Author: Melinda Robinson
Source: articleage.com
Harvesting
While I think everything about growing herbs is a wonderful experience (well, maybe not the weeding!),, garages, harvesting is one my favorite things. It is, after all, the biggest reason to grow your herb garden.
Harvesting the herbs is very easy if you remember, garages, a few small guidelines, garages, . For one thing, you should never take more than 2/3 from a mature plant, and preferably less than that. It's tempting to take a bunch of the herb when, garages, it first begins to grow toward maturity, but limit yourself to a few leaves in the beginning. Taking, garages, too much from a young plant can kill, garages, it.
Use a pair of small gardening, garages, scissors to cut herbs. Make gentle cuts just above tender, new sprouts. If you make sure that there is still fresh growth, your herb plants will continue to flourish and give you a large, garages, crop. With some herbs, such as sage, cut back the thick, woody stalks, garages, , garages, first.
Cut back your herbs after the flower buds first appear, but before the flowers open. If you wait until the flowers bloom, the volatile oils and therefore most of the flavor are greatly reduced. On, garages, the other hand, if you harvest too early, the oils haven't fully developed. An exception to this "rule" is lavender, which should be harvested just after the delicate purple flowers have faded. Try to do your cutting in the morning after the dew is dry but before, garages, the sun gets hot.
Drying
Most people like to dry their herbs for later use. Drying them is extremely easy, even in humid climates. There's no need for large screens or elaborate set-ups; a ball of twine, some paper bags, and a place for hanging is all you need.
After you've harvested your herbs, rinse them thoroughly in a bath of lukewarm water. Gently swish them about in the water. You may need to gently coax stubborn dirt or sand off some of the leaves, or remove leaves with cocoons or egg sacks stuck beneath them. Look, garages, carefully for these kinds of things -- it certainly wouldn't be any fun to find a family of spiders living in a jar of carefully, garages, dried herbs!
Remove excess water from the herbs with, garages, a large towel, garages, . Fold the towel in half, and gently press the stalks between the folds. You can also place them in a dishdrainer,, garages, laying them carefully to prevent crowding.
Gather several, garages, stalks together in a bundle. With a length of twine, tightly wrap the, garages, base of the bundle 3-4 times around, then tie securely, leaving a large loop for hanging purposes. You can then hang the bundles somewhere to dry. If you would like to keep dust off the herbs while, garages, they dry, put the herb bundles upside down into small paper bags. Gather the top of the bags around the tied base and secure with a rubber, garages, band, more twine, or even a long twist-tie.
Some people, garages, like to hang bagged herbs in a garage or spare room and open up the bags whenever they need some of the, garages, herbs. I prefer to clean the dried leaves from the stalks and store them in clean, garages, bottles, which I then label with the appropriate name. Herbs will keep best in bottles of darkly colored glass, such as those from powdered coffee creamer, but if they, garages, are stored in a dark place you can use any color bottle you have on hand.
As you can see, herbs are easy to work with from growth to use. A little planning and a modicum of, garages, care are all that is needed for you to have, garages, a delightful source for culinary, medicinal, and craft uses. Take a chance -- there's a bountiful harvest waiting, garages, for you!
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Melinda Robinson is controlling partner in Rodeo City Technology Group, a Texas-based company that offers TMS (Total Marketing Solutions) -- including custom content creation -- that fit your business and bring maximum ROI. http://www.rodeocitytech.com
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Decluttering Your Home: How To Get Started
Author: Robin Gray
Source: isnare.com
Where do you start on a big project like decluttering your house?
Maybe you already know the answer to "where", because there's one area of your home which is crying out, garages, for decluttering, garages, . If not, think about which area gives you the most pain. Are you ashamed to let visitors in the living room or the kitchen? Is the hall closet, garages, an avalanche waiting, garages, to happen? Does the basement or garage need a shovel or even a small bulldozer to get to the,, garages, garages, far side?
Your other, garages, option for picking a starting point, especially, garages, if you can only work in short spells, is to choose a small, contained area that you can finish fairly quickly, garages,, garages, and which won't overflow into the rest of the house. One shelf, one drawer, one cabinet, garages, or one box might be a good target. You can also divide a larger room up into chunks or zones and tackle one at a time.
Once you've decided where to work, grab your tools. Most important are containers for the stuff you'll be moving around. Sturdy cardboard, garages,, garages, boxes are great for things which will move to other places in the house, or out of the house for recycling or gifting. Big,, garages, tough garbage bags for the junk are another essential. You might want gloves if you're working somewhere, garages, dirty or dusty like the attic or basement (and even a dust mask if it's really bad). And once you've decluttered this area you'll probably want to clean it, especially if there are places which, garages, haven't seen the light of day for some time, so stock up on the cleaning tools and supplies you prefer to use.
Arm yourself with containers for these, garages, categories:
* Trash (actual garbage)
* Give away (to the thrift store, neighbors, friends or family)
* Recycle (glass, plastic, paper etc which can be recycled in your community)
* Sell (if you have things which might be worth something at a garage sale or on eBay. Be
practical here, though: most things are not worth the trouble, garages, and time to sell them).
* Elsewhere (things to be kept, but which don't belong in this area you're working on)
* Pending (things you can't decide about. This should be a VERY SMALL category!)
* Keep (things which will go back into the space you've just cleared out)
When you're, garages, ready, get, garages, started. You can check out my other articles and my website for, garages, more details, but the basic principle is simple: if you don't use it, love it, or need it, get rid of it. You get to decide the definitions, garages, of "use",, garages, "love" and "need",, garages, in this context.
When you've filled some bags and boxes, don't let them hang around, garages, for long on their journey to the dump or the thrift store. Not only are the boxes of stuff clutter in themselves, it's too easy to change your mind and start pulling stuff back out! If you've got large furniture to get rid of, or a lot of boxes, some charities will do a pickup, so take advantage of that if it's available. If your community has a day for putting out large items at the curb for pickup, make use of the opportunity! Take boxes and bags all the way out to the car instead of piling them by the door, so that next time you're out they are ready and waiting to be dropped off at their destination.
Source: isnare.com
Where do you start on a big project like decluttering your house?
Maybe you already know the answer to "where", because there's one area of your home which is crying out, garages, for decluttering, garages, . If not, think about which area gives you the most pain. Are you ashamed to let visitors in the living room or the kitchen? Is the hall closet, garages, an avalanche waiting, garages, to happen? Does the basement or garage need a shovel or even a small bulldozer to get to the,, garages, garages, far side?
Your other, garages, option for picking a starting point, especially, garages, if you can only work in short spells, is to choose a small, contained area that you can finish fairly quickly, garages,, garages, and which won't overflow into the rest of the house. One shelf, one drawer, one cabinet, garages, or one box might be a good target. You can also divide a larger room up into chunks or zones and tackle one at a time.
Once you've decided where to work, grab your tools. Most important are containers for the stuff you'll be moving around. Sturdy cardboard, garages,, garages, boxes are great for things which will move to other places in the house, or out of the house for recycling or gifting. Big,, garages, tough garbage bags for the junk are another essential. You might want gloves if you're working somewhere, garages, dirty or dusty like the attic or basement (and even a dust mask if it's really bad). And once you've decluttered this area you'll probably want to clean it, especially if there are places which, garages, haven't seen the light of day for some time, so stock up on the cleaning tools and supplies you prefer to use.
Arm yourself with containers for these, garages, categories:
* Trash (actual garbage)
* Give away (to the thrift store, neighbors, friends or family)
* Recycle (glass, plastic, paper etc which can be recycled in your community)
* Sell (if you have things which might be worth something at a garage sale or on eBay. Be
practical here, though: most things are not worth the trouble, garages, and time to sell them).
* Elsewhere (things to be kept, but which don't belong in this area you're working on)
* Pending (things you can't decide about. This should be a VERY SMALL category!)
* Keep (things which will go back into the space you've just cleared out)
When you're, garages, ready, get, garages, started. You can check out my other articles and my website for, garages, more details, but the basic principle is simple: if you don't use it, love it, or need it, get rid of it. You get to decide the definitions, garages, of "use",, garages, "love" and "need",, garages, in this context.
When you've filled some bags and boxes, don't let them hang around, garages, for long on their journey to the dump or the thrift store. Not only are the boxes of stuff clutter in themselves, it's too easy to change your mind and start pulling stuff back out! If you've got large furniture to get rid of, or a lot of boxes, some charities will do a pickup, so take advantage of that if it's available. If your community has a day for putting out large items at the curb for pickup, make use of the opportunity! Take boxes and bags all the way out to the car instead of piling them by the door, so that next time you're out they are ready and waiting to be dropped off at their destination.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Magic of Annual Vines
Author: Jacqueline Carroll
Source: articleage.com
For the cost of a packet of seeds, you can, garages, quickly create a show stopping garden accent or a living hideaway for children, hide a rusty chain link fence or an unsightly garage wall, and turn an ordinary balcony into a private garden. Started from seeds, annual vines will scramble to heights of 20 feet or more, highlighting features you want to show off and covering eyesores.
Here are just a few of the many uses for annual vines:
- Add a little magic to your garden by planting a trellis or pole with brightly colored morning glories and moonflowers. You'll, garages, have a burst of brightly colored flowers during, garages, the day, and luminescent white, garages, blossoms at night, garages, .
- Add shade and privacy to your balcony with annual vines. Because their root systems are limited, they can be grown in large planters on, garages, a trellis, or allowed to trail from window boxes and big hanging baskets. The vertical growing habit will make a small area seem larger.
- Annual vines are ideal for introducing your children to the magic of gardening. Build a teepee, garages, of bamboo or fallen tree branches, and plant with scarlet runner beans or tall nasturtiums. Your children will enjoy their colorful (and edible) hideaway while learning about the wonders of nature.
- Plant climbing vines along chain link fences and light poles to soften the look of your landscape.
- Annual, garages, vines will quickly blanket a problem slope or other area that is difficult to mow with colorful flowers. If your slope is difficult to plant, use a vine that will reseed itself such as morning, garages, glories or cardinal, garages, climbers, garages, .
- Plant vines along a southern wall to keep the house, garages, cooler in summer.
Annual vines are easy to grow. They like a sunny location with good quality, well drained, garages, soil. Plant your seeds according to the package directions,, garages, and keep them evenly moist until they, garages, germinate. After germination, you'll only need to water when the weather has, garages, been extremely hot or dry. Use fertilizers sparingly. An abundance of nitrogen will encourage your vines to produce an abundance of dark green foliage and few flowers.
Have your trellises or other support, garages, in place when you plant your seeds. If you can't plant right next to the support, insert twigs into the soil next to the seeds to, garages, lead the vines to their intended support. If the vine can't find its support right away, it will waste time searching and reaching for something to grab on to.
Recommended Annual Vines
Black Eyed Susan Vine Unlike many climbing vines, this one isn't invasive so it can be incorporated into existing gardens without fear of crowding out existing plants. It's a great choice for hanging baskets and window boxes. Height: 5' to 10' trailing vine
Cardinal Climber Vine The deep red flowers with white or yellow throats are sure to draw attention to your trellises,, garages, fences and poles. Height: 6' to 20' vine
Cypress, garages, Vine This vine can add a tropical texture to your landscape with its interesting foliage and mix of bright red, pink and white flowers. With the right conditions, it grows to 20 feet. Height: 8' to 10' vine
Hyacinth Bean Vine This striking vine will have your visitors asking if it's real! The flowers are followed by velvety purple bean, garages, pods. Height: 6' - 20' vine
Mina Lobata 'Firecracker Vine' or 'Exotic Love,' this unusual, exciting, interesting annual vine has up to 12, garages, beautiful 2" tubular flowers on each spike, garages, . Performs well on trellises and in hanging, garages, baskets. This is one of the few annual vines that will tolerate a little shade. , garages, Height: 6' to 10'
Moonflower Plant this fast-growing, garages, vine on a porch, near an entrance, or under a window where you can enjoy the evening performance and heady, garages, fragrance. The flowers bloom only at night, and unfold in 2-3 minutes,, garages, and event worth waiting for! Height: 10' to 20' vine
Morning Glories In the summer, flowers open in the morning, and in the fall they stay open all day. Morning glories, garages, are grown as a groundcover in difficult areas. , garages, Height: 8' - 10' vine
Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, where you'll find seeds, garages, for all of the vines mentioned in this article, and GardenGuidesKids.com. http://www.gardenguides.com http://www.gardenguideskids.com
Source: articleage.com
For the cost of a packet of seeds, you can, garages, quickly create a show stopping garden accent or a living hideaway for children, hide a rusty chain link fence or an unsightly garage wall, and turn an ordinary balcony into a private garden. Started from seeds, annual vines will scramble to heights of 20 feet or more, highlighting features you want to show off and covering eyesores.
Here are just a few of the many uses for annual vines:
- Add a little magic to your garden by planting a trellis or pole with brightly colored morning glories and moonflowers. You'll, garages, have a burst of brightly colored flowers during, garages, the day, and luminescent white, garages, blossoms at night, garages, .
- Add shade and privacy to your balcony with annual vines. Because their root systems are limited, they can be grown in large planters on, garages, a trellis, or allowed to trail from window boxes and big hanging baskets. The vertical growing habit will make a small area seem larger.
- Annual vines are ideal for introducing your children to the magic of gardening. Build a teepee, garages, of bamboo or fallen tree branches, and plant with scarlet runner beans or tall nasturtiums. Your children will enjoy their colorful (and edible) hideaway while learning about the wonders of nature.
- Plant climbing vines along chain link fences and light poles to soften the look of your landscape.
- Annual, garages, vines will quickly blanket a problem slope or other area that is difficult to mow with colorful flowers. If your slope is difficult to plant, use a vine that will reseed itself such as morning, garages, glories or cardinal, garages, climbers, garages, .
- Plant vines along a southern wall to keep the house, garages, cooler in summer.
Annual vines are easy to grow. They like a sunny location with good quality, well drained, garages, soil. Plant your seeds according to the package directions,, garages, and keep them evenly moist until they, garages, germinate. After germination, you'll only need to water when the weather has, garages, been extremely hot or dry. Use fertilizers sparingly. An abundance of nitrogen will encourage your vines to produce an abundance of dark green foliage and few flowers.
Have your trellises or other support, garages, in place when you plant your seeds. If you can't plant right next to the support, insert twigs into the soil next to the seeds to, garages, lead the vines to their intended support. If the vine can't find its support right away, it will waste time searching and reaching for something to grab on to.
