Start Planning for Your Backyard Garden
June 30, 2007
Start Planning for Your Backyard Garden
by: Gerry Fung
Water gardens are great focal points for any backyard.
With spring in the air, now is the time to start planning for your backyard garden. For many homeowners, a backyard pond is a perfect supplement to your existing layout. The trickling of water in the background is the ideal way to supplement the natural, serene and relaxing atmosphere that the outdoors should offer.
A pond or water garden will likely become the focal point for your entire backyard. Backyard ponds and water gardens will attract birds, butterflies, wildlife, and family members. Ponds are usually small and no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter, and often can be used to raise fish. At night-time, a garden pond can be lit up with both surrounding and submersible lighting. An extravagant light show can be produced by projecting underwater lighting directly onto trickling or falling water.
In the past, the installation of a water garden was a convoluted process that either involved the expense of a landscaper, or trial and error to perfect the art of pond installation. However, preformed pond kits are now available that can make pond installation relatively straightforward. Preformed pond kits are affordable, lessen the risk of mistakes, and come complete with all the accessories that you will need to complete a garden pond installation.
Speeding Up to Slow Down
June 30, 2007
Speeding Up to Slow Down
by: Vickie Milazzo RN, MSN, JD
The flowers were breathtakingly beautiful: bougainvillea like I’ve only seen in Hawaii and cannot grow at home in Houston. They covered a wall almost 15 feet long and half as high. Brilliant sprays of orange, red and fuchsia offset against a background of the deepest green.
I saw all this out of the corner of my eye as I sped by at 25 mph, pedaling as fast as I could. The peloton of riders was ahead of me, and I didn’t want to be last for lunch.
It didn’t matter that I was in the Puglia region of southern Italy, cycling along the “heel” of the Italian “boot” on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It didn’t matter that I was supposed to be vacationing, taking in the sights. What mattered at that particular moment was where I was going and how fast I could get there.
The thought that I was here to relax, see the countryside and restore my sense of balance hadn’t quite taken root in my mind. I had to move fast, catch up, keep up and get ahead - everything I had traveled 15 hours by plane to Italy NOT to do.
Caring for Your Wood Furniture
June 30, 2007
There is nothing like wood furniture to add elegance and beauty to a home. Whether it is a thick, all-natural butchers block table, an Art Deco wooden dresser, a simple mahogany dining room table or a sleek, modern coffee table, wood furniture is a staple in homes across America and the world. Make sure your wood tables, vanities and dressers stay gorgeous for generations to come with these simple solutions and guidelines.
Stain, Stain, Go Away!
Ever gasped after a child inadvertently left a giant scratch in the surface of your dining room table? Or cringed when a well-meaning adult accidentally knocked over a drink onto your beautiful wood coffee table? Well, fear not. One of the best attributes of wood furniture is that it is simple to touch up or renew its original luster.
Small nicks and scratches can usually be disguised with the help of a store-bought scratch cover product. For larger scratches, try using a felt tip pen or shoe polish in a color closely matched to the finish of the furniture piece. Shoe polish applicator bottles filled with the stain work well for the cover-up job, as do Sharpie markers. Coloring in the scratch is easy and surprisingly effective.
What is Laminate Flooring?
June 30, 2007
What is Laminate Flooring?
by: Jason Ashby
Laminate flooring mimics the look of traditional woods while offering easy installation and lasting durability. At first glance, it can be difficult to spot the difference between hardwoods and laminate flooring. What appears to be a natural wood grain pattern is really a thin layer of decor paper (a photographic image) under a tough-as-nails protective film that is glued and pressed to a high-density backing board. Laminate Flooring comes in an array of wood effects as well as stone and ceramic effects.
Laminate floorings main advantages are that it is easy to install, is very hardwearing and relatively inexpensive compared to real hardwood flooring.
Laminate flooring is a floating floor, which means it does not fasten directly to the sub-floor. Instead the planks are clicked together. This enables the floor to be fitted fast and with no real mess.
Laminate flooring has been around in Europe for around 15 years and has seen massive growth in the past few years. In 2004 over 750 million square meters of laminate flooring was sold worldwide this was an increase of 13% on the previous year. The biggest growth market is in the US with an impressive growth rate of 25%.
Mortgage ? What, Why, When, and How?
June 29, 2007
What is a mortgage? Here’s what The New Merriam ? Webster Dictionary definition is: "a transfer of rights to a piece of property usu. as security for the payment of a loan or debt that becomes void when the debt is paid." That’s as plain and simple as it gets, you pledge the property that you’re buying to the lender until your home loan is paid off then the mortgage is released and you own the property free and clear. The term "Mortgage Loan" usually pertains to the loan used to purchase a home.
