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Staging is the buzzword these days! When selling a home, it is suggested the home be staged for a better or quicker sale. The idea behind staging is to make the home look uncluttered and as professionally decorated as possible so it appears fresh and inviting to potential buyers. If the home is vacant, a professional stager will put furniture and accessories in to make the home more inviting.

Dear Helaine and Joe: I inherited two paintings of sailing ships about which I would like some information. One is named "Racing to Bermuda" and signed by J. Arnold. The same artist painted the second, titled "Macquarie." Are they valuable? -- A.W., Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Q: You seem to be the voice of reason when it comes to plumbing problems. My wife and I have a bathroom faucet (about 5 years old) that came with the house when we bought it new, and recently it has started to drip. I called my plumber, and he said I was better off to have him install a brand-new, high-quality faucet.

Here are my own experiences. (Remember to check with your town or homeowners association to see if line drying is prohibited or limited.)

-- Once I made the mistake of leaving my clothespin bag out on consecutive high-humidity days. The wooden pins got moldy. I ran them through the washer with bleach. While a bit stained, they are fine.

A few months ago, feeling strung out by the 9 to 5, I began to think of things that would free me from my ergonomically correct chair. Homemaking has always been one of my passions (yes, I like to clean) and, I decided, why not hang the clothes out to dry, as many people still do, as I used to?

It's time to talk about a good night's sleep. With all the stress we are subject to, a peaceful, relaxing sleep is health-restoring and rejuvenating. There are some innovative mattresses available to help achieve blissful sleep. Let's explore.

After years and years of decorating my home and others' for the holidays, I've come to this conclusion: I think Christmas decor looks its best when it's subtly woven into our year-round displays, adding just a whisper of the season in a few key spots, rather than being the center of the show.

Q: Last night, I heard a noise coming from my fireplace, and when my husband looked, he saw a squirrel in the chimney. He also found a bird's nest, which helped to explain the fluttering noises we heard all summer. We have a chimney cap, but they still get in. What can we do?

What you put on your walls usually says as much -- or more -- about you as what you put on your back. And in the artworks first lady Michelle Obama has borrowed from three great museums to adorn the family's private residence in the White House, she seems mostly consistent in her taste.

The colors in fall leaves remind me of the rust, gold and olive sections of a boutique quilt shop. Each leaf and each bolt of fabric has a unique color and pattern. It is the unique colors and patterns that are the inspiration and material for making fabric fall leaves. This project is perfect for families to make together.