Pirates Plunder: I think that linens were a big social status item back in the 1600's through the 1800's, so many ships carried linens that were very expensive and sought after. I would guess that pirates would take any linens that they found aboard a ship they were plundering. I can't remember where I read it but I recall that in some more rich homes there would be a special linen armoire which the homeowner would leave open when guests called. That way the guests could admire the linen collection and the homeowner could passively show off. Oh here it is... Pg 61 of The Miniature House (by Faith Eaton): "...linen presses were very important pieces of furniture....Brides to be and housewives with a satisfactory display to show to friends, could, by merely leaving open a cupboard door, could...illustrate their enviable status in an acceptable and conventional manner." Rich people even had linen drying rooms where they would keep the linen press, and linens that weren't good enough to display.

Lynn in Gainesville

Log Cabin Ideas: Ski lodge, Father Christmas house, Swiss Chalet, Garden centre, Pet shop, Lakeside holiday home, Country tea rooms....

Diana in New Zealand.

Log Cabin Ideas: : I made a log cabin box room from Lincoln Logs that my kids were going to sell at a garage sale. I love the "country" style of decorating, but it doesn't fit into my southwestern house, so the log cabin in mini was a perfect time to indulge myself. Get some old copies of "Country Living" magazine for decorating ideas.

Bonnie Gibson - Tucson, Arizona

Log Cabin Ideas: - A pioneer setting, if you're going historical (in fact, families in remoter areas of the Appalachians lived in log cabins up until very recent time--probably a few still do). This lends itself to great landscaping ideas, too: a soap-making cauldron, linen drying on the grass, a vegetable patch, and maybe a treasured rosebush brought from 'back home.' - Victorian country: the cabin could be the family's original homestead, and now the children play 'house' in it. - If you're doing modern, how about a writer's or painter's retreat? Or a Buddhist or Yoga retreat, with sparse furnishing and a meditation area? You could also make a 'tourist country store' out of it, where an enterprising person is selling local handcrafts, such as quilts, ragdolls, pottery, etc.

Log Cabin Ideas: Years (and years) ago, there was a chain of Log Cabin restaurants which served pancakes all day long. I remember them being painted white with a lot of red trim. They had a few tables and a long counter, with little round, backless stools, that spun around if you were fidgety, and I guess that tells you all something about me. Also in the woods, on US 101 in the Redwoods, there are several log cabin restaurants, and souvenir shops. We once lived in a log house in Tacoma, on Puget Sound, but they were vertical instead of horizontal. They were actually half logs, which had plywood in-between them. One half of the log was outside the other was inside. Caulking was used on the outside. Spider webs held together the inside.

MAP in Puyallup

Log Cabin Ideas: Lots of things to do with log cabins -- I built mine as a vacation retreat I'd like to have in full size someday. I enjoyed the project so much I wish I'd built a larger structure. I've seen a log cabin used as a wild west saloon. How about a contemporary bed & breakfast or even a store of some sort -- a Ralph Lauren or western furniture & accessories??? The possibilities are endless, and log cabins work well in either period or contemporary settings!

Kathy in TX

Pirates Plunder: Let's see - lace, material, furniture, clothing (thinking about those old Tyrone Powers movies!), mantillas (Spanish lace headwear) don't think the spelling is right, spices perhaps?, wine goblets, silver or gold silverware, dishes . . . people were moving to the "new country" and bringing all their belongs - the list is endless!

Marsha, Newark, CA

Pirates Plunder: How about silver candelabra and goblets?

Maureen in St. Albert

Pirates plunder: Pirates plundered all types of things! Gold urns, jewelry, spices (yes, they were expensive and difficult to obtain), silks, teas, fine China, tobacco, just about anything that could be traded or sold.

Marilyn, MI

Pirates Plunder: How about strings of pearls? Some gold and/or brightly colored cloth and maybe a tiny crown or tiara? I made a few pirate chests for my son's Magic Castle set and first I built a cardboard base and glued scraps of gold ribbon over it and then glued sequins, bits of ribbon, jewels of various sizes, the tiny seed pearl strings from the wedding section, a bit of broken fine gold chain and other jewelry findings, then I used a sequin pin and part of a necklace clasp for the lock. It came out really cute, and my daughter decided she wanted one for her mermaid Barbie's!

Crystal (also in San Diego)

Pirates Plunder: Pirates took everything they could carry from other ships and threw overboard what they couldn't use, trade, or sell. In addition to coins and jewels, goblets and urns, medicine and medical supplies were great treasure. Food was also a great treasure! Barrels of fruit and staples, sugar, corn, chickens in cages or crates, and of course, barrels of rum. They also took boxes of weapons, ropes, sails, maps, tools, etc. Many pirate crews also had rules to live by or a Code of Conduct which each member swore to obey. Some were posted on the ships.(perhaps that is where "honor among thieves" comes from?) Maybe a Code of Conduct would be good in a pirate's pub/tavern fastened to a post or the wall with a dagger.

Diane in N.C.