Why and when would you need a mortgage loan? If you’re going to enter into a real estate purchase transaction (land, residence, or commercial) and you don’t have the funds available then chances are you’ll need a mortgage loan. In times when mortgage rates are low and return on your investments are high; you might consider a mortgage loan to pull the equity from your home to invest. If you’re paying a higher mortgage rate than what’s available on the market you might consider using a new mortgage loan to pay off your old mortgage loan therefore lowering the amount of time to pay off your home or lower your monthly mortgage payment. Maybe you need to take cash out of your home for reasons that are nobody else’s business a new mortgage loan would be a great tool for accomplishing this.
When to Plant Vegetaibles
June 29, 2007
Planting times for vegetables and other annual plants vary from species to species. In much of the United States the prime consideration is the date of the last spring frost/freeze. Many vegetables can be planted up to four weeks before the last frost, while others need to wait until a couple of weeks after the frost.
Another consideration is the date of the first fall frost/freeze. In northern latitudes, where summers can be short, the length of time some vegetable species take to reach maturity (most notably tomatoes and peppers) make it necessary to plant vegetable seeds indoors and then transplant the seedlings outside at the appropriate time.
Other vegetables and fruits, such as winter squashes and some melon varieties, seem to do better when planted as seeds directly where they are going to stay. With maturation times up to twelve weeks, it may be critical to get vegetable seeds planted as early as it is safe to do. If you have a short growing season, and wish to grow these crops, choose vegetable varieties that will reach maturity within a safe time period for your area.
New Furniture Can be Comfy Too
June 29, 2007
New Furniture Can be Comfy Too
by: Bob Benson
You’ve just moved into a new house and suddenly the comfy old furniture you’ve cherished for years—okay, decades - just doesn’t seem to work any more. Do you give up the comfy old stuff for new furniture? The truth is that you don’t have to choose. You can buy new furniture that is comfortable if you know how to shop.
Start with the living room. If you’ve had your couch, loveseat, or sectional for more than 10 years, chances are you need to rethink your furniture needs. Do you have a small child now who has trouble getting on or off of a couch that didn’t seem too wide when you bought it? Is your sofa apartment-sized to fit into your first place, but it seems out of proportion now in your new home? Take size and width of seating into consideration when buying. And the only way to know if it’s comfortable is to sit on it. If you plan to nap on your couch, lay on it right in the furniture showroom. Don’t be afraid to test the level of comfort.
A Guide To Skylights Vinyl Windows
June 29, 2007
A Guide To Skylights Vinyl Windows
by: Rene Knops
A definition and description of the different types of skylights
vinyl windows that can be installed in a home.
Skylights vinyl windows are a familiar architectural sight in
most modern day homes. They are usually situated in smaller
rooms that don’t have a lot of light because of a need for
privacy (such as a bedroom or bathroom) or in larger rooms that
are leant a sense of majesty from having the sunlight pour in
through a vast gap in the roof.
The reason it is important to have skylights that are seamed
with vinyl is that they help keep cold air out and warm air in.
However this can be a drawback if you live in a hot climate and
the sun is beating down through your skylight vinyl windows all
day. In hotter climates tinted skylight windows or ones equipped
with automatic shades are more useful so that the cost of your
air conditioning does not rocket sky high. Skylight vinyl
windows are best utilized in colder, damper climates where
Picking Furniture for a Nursery
June 28, 2007
Picking Furniture for a Nursery
by: Bob Benson
Furnishing a nursery can be a wonderful time for an expectant mother. Not only is it fun to prepare for the birth of a baby, but it gives the expectant mother an outlet for those nesting instincts that will soon kick in. A lot of well-meaning people (i.e. parents and in-laws) will convince you that you simply must have certain furniture for your new baby’s room.
Some of the furniture you will likely consider includes:
Bassinette
Crib
Changing table
Dresser
Rocking chair
Do you need it all? Only you can know for sure. Ask yourself, “What furniture am I really likely to use?”
A bassinette is handy for keeping the new baby very close. Most are portable so you can roll them throughout the house. If someone offers to loan you a bassinette, take them up on it as long as the mattress is clean and in good shape. You’ll only use a bassinette for a short period of time, so why invest in it as a major piece of furniture?
Branson Condos Rental Advice for the Perfect Vacation in Missouri
June 28, 2007
If you are thinking about renting a condo in the near future, especially in the Branson, Missouri area, you may want to consider the following helpful tips to help your vacation go as smoothly as possible.
Try to plan your vacation as early as possible as condos sometimes are booked up to a year in advance. You could also try to plan your vacation on off peak times for better deals. Some places may offer up to a 25% decrease in price so it is worth spending a little extra time to research the off peak season.
While you are at it, make sure the condo is relatively close to local attractions and eateries. You are more than likely going to be unfamiliar with the area so save yourself the trouble and try to stay fairly close to your condo.
Be sure to consider what amenities you would be interested in while you are condo shopping as well. Some condos offer private swimming area’s, fully equipped kitchens, washers and dryers, and free internet access just to name a few.
