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Dear Helaine and Joe:

The Pantone color palettes for fall/winter 2012 and 2013 are in, and the winners are ... many. Expect to see these hues in clothes, interior design, home products -- perhaps even makeup.

The color authority has nine palettes to share for an array of choices. It seems that almost all the palettes are muted a bit. Each palette has a name that reflects the colors within.

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - One morning nine months ago, Norm Augustinus woke up, got out of bed and went into the kitchen. It was still dark. He tripped, lost his footing and fell on something.

It was his mother. She was lying on the floor with her eyes open. She was dead.

Thanks to technology, many of us log a lot of work hours from home. So a high-functioning home office has become a must. Do you have a home-office space that allows you to do your best work? If not, it's time to create a spot that works for you. Here's how:

1. Pinpoint who will work in your home office.

Don't you just love opening your mailbox right around your birthday and finding thoughtful greeting cards wishing you a happy day? We both do; it's such a nice change from the usual bills and junk mail that stuff boxes. In this day of instant e-everything, getting a physical greeting card on a special occasion lets you know you are cherished.

Michael Graves' curtain call with Target Corp. is set for this spring.

The Minneapolis-based retailer said that the final installment of Michael Graves-designed kitchen gadgets, cleaning tools and storage products will hit stores in March and be available until the end of 2012.

Q: Hi, Ed. I have two plumbing questions for you, one serious and one fun.

First, I've read about the new slow-close toilet seats in your columns and think they're kind of neat. But, really, what is the attraction to them, and how do you justify the extra costs? Second, did you know that the word "plumber" derives from the Latin word "plumbium," for "lead"? -- Bill, Rhode Island

Q: You have written about spalling or flaking bricks and why they're that way.

You said a cap of stone, wood or metal is needed to keep rain and snow out. Would you please explain what kind of cap you're talking about? This is happening to the brick on the north side of my house in Texas.

This sweet project makes a perfect gift for anyone in your family or circle of friends. You can quickly stitch any word onto as many or as few pillows as you like -- and you can use either throw pillows for the couch or bed pillows.

Gather:

-- Solid-colored pillowcases

-- Mix-and-match fabrics

-- Scissors

-- Embroidery floss

-- Needle

Give a boring dresser a quick new look by sticking your favorite vintage-style poster right on the front. This design idea can be completed in an afternoon and the results are amazing. One of my favorite things about this project is that you can truly alter a piece of furniture to your personal style and taste.