Recommended Annual Vines
Black Eyed Susan Vine Unlike many climbing vines, this one isn't invasive so it can be incorporated into existing gardens without fear of crowding out existing plants. It's a great choice for hanging baskets and window boxes. Height: 5' to 10' trailing vine
Cardinal Climber Vine The deep red flowers with white or yellow throats are sure to draw attention to your trellises,, garages, fences and poles. Height: 6' to 20' vine
Cypress, garages, Vine This vine can add a tropical texture to your landscape with its interesting foliage and mix of bright red, pink and white flowers. With the right conditions, it grows to 20 feet. Height: 8' to 10' vine
Hyacinth Bean Vine This striking vine will have your visitors asking if it's real! The flowers are followed by velvety purple bean, garages, pods. Height: 6' - 20' vine
Mina Lobata 'Firecracker Vine' or 'Exotic Love,' this unusual, exciting, interesting annual vine has up to 12, garages, beautiful 2" tubular flowers on each spike, garages, . Performs well on trellises and in hanging, garages, baskets. This is one of the few annual vines that will tolerate a little shade. , garages, Height: 6' to 10'
Moonflower Plant this fast-growing, garages, vine on a porch, near an entrance, or under a window where you can enjoy the evening performance and heady, garages, fragrance. The flowers bloom only at night, and unfold in 2-3 minutes,, garages, and event worth waiting for! Height: 10' to 20' vine
Morning Glories In the summer, flowers open in the morning, and in the fall they stay open all day. Morning glories, garages, are grown as a groundcover in difficult areas. , garages, Height: 8' - 10' vine
Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, where you'll find seeds, garages, for all of the vines mentioned in this article, and GardenGuidesKids.com. http://www.gardenguides.com http://www.gardenguideskids.com
Keep Your Home Secure With No Cost
Author: Ava
Source: articlesbase.com
Home security is important to everyone,, garages, we all want to keep everything safe, garages, . Home security products are good choices to keep your home secure. If you are not at a point where you can invest thousands,, garages, garages, of dollars, and you just want to do a few things to make your home safer, there, garages, are still some basic security, garages, things you should know about your house. By implementing of these methods, your home security level will be increased. This article will give you a list, garages, of steps you can use, garages, to make your home safer without spending any money. Burglars want the highest reward with the least possible risk and effort. The more challenging you can make your house appear, the more likely the burglar is to pass on by and pick on,, garages, garages, somebody else. So, how do you make your home appear secure without alarms, video surveillance cameras?Here are the steps: 1. Trim shrubs back from doors and walkways, which makes sure would-be thieves don't, garages, have any shadowy nooks to hide in. Keep your storage shed locked, garages, and don't leave tools out, or burglars can use ladders or other tools to gain access to your, garages, home. 2. Plant thorny shrubs beneath windows, so no one can climb through a opening windows to your home. 3. Keep the lawn mowed and the exterior of the house maintained, a downtrodden appearance might suggest you are away from home for a long time or you just do not care enough to your house. 4. If an outdoor light burns out, change it promptly. 5. Don't display your valuables conspicuously (i, garages, .e. huge plasma TV on a wall that is visible from the street), as this only, garages, tempts thieves. 6. Don't leave spare keys under the doormat, a rock, etc. Thieves are wise to all the tricks--if you always lose your keys, consider a fingerprint activated lock. 7. Always lock your doors when you leave the house. Garage door and back door are as important as front door. 8. When you, garages, make new expensive purchases, don't leave the boxes by the curb to announce, garages, your valuable acquisitions--break, garages, boxes down and hide them in your trash/recycling bin. 9. Keep tree branches trimmed back from windows and the roof. Make sure your garage doors are sturdy (no loose panels or, garages, damaged corners), especially if the garage is connected to the house. Hopefully these steps will help you make your home less of a target. Also, you can install security products to make your house more secure. There are Do It Yourself Products, which is not expensive, garages, and you can install them yourself. If you want to get more information about these products, please visit http://www.security2020.com
Source: articlesbase.com
Home security is important to everyone,, garages, we all want to keep everything safe, garages, . Home security products are good choices to keep your home secure. If you are not at a point where you can invest thousands,, garages, garages, of dollars, and you just want to do a few things to make your home safer, there, garages, are still some basic security, garages, things you should know about your house. By implementing of these methods, your home security level will be increased. This article will give you a list, garages, of steps you can use, garages, to make your home safer without spending any money. Burglars want the highest reward with the least possible risk and effort. The more challenging you can make your house appear, the more likely the burglar is to pass on by and pick on,, garages, garages, somebody else. So, how do you make your home appear secure without alarms, video surveillance cameras?Here are the steps: 1. Trim shrubs back from doors and walkways, which makes sure would-be thieves don't, garages, have any shadowy nooks to hide in. Keep your storage shed locked, garages, and don't leave tools out, or burglars can use ladders or other tools to gain access to your, garages, home. 2. Plant thorny shrubs beneath windows, so no one can climb through a opening windows to your home. 3. Keep the lawn mowed and the exterior of the house maintained, a downtrodden appearance might suggest you are away from home for a long time or you just do not care enough to your house. 4. If an outdoor light burns out, change it promptly. 5. Don't display your valuables conspicuously (i, garages, .e. huge plasma TV on a wall that is visible from the street), as this only, garages, tempts thieves. 6. Don't leave spare keys under the doormat, a rock, etc. Thieves are wise to all the tricks--if you always lose your keys, consider a fingerprint activated lock. 7. Always lock your doors when you leave the house. Garage door and back door are as important as front door. 8. When you, garages, make new expensive purchases, don't leave the boxes by the curb to announce, garages, your valuable acquisitions--break, garages, boxes down and hide them in your trash/recycling bin. 9. Keep tree branches trimmed back from windows and the roof. Make sure your garage doors are sturdy (no loose panels or, garages, damaged corners), especially if the garage is connected to the house. Hopefully these steps will help you make your home less of a target. Also, you can install security products to make your house more secure. There are Do It Yourself Products, which is not expensive, garages, and you can install them yourself. If you want to get more information about these products, please visit http://www.security2020.com
Ava is a part-time writer, researcher and web developer for home security matters. Visit www.security2020.com to learn more about this subject (Home Security).
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Feng Shui Bedroom Design Guidelines
Author: Charles Chang
Source: articledashboard.com
Feng shui (pronounced "fung shway") is the ancient Chinese Art of arrangement and placement of things within certain principles in order to balance the energies of the environment for improved health, prosperity and good fortune.
The principles of Feng shui can be applied to every aspect of our daily life. If you are building your own home, Feng shui could be incorporated right from the initial stages beginning with the orientation of the house with regards to the property. Every tenet of Feng shui is based on some scientific belief, which if adhered to as much as possible could lead to a harmonious, garages, peaceful existence.
The bedroom is the most important part of the house. It is a place where we escape to at the end to the day. Our sanctum sanctorum that we run to, to de-stress and refresh, garages, . It should be peaceful and comforting and relaxing. Feng shui lays much emphasis on the placement and decorating of the bedroom. The location of the bedroom in the house is, garages, just as important as the contents of the bedroom.
According to the principles of Feng shui all the "restful" energy lies, garages, at the rear of the home, which makes it the perfect location for a bedroom. The bedroom should be connected to the rest of the house through only one, garages, door as this helps contain the restful,, garages, garages, energy within the bedroom and stops it from rushing out.
The bedroom should preferably not be built above the garage as it causes unrestfullness, garages, . To offset this, heavy solid objects, garages, should be placed, garages, on the floor or a mirror should hang on, garages, the garage ceiling in such a way, garages, that it deflects the, garages, image of the car away from the bedroom. If the bedroom is located below the kitchen, place a mirror on the bedroom ceiling, reflecting, garages,, garages, downward. This helps seal off the hustle and bustle, garages, emanating from the kitchen. The, garages, bedroom should be connected to the bathroom, garages, by a door, which should be kept closed at all times.
Since, garages, the bedroom is a place to rest and relax in, all negative energies should be removed from this room. You should not keep any electronic audio or video gadget such as a TV, computer or music system in the bedroom as these release energies that are conflicting and not restful. Mirrors are another thing that should be avoided in the bedroom. If you need to have one, make sure it is not in direct line with your bed. Mirrors are said to cause nightmares by reflecting your negative energy while you sleep, garages,, garages, . The same goes for all other reflecting surfaces such as computer screens or framed pictures and paintings.
The bedroom and all its furniture and accessories should be done up in pastel and muted colors, and you should indulge in soft satiny sheets and pillows as these induce a peaceful and restful atmosphere. Loud, bright colors are too energizing and could be kept for other, garages, rooms. The bedroom should be as clutter-free as possible so that CHI energy can flow freely and bestow you with its good vibrations.
Source: articledashboard.com
Feng shui (pronounced "fung shway") is the ancient Chinese Art of arrangement and placement of things within certain principles in order to balance the energies of the environment for improved health, prosperity and good fortune.
The principles of Feng shui can be applied to every aspect of our daily life. If you are building your own home, Feng shui could be incorporated right from the initial stages beginning with the orientation of the house with regards to the property. Every tenet of Feng shui is based on some scientific belief, which if adhered to as much as possible could lead to a harmonious, garages, peaceful existence.
The bedroom is the most important part of the house. It is a place where we escape to at the end to the day. Our sanctum sanctorum that we run to, to de-stress and refresh, garages, . It should be peaceful and comforting and relaxing. Feng shui lays much emphasis on the placement and decorating of the bedroom. The location of the bedroom in the house is, garages, just as important as the contents of the bedroom.
According to the principles of Feng shui all the "restful" energy lies, garages, at the rear of the home, which makes it the perfect location for a bedroom. The bedroom should be connected to the rest of the house through only one, garages, door as this helps contain the restful,, garages, garages, energy within the bedroom and stops it from rushing out.
The bedroom should preferably not be built above the garage as it causes unrestfullness, garages, . To offset this, heavy solid objects, garages, should be placed, garages, on the floor or a mirror should hang on, garages, the garage ceiling in such a way, garages, that it deflects the, garages, image of the car away from the bedroom. If the bedroom is located below the kitchen, place a mirror on the bedroom ceiling, reflecting, garages,, garages, downward. This helps seal off the hustle and bustle, garages, emanating from the kitchen. The, garages, bedroom should be connected to the bathroom, garages, by a door, which should be kept closed at all times.
Since, garages, the bedroom is a place to rest and relax in, all negative energies should be removed from this room. You should not keep any electronic audio or video gadget such as a TV, computer or music system in the bedroom as these release energies that are conflicting and not restful. Mirrors are another thing that should be avoided in the bedroom. If you need to have one, make sure it is not in direct line with your bed. Mirrors are said to cause nightmares by reflecting your negative energy while you sleep, garages,, garages, . The same goes for all other reflecting surfaces such as computer screens or framed pictures and paintings.
The bedroom and all its furniture and accessories should be done up in pastel and muted colors, and you should indulge in soft satiny sheets and pillows as these induce a peaceful and restful atmosphere. Loud, bright colors are too energizing and could be kept for other, garages, rooms. The bedroom should be as clutter-free as possible so that CHI energy can flow freely and bestow you with its good vibrations.
Over-wintering pond fish
Author: Brett Fogle
Source: articleage.com
The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by
water temperature, garages, . As the water cools,, garages, pond fish require less
protein in their, garages, diet. When koi and goldfish are fed
high-protein, garages, food in cool water, the excess protein is excreted
as ammonia from the gills. The microscopic organisms that make
up the biological filter (and consume ammonia) also slow down in
cooler water. Improper seasonal feeding can lead to a build-up
of toxic ammonia, which stresses fish and reduces their winter
survivability. When the water temperature drops to approximately
65ฐ F, start feeding with Spring & Autumn Pond Food. This type
of fish food is better suited for the dietary requirements of
pond fish in cool water and won't pollute the water with excess
ammonia. Some water gardeners continue to feed their fish until
they no longer come to, garages, the surface. I stop feeding my pond fish
when the water falls below 42ฐ F. There is no need to worry
about "frozen fish" if a section of the pond is at least 18
inches deep. Pond fish will seek the deepest part of the pond
and over-winter there until the water warms in the spring. If
your pond is less than 18 inches deep, the fish may freeze
during a harsh winter. Check with your local pond supplier if
you live in an area with harsh winters. Some water gardeners
with shallow ponds attempt to keep their koi and goldfish in
kiddie pools or aquariums set up in a cool basement, garages, or garage.
This is not recommended because of the extra stress involved in
netting, transporting,, garages, and re-acclimating the fish to the new
environment. However,, garages, if you dont have a choice,, garages, and need, garages, to
bring, garages, your, garages,, garages, fish inside for the winter, be sure to have an
aquarium air pump or small fountain to provide oxygenation. The
fish should be fed, garages, infrequently, if at all, depending on the
water temperature. pH, ammonia and nitrite, which should be
monitored weekly and especially if the fish are fed. Small water
changes (20%) each month, garages, will keep the water in good shape until
spring. Koi are "jumpers"-so be sure to, garages, cover the pool with bird
netting!
Source: articleage.com
The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by
water temperature, garages, . As the water cools,, garages, pond fish require less
protein in their, garages, diet. When koi and goldfish are fed
high-protein, garages, food in cool water, the excess protein is excreted
as ammonia from the gills. The microscopic organisms that make
up the biological filter (and consume ammonia) also slow down in
cooler water. Improper seasonal feeding can lead to a build-up
of toxic ammonia, which stresses fish and reduces their winter
survivability. When the water temperature drops to approximately
65ฐ F, start feeding with Spring & Autumn Pond Food. This type
of fish food is better suited for the dietary requirements of
pond fish in cool water and won't pollute the water with excess
ammonia. Some water gardeners continue to feed their fish until
they no longer come to, garages, the surface. I stop feeding my pond fish
when the water falls below 42ฐ F. There is no need to worry
about "frozen fish" if a section of the pond is at least 18
inches deep. Pond fish will seek the deepest part of the pond
and over-winter there until the water warms in the spring. If
your pond is less than 18 inches deep, the fish may freeze
during a harsh winter. Check with your local pond supplier if
you live in an area with harsh winters. Some water gardeners
with shallow ponds attempt to keep their koi and goldfish in
kiddie pools or aquariums set up in a cool basement, garages, or garage.
This is not recommended because of the extra stress involved in
netting, transporting,, garages, and re-acclimating the fish to the new
environment. However,, garages, if you dont have a choice,, garages, and need, garages, to
bring, garages, your, garages,, garages, fish inside for the winter, be sure to have an
aquarium air pump or small fountain to provide oxygenation. The
fish should be fed, garages, infrequently, if at all, depending on the
water temperature. pH, ammonia and nitrite, which should be
monitored weekly and especially if the fish are fed. Small water
changes (20%) each month, garages, will keep the water in good shape until
spring. Koi are "jumpers"-so be sure to, garages, cover the pool with bird
netting!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wireless Dog Fence, With Simple Installing!
Author: Russ Elderman
Source: articlesbase.com
Training with the Wireless Electric Dog Fence If you have bought a wireless electric dog fence or just planning to get one, you know that the system works best not in simple containment of your pet. It is most effective when your dog, garages, is trained with it on how to remain in single area. If your dog can be trained, then you do not have to worry about him wandering around and perhaps getting into an accident or causing property damage. This is the reason why it is superior to the leash or fence. Setting Up the Invisible Fence You, garages, need to place the transmitter in a place where the signal is strongest and will let you maximize the open spaces of your property. The ideal spot is somewhere where there is no metallic object, garages, that is present to distract the signal, garages, . The attic is a good spot as well as your garage. After you have adjusted the boundary settings, use the receiver to locate the boundary points, then plot the flags. You will have to repeat the process until there are enough flags for your dog to notice. Then you need to set the correction level in the receiver, garages, . It has to match the temperament of your dog and size. The more lights flashing, the stronger the correction level is. Familiarizing the Warning Signs The boundary flags are meant to be first warning that tells your pet that the boundary, garages, is very close. Once the invisible fence is working, you can have your dog wear the receiver and perhaps together with a leash. The leash is necessary at this point to guide the, garages, dog to where you are headed. Walk with the dog toward the boundary and make sure that he can see the flags. You can walk around to all the boundary flags for good measure. Then you can slowly guide, garages, the dog into the boundary zone but not beyond it. As expected, the receiver should sound an alarm that the, garages, boundary has been, garages, crossed. At that point, quickly guide the dog back into the play area. Repeat the exercise until the dog can associate the flag and the alarm to the need to get back in the safe area. Experiencing the Correction At a particular,, garages, garages, point in your training session,, garages, you will have to repeat the, garages, exercise, but, garages, this time, place his favorite snack in the boundary zone. If he is familiar, garages, with the alarm, he will not move into the boundary. If the urge of the treat is great, he will still proceed regardless of the alarm, garages, . This is the point where he will feel the static correction. After about, garages, two seconds in the boundary, garages, zone, help your pet get back, garages, in the pet, garages, area. It is important that you praise your pet because he was able to get back, garages, though with your help. Repeat the, garages, same sessions and check if he does not go after the treat anymore. The rest of the training will involve continued awareness of the flags and attempts to lure the dog into the boundary zone. Your praise and rewards will gradually make you dog stay within the pet area, even without the receiver.
Wireless electric dog fence give proper training can help a pet learn amazing things available at http://www.petdepotonline.com
Source: articlesbase.com
Training with the Wireless Electric Dog Fence If you have bought a wireless electric dog fence or just planning to get one, you know that the system works best not in simple containment of your pet. It is most effective when your dog, garages, is trained with it on how to remain in single area. If your dog can be trained, then you do not have to worry about him wandering around and perhaps getting into an accident or causing property damage. This is the reason why it is superior to the leash or fence. Setting Up the Invisible Fence You, garages, need to place the transmitter in a place where the signal is strongest and will let you maximize the open spaces of your property. The ideal spot is somewhere where there is no metallic object, garages, that is present to distract the signal, garages, . The attic is a good spot as well as your garage. After you have adjusted the boundary settings, use the receiver to locate the boundary points, then plot the flags. You will have to repeat the process until there are enough flags for your dog to notice. Then you need to set the correction level in the receiver, garages, . It has to match the temperament of your dog and size. The more lights flashing, the stronger the correction level is. Familiarizing the Warning Signs The boundary flags are meant to be first warning that tells your pet that the boundary, garages, is very close. Once the invisible fence is working, you can have your dog wear the receiver and perhaps together with a leash. The leash is necessary at this point to guide the, garages, dog to where you are headed. Walk with the dog toward the boundary and make sure that he can see the flags. You can walk around to all the boundary flags for good measure. Then you can slowly guide, garages, the dog into the boundary zone but not beyond it. As expected, the receiver should sound an alarm that the, garages, boundary has been, garages, crossed. At that point, quickly guide the dog back into the play area. Repeat the exercise until the dog can associate the flag and the alarm to the need to get back in the safe area. Experiencing the Correction At a particular,, garages, garages, point in your training session,, garages, you will have to repeat the, garages, exercise, but, garages, this time, place his favorite snack in the boundary zone. If he is familiar, garages, with the alarm, he will not move into the boundary. If the urge of the treat is great, he will still proceed regardless of the alarm, garages, . This is the point where he will feel the static correction. After about, garages, two seconds in the boundary, garages, zone, help your pet get back, garages, in the pet, garages, area. It is important that you praise your pet because he was able to get back, garages, though with your help. Repeat the, garages, same sessions and check if he does not go after the treat anymore. The rest of the training will involve continued awareness of the flags and attempts to lure the dog into the boundary zone. Your praise and rewards will gradually make you dog stay within the pet area, even without the receiver.
