By Susan D Ferrell Starting From Scratch Decorating your home can be a confusing and stressful time. There are so many colors, patterns, styles, and accents to choose from; where do you begin? Do you choose the latest trend or stick with the hues you like? Do you choose the same palette as your sister did, or do you venture out on your own? There are a lot of factors at play when you decide to redecorate your space. For example, are you trying to match new furniture to an exi

By Susan D Ferrell 1. Have you ever wondered how paint is made? 2. Have you ever wondered why some colors cover better than others? 3. Have you ever heard the words overtone and undertones? 4. Have you ever wondered why some colors make you feel differently than others? 5. Have you ever heard of the term Tint Blots before? Well then, you are in luck because I happen to know the answers to those questions. How Paint Is Made House paint starts with a base (founda

By Susan D. Ferrell Third Installment: Time Welcome to the last installment of "Kitchen Renovation It's A Numbers Game." When I decided to add "time" to this series, I didn't realize it would be such a touchy subject. My first idea was to explain standard wait times for cabinets and high-end countertops and what season, I think, is an excellent time to renovate a kitchen. I will still include this in my post, but I have something to add first. It has been several months since

Helpful tips to keep your kitchen renovation within budget and on track

By Susan.D. Ferrell First Installment – Measurements Are you thinking about renovating your kitchen but don't know where to start? Don't worry; most homeowners have been in your shoes. In fact, on average, it takes a homeowner seven years to go from thinking about renovating the kitchen to starting the project. Renovating any room in your home can be a daunting undertaking but especially the kitchen. It's the heart of a busy home. It's where your family gathers for meals and

The Lyrical Musing of S.D. Ferrell Ditty # 1 – Nonsense Thang Sping spang wanna bing bang Nonsense words that don’t mean a thang They make a jingle as they roll off your tongue And sound quite comical when they're sung. Sping spang wanna bing bang Nonsense words that don’t mean a thang You snap your fingers and shuffle your feet And bob your head to the boogity beat Sping spang wanna bing bang Nonsense words that don’t mean a thang You shake your shoulders and wiggle your to

By S.D. Ferrell I never learned how to write a Haiku, does that make me less of a poet than you? What’s with the numbers five seven five? I suppose research will explain the reason why. But preciseness would be a constant worry when all I really want to do is pen a half-ass lyrical story. That conveys profound emotions of love gone astray. Of times long past when all we did was play. Do you remember poems from our youth that rhymed a simple sentimental truth? One day a year

Excerpt from My Funny Bone Has No Wenus (Revised edition) "I wrote this story when I worked at The Brick. I gave it to my manager to read. Afterward, she asked if it really happened. I told her of course not it was just creative writing. To this day, I don’t think she believes me." Okay, so I got this new cell phone the other day. I know, I know, big deal. But wait, you’re going to want to hear me out. I haven’t found one of those holders that clip to your belt yet. So before

I once walked a million miles for a man that wouldn’t cross the road for me. But in my defense, I was young, foolish and in love, and he had no legs. Not really, he was an ass. “In love,” that is a rather fluid phrase for an emotion/feeling that can elicit a profound response. Positive or negative. Personally, I think it is the most misunderstood and misused phrase known to humans. For example; I often say I am in love with the arts. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to get up-

Excerpt from: A Parable for the Human Mind - Susan's Brain (Second Edition) Once upon a time there was a lizard and a snake. They lived in a desert-like-plain on the outskirts of a peculiar, little town called Desert Inn. The town consisted of a state-of-the-art research laboratory, housing for the scientists and workers, a strip mall, and a nine-hole golf course. The course was called The Greens of Desert Inn. The laboratory was world-renowned for its breakthrough technolog