAo8gk_GBTy78wjZj5PKeRtEUsACYRE9e1DwPscEdHomzcaD/s1600/Untitled+picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbBfhdMA-_A64Pyjud9tgz52bTQ19y5jG7FJxwctlDkkc3EHysJUc1hdq-QZMyt5SCd_uPDiMCoFzD_qzrodIDd2owGL0rAo8gk_GBTy78wjZj5PKeRtEUsACYRE9e1DwPscEdHomzcaD/s640/Untitled+picture2.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgY_GA66qiKg5y_UtIBjIpRfP46Lm6kuaQv98x59vyB0xu5453AFcBGFUnDdeaAao6BBGc8_w2PyHMUXzJfbPBcUuO669pfrASeLUJ1J0HtsEsYsVQU2fN7XrPKWbWJcv8knh7wNuFb5m/s1600/Untitled+picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgY_GA66qiKg5y_UtIBjIpRfP46Lm6kuaQv98x59vyB0xu5453AFcBGFUnDdeaAao6BBGc8_w2PyHMUXzJfbPBcUuO669pfrASeLUJ1J0HtsEsYsVQU2fN7XrPKWbWJcv8knh7wNuFb5m/s640/Untitled+picture1.png" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSSFRXwj4xiiWxzl3ooE2YWrqLbzzKRLVo2Ms9saJX3KaG3n3cT1BIwMZ6KUrMiPa4yBRAnqDGFykQnSA4u2PTP1kUG70KISl8_trmnwtiTAfoCi94gS-l0DW0HR1ho37Cr4tBBiQqqZW/s1600/Untitled+picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSSFRXwj4xiiWxzl3ooE2YWrqLbzzKRLVo2Ms9saJX3KaG3n3cT1BIwMZ6KUrMiPa4yBRAnqDGFykQnSA4u2PTP1kUG70KISl8_trmnwtiTAfoCi94gS-l0DW0HR1ho37Cr4tBBiQqqZW/s640/Untitled+picture.png" width="440" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I feel better already.....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Spring it on

It's cold and rainy here in Brisbane this morning, and just between you and me, I'm completely over winter. So, if I can't hurry...

Read more »