Wireless electric dog fence give proper training can help a pet learn amazing things available at http://www.petdepotonline.com
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Securing Your Estate
Author: Greg Lipke
Source: articleage.com
Usually your personal security won't be much of an issue. Yes, anyone can get mugged, but unless you go around upsetting dangerous people or living in dangerous places you shouldn't need a bodyguard. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to keep a low profile. When mixing with wealthy people it's fine, garages, or even desirable to dress up, wear your expensive watch and jewellery & flaunt youself. It's fun. But there is, garages, a time and a place for everything. Don't rub your wealth in the faces of non wealthy people. Their life is hard, garages, enough already without being reminded of what they don't have but would love, garages, to possess. Most people (wealthy or not) would never dream of hurting you or robbing you even if they are, garages, jealous. But don't tempt fate. Jails are full for a reason. Some people are desperate enough to steal with or without violence. I do recommend you take self defence classes, they keep you fit, help your self confidence, garages, and could save your life. If you do find yourself in the position however where, garages, someone, garages, sticks a gun or knife in your face and demands your watch, give it to them, it should be insured anyway. Don't be a hero, graveyards are full of heroes.
To secure your car, get an alarm and never leave it unattended when it is, garages, unlocked. Keep it fully insured and park wherever possible in a well lit parking structure which has video, garages, surveillance and a boom gate that needs to be raised using a ticket or manually by some person, garages, in a booth when you want to leave.
To secure your home you need to take a good hard look, garages, at the estates weaknesses, garages, . Start, garages, at the perimeter. Fences are designed to keep the faint hearted out, delay intruders, warn the resident of intruders, if alarmed, and it fitted with cameras identify the intruders. The, garages, best fences are masonary walls at, garages, least 2.5m high with barbed wire or broken glass fastened to the top. Don't have more gates than necessary and keep them locked. For convenience have automatic gates with a card or pin number access. Remote controlled gates can be hacked too easily. The gate should be made of similar strength material as the wall.
Normally when people steal from you they do it in a way so they are not seen, garages, or they use a ruse (like pretending to be a removalist and clear out your house openly in front of the neighbours). If you take the right precautions you can be, garages, very well protected. You don't need to turn your house into Fort Knox. Nobody with half a brain is going to ram through your front gate and storm your house armed with machine guns if you have a decent police, garages, force in your country. Too high a profile, limited chance of success.
Keep your yard clean and free from hiding places. Clear shrubs, garages, away from windows, garages, . Use cameras,, garages, have some clearly visible as a deterrent and some hidden so they can't be found and neutralised (not a likely event). Flower beds around the house are a good idea as they offer no where to hide and are very good at collecting footprints. Thorny plants around fences and around downpipes are a good idea. Cactuses are good for this, so are roses, bouganvilleas, holly and barberry. Guard dogs are excellent if they have been trained not to take food from outside their bowl and they, garages, have been trained not to eat your kids. Put up 'Beware of the Dog' signs to prevent lawsuits. Small yappy dogs make good alarm systems but they are also annoying as they often, garages, yap at anything. You need one that knows, garages, the difference between an intruder and a moth.
Lighting is important. Gates and entrance points should be constantly lighted as a deterrence. Motion sensitive lighting should be considered for the, garages, rest of, garages, your compound.
Gravel driveways and paths are difficult for people to walk on quietly. You might want to consider this.
Doors should be solid, not hollow. Use security screen doors locked at all, garages, times. Remember, garages, also, a door is only as strong as the frame it is in. Glass in the door if used at all, should be kept away from, garages, the locking mechanism. Use deadlocks (so you need a key both sides) and good quality hinges. Garage doors are a weak point in most homes. The door leading from your garage into your home should be treated as an external door and secured as such. Use peep holes and intercoms to screen people before opening the door to them.
Windows are a problem. Using pins are a good idea to lock sliding windows (and doors for, garages, that matter). They can also be easily removed in an emergency. If possible windows on the ground floor should have bullet proof glass so they can't be smashed, garages,, garages,, garages, . Make sure skylights are reinforced and that vents that lead to the roof or walls are, garages, all too small for human access.
Invest in a quality alarm system. A monitored alarm system is best. If it goes off a security company comes to see what the problem is, garages, . Have, garages, signs clearly visible as a deterrant. If you can afford it , pay to have security patrols come by your house at irregular intervals or even have them permanently on site, garages, .
Don't tell people your plans when going on holidays. By this I mean, keep it as quiet as, garages, possible. Have your mail and newspapers collected. Put, garages, some of your interior lights on timers so it looks like you're home.
Also secure your home from fire. Protect sleeping areas, garages, by installing smoke detectors between sleeping areas and other parts of the house. Check the batteries, garages, regularly. Have fire extinguishers in the kitchen, sheds and garages. , garages, Kitchen extinguishers, garages, must be rated for fat fires. Also have a fire blanket fitted in the kitchen. Learn how to use them. Have monitored, garages, fire alarm systems fitted with your monitored burglar alarm, garages, system. Also have a fire escape plan and make sure everyone knows it.
You can also have a medical emergency panic button installed that is also monitored in some cases.
At the end of the day, don't panic or live in fear, just take sensible precautions. You have worked too hard to attain your lifestyle, to just give it away to someone looking for, garages, a short cut.
Dr Gregory Lipke is the CEO of Cyber Publishing Ltd. He has a Doctorate of Business Administration & a Bachelor of Science as well as years of experience in Private Investigation, Personal Protection & Security. He is the author of Your Luxury Guide .
Source: articleage.com
Usually your personal security won't be much of an issue. Yes, anyone can get mugged, but unless you go around upsetting dangerous people or living in dangerous places you shouldn't need a bodyguard. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to keep a low profile. When mixing with wealthy people it's fine, garages, or even desirable to dress up, wear your expensive watch and jewellery & flaunt youself. It's fun. But there is, garages, a time and a place for everything. Don't rub your wealth in the faces of non wealthy people. Their life is hard, garages, enough already without being reminded of what they don't have but would love, garages, to possess. Most people (wealthy or not) would never dream of hurting you or robbing you even if they are, garages, jealous. But don't tempt fate. Jails are full for a reason. Some people are desperate enough to steal with or without violence. I do recommend you take self defence classes, they keep you fit, help your self confidence, garages, and could save your life. If you do find yourself in the position however where, garages, someone, garages, sticks a gun or knife in your face and demands your watch, give it to them, it should be insured anyway. Don't be a hero, graveyards are full of heroes.
To secure your car, get an alarm and never leave it unattended when it is, garages, unlocked. Keep it fully insured and park wherever possible in a well lit parking structure which has video, garages, surveillance and a boom gate that needs to be raised using a ticket or manually by some person, garages, in a booth when you want to leave.
To secure your home you need to take a good hard look, garages, at the estates weaknesses, garages, . Start, garages, at the perimeter. Fences are designed to keep the faint hearted out, delay intruders, warn the resident of intruders, if alarmed, and it fitted with cameras identify the intruders. The, garages, best fences are masonary walls at, garages, least 2.5m high with barbed wire or broken glass fastened to the top. Don't have more gates than necessary and keep them locked. For convenience have automatic gates with a card or pin number access. Remote controlled gates can be hacked too easily. The gate should be made of similar strength material as the wall.
Normally when people steal from you they do it in a way so they are not seen, garages, or they use a ruse (like pretending to be a removalist and clear out your house openly in front of the neighbours). If you take the right precautions you can be, garages, very well protected. You don't need to turn your house into Fort Knox. Nobody with half a brain is going to ram through your front gate and storm your house armed with machine guns if you have a decent police, garages, force in your country. Too high a profile, limited chance of success.
Keep your yard clean and free from hiding places. Clear shrubs, garages, away from windows, garages, . Use cameras,, garages, have some clearly visible as a deterrent and some hidden so they can't be found and neutralised (not a likely event). Flower beds around the house are a good idea as they offer no where to hide and are very good at collecting footprints. Thorny plants around fences and around downpipes are a good idea. Cactuses are good for this, so are roses, bouganvilleas, holly and barberry. Guard dogs are excellent if they have been trained not to take food from outside their bowl and they, garages, have been trained not to eat your kids. Put up 'Beware of the Dog' signs to prevent lawsuits. Small yappy dogs make good alarm systems but they are also annoying as they often, garages, yap at anything. You need one that knows, garages, the difference between an intruder and a moth.
Lighting is important. Gates and entrance points should be constantly lighted as a deterrence. Motion sensitive lighting should be considered for the, garages, rest of, garages, your compound.
Gravel driveways and paths are difficult for people to walk on quietly. You might want to consider this.
Doors should be solid, not hollow. Use security screen doors locked at all, garages, times. Remember, garages, also, a door is only as strong as the frame it is in. Glass in the door if used at all, should be kept away from, garages, the locking mechanism. Use deadlocks (so you need a key both sides) and good quality hinges. Garage doors are a weak point in most homes. The door leading from your garage into your home should be treated as an external door and secured as such. Use peep holes and intercoms to screen people before opening the door to them.
Windows are a problem. Using pins are a good idea to lock sliding windows (and doors for, garages, that matter). They can also be easily removed in an emergency. If possible windows on the ground floor should have bullet proof glass so they can't be smashed, garages,, garages,, garages, . Make sure skylights are reinforced and that vents that lead to the roof or walls are, garages, all too small for human access.
Invest in a quality alarm system. A monitored alarm system is best. If it goes off a security company comes to see what the problem is, garages, . Have, garages, signs clearly visible as a deterrant. If you can afford it , pay to have security patrols come by your house at irregular intervals or even have them permanently on site, garages, .
Don't tell people your plans when going on holidays. By this I mean, keep it as quiet as, garages, possible. Have your mail and newspapers collected. Put, garages, some of your interior lights on timers so it looks like you're home.
Also secure your home from fire. Protect sleeping areas, garages, by installing smoke detectors between sleeping areas and other parts of the house. Check the batteries, garages, regularly. Have fire extinguishers in the kitchen, sheds and garages. , garages, Kitchen extinguishers, garages, must be rated for fat fires. Also have a fire blanket fitted in the kitchen. Learn how to use them. Have monitored, garages, fire alarm systems fitted with your monitored burglar alarm, garages, system. Also have a fire escape plan and make sure everyone knows it.
You can also have a medical emergency panic button installed that is also monitored in some cases.
At the end of the day, don't panic or live in fear, just take sensible precautions. You have worked too hard to attain your lifestyle, to just give it away to someone looking for, garages, a short cut.
Dr Gregory Lipke is the CEO of Cyber Publishing Ltd. He has a Doctorate of Business Administration & a Bachelor of Science as well as years of experience in Private Investigation, Personal Protection & Security. He is the author of Your Luxury Guide .
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Maintain Your Home's Concrete
Author: Kirk Muhlhauser
Source: articleage.com
Almost every home has some type of concrete surface, whether
it's a garage floor, porch, sidewalk, etc. Concrete is the
product of choice, garages, for these surfaces because of its strength,
durability, and relatively low maintenance requirements.
Although this is true, concrete does deteriorate over time and a
little bit of maintenance can significantly, garages, increase its
lifespan, as well, garages, as keep your concrete, garages, looking good.
There are several factors that determine the strength and
durability of concrete. The, garages, quality of the mix, weather
conditions during and shortly after pouring, and finishing
techniques play the biggest role. Some concrete mixes are
stronger than others and are designed to withstand harsher
conditions. Cool, humid weather during and after the pour
promotes concrete strength as opposed to hot and dry conditions.
As far as the finishing of concrete goes, the techniques used
can be crucial to the surface strength of concrete. If water is
added to facilitate finishing, the risk of chipping and scaling
over time is greatly increased. These factors will dictate the
susceptibility of concrete.
So, garages, what actually causes concrete, garages, to deteriorate? The weather
and its elements are the biggest contributor. Rain and snow will
slowly erode away the surface. Freeze and thaw cycles may be
concrete's biggest, garages, enemy. When water seeps into the pores and
freezes,, garages, it expands and breaks apart the concrete. Spilled
chemicals,, garages, such as oil and acids, also eat away at concrete.
Constant foot and vehicle traffic gradually wear down the
surface, making it more vulnerable, garages, to all the previously
mentioned, garages, factors.
The best way to decrease the rate of deterioration is to keep a
coat of sealer on your concrete. Sealer provides protection by
creating a barrier that prevents the penetration of water and
other foreign substances. It also, garages, acts as a wear coat. The
sealer is worn away by weather, garages, and traffic, not, garages, the concrete
itself, garages, . Periodic applications of sealer will add many years to
the life of your concrete, making, garages, it a wise practice,
considering the high cost of replacement.
There are other advantages of sealer in addition to prolonging
the lifespan of your concrete. Sealed concrete, garages, makes for much
easier cleaning. Dirt, dust, and spills can usually be broomed
or, garages, rinsed away since the concrete's pores are sealed off. Most
of those hideous stains from leaky automobiles, rusty patio
furniture, and dripping grills can be prevented with a good coat
of sealer. Sealer can also revive the colors and textures of
decorative concrete, especially acid stained surfaces.
Think of your concrete as low maintenance but not maintenance
free. It is expensive to replace so protect your investment by
keeping it coated with concrete sealer.
Source: articleage.com
Almost every home has some type of concrete surface, whether
it's a garage floor, porch, sidewalk, etc. Concrete is the
product of choice, garages, for these surfaces because of its strength,
durability, and relatively low maintenance requirements.
Although this is true, concrete does deteriorate over time and a
little bit of maintenance can significantly, garages, increase its
lifespan, as well, garages, as keep your concrete, garages, looking good.
There are several factors that determine the strength and
durability of concrete. The, garages, quality of the mix, weather
conditions during and shortly after pouring, and finishing
techniques play the biggest role. Some concrete mixes are
stronger than others and are designed to withstand harsher
conditions. Cool, humid weather during and after the pour
promotes concrete strength as opposed to hot and dry conditions.
As far as the finishing of concrete goes, the techniques used
can be crucial to the surface strength of concrete. If water is
added to facilitate finishing, the risk of chipping and scaling
over time is greatly increased. These factors will dictate the
susceptibility of concrete.
So, garages, what actually causes concrete, garages, to deteriorate? The weather
and its elements are the biggest contributor. Rain and snow will
slowly erode away the surface. Freeze and thaw cycles may be
concrete's biggest, garages, enemy. When water seeps into the pores and
freezes,, garages, it expands and breaks apart the concrete. Spilled
chemicals,, garages, such as oil and acids, also eat away at concrete.
Constant foot and vehicle traffic gradually wear down the
surface, making it more vulnerable, garages, to all the previously
mentioned, garages, factors.
The best way to decrease the rate of deterioration is to keep a
coat of sealer on your concrete. Sealer provides protection by
creating a barrier that prevents the penetration of water and
other foreign substances. It also, garages, acts as a wear coat. The
sealer is worn away by weather, garages, and traffic, not, garages, the concrete
itself, garages, . Periodic applications of sealer will add many years to
the life of your concrete, making, garages, it a wise practice,
considering the high cost of replacement.
There are other advantages of sealer in addition to prolonging
the lifespan of your concrete. Sealed concrete, garages, makes for much
easier cleaning. Dirt, dust, and spills can usually be broomed
or, garages, rinsed away since the concrete's pores are sealed off. Most
of those hideous stains from leaky automobiles, rusty patio
furniture, and dripping grills can be prevented with a good coat
of sealer. Sealer can also revive the colors and textures of
decorative concrete, especially acid stained surfaces.
Think of your concrete as low maintenance but not maintenance
free. It is expensive to replace so protect your investment by
keeping it coated with concrete sealer.
Collecting Matchcovers - Match Book Covers
Author: Glyn Farber
Source: download
The first matches were produced by an English chemist named John Walker in the early 1800s. While conducting, garages, experiments with a flammable liquid some of the mixture dropped on the floor and flared up. From this he discovered the process of making matches. His matches were boxed and placed on sale in 1827.
The first match books, garages, were, garages, made by Joshua Pusey, garages, of, garages, Philadelphia in 1889. The earliest know commercial, garages, advertising appeared in the late, garages, 1800s and early 1900s. Through out the early 1900s colorful match boxes and match books were made containing all sorts of beautiful art work and by the 1930s they were widely collected. In the 1940s and 1950s smoking was very popular and millions and millions of match books were manufactured and hotels, nightclubs and restaurants made match books available to their customers. Even today match books are a popular form of advertising from these same retail establishments, garages, .
Collectors usually remove the matches from matchbooks and display their collection of matchcovers in albums. Because of the large number of different match book covers available to collectors, some prefer to specialize by, garages, type. Others prefer to collect match books from the places they visited. Hotels and restaurants are the most popular, garages, by far. However collections of night clubs, bars, railroad, garages, lines, airlines, ships, banks, sports, world fairs and political are very popular. I like collecting old matchcovers from my home, garages,, garages, town.
Matchcovers can be classified, garages, by size such as 20-strike matchbooks which have 20 matchsticks per book. Larger 30 and 40 strike matchbooks are called billboards. The most popular matchbooks are odd shapes, garages, and early matchbooks that are printed not only on the cover but also on the matchsticks.
Matchcover collecting is a fun and inexpensive hobby. Once you start, make a habit of picking up one or two matchbooks from every place you visit. As you become obsessed with this fascinating hobby you may want to purchase matchbooks at, garages, garage sales, flea markets and antique stores. One of the best places to find, garages, match books both new and old is eBay. At eBay you can find one matchbook that may interest you or large lots that can sort through.
Glyn Farber has, garages, published a catalog of all known Hickey Brother Cigar Store Tokens and co-authored a book about Louisiana Trade Tokens. In addition he wrote several articles, garages, for The Token and Medal Society (TAMS) and The National Token Collectors Association (NTCA). Glyn has been a devoted collector of Louisiana Trade Tokens, Louisiana collectibles and Lake Charles, LA postcards for almost 40 years.
Find out more information about Matchcovers, Collectibles and Trade, garages, Tokens at his web sites http://www.most-popular-collectibles-at-auction.com and http://www.louisiana-trade-tokens.com
Source: download
The first matches were produced by an English chemist named John Walker in the early 1800s. While conducting, garages, experiments with a flammable liquid some of the mixture dropped on the floor and flared up. From this he discovered the process of making matches. His matches were boxed and placed on sale in 1827.
The first match books, garages, were, garages, made by Joshua Pusey, garages, of, garages, Philadelphia in 1889. The earliest know commercial, garages, advertising appeared in the late, garages, 1800s and early 1900s. Through out the early 1900s colorful match boxes and match books were made containing all sorts of beautiful art work and by the 1930s they were widely collected. In the 1940s and 1950s smoking was very popular and millions and millions of match books were manufactured and hotels, nightclubs and restaurants made match books available to their customers. Even today match books are a popular form of advertising from these same retail establishments, garages, .
Collectors usually remove the matches from matchbooks and display their collection of matchcovers in albums. Because of the large number of different match book covers available to collectors, some prefer to specialize by, garages, type. Others prefer to collect match books from the places they visited. Hotels and restaurants are the most popular, garages, by far. However collections of night clubs, bars, railroad, garages, lines, airlines, ships, banks, sports, world fairs and political are very popular. I like collecting old matchcovers from my home, garages,, garages, town.
Matchcovers can be classified, garages, by size such as 20-strike matchbooks which have 20 matchsticks per book. Larger 30 and 40 strike matchbooks are called billboards. The most popular matchbooks are odd shapes, garages, and early matchbooks that are printed not only on the cover but also on the matchsticks.
Matchcover collecting is a fun and inexpensive hobby. Once you start, make a habit of picking up one or two matchbooks from every place you visit. As you become obsessed with this fascinating hobby you may want to purchase matchbooks at, garages, garage sales, flea markets and antique stores. One of the best places to find, garages, match books both new and old is eBay. At eBay you can find one matchbook that may interest you or large lots that can sort through.
Glyn Farber has, garages, published a catalog of all known Hickey Brother Cigar Store Tokens and co-authored a book about Louisiana Trade Tokens. In addition he wrote several articles, garages, for The Token and Medal Society (TAMS) and The National Token Collectors Association (NTCA). Glyn has been a devoted collector of Louisiana Trade Tokens, Louisiana collectibles and Lake Charles, LA postcards for almost 40 years.
Find out more information about Matchcovers, Collectibles and Trade, garages, Tokens at his web sites http://www.most-popular-collectibles-at-auction.com and http://www.louisiana-trade-tokens.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Kit Sheds Have So Many Advantages
Author: Tony Shaw
Source: isnare.com
Did you know that many of the cute cottages you see are actually kit garages sheds? Yes, they're garage sheds made from kits. These were assembled on the property by the homeowner or by, garages, a team of experts. They are wonderful additions to virtually any property. Kit garages sheds are also great for stand alone garages, adorable cottages, home gyms or personal offices.
Traditionally, kit garages sheds come in 14 foot by 24 foot size for single car units or the 16 foot by 32, garages, foot size for double car units. Because of the size of these buildings, it is best to notify your home owner's insurance holder and check with local laws on adding them to the property. They can significantly increase the value of your real estate, making them a wonderful investment.
What can you use kit garages sheds, garages, for? They are excellent to turn into virtually anything your imagination can, garages, conceive. They make wonderful greenhouses. Other uses include:
•, garages, Cottages
• Small auto repair shops
• Home Gym
• Home Recreational Facility
• Personal Spa
• Guest House
• Apartment For Rent (in areas that allow those)
• Greenhouse
• At Home Hair or Nail Saloon
• Traditional Storage Unit
• Store antique cars
The advantage to using kit garages, garages, sheds is the ability to customize for your, garages, specific needs and desires. For example, you can accessorize with window boxes or even a wood handicap accessibility ramp. You can select from a wide, garages, range of options depending, garages, on which manufacturer you select when ordering your kit.
Another big advantage to these kits is the ease that you can find a quality company to order from. There are many of these companies available online, garages, to purchase kits that have the styles, dimensions and accessories that you will want for your new shed.
The Internet shed stores have a place to select additional features that go with the standard packages. You can also give them an idea of what you want to do with the sheds and many will customize to tailor the sheds to your specific needs.
You can assemble these kits yourself since the majority are fairly simple instructions to follow. The other option is to hire a team of professionals to assemble the shed for you. It will really depend on the amount of time that you have fo, garages, r the project and how comfortable you are with putting it together
Source: isnare.com
Did you know that many of the cute cottages you see are actually kit garages sheds? Yes, they're garage sheds made from kits. These were assembled on the property by the homeowner or by, garages, a team of experts. They are wonderful additions to virtually any property. Kit garages sheds are also great for stand alone garages, adorable cottages, home gyms or personal offices.
Traditionally, kit garages sheds come in 14 foot by 24 foot size for single car units or the 16 foot by 32, garages, foot size for double car units. Because of the size of these buildings, it is best to notify your home owner's insurance holder and check with local laws on adding them to the property. They can significantly increase the value of your real estate, making them a wonderful investment.
What can you use kit garages sheds, garages, for? They are excellent to turn into virtually anything your imagination can, garages, conceive. They make wonderful greenhouses. Other uses include:
•, garages, Cottages
• Small auto repair shops
• Home Gym
• Home Recreational Facility
• Personal Spa
• Guest House
• Apartment For Rent (in areas that allow those)
• Greenhouse
• At Home Hair or Nail Saloon
• Traditional Storage Unit
• Store antique cars
The advantage to using kit garages, garages, sheds is the ability to customize for your, garages, specific needs and desires. For example, you can accessorize with window boxes or even a wood handicap accessibility ramp. You can select from a wide, garages, range of options depending, garages, on which manufacturer you select when ordering your kit.
Another big advantage to these kits is the ease that you can find a quality company to order from. There are many of these companies available online, garages, to purchase kits that have the styles, dimensions and accessories that you will want for your new shed.
The Internet shed stores have a place to select additional features that go with the standard packages. You can also give them an idea of what you want to do with the sheds and many will customize to tailor the sheds to your specific needs.
You can assemble these kits yourself since the majority are fairly simple instructions to follow. The other option is to hire a team of professionals to assemble the shed for you. It will really depend on the amount of time that you have fo, garages, r the project and how comfortable you are with putting it together
Easily Organize Your Tools With A Tool Shed
Author: Adriana Copaceanu
Source: isnare.com
Anyone who has lived in one place, garages, for any, garages, length of time often finds themselves accumulating things over the years, and not quite knowing where to put them. Tools are a big problem too. You find yourself, garages, with all sorts of tools for gardening, lawn care,, garages, small home projects, hobbies, garages, and more.
A lot of the most common tools people use to care for and maintain their homes are not easy to store. And often these tools get quite dirty, so we don't relish the idea of putting them in the house somewhere. And the garage of course, assuming you have one, is usually piled high with all sorts of other things. Boxes of keepsakes, old clothes and toys, cars, bicycles, and all the things we keep around to maintain those too.
So there isn't often much room at all in the garage for storing the tools, garages, you've accumulated over the years. And if, garages, you do try to store them there, you often find that, garages, you spend more time hunting for those tools than you do actually using them!
And, garages, that's, garages, what makes outdoor tool sheds such a useful invention. In fact, tool sheds don't have to be placed outdoors either, garages, . You can buy smaller cabinet style tool sheds to place in the garage if you have room for instance, and it will still be a huge help because all of your tools will be organized and easy to find when you need them.
Outdoor tool sheds are quite useful too though, particularly if you don't have an indoor space to place, garages,, garages, even small tool sheds. If you need more space, the outdoor tool sheds become even more useful too.
In fact, outdoor tool sheds are used, garages, for a wide, garages, variety of purposes. If you do a lot of gardening for instance, you can use the tool shed to store all of your gardening tools and supplies. Small pruning shears, extra potting soil and fertilizer,, garages, and even extra container pots all fit very easily into the smaller sized tool sheds.
If you have larger gardening equipment such as hedge trimmers, weed wackers,, garages, bulk bags of mulch or fertilizer, hoes, shovels, rakes, and tree limb cutters, there are plenty of larger sized tool sheds which will allow you to fit all of that, garages, in with room to spare.
Guys who, garages, like doing, garages, woodworking or various household chores can share the tool shed, or have one of their own too. Then there's room for the various saws, sanders, drills and so on that seem to always being laying around just out of reach.
Not only, garages, do tool sheds come in a variety of sizes, they also come in a wide variety of materials too. You can get tool sheds made of wood,, garages, metal, and even vinyl too. Some, garages, come pre-painted, or you can choose to paint it yourself so that the tool shed matches your house design.
Regardless of what kind of tool shed you choose to get though, once you have the tools all organized, protected from the weather, and easy to find in one place, you'll wonder why you waited so long to get one.
Source: isnare.com
Anyone who has lived in one place, garages, for any, garages, length of time often finds themselves accumulating things over the years, and not quite knowing where to put them. Tools are a big problem too. You find yourself, garages, with all sorts of tools for gardening, lawn care,, garages, small home projects, hobbies, garages, and more.
A lot of the most common tools people use to care for and maintain their homes are not easy to store. And often these tools get quite dirty, so we don't relish the idea of putting them in the house somewhere. And the garage of course, assuming you have one, is usually piled high with all sorts of other things. Boxes of keepsakes, old clothes and toys, cars, bicycles, and all the things we keep around to maintain those too.
So there isn't often much room at all in the garage for storing the tools, garages, you've accumulated over the years. And if, garages, you do try to store them there, you often find that, garages, you spend more time hunting for those tools than you do actually using them!
And, garages, that's, garages, what makes outdoor tool sheds such a useful invention. In fact, tool sheds don't have to be placed outdoors either, garages, . You can buy smaller cabinet style tool sheds to place in the garage if you have room for instance, and it will still be a huge help because all of your tools will be organized and easy to find when you need them.
Outdoor tool sheds are quite useful too though, particularly if you don't have an indoor space to place, garages,, garages, even small tool sheds. If you need more space, the outdoor tool sheds become even more useful too.
In fact, outdoor tool sheds are used, garages, for a wide, garages, variety of purposes. If you do a lot of gardening for instance, you can use the tool shed to store all of your gardening tools and supplies. Small pruning shears, extra potting soil and fertilizer,, garages, and even extra container pots all fit very easily into the smaller sized tool sheds.
If you have larger gardening equipment such as hedge trimmers, weed wackers,, garages, bulk bags of mulch or fertilizer, hoes, shovels, rakes, and tree limb cutters, there are plenty of larger sized tool sheds which will allow you to fit all of that, garages, in with room to spare.
Guys who, garages, like doing, garages, woodworking or various household chores can share the tool shed, or have one of their own too. Then there's room for the various saws, sanders, drills and so on that seem to always being laying around just out of reach.
Not only, garages, do tool sheds come in a variety of sizes, they also come in a wide variety of materials too. You can get tool sheds made of wood,, garages, metal, and even vinyl too. Some, garages, come pre-painted, or you can choose to paint it yourself so that the tool shed matches your house design.
Regardless of what kind of tool shed you choose to get though, once you have the tools all organized, protected from the weather, and easy to find in one place, you'll wonder why you waited so long to get one.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Buying A Home Security System
Author: Ralph Winn
Source: isnare.com
Buying, garages, a home security system and key items you will need to consider.
Crime rates, garages, are on the rise, garages, in U.S. and some crimes, garages, include violent attacks on people inside their homes. You may ask what makes a person a victim of such attacks. People can be attacked because the thief, garages, thought you were not home and surprise him, drugs and alcohol also, garages, play a part in violent crimes by stirring up a rage like behavior. Other threats inside your, garages, home is fire and carbon monoxide poisoning and can more deadly then anything else. When buying a home security system include all the things you will need to make your home safe as possible. You will never be disappointed having protection.
If my friends had a working home security system it may have saved them the grief of losing their precious family heirlooms, valuable, garages, tools and several household items. Not to mention the emotional stress from feeling violated, garages, by the robbery. If they would have kept their system updated and done the annual maintenance, garages, they could have avoided this terrible situation. Their system was installed when they built their home in 1991 and had not done any maintenance or did they have it monitored. Simple having a home security system installed does not provide protection.
The following are devices that can add the protection you will need to feel safe in your own home.
Smoke detectors: These detectors, garages, monitor 24 hours a day every day. If you are home or away it will protect you against some one intentionally, garages, setting a fire,, garages, children playing with fire and accidental fires too. Smoke detectors that are monitored will notify the, garages, fire department. This, garages, device is not necessarily going to protect all your personal valuables but it will help save lives.
Carbon Monoxide detectors: Your home will be protected the same a smoke detector and will have benefit of protecting you and your family from a danger that you can not see or smell. These dangers can from your stove, furnace, water heaters, fireplaces and garages. Carbon Monoxide is deadly.
Burglar alarm: Install sensors that can be mounted into your doors that will alert you and your family when some tries to break in. Secure windows with glass breaking technology so an alarm will sound, garages, when glass is broken or tampered with. Don't forget to arm garage, garages, doors and back entrances too.
Panic buttons: Most home security systems have panic or alert buttons you can activate in a moment with you believe you have an intruder in the house or you see something, garages, suspicious outside your home, garages, . You can determine different codes to input based on the situation, such as being held against your will or an intruder is present in your home.
Lighting: Criminals hate light and can be one of your best protectors, having your lights on a timer can be beneficial when you are on vacation, home alone or simply as a deterrent to criminals. It is highly recommended to include this type of device, garages, when, garages, buying, garages, a home security system.
If you have an older version of a home security system this is the time to upgrade. Wireless home security systems are now common place among home security systems and can be easily installed.
Source: isnare.com
Buying, garages, a home security system and key items you will need to consider.
Crime rates, garages, are on the rise, garages, in U.S. and some crimes, garages, include violent attacks on people inside their homes. You may ask what makes a person a victim of such attacks. People can be attacked because the thief, garages, thought you were not home and surprise him, drugs and alcohol also, garages, play a part in violent crimes by stirring up a rage like behavior. Other threats inside your, garages, home is fire and carbon monoxide poisoning and can more deadly then anything else. When buying a home security system include all the things you will need to make your home safe as possible. You will never be disappointed having protection.
If my friends had a working home security system it may have saved them the grief of losing their precious family heirlooms, valuable, garages, tools and several household items. Not to mention the emotional stress from feeling violated, garages, by the robbery. If they would have kept their system updated and done the annual maintenance, garages, they could have avoided this terrible situation. Their system was installed when they built their home in 1991 and had not done any maintenance or did they have it monitored. Simple having a home security system installed does not provide protection.
The following are devices that can add the protection you will need to feel safe in your own home.
Smoke detectors: These detectors, garages, monitor 24 hours a day every day. If you are home or away it will protect you against some one intentionally, garages, setting a fire,, garages, children playing with fire and accidental fires too. Smoke detectors that are monitored will notify the, garages, fire department. This, garages, device is not necessarily going to protect all your personal valuables but it will help save lives.
Carbon Monoxide detectors: Your home will be protected the same a smoke detector and will have benefit of protecting you and your family from a danger that you can not see or smell. These dangers can from your stove, furnace, water heaters, fireplaces and garages. Carbon Monoxide is deadly.
Burglar alarm: Install sensors that can be mounted into your doors that will alert you and your family when some tries to break in. Secure windows with glass breaking technology so an alarm will sound, garages, when glass is broken or tampered with. Don't forget to arm garage, garages, doors and back entrances too.
Panic buttons: Most home security systems have panic or alert buttons you can activate in a moment with you believe you have an intruder in the house or you see something, garages, suspicious outside your home, garages, . You can determine different codes to input based on the situation, such as being held against your will or an intruder is present in your home.
Lighting: Criminals hate light and can be one of your best protectors, having your lights on a timer can be beneficial when you are on vacation, home alone or simply as a deterrent to criminals. It is highly recommended to include this type of device, garages, when, garages, buying, garages, a home security system.
If you have an older version of a home security system this is the time to upgrade. Wireless home security systems are now common place among home security systems and can be easily installed.
Garage Doors
Author: Barbara Anderson
Source: isnare.com
What is the first thing you see when you look at a garage?
The garage door. It is the first and most important "contact" your garage makes with the world. If you want full confidence in your garage, this "contact" should be, garages, 100%, garages, safe and secure. The door also says a lot about you and of your taste. You may have a beautiful house, but if your garage door is an old, wooden, plain, white one that makes an awful sound when it is opened or closed, it says a, garages, lot about you and your negligence regarding safety and style.
An aging garage door and garage door opener, garages, can be a real threat to your children and pets. With the new openers and garage doors, injuries and accidental death are a thing of the past. If you plan to remodel your garage, one of the first steps you should, garages, take, garages, should be changing your doors and openers.
Garage doors used to be heavy, huge, wooden colossus that rotted and cracked. Even though wooden doors give you a wide range of styles and textures,, garages, the problems related to their, garages, poor insulating value are quite, garages, real. An good alternative, garages, is fiberglass, garages, material -- inexpensive, easy to lift, and resistant to corrosion. They require little maintenance, but they also provide very little insulation or security.
If you want a maintenance-free, durable, warp-free garage door, you need steel. Steel doors also provide, garages, good insulation, as they are made of two or more sheets of steel alternating with a variety of insulating, garages, materials. They also come in a variety of styles, textures, shapes, garages, and colors to suit your needs. Moreover, you can add windows -- including the reflective type that obscure the view into the garage.
Since 1991, automatic reversal on garage,, garages, garages, door openers have been required, garages, by law in the United States. Since 1993, optical sensors have been a requirement. The sensor works perfectly for your safety: if, garages, something gets in the way of the sensor beam while the door is going down, the sensor sends the door right back up. Also, new design options provide more security and a quieter operation. Today, the silent options include a belt-driven trolley made of Kevlar or, the cheaper option, a screw-drive model with a plastic-lined track to lessen the noisy impact of metal-on-metal.
Remote controls have been upgraded as well. You can find a remote control that has enough buttons to control the lightening and/or, garages, appliances in your, garages, home and garage. Another option for the remote-control buttons are the child-safe lock-out and rolling security codes which automatically change every time the garage door opens, in order, garages, to prevent someone from stealing your opener's code.
Even with all these changes added, garages, to your garage, security and safety are not 100% guaranteed. The installation of a new garage door and opener should be done by a professional team who can make the proper adjustments that will allow the sensitive equipment to operate with the maximum amount of safety in your garage.
Source: isnare.com
What is the first thing you see when you look at a garage?
The garage door. It is the first and most important "contact" your garage makes with the world. If you want full confidence in your garage, this "contact" should be, garages, 100%, garages, safe and secure. The door also says a lot about you and of your taste. You may have a beautiful house, but if your garage door is an old, wooden, plain, white one that makes an awful sound when it is opened or closed, it says a, garages, lot about you and your negligence regarding safety and style.
An aging garage door and garage door opener, garages, can be a real threat to your children and pets. With the new openers and garage doors, injuries and accidental death are a thing of the past. If you plan to remodel your garage, one of the first steps you should, garages, take, garages, should be changing your doors and openers.
Garage doors used to be heavy, huge, wooden colossus that rotted and cracked. Even though wooden doors give you a wide range of styles and textures,, garages, the problems related to their, garages, poor insulating value are quite, garages, real. An good alternative, garages, is fiberglass, garages, material -- inexpensive, easy to lift, and resistant to corrosion. They require little maintenance, but they also provide very little insulation or security.
If you want a maintenance-free, durable, warp-free garage door, you need steel. Steel doors also provide, garages, good insulation, as they are made of two or more sheets of steel alternating with a variety of insulating, garages, materials. They also come in a variety of styles, textures, shapes, garages, and colors to suit your needs. Moreover, you can add windows -- including the reflective type that obscure the view into the garage.
Since 1991, automatic reversal on garage,, garages, garages, door openers have been required, garages, by law in the United States. Since 1993, optical sensors have been a requirement. The sensor works perfectly for your safety: if, garages, something gets in the way of the sensor beam while the door is going down, the sensor sends the door right back up. Also, new design options provide more security and a quieter operation. Today, the silent options include a belt-driven trolley made of Kevlar or, the cheaper option, a screw-drive model with a plastic-lined track to lessen the noisy impact of metal-on-metal.
Remote controls have been upgraded as well. You can find a remote control that has enough buttons to control the lightening and/or, garages, appliances in your, garages, home and garage. Another option for the remote-control buttons are the child-safe lock-out and rolling security codes which automatically change every time the garage door opens, in order, garages, to prevent someone from stealing your opener's code.
Even with all these changes added, garages, to your garage, security and safety are not 100% guaranteed. The installation of a new garage door and opener should be done by a professional team who can make the proper adjustments that will allow the sensitive equipment to operate with the maximum amount of safety in your garage.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Home Safety Prevent Home Invasions
Author: Bryan J Buckner
Source: articlesbase.com
The incidence of home invasions continues to rise throughout the U.S. The, garages, cause for the increase is probably related to the grave economic conditions present in the U.S. In addition, drugs are to blame in many cases where the assailants are looking for money to buy there next "high". This week, someone in our local community was the victim of a home invasion, garages, . On Thursday a resident of Baton Rouge,, garages, LA heard a knock on, garages, his door. When he asked, garages, who was there the assailants said they were looking for drugs, The homeowner said you've got the wrong place, locked the front door and hid in a nearby closet after noticing one of the men was armed with a handgun. Minutes later the men kicked the door in and proceeded to ransack the home in search of drugs and, garages, money. Soon the criminals located the home owner hiding in the closet, they threatened his life and held him at gunpoint until a third suspect showed up and shot the homeowner. No doubt that the intention was to murder this man, fortunately his injures were, garages, deemed non life threatening. The suspects left his house in shambles and made off with cash, jewelry, and his vehicle. We hear more and more about violent crimes like these and carjackings or even kidnapping, garages, . The truth is that crimes like these are on the increase and there doesn't seem to be any relief in site. So what are you to do? How can you make a difference in your neighborhood or community? You, garages, can start by educating yourself about crime and the steps you can take to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a statistic. Then you take what you've, garages, learned and educate others, your family and friends. Then some, garages, of them agree to help others...you get the picture. Take time to review your homes security and to make the necessary changes that will keep you from becoming a victim. Spend a few moments walking the perimeter of your home and objectively evaluate its vulnerability. Look at it the way a thief or crook would. You are looking for potential opportunities for a criminal. Make sure the outside of your home is well lit. Put bright lights over porches and walkways in the front and back of the home. Lock your doors! All doors to the outside should have working locks. Garage and, garages, shed, garages, doors need working locks too. All windows should have working, garages, locks. Keep all doors to the outside, sliding doors, and windows locked at, garages, all times.Be sure that you can get out of your home in an emergency. Make sure everyone can open all locks from inside your home. Don’t have deadbolt, garages, locks that lock with an inside key. A missing key could trap you inside. Replace inside-key locks with deadbolt locks that have a “thumb turn†instead of an, garages, indoor key. Make sure everyone in your family can reach the “thumb turn†latch. Have window locks that open, garages, from inside. Do not nail windows shut. Make sure they open easily. If you have security bars, garages, on doors and windows, have a “quick-release†latch. This makes it easy, garages, to get outside in an emergency. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use the latch. Criminals love places they can hide, garages, . Tall weeds, untrimmed trees and shrubs can create such areas, garages, . Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows so burglars can’t hide. Keep ladders stored in a locked shed or garage so they, garages, can’t, garages, be used to climb into your home. Keep shades or curtains closed over garage, garages, and shed windows. Keep shades or curtains closed over your home windows after dark. Don’t leave toys, tools and equipment, garages, in the yard. Invest in a surveillance camera or system. If your on a fixed, garages, budget consider a "dummy" camera, they look and feel like just like the real thing, though they are not actual, garages, working cameras. Place the cameras in plain sight, but high enough that they can not be tampered with. Surveillance cameras are proven to be great, garages, crime deterrents.
Source: articlesbase.com
The incidence of home invasions continues to rise throughout the U.S. The, garages, cause for the increase is probably related to the grave economic conditions present in the U.S. In addition, drugs are to blame in many cases where the assailants are looking for money to buy there next "high". This week, someone in our local community was the victim of a home invasion, garages, . On Thursday a resident of Baton Rouge,, garages, LA heard a knock on, garages, his door. When he asked, garages, who was there the assailants said they were looking for drugs, The homeowner said you've got the wrong place, locked the front door and hid in a nearby closet after noticing one of the men was armed with a handgun. Minutes later the men kicked the door in and proceeded to ransack the home in search of drugs and, garages, money. Soon the criminals located the home owner hiding in the closet, they threatened his life and held him at gunpoint until a third suspect showed up and shot the homeowner. No doubt that the intention was to murder this man, fortunately his injures were, garages, deemed non life threatening. The suspects left his house in shambles and made off with cash, jewelry, and his vehicle. We hear more and more about violent crimes like these and carjackings or even kidnapping, garages, . The truth is that crimes like these are on the increase and there doesn't seem to be any relief in site. So what are you to do? How can you make a difference in your neighborhood or community? You, garages, can start by educating yourself about crime and the steps you can take to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a statistic. Then you take what you've, garages, learned and educate others, your family and friends. Then some, garages, of them agree to help others...you get the picture. Take time to review your homes security and to make the necessary changes that will keep you from becoming a victim. Spend a few moments walking the perimeter of your home and objectively evaluate its vulnerability. Look at it the way a thief or crook would. You are looking for potential opportunities for a criminal. Make sure the outside of your home is well lit. Put bright lights over porches and walkways in the front and back of the home. Lock your doors! All doors to the outside should have working locks. Garage and, garages, shed, garages, doors need working locks too. All windows should have working, garages, locks. Keep all doors to the outside, sliding doors, and windows locked at, garages, all times.Be sure that you can get out of your home in an emergency. Make sure everyone can open all locks from inside your home. Don’t have deadbolt, garages, locks that lock with an inside key. A missing key could trap you inside. Replace inside-key locks with deadbolt locks that have a “thumb turn†instead of an, garages, indoor key. Make sure everyone in your family can reach the “thumb turn†latch. Have window locks that open, garages, from inside. Do not nail windows shut. Make sure they open easily. If you have security bars, garages, on doors and windows, have a “quick-release†latch. This makes it easy, garages, to get outside in an emergency. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use the latch. Criminals love places they can hide, garages, . Tall weeds, untrimmed trees and shrubs can create such areas, garages, . Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows so burglars can’t hide. Keep ladders stored in a locked shed or garage so they, garages, can’t, garages, be used to climb into your home. Keep shades or curtains closed over garage, garages, and shed windows. Keep shades or curtains closed over your home windows after dark. Don’t leave toys, tools and equipment, garages, in the yard. Invest in a surveillance camera or system. If your on a fixed, garages, budget consider a "dummy" camera, they look and feel like just like the real thing, though they are not actual, garages, working cameras. Place the cameras in plain sight, but high enough that they can not be tampered with. Surveillance cameras are proven to be great, garages, crime deterrents.
Bryan Buckner is a top self defense & surveillance consultant and business owner. He opened Guardian Self Defense & Security Products LLC in 2005. Since that time Guardian has successfully helped over 19,000 (and counting) people and small businesses improve their security situation. Proud members of the South Louisiana Better Business Bureau.
Tips For Organizing Your Lawn Care Equipment & Materials
Author:
Source: articledashboard.com
Is your garage or shed a jumble of rakes, hoses,, garages, and other lawn care equipment? Getting these tools organized is the first part of making your lawn care routine, garages, much easier. Instead of spending additional time looking for the right tool, you could be getting the chore of lawn care over with and enjoying yourself afterwards. Here are a few simple tips to help you find a place for your lawn and garden care equipment and keep it there.
1. Big things need, garages, organization,, garages, too. Many people think that there's no need to organize their lawn care equipment, since most of it's so big. After all, it's pretty hard to lose a riding mower. However, when that mower is buried under a pile of rakes and other tools, unearthing it can be a bigger task than mowing the lawn.
2. Categorize your equipment by type and shape. Also, consider, garages, the season in which you use it. You don't want to be tripping over the snow shovel when you're trying to find the grass, garages, seed.
3. Hang hand tools on, garages, the wall. A few nails and a long board can create an effective, garages, rack on which to hang rakes, shovels, and other bulky tools that you want easy access to without their being in the way.
4. If you have garden hoses to store, always keep them neatly rolled and fastened. Large cable ties and bungee cords are great for, garages, this. An unrolled hose slithering all over the place can quickly make finding what you're looking for a lot more difficult.
5. Keep extension cords under control. These can quickly, garages, tangle if you don't roll or knot them in, garages, a way that keeps them tidy. Cable ties can help here, too, and you can hang them on hooks with your rakes, garages, and other tools.
6. Shelving gets things off the floor. However,, garages, you should be certain to designate particular, garages, uses for each shelf and, garages, shelving unit. Cluttered shelves are only a little, garages, better than a cluttered floor. Put fertilizer and grass seed on one shelf, fuel for your equipment on another.
7. Don't forget the small stuff. Little objects, like hose nozzles, garbage bags, and small tools can easily get lost in the jumble of a shed. Keep them in their own containers. You can use, garages, multi-drawer cabinets, garages, for this, or plastic kitchen containers. Remember to label your drawers or containers, though, or you'll be no better off, garages, than you were when, garages, you started.
8. Make a place for trash, garages, . Many garages and sheds don't have a trash can readily available, so the clutter mounts up. Keep a large trash can on hand, as well as a stock of bags, so you can throw, garages, away anything that needs to go.
Organizing your garage and lawn care tools makes the job of keeping your lawn and garden beautiful a lot easier. When you can find the perfect tool for the job, you won't spend as much frustrating time searching. Take the hassle out of caring for your lawn by making sure your tools and equipment are all well organized.
Source: articledashboard.com
Is your garage or shed a jumble of rakes, hoses,, garages, and other lawn care equipment? Getting these tools organized is the first part of making your lawn care routine, garages, much easier. Instead of spending additional time looking for the right tool, you could be getting the chore of lawn care over with and enjoying yourself afterwards. Here are a few simple tips to help you find a place for your lawn and garden care equipment and keep it there.
1. Big things need, garages, organization,, garages, too. Many people think that there's no need to organize their lawn care equipment, since most of it's so big. After all, it's pretty hard to lose a riding mower. However, when that mower is buried under a pile of rakes and other tools, unearthing it can be a bigger task than mowing the lawn.
2. Categorize your equipment by type and shape. Also, consider, garages, the season in which you use it. You don't want to be tripping over the snow shovel when you're trying to find the grass, garages, seed.
3. Hang hand tools on, garages, the wall. A few nails and a long board can create an effective, garages, rack on which to hang rakes, shovels, and other bulky tools that you want easy access to without their being in the way.
4. If you have garden hoses to store, always keep them neatly rolled and fastened. Large cable ties and bungee cords are great for, garages, this. An unrolled hose slithering all over the place can quickly make finding what you're looking for a lot more difficult.
5. Keep extension cords under control. These can quickly, garages, tangle if you don't roll or knot them in, garages, a way that keeps them tidy. Cable ties can help here, too, and you can hang them on hooks with your rakes, garages, and other tools.
6. Shelving gets things off the floor. However,, garages, you should be certain to designate particular, garages, uses for each shelf and, garages, shelving unit. Cluttered shelves are only a little, garages, better than a cluttered floor. Put fertilizer and grass seed on one shelf, fuel for your equipment on another.
7. Don't forget the small stuff. Little objects, like hose nozzles, garbage bags, and small tools can easily get lost in the jumble of a shed. Keep them in their own containers. You can use, garages, multi-drawer cabinets, garages, for this, or plastic kitchen containers. Remember to label your drawers or containers, though, or you'll be no better off, garages, than you were when, garages, you started.
8. Make a place for trash, garages, . Many garages and sheds don't have a trash can readily available, so the clutter mounts up. Keep a large trash can on hand, as well as a stock of bags, so you can throw, garages, away anything that needs to go.
Organizing your garage and lawn care tools makes the job of keeping your lawn and garden beautiful a lot easier. When you can find the perfect tool for the job, you won't spend as much frustrating time searching. Take the hassle out of caring for your lawn by making sure your tools and equipment are all well organized.
Where To Find Baby Discount Furniture
Author: Milton Harris
Source: articledashboard.com
Baby discount, garages, furniture is, garages, generally not hard to find, if you know where to look. Whether you are having a boy or a girl, you, garages, will need baby furniture to create that special room for your new, garages, arrival. Creating that, garages, special room on a tight budget can sometimes be tricky. While looking, garages, for baby furniture at a discount, there are a few, garages, things you will want to keep in mind.
You can often find baby discount furniture at many fine department stores. That is if you catch them putting their baby furniture on sale. If you are lucky, you will find many, garages, pieces of baby furniture throughout the year, with just the right, garages, markdown. End of the year and clearance sales are great to look for when sturdy baby furniture is something you need. Baby furniture is so versatile, you might find some pieces at a discount price that will go from newborn to grade school, without breaking the bank, or having to switch out furniture in a few years.
Garage sales are an excellent place to look for baby discount furniture. Many people use their baby furniture to the turn around and resell it in a garage sale, for only a fraction of the price. Some, garages, baby furniture items you might find at a garage sale include, name brand cribs; nice sturdy dressers; an all needed changing table; and high chairs that are in great condition, only to name a few. The best time of, garages, year to look for garage sales in your neighborhood would be in the spring and summer time. These are the times of the year that many people are cleaning unwanted, garages, items out of their homes, to, garages, make a few bucks in return.
Thrift shops can be a good resource for finding baby discount furniture also. Sometimes, garages, people will donate their unwanted items to a thrift store so that they can be resold, and the money will go to charity. By being, garages, creative,, garages, you can even make your own baby furniture out of an old piece of furniture you might spot. Antique desks can easily be spiffed up with new paint and hardware to create a changing table for your baby. Keep in mind the, garages, height you would need with drawers easily accessible to hold all of the items a newborn might need.
Source: articledashboard.com
Baby discount, garages, furniture is, garages, generally not hard to find, if you know where to look. Whether you are having a boy or a girl, you, garages, will need baby furniture to create that special room for your new, garages, arrival. Creating that, garages, special room on a tight budget can sometimes be tricky. While looking, garages, for baby furniture at a discount, there are a few, garages, things you will want to keep in mind.
You can often find baby discount furniture at many fine department stores. That is if you catch them putting their baby furniture on sale. If you are lucky, you will find many, garages, pieces of baby furniture throughout the year, with just the right, garages, markdown. End of the year and clearance sales are great to look for when sturdy baby furniture is something you need. Baby furniture is so versatile, you might find some pieces at a discount price that will go from newborn to grade school, without breaking the bank, or having to switch out furniture in a few years.
Garage sales are an excellent place to look for baby discount furniture. Many people use their baby furniture to the turn around and resell it in a garage sale, for only a fraction of the price. Some, garages, baby furniture items you might find at a garage sale include, name brand cribs; nice sturdy dressers; an all needed changing table; and high chairs that are in great condition, only to name a few. The best time of, garages, year to look for garage sales in your neighborhood would be in the spring and summer time. These are the times of the year that many people are cleaning unwanted, garages, items out of their homes, to, garages, make a few bucks in return.
Thrift shops can be a good resource for finding baby discount furniture also. Sometimes, garages, people will donate their unwanted items to a thrift store so that they can be resold, and the money will go to charity. By being, garages, creative,, garages, you can even make your own baby furniture out of an old piece of furniture you might spot. Antique desks can easily be spiffed up with new paint and hardware to create a changing table for your baby. Keep in mind the, garages, height you would need with drawers easily accessible to hold all of the items a newborn might need.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A Dog's Tale
Author: Kim Bloomer
Source: download
My name is Shadrach, and I am a dog - a BIG, handsome, elegant, and intelligent dog. No, I am not vain at all, that is just what my mom always tells me so I assume, garages,, garages, it's true, garages, . I am now 4 ฝ years old and live a great dog's life! I get exceptional quality food - my mom and dad believe in giving me organic food, with fresh vegetables, garages, and meat every day - so I can't complain, garages, . They're always buying me toys which I LOVE to terrorize, because that's what dogs do. I have my own big bed in my own bedroom and I love, garages, that. I have a big yard and I like to bark at and, garages, chase the pigeons and cats who, garages, dare to tread into, garages, my space.
The only thing I don't like is, garages, having to take a bath UNLESS it with the garden hose in the yard - that, garages, is great fun! The best thing is I get LOTS, garages, and LOTS of love with hugs and kisses from my mom everyday. My favorite games, garages, are tug-o-war and chase. I am the champion of tug-o-war in my house. Chase is so much fun because I am very fast and my people rarely can catch me!
The best part of my day is going to the park where I can meet up with my dog friends and people friends.
However, this great dog's life wasn't always mine. My mom and dad have no idea who my dog mom was or how I came to be with the bad people. My mom's cousin, garages, (whatever that is) rescued me from the bad people, garages, . She found out I was left alone in a dark garage to just die,, garages, garages, . The bad people didn't want to feed me or care for me anymore - not that they ever gave me much food to, garages, begin with.
Mostly, they left me alone in the yard, garage, or even a dark bathroom sometimes. My mom's cousin knows them and that is how my mom and dad know all this. The bad man hit and kicked me a lot and I don't even know why. I guess that's why I still don't like very many men. I LOVE my dad though and some other men I know from, garages, the park that live with my girlfriends. My mom's cousin took me home and fed me but I had to live with her other dogs. They didn't like me very much and beat me up every chance they got - which was usually, garages, every day! I was so skinny and little that I just couldn't fight back and it was too cold for me to be outside all the time. Thank God,, garages, my new mom and dad came and got me the week before Christmas four years ago.
They, garages,, garages, spoiled me right away. They gave me good food several times a day, garages, . My mom wouldn't let me, garages, eat a lot at once because my stomach was too little to handle a lot of food at once. I wanted to though! I kept my tail tucked between my legs while eating for a long time because I was always scared. After, garages, a while though, I knew I could just eat and it would be safe. I got, garages, my own little bed in a kennel, garages, where I could stay and feel safe at night - in, garages, the house!
Now,, garages, life is so good. I am big and strong now and tough. Men are more afraid of me now since I am so big and tough-looking. My coat is shiny and clean and not dull and dirty like before. My mom even gives me a special supplement, garages, that I suspect is a treat really. She puts it in a bowl and I drink every single drop because it is so good. My mom and dad, garages, really love me and I'm happy now. My only wish is that when people, garages, get a dog that they would take care of them and love them. Otherwise, it's better if they don't take us home, garages, with them. We depend on our people to love us and take care of us and not to hurt us. We want to live with our people forever - not just until they get bored of us. So, please, only take us home if we can always stay with just you.
Thank you, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care consultant. She publishes several RSS channels including, http://www.Aspenbloom-WellPet.com and http://www.natural-pet-care-products.com For an all inclusive look at her business ventures go to http://KimBloomer.com
Source: download
My name is Shadrach, and I am a dog - a BIG, handsome, elegant, and intelligent dog. No, I am not vain at all, that is just what my mom always tells me so I assume, garages,, garages, it's true, garages, . I am now 4 ฝ years old and live a great dog's life! I get exceptional quality food - my mom and dad believe in giving me organic food, with fresh vegetables, garages, and meat every day - so I can't complain, garages, . They're always buying me toys which I LOVE to terrorize, because that's what dogs do. I have my own big bed in my own bedroom and I love, garages, that. I have a big yard and I like to bark at and, garages, chase the pigeons and cats who, garages, dare to tread into, garages, my space.
The only thing I don't like is, garages, having to take a bath UNLESS it with the garden hose in the yard - that, garages, is great fun! The best thing is I get LOTS, garages, and LOTS of love with hugs and kisses from my mom everyday. My favorite games, garages, are tug-o-war and chase. I am the champion of tug-o-war in my house. Chase is so much fun because I am very fast and my people rarely can catch me!
The best part of my day is going to the park where I can meet up with my dog friends and people friends.
However, this great dog's life wasn't always mine. My mom and dad have no idea who my dog mom was or how I came to be with the bad people. My mom's cousin, garages, (whatever that is) rescued me from the bad people, garages, . She found out I was left alone in a dark garage to just die,, garages, garages, . The bad people didn't want to feed me or care for me anymore - not that they ever gave me much food to, garages, begin with.
Mostly, they left me alone in the yard, garage, or even a dark bathroom sometimes. My mom's cousin knows them and that is how my mom and dad know all this. The bad man hit and kicked me a lot and I don't even know why. I guess that's why I still don't like very many men. I LOVE my dad though and some other men I know from, garages, the park that live with my girlfriends. My mom's cousin took me home and fed me but I had to live with her other dogs. They didn't like me very much and beat me up every chance they got - which was usually, garages, every day! I was so skinny and little that I just couldn't fight back and it was too cold for me to be outside all the time. Thank God,, garages, my new mom and dad came and got me the week before Christmas four years ago.
They, garages,, garages, spoiled me right away. They gave me good food several times a day, garages, . My mom wouldn't let me, garages, eat a lot at once because my stomach was too little to handle a lot of food at once. I wanted to though! I kept my tail tucked between my legs while eating for a long time because I was always scared. After, garages, a while though, I knew I could just eat and it would be safe. I got, garages, my own little bed in a kennel, garages, where I could stay and feel safe at night - in, garages, the house!
Now,, garages, life is so good. I am big and strong now and tough. Men are more afraid of me now since I am so big and tough-looking. My coat is shiny and clean and not dull and dirty like before. My mom even gives me a special supplement, garages, that I suspect is a treat really. She puts it in a bowl and I drink every single drop because it is so good. My mom and dad, garages, really love me and I'm happy now. My only wish is that when people, garages, get a dog that they would take care of them and love them. Otherwise, it's better if they don't take us home, garages, with them. We depend on our people to love us and take care of us and not to hurt us. We want to live with our people forever - not just until they get bored of us. So, please, only take us home if we can always stay with just you.
Thank you, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care consultant. She publishes several RSS channels including, http://www.Aspenbloom-WellPet.com and http://www.natural-pet-care-products.com For an all inclusive look at her business ventures go to http://KimBloomer.com
Attention Bar Owners - St. Patrick's Day Promotion 101
Author: Steve Riley
Source: articleage.com
OK, so the big day is coming closer. This year March 17th falls on a Friday. Possible the worst day for St Paddy's to fall on for a bar owner. Really, it is. You would have been busy anyhow. Add to that the fact that people who usually, garages, go out Saturday night, will go out on the 17th instead. So my fellow restaurateur friends, plan on a crazy Friday, and a very slow Saturday.
Here, garages, is an important lesson learned from past years that will make your March 17th a wee bit more green, excuse the pun.
Do not charge, garages, a cover charge, garages, . Yup, you heard right. Sit back down and listen…please. Unless you are throwing in a free pint, some food, a prize and a decent, well-known band (not your son's garage band), you have no, garages, right to gouge guests. Look at this event as an opportunity to gain expose your store to, garages, some potential guests who might be spending their hard earned dollars elsewhere the other 364, garages, days of the year.
Here's how St Paddy's, garages, usually works: a group of people who don't, garages,, garages, see each other often get together for drinks. One or two members of the group decide on where to go. Chances are that not everyone in that group has been to see you before. Chances are extremely good that they all haven't., garages, Take this opportunity to show them what great food, cold beer, and attentive, friendly service you have.
People, garages, expect to pay a, garages, cover charge, garages, . They don't like it. Surprise them and let them in for free. Even better, give them something for free. Give them a coupon for a free app, or $5 off, or a BOGO that is redeemable the first week of April, garages, . Give them an invite to your patio opening party on May 24th. Give them something. It doesn't have to be worth a fortune; it only has to have some value to the guest. It, garages, is a gesture, not a free-for-all, garages, .
"But Steve, what about those people who come in and just have one drink and take up space and don't spend any money and order water and don't tip and…" They are called designated drivers. Instead of having a bad attitude, treat them like you do all other guests. I'll bet that there is someone in their party who is consuming the water-order's share of product,, garages, it all works out in the wash, don't fret.
So, have I convinced you yet? Great. Now order some more beer. Your number one brand you need to double your order, your number two brand, order 50% more, number three, 25% more. If you carry a stout or a dark import, double your order of that brand. Call your supplier and order it the first week of March. You don't want to be, garages, short shipped on the 16th, do you?
Slainte
Top Shelf Consulting, garages, has been helping Ontario, garages, restaurants increase profits since 2000. Specializing in Menu Engineering, Cost Controls,, garages, and Service Selling, Top Shelf offers both one-on-one consultations, garages, as well as full-day seminars.
Check us out at http://www.topshelfconsulting.ca
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for FREE tips and more.
Source: articleage.com
OK, so the big day is coming closer. This year March 17th falls on a Friday. Possible the worst day for St Paddy's to fall on for a bar owner. Really, it is. You would have been busy anyhow. Add to that the fact that people who usually, garages, go out Saturday night, will go out on the 17th instead. So my fellow restaurateur friends, plan on a crazy Friday, and a very slow Saturday.
Here, garages, is an important lesson learned from past years that will make your March 17th a wee bit more green, excuse the pun.
Do not charge, garages, a cover charge, garages, . Yup, you heard right. Sit back down and listen…please. Unless you are throwing in a free pint, some food, a prize and a decent, well-known band (not your son's garage band), you have no, garages, right to gouge guests. Look at this event as an opportunity to gain expose your store to, garages, some potential guests who might be spending their hard earned dollars elsewhere the other 364, garages, days of the year.
Here's how St Paddy's, garages, usually works: a group of people who don't, garages,, garages, see each other often get together for drinks. One or two members of the group decide on where to go. Chances are that not everyone in that group has been to see you before. Chances are extremely good that they all haven't., garages, Take this opportunity to show them what great food, cold beer, and attentive, friendly service you have.
People, garages, expect to pay a, garages, cover charge, garages, . They don't like it. Surprise them and let them in for free. Even better, give them something for free. Give them a coupon for a free app, or $5 off, or a BOGO that is redeemable the first week of April, garages, . Give them an invite to your patio opening party on May 24th. Give them something. It doesn't have to be worth a fortune; it only has to have some value to the guest. It, garages, is a gesture, not a free-for-all, garages, .
"But Steve, what about those people who come in and just have one drink and take up space and don't spend any money and order water and don't tip and…" They are called designated drivers. Instead of having a bad attitude, treat them like you do all other guests. I'll bet that there is someone in their party who is consuming the water-order's share of product,, garages, it all works out in the wash, don't fret.
So, have I convinced you yet? Great. Now order some more beer. Your number one brand you need to double your order, your number two brand, order 50% more, number three, 25% more. If you carry a stout or a dark import, double your order of that brand. Call your supplier and order it the first week of March. You don't want to be, garages, short shipped on the 16th, do you?
Slainte
Top Shelf Consulting, garages, has been helping Ontario, garages, restaurants increase profits since 2000. Specializing in Menu Engineering, Cost Controls,, garages, and Service Selling, Top Shelf offers both one-on-one consultations, garages, as well as full-day seminars.
Check us out at http://www.topshelfconsulting.ca
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for FREE tips and more.
How To Build Jon Risch's DIY Acoustic Panels
Author: Kyle Kolbe
Source: download
Jon Risch's DIY acoustic panels have changed my system more than any other tweak and component upgrade. After placing the panels at my listening room's early and diffraction reflection points (two behind the speakers and four on the sidewalls (the two panels closest to me actually sit in easy chairs because I can't move the chairs out of the way)) I heard these improvements. Since that initial listening session I've had mixed results from CDs played in my Pioneer, garages, DV-47ai and Taddeo Digital Antidote II: certain frequencies and instruments are too laid back. I'll remove the Taddeo and see if I get the same great performance as from my Airtunes playing MAX ripped Apple, garages, Lossless tracks.
Read on for my tips and tricks to build these panels yourself and save up to 90% over commercial acoustic panels.
Materials needed for 6 17ื48 inch acoustic panels:
* Home Store: 24 feet R-25 Insulation (15 in. wide and 8 in. thick)
* Home Store: 16 4 foot long 1ื4, garages, Std boards
* Home Store: #8 2 in. Screws (I bought the self-drilling kind so I only had to drill countersunk pilot holes in the long boards of the frame, the shorter boards to the screws without any splits)
* Home Store: 9/16 Staples (you need the long staples to get through the many layers of fabric and batting)
* Fabric Store: 10 yards 4 oz. 100% Polyester Batting
* Fabric Store: 10 yards Burlap (let your spouse help pick the color, then she can't complain later)
Tools needed:
*, garages, Power Drill/Driver
*, garages, Corner Vise (spend, garages, at least $8, the $3 one broke as soon as it touched wood,, garages, which cost me another trip to the home, garages, store)
* Staple, garages, Gun (you will be stapling like a madman, garages, on this project so be sure and get a nice staple gun, I killed my Black and Decker Powershot half way through the project and had to buy a new one that, garages, still had jamming problems, so don't use a Powershot, get a nice Arrow gun)
* Miter Hand Saw
Construction
Wood Frames
* Match 4 ft. studs for length into 6 pairs
* Take 4 worst studs and cut down to 12x 15 in. lengths with hand miter saw (or table saw), make 90 degree cuts
* Take a small scrap of 1ื4 and mark depth at either end of 4 ft struts
* Drill 2 counter sunk pilot holes at each end in the middle of the marked off area, garages, on the long boards
* Using a 90 degree corner vice, butt up a short and, garages, long post. Drill screws through the pilot holes into, garages, the short board, garages, . Repeat for the other long and short pair. You now have two "L" shapes.
* Attach the two "L"'s just like in the previous step to form a rectangle 17 in. x 48 in. x 4 in. depth.
Attach Insulation, garages, to Frames
* With all the frames finished set up two saw horses (or storage boxes like, garages, I improvised) in an area where you can easily cut and clean up fiberglass (like your garage)
* Measure, garages, the inside, garages, length of your first frame, it should be about 46 in depending on the accuracy of your long 48 inch 1ื4's.
* Put on your fiberglass insulation protective gear (my get up includes a respirator,, garages, suede gloves and Tyvek coveralls (sweaty))
* Partially unroll your insulation on a cutting surface (like the concrete garage floor) and measure a length of 46 in. (or whatever the previous inside length of the frame was)
* Lay the frame across the saw horses with the horses about a quarter length in from each end
* With the kraft face side up,, garages, press the insulation into the frame. Staple the paper strips to the frame, securing the insulation.
* Set first frame aside and repeat for the rest.
Wrap frame in Polyester, garages, Batting
* Roll out your polyester batting on the same, garages, cutting surface as, garages, the insulation (you should have this all cleaned up now)
* Measure, garages, the length and add it to depth of either end of the frame, garages,, garages, including the insulation thickness. I decided to cut the lengths of my batting at 60 in, garages, . lengths (frame = 48 in. length + 2 x 6 in. depth) and keep the width to 48 in.
* Set the frame on the saw horses facing up (the kraft side of the insulation on the opposite side)
* Lay the polyester batting on top of the frame. Get the length as, garages, even as you can while positioning the batting along the width so the side closest to you hangs down about an inch below the frame,, garages, , garages, the, garages, opposite side should be hanging down by 24, garages, in.
* Tuck the the short side batting, garages, between the bottom of, garages, the frame and, garages, the saw horses and flip the frame, garages, toward you so the 24 inch side falls across the kraft side of the frame.
* Staple along back frame
* Cut away excess batting and staple, garages, ends after folding like wrapping paper
* Make, garages, sure no insulation is exposed, the batting should completely encase the front, back, sides, top and bottom of entire framed fiberglass panel.
Wrap Frames in Burlap
* Wrapping the frames in burlap is just like the polyester batting with some tricks
* Cut the burlap to 60 in. lengths (another how to suggests starting a cut in the burlap, garages, and then pulling a loose string from the cut to create a straight line to cut along. This didn't work for me, pulling the string would bunch up the fabric and then snap, at best I would get a straight line across half the cut)
* Lay the fabric, garages, over the panel unevenly and flip, wrapping the fabric around the back as described above with the polyester batting
* Pulling the burlap snug staple the long sides to the back of the wood frame
* Fold and staple the burlap to the bottom, garages, end of the frame like you're wrapping a present
* Take off saw horses and give open top end a tug to pull front of, garages, fabric tight until wrinkles disappear. Cut away excess fabric and staple.
* Finish with fabric border to cover up staples
Place Frames at Early Reflection Points in your Listening Room
* While sitting in your sweet spot have a friend move a small mirror along your front and side walls. Have your friend mark the points along the walls, garages, that you, garages, can see the speaker drivers for the side walls and the inside corners of the loudspeakers on the front wall (or if you're like me and couldn't, garages, bring yourself to ask your eight month pregnant wife to slowly walk around with a mirror and tape you can use a CAD, garages, application or this formula and verify the calculated locations with a mirror taped to the wall in the approximate place)
* Place the panels at the mirror points (I'm just leaning mine against the wall at an angle so they don't fall over,, garages, I'm not, garages, attaching the panels because I need to move them out of, garages, the room when not in use), bass absorption,, garages, garages, is improved by placing the panels at least four inches out from the wall
* Listen and enjoy!
Father, Husband and Geek. My geeky interests have not changed since I was a kid. I still love comic books, anime, role-playing games, console video games, indie rock, imported toys and mecha models, bad American,, garages, garages, and great British sitcoms, and all the tech that let's me experience these hobbies to their, garages, fullest, garages, . Now that I'm married with children, I've, garages, had to strike a balance between supporting and pleasing my family and feeding my geekery hunger. Lucky for me, my wife is very accomodating and even geeks out with me on occasion (the ladies love Joss Whedon's "Firefly"). My two year old likes anything that moves on the front projection screen and makes noise, so far she is easy to please. Geekwithfamily.com exists to enrich the lives of fellow geeks and the friends and family who put up with them.
Source: download
Jon Risch's DIY acoustic panels have changed my system more than any other tweak and component upgrade. After placing the panels at my listening room's early and diffraction reflection points (two behind the speakers and four on the sidewalls (the two panels closest to me actually sit in easy chairs because I can't move the chairs out of the way)) I heard these improvements. Since that initial listening session I've had mixed results from CDs played in my Pioneer, garages, DV-47ai and Taddeo Digital Antidote II: certain frequencies and instruments are too laid back. I'll remove the Taddeo and see if I get the same great performance as from my Airtunes playing MAX ripped Apple, garages, Lossless tracks.
Read on for my tips and tricks to build these panels yourself and save up to 90% over commercial acoustic panels.
Materials needed for 6 17ื48 inch acoustic panels:
* Home Store: 24 feet R-25 Insulation (15 in. wide and 8 in. thick)
* Home Store: 16 4 foot long 1ื4, garages, Std boards
* Home Store: #8 2 in. Screws (I bought the self-drilling kind so I only had to drill countersunk pilot holes in the long boards of the frame, the shorter boards to the screws without any splits)
* Home Store: 9/16 Staples (you need the long staples to get through the many layers of fabric and batting)
* Fabric Store: 10 yards 4 oz. 100% Polyester Batting
* Fabric Store: 10 yards Burlap (let your spouse help pick the color, then she can't complain later)
Tools needed:
*, garages, Power Drill/Driver
*, garages, Corner Vise (spend, garages, at least $8, the $3 one broke as soon as it touched wood,, garages, which cost me another trip to the home, garages, store)
* Staple, garages, Gun (you will be stapling like a madman, garages, on this project so be sure and get a nice staple gun, I killed my Black and Decker Powershot half way through the project and had to buy a new one that, garages, still had jamming problems, so don't use a Powershot, get a nice Arrow gun)
* Miter Hand Saw
Construction
Wood Frames
* Match 4 ft. studs for length into 6 pairs
* Take 4 worst studs and cut down to 12x 15 in. lengths with hand miter saw (or table saw), make 90 degree cuts
* Take a small scrap of 1ื4 and mark depth at either end of 4 ft struts
* Drill 2 counter sunk pilot holes at each end in the middle of the marked off area, garages, on the long boards
* Using a 90 degree corner vice, butt up a short and, garages, long post. Drill screws through the pilot holes into, garages, the short board, garages, . Repeat for the other long and short pair. You now have two "L" shapes.
* Attach the two "L"'s just like in the previous step to form a rectangle 17 in. x 48 in. x 4 in. depth.
Attach Insulation, garages, to Frames
* With all the frames finished set up two saw horses (or storage boxes like, garages, I improvised) in an area where you can easily cut and clean up fiberglass (like your garage)
* Measure, garages, the inside, garages, length of your first frame, it should be about 46 in depending on the accuracy of your long 48 inch 1ื4's.
* Put on your fiberglass insulation protective gear (my get up includes a respirator,, garages, suede gloves and Tyvek coveralls (sweaty))
* Partially unroll your insulation on a cutting surface (like the concrete garage floor) and measure a length of 46 in. (or whatever the previous inside length of the frame was)
* Lay the frame across the saw horses with the horses about a quarter length in from each end
* With the kraft face side up,, garages, press the insulation into the frame. Staple the paper strips to the frame, securing the insulation.
* Set first frame aside and repeat for the rest.
Wrap frame in Polyester, garages, Batting
* Roll out your polyester batting on the same, garages, cutting surface as, garages, the insulation (you should have this all cleaned up now)
* Measure, garages, the length and add it to depth of either end of the frame, garages,, garages, including the insulation thickness. I decided to cut the lengths of my batting at 60 in, garages, . lengths (frame = 48 in. length + 2 x 6 in. depth) and keep the width to 48 in.
* Set the frame on the saw horses facing up (the kraft side of the insulation on the opposite side)
* Lay the polyester batting on top of the frame. Get the length as, garages, even as you can while positioning the batting along the width so the side closest to you hangs down about an inch below the frame,, garages, , garages, the, garages, opposite side should be hanging down by 24, garages, in.
* Tuck the the short side batting, garages, between the bottom of, garages, the frame and, garages, the saw horses and flip the frame, garages, toward you so the 24 inch side falls across the kraft side of the frame.
* Staple along back frame
* Cut away excess batting and staple, garages, ends after folding like wrapping paper
* Make, garages, sure no insulation is exposed, the batting should completely encase the front, back, sides, top and bottom of entire framed fiberglass panel.
Wrap Frames in Burlap
* Wrapping the frames in burlap is just like the polyester batting with some tricks
* Cut the burlap to 60 in. lengths (another how to suggests starting a cut in the burlap, garages, and then pulling a loose string from the cut to create a straight line to cut along. This didn't work for me, pulling the string would bunch up the fabric and then snap, at best I would get a straight line across half the cut)
* Lay the fabric, garages, over the panel unevenly and flip, wrapping the fabric around the back as described above with the polyester batting
* Pulling the burlap snug staple the long sides to the back of the wood frame
* Fold and staple the burlap to the bottom, garages, end of the frame like you're wrapping a present
* Take off saw horses and give open top end a tug to pull front of, garages, fabric tight until wrinkles disappear. Cut away excess fabric and staple.
* Finish with fabric border to cover up staples
Place Frames at Early Reflection Points in your Listening Room
* While sitting in your sweet spot have a friend move a small mirror along your front and side walls. Have your friend mark the points along the walls, garages, that you, garages, can see the speaker drivers for the side walls and the inside corners of the loudspeakers on the front wall (or if you're like me and couldn't, garages, bring yourself to ask your eight month pregnant wife to slowly walk around with a mirror and tape you can use a CAD, garages, application or this formula and verify the calculated locations with a mirror taped to the wall in the approximate place)
* Place the panels at the mirror points (I'm just leaning mine against the wall at an angle so they don't fall over,, garages, I'm not, garages, attaching the panels because I need to move them out of, garages, the room when not in use), bass absorption,, garages, garages, is improved by placing the panels at least four inches out from the wall
* Listen and enjoy!
Father, Husband and Geek. My geeky interests have not changed since I was a kid. I still love comic books, anime, role-playing games, console video games, indie rock, imported toys and mecha models, bad American,, garages, garages, and great British sitcoms, and all the tech that let's me experience these hobbies to their, garages, fullest, garages, . Now that I'm married with children, I've, garages, had to strike a balance between supporting and pleasing my family and feeding my geekery hunger. Lucky for me, my wife is very accomodating and even geeks out with me on occasion (the ladies love Joss Whedon's "Firefly"). My two year old likes anything that moves on the front projection screen and makes noise, so far she is easy to please. Geekwithfamily.com exists to enrich the lives of fellow geeks and the friends and family who put up with them.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Scrapbooking on a Budget
Author: Susie Cortright
Source: articleage.com
Memories are priceless, but the cost of preserving, garages, them can be high. Here are nine tips for making the most of your scrapbooking budget.
1.Be on the lookout for scrapbooking, garages, supplies everywhere you go. I once made the cutest shabby chic card with, garages, the corrugated cardboard liner in a light bulb box. Another example: you can buy 100 brass brads for less than a dollar at the local discount store and then customize them to match your layout with acrylic paint and/or sandpaper. Or look in the clearance bin for ribbon, fiber, and fabric remnants - or bouquets of silk flowers,, garages, which you can take apart and attach to your cards and layouts with brads, eyelets, bottlecaps, or button. You'll find all kinds of treasures at office supply, hardware, and dollar stores, as well as flea markets and garage sales.
2., garages, Keep your supplies organized. When your papers and, garages, embellishments are logically arranged and easy to find, you'll always know what you have, which means you'll buy fewer duplicates. And you don't need expensive, garages, racks for storing your paper. The large 14" Ziploc bags are perfect for storing 12x12, garages, paper. You can even hang the labeled, garages, Ziploc bags from skirt hangers to maximize your space, garages, . A few inexpensive baskets or plastic containers can hold your adhesives, pens and trimmers. And a common tacklebox is great for small embellishments. Or use resealable Ziploc bags to organize brads, eyelets and other small embellishments by type or color and store in a shoebox.
3. Here's a little, garages, known secret. You can join a scrapbooking direct sales company, simply to get the discount on your own supplies. Of, garages, course, you'll need to make sure the monthly minimums are low enough that you'll be able to meet them with your purchases alone. Here is, garages, one such company with monthly minimums of just $25 wholesale per month. Details are here: http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/wholesale-scrapbooking-supplies.htm
4. Use your scanner to create a unique patterned paper, perfect for your layout. Scan items of clothing, for example, that match the clothing in your photographs. Print, garages, the paper and use as part of your background or as, garages, a tag or other embellishment.
5. Do a google search for "free fonts" and "free scrapbooking." You'll find thousands, garages,, garages, of free templates, fonts,, garages, and other free resources for scrapbookers.
6. Check your local paper for 50% off coupons at large discount crafting stores. Save these coupons for your larger purchases. Subscribe to Joann.com's, garages, email newsletter, garages, at the store's website: http//www.joann.com. This store frequently offers special discount codes to newsletter subscribers. But keep in mind, when you are shopping the, garages, sale aisle, a good deal is not a good deal if you never use the product. Buy only those things that you love - and know you'll use.
7. When shopping for tools, keep quality and versatility in mind. Investing in quality tools will ultimately save you money,, garages, because you won't need to replace them very often. You'll also want to look for trimmers and cutters that allow you to, garages, replace only the blade - and not the entire cutting system. The Coluzzle, by Provocraft, is one, garages, of the most versatile cutting systems available. It takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can cut a huge variety of shapes and alphabets, as well as envelopes and tags - all with very inexpensive templates.
8. Save and organize your scraps. It's amazing when a small scrap is perfectly suited for a card of scrapbook. And you can always use the backside of white-core cardstock or patterned paper when you need white. Or give your scraps to your, garages, children. My kids are, garages, constantly making friendship cards out of my scraps. They each have a basket on the family, garages, scraptable, and at the end of a project, I divvy up all my scraps in the three little baskets. They love the new art supplies, and I love to share my love of scrapbooking - and my time spent scrapbooking - with them.
9. Network with other, garages, scrapbookers, garages, for more low-cost ideas. Arrange a supplies swap with your scrapbooking friends. And read through, garages, the scrapbooking magazines for more money-saving ideas. In the last few issues of Scrapbooks, Etc. and Memory Makers, for example, I've read (and then used) the following, garages, ideas:
(1) Take photos of interesting signs, garages, and cut out the letters for fun, eclectic, garages, alphabets.
And (2) make your own stamps from your favorite font or images with a computer printout and some foam board.
You can subscribe to these magazines at significant, garages, discounts online. I've compiled the best deals on the industry-leaders here: http://www.momscape, garages, .com/scrapbooking/scrapbooking-magazines or, garages, see if you can check out current issues from your local library. Scrapbooking magazines often feature sweepstakes, drawings, and layout contests, in which you can win free supplies, as well.
You can also, garages, save on scrapbooking idea books and techniques books by shopping online. Overstock.com often has these books at an even greater discount than amazon.com, and their shipping is usually much less, too. http://www.overstock.com
Copyright 2005 by Susie Cortright
Source: articleage.com
Memories are priceless, but the cost of preserving, garages, them can be high. Here are nine tips for making the most of your scrapbooking budget.
1.Be on the lookout for scrapbooking, garages, supplies everywhere you go. I once made the cutest shabby chic card with, garages, the corrugated cardboard liner in a light bulb box. Another example: you can buy 100 brass brads for less than a dollar at the local discount store and then customize them to match your layout with acrylic paint and/or sandpaper. Or look in the clearance bin for ribbon, fiber, and fabric remnants - or bouquets of silk flowers,, garages, which you can take apart and attach to your cards and layouts with brads, eyelets, bottlecaps, or button. You'll find all kinds of treasures at office supply, hardware, and dollar stores, as well as flea markets and garage sales.
2., garages, Keep your supplies organized. When your papers and, garages, embellishments are logically arranged and easy to find, you'll always know what you have, which means you'll buy fewer duplicates. And you don't need expensive, garages, racks for storing your paper. The large 14" Ziploc bags are perfect for storing 12x12, garages, paper. You can even hang the labeled, garages, Ziploc bags from skirt hangers to maximize your space, garages, . A few inexpensive baskets or plastic containers can hold your adhesives, pens and trimmers. And a common tacklebox is great for small embellishments. Or use resealable Ziploc bags to organize brads, eyelets and other small embellishments by type or color and store in a shoebox.
3. Here's a little, garages, known secret. You can join a scrapbooking direct sales company, simply to get the discount on your own supplies. Of, garages, course, you'll need to make sure the monthly minimums are low enough that you'll be able to meet them with your purchases alone. Here is, garages, one such company with monthly minimums of just $25 wholesale per month. Details are here: http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/wholesale-scrapbooking-supplies.htm
4. Use your scanner to create a unique patterned paper, perfect for your layout. Scan items of clothing, for example, that match the clothing in your photographs. Print, garages, the paper and use as part of your background or as, garages, a tag or other embellishment.
5. Do a google search for "free fonts" and "free scrapbooking." You'll find thousands, garages,, garages, of free templates, fonts,, garages, and other free resources for scrapbookers.
6. Check your local paper for 50% off coupons at large discount crafting stores. Save these coupons for your larger purchases. Subscribe to Joann.com's, garages, email newsletter, garages, at the store's website: http//www.joann.com. This store frequently offers special discount codes to newsletter subscribers. But keep in mind, when you are shopping the, garages, sale aisle, a good deal is not a good deal if you never use the product. Buy only those things that you love - and know you'll use.
7. When shopping for tools, keep quality and versatility in mind. Investing in quality tools will ultimately save you money,, garages, because you won't need to replace them very often. You'll also want to look for trimmers and cutters that allow you to, garages, replace only the blade - and not the entire cutting system. The Coluzzle, by Provocraft, is one, garages, of the most versatile cutting systems available. It takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can cut a huge variety of shapes and alphabets, as well as envelopes and tags - all with very inexpensive templates.
8. Save and organize your scraps. It's amazing when a small scrap is perfectly suited for a card of scrapbook. And you can always use the backside of white-core cardstock or patterned paper when you need white. Or give your scraps to your, garages, children. My kids are, garages, constantly making friendship cards out of my scraps. They each have a basket on the family, garages, scraptable, and at the end of a project, I divvy up all my scraps in the three little baskets. They love the new art supplies, and I love to share my love of scrapbooking - and my time spent scrapbooking - with them.
9. Network with other, garages, scrapbookers, garages, for more low-cost ideas. Arrange a supplies swap with your scrapbooking friends. And read through, garages, the scrapbooking magazines for more money-saving ideas. In the last few issues of Scrapbooks, Etc. and Memory Makers, for example, I've read (and then used) the following, garages, ideas:
(1) Take photos of interesting signs, garages, and cut out the letters for fun, eclectic, garages, alphabets.
And (2) make your own stamps from your favorite font or images with a computer printout and some foam board.
You can subscribe to these magazines at significant, garages, discounts online. I've compiled the best deals on the industry-leaders here: http://www.momscape, garages, .com/scrapbooking/scrapbooking-magazines or, garages, see if you can check out current issues from your local library. Scrapbooking magazines often feature sweepstakes, drawings, and layout contests, in which you can win free supplies, as well.
You can also, garages, save on scrapbooking idea books and techniques books by shopping online. Overstock.com often has these books at an even greater discount than amazon.com, and their shipping is usually much less, too. http://www.overstock.com
Copyright 2005 by Susie Cortright
Composting - Alternative Methods
Author: George Radcliffe
Source: ezinearticles.com
If you fall into the category of people who just do not have the time,, garages, space or volume of compost-able material to maintain a compost pile or bin, there are several alternatives available to you. These all fall under a heading of passive composting since they require little additional work once the organic waste has been added to the system. Passive composting is the way nature composts, garages, and is sometimes considered a lazy mans way, garages, to compost. Most proponents of passive composting would probably prefer the term intelligent to lazy.
Sheet composting eliminates the compost pile as the composting materials, garages,, garages, are spread in layers on top of the ground, usually in a flower or vegetable bed. This process is slow, but if you are willing to wait, you can sit back with your feet propped up and let Mother Nature take its course. As layers decompose, additional layers can be added and the depth of the bed is built, garages, up.
This method is ideal for disposing of all the fall leaves that so many people take the time, garages, to rake up and bag for removal, you may even end up retrieving some of your neighbors' bagged leaves for additional material. Since sheet composting lends itself to any type of compost-able material, you can leave materials trimmed from your garden laying on the ground and then cover it with leaves and in the spring till this decomposed material into the garden. Why take the time and energy to haul all of your cuttings to the compost pile, only to haul the finished compost back to the garden? Some people go so far as to take their vegetable waste from the house, clear a spot in the garden,, garages, spread the vegetable waste on the ground and then cover it with a layer of leaves or mulch. Stepping on the household waste will start the breakdown of the material a little faster. If you attempt this sheet, garages, method, just, garages, be aware that composting this way may draw unwanted creatures to your yard.
Sheet composting can also be used to make new garden beds without all, garages, the usual backbreaking work. All you need is to define the bed area, then cut everything within that space down to the ground. Next, cover the, garages, cleared area with layers of newspapers, 8 to 10 pages thick. Wet the newspapers to help keep them in place and cover them with mulch or leaves to a depth of at least several inches. You, garages, can continue adding materials, such as grass or garden clippings, to the area. Depending on where you live, in 6 months to a year anything previously growing the the area will be gone,, garages, weeds,, garages, roots and all. What you have left is soil rich, garages, in organic materials ready for planting.
Worm composting (vermicomposting) is growing in popularity in spite of the worms. Worms are the real workhorses in the garden when it comes to turning organic materials into compost and, garages, you can easily harness these guys to work for you even if you do not have a yard. Since worm composting is virtually odorless, it can be done in an apartment, though most, garages, people opt for a basement or a garage. Worms digest food waste, even peach pits, garages, disappear, and leave behind worm casting "vermicompost" which is considered to be some of the best compost available.
All that is required to begin vermicomposting are the worms and a container to hold the worms and the food waste. The worms of choice are red worms (Eisenia fetidae,), garages, also, garages, know as red wigglers, that are usually raised for fish bait so are readily available in most areas. If you cannot find them locally, they can be ordered on the internet. The container can be most anything. Originally,, garages, wooden boxes were the containers of choice, now many people use commercially available worm composters. Home made bins can be made from inexpensive plastic storage containers readily available at big box stores, garages, . Make sure the container has 1/4 inch holes in the bottom for drainage. Add about, garages, 8 inches of appropriate bedding materials, the worms and vegetable, garages, scraps such as potato skins, coffee grounds, moldy bread. Once set up, the system begins to be self regulating. As the food materials break, garages, down,, garages, the worms will begin digesting them and turning them in to 'castings'. The more food you supply, the more worms will be produced to consume it. Cut back on the food and the quantity of worms will decrease. If you begin to notice odors, you are probably overfeeding and need to cut back on the amount, garages, of food for a while. To harvest the, garages, compost,, garages, just begin feeding on only, garages, one side of the bin. In about a month, all of the worms will migrate to the side of the bin which contains, garages, the food, leaving the other half of the bin available for harvesting.
Since worm composting is clean, self contained, and virtually odorless,, garages, many apartment dwellers are avid worm composters. Single people have been known to compost on their kitchen countertop using one gallon milk containers, which produce enough compost for maintaining houseplants.
Trench, garages, composting is exactly what it infers. Dig a trench about a foot deep and begin, garages, filling, garages, it with organic waste from the kitchen or, garages, the garden, avoid meat, bones and fatty food. As you fill the trench with waste, you cover as you go. This has the advantage of helping to keep unwanted creatures away. One system developed by the English many years ago and especially well suited for vegetable gardens involves laying out three rows. The first row is for planting, the, garages, second row is for walking and the third row is for trench composting. Each year, the rows are rotated so the, garages, row used for planting the, garages, first year becomes the row for composting the second year and the row for walking the third year. This way, the row used for composting the first year will have two years for the waste to breakdown before crops, garages, are planted on it.
Post hole composting is a variation of trench composting and probably goes back to when man first began to farm. Everyone is familiar with, garages, the Indians showing the Pilgrims how to add a fish to the hole when planting seeds. This was basically, garages, post hole composting. In its, garages, current form, it just involves, garages, using a post hole digger to dig a hole (about 12, garages, inches deep) in your garden area, add your waste, garages, and then refill, garages, the hole with the removed dirt. Each, garages, time you have gathered enough waste, you dig a new hole and 'plant' it. This method can start feeding the surrounding plants as it breaks down. To complete this composting process takes about the same amount of time as with the trench method.
Composting does not need to be labor intensive or time consuming. Incorporating any of these passive composting methods will start you on the way to a greener lifestyle and a smaller carbon footprint.
Source: ezinearticles.com
If you fall into the category of people who just do not have the time,, garages, space or volume of compost-able material to maintain a compost pile or bin, there are several alternatives available to you. These all fall under a heading of passive composting since they require little additional work once the organic waste has been added to the system. Passive composting is the way nature composts, garages, and is sometimes considered a lazy mans way, garages, to compost. Most proponents of passive composting would probably prefer the term intelligent to lazy.
Sheet composting eliminates the compost pile as the composting materials, garages,, garages, are spread in layers on top of the ground, usually in a flower or vegetable bed. This process is slow, but if you are willing to wait, you can sit back with your feet propped up and let Mother Nature take its course. As layers decompose, additional layers can be added and the depth of the bed is built, garages, up.
This method is ideal for disposing of all the fall leaves that so many people take the time, garages, to rake up and bag for removal, you may even end up retrieving some of your neighbors' bagged leaves for additional material. Since sheet composting lends itself to any type of compost-able material, you can leave materials trimmed from your garden laying on the ground and then cover it with leaves and in the spring till this decomposed material into the garden. Why take the time and energy to haul all of your cuttings to the compost pile, only to haul the finished compost back to the garden? Some people go so far as to take their vegetable waste from the house, clear a spot in the garden,, garages, spread the vegetable waste on the ground and then cover it with a layer of leaves or mulch. Stepping on the household waste will start the breakdown of the material a little faster. If you attempt this sheet, garages, method, just, garages, be aware that composting this way may draw unwanted creatures to your yard.
Sheet composting can also be used to make new garden beds without all, garages, the usual backbreaking work. All you need is to define the bed area, then cut everything within that space down to the ground. Next, cover the, garages, cleared area with layers of newspapers, 8 to 10 pages thick. Wet the newspapers to help keep them in place and cover them with mulch or leaves to a depth of at least several inches. You, garages, can continue adding materials, such as grass or garden clippings, to the area. Depending on where you live, in 6 months to a year anything previously growing the the area will be gone,, garages, weeds,, garages, roots and all. What you have left is soil rich, garages, in organic materials ready for planting.
Worm composting (vermicomposting) is growing in popularity in spite of the worms. Worms are the real workhorses in the garden when it comes to turning organic materials into compost and, garages, you can easily harness these guys to work for you even if you do not have a yard. Since worm composting is virtually odorless, it can be done in an apartment, though most, garages, people opt for a basement or a garage. Worms digest food waste, even peach pits, garages, disappear, and leave behind worm casting "vermicompost" which is considered to be some of the best compost available.
All that is required to begin vermicomposting are the worms and a container to hold the worms and the food waste. The worms of choice are red worms (Eisenia fetidae,), garages, also, garages, know as red wigglers, that are usually raised for fish bait so are readily available in most areas. If you cannot find them locally, they can be ordered on the internet. The container can be most anything. Originally,, garages, wooden boxes were the containers of choice, now many people use commercially available worm composters. Home made bins can be made from inexpensive plastic storage containers readily available at big box stores, garages, . Make sure the container has 1/4 inch holes in the bottom for drainage. Add about, garages, 8 inches of appropriate bedding materials, the worms and vegetable, garages, scraps such as potato skins, coffee grounds, moldy bread. Once set up, the system begins to be self regulating. As the food materials break, garages, down,, garages, the worms will begin digesting them and turning them in to 'castings'. The more food you supply, the more worms will be produced to consume it. Cut back on the food and the quantity of worms will decrease. If you begin to notice odors, you are probably overfeeding and need to cut back on the amount, garages, of food for a while. To harvest the, garages, compost,, garages, just begin feeding on only, garages, one side of the bin. In about a month, all of the worms will migrate to the side of the bin which contains, garages, the food, leaving the other half of the bin available for harvesting.
Since worm composting is clean, self contained, and virtually odorless,, garages, many apartment dwellers are avid worm composters. Single people have been known to compost on their kitchen countertop using one gallon milk containers, which produce enough compost for maintaining houseplants.
Trench, garages, composting is exactly what it infers. Dig a trench about a foot deep and begin, garages, filling, garages, it with organic waste from the kitchen or, garages, the garden, avoid meat, bones and fatty food. As you fill the trench with waste, you cover as you go. This has the advantage of helping to keep unwanted creatures away. One system developed by the English many years ago and especially well suited for vegetable gardens involves laying out three rows. The first row is for planting, the, garages, second row is for walking and the third row is for trench composting. Each year, the rows are rotated so the, garages, row used for planting the, garages, first year becomes the row for composting the second year and the row for walking the third year. This way, the row used for composting the first year will have two years for the waste to breakdown before crops, garages, are planted on it.
Post hole composting is a variation of trench composting and probably goes back to when man first began to farm. Everyone is familiar with, garages, the Indians showing the Pilgrims how to add a fish to the hole when planting seeds. This was basically, garages, post hole composting. In its, garages, current form, it just involves, garages, using a post hole digger to dig a hole (about 12, garages, inches deep) in your garden area, add your waste, garages, and then refill, garages, the hole with the removed dirt. Each, garages, time you have gathered enough waste, you dig a new hole and 'plant' it. This method can start feeding the surrounding plants as it breaks down. To complete this composting process takes about the same amount of time as with the trench method.
Composting does not need to be labor intensive or time consuming. Incorporating any of these passive composting methods will start you on the way to a greener lifestyle and a smaller carbon footprint.
George Radcliffe is retired now residing in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. He has been a lifetime gardener and a Master Gardener for three years. He enjoys helping others learn the joys of gardening in the South. George writes for http://www.wickedgoodgardens.com.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Don't Be A Target: Nine Simple Home Security Tips
Author: Anthony Neary
Source: articledashboard.com
Burglars will always go after the easiest target. Not necessarily the biggest house on the block—but the easiest one to break into. Burglars like dark, garages, houses, and they like to get in fast. If your house is well-lit or takes more than five minutes to break into, chances are they'll go elsewhere, garages, . If you want to make your house less inviting to burglars, here's how to do it, garages, .
Keep the lights on. It's a good idea to invest in security lighting. If your home or yard is kept lit at night, it's a definite burglar, garages, deterrent. When lighting your home, it's important not to make it blaze so brightly it bothers the neighbors—but a downlight over your garage and front doors,, garages, uplights beneath windows, and a few well-placed outdoor lamps in the yard can go a long way towards discouraging most break-ins.
Get a good home security system. The best home security systems have an alarm that automatically alerts, garages,, garages, the police. Motion detectors are useful, garages, to install in your yard—turn them on before you go to bed at night so they don't go off when you and your family are outside during the day.
Have a thick door, garages, with a deadbolt. Your door should be in good repair. It should fit its frame well, with no chinks and no soft or rotting wood in the frame. The best lock in the world, garages, won't keep a burglar out if your door isn't strong as well. You should, garages, have a deadbolt—never rely on those doorknob locks. Get a peephole, preferably a wide-angle one, installed in your door. It's much safer than using a chain—strong burglars, garages, can break those chains and push you aside to get in.
If you have a garage, this also applies, garages, to the door that leads from it to the inside of your house. Garage doors,, garages, garages, are often flimsy, with cheap locks. Make sure the door that goes into your house from your garage is just as strong as your outside-access doors, with the same strong deadbolts and peephole.
If you have sliding glass doors, you've probably noticed the locks are, garages, weak. Don't depend on a stick set in the door channel. Go to your local hardware store and see what, garages, they have for strong locks for these doors.
Don't make it obvious you're away. When you go away on holiday, don't close your blinds any more than you usually do. Have the post office hold all, garages, mail and packages so it doesn't, garages, collect outside your door. Ask a friend to collect hand-delivered circulars from, garages, your doorstep. If you're going to be gone for longer than, garages, a week, pay someone you trust to mow your lawn or shovel your driveway.
Many people install timers on the lights in their homes, and set them to go on and off at appropriate times to make it look like you're home. There are lots of other ways to do this, garages, as well, like installing motion-sensitive lights outside of your house and putting your radio, garages, and TV on a timer so that they go on and off, as well.
Get a home security safe. If you have anything especially, garages, valuable in your house—jewelry or important documents, for example—protect them with a home security safe. These can go a long way toward protecting your peace of mind, as well as your, garages, belongings.
Don't show off tempting items. Open your blinds and look in your windows—from the street as well as from your yard. Can you see a television,, garages, a computer,, garages, stereo equipment, or any other valuables from your windows? If so, you may be advertising to burglars, garages, without knowing it. Make sure nobody from outside can see any valuable objects, garages, in your house. Also, don't leave anything outside in your yard that can be carried off—it, garages, makes too tempting a target for even casual thieves.
Watch your windows. Make sure your windows are strong and in good repair—including the frames. In addition, it's a bad idea to put a window-mounted air conditioner in a window on the ground floor—these can be easy to push out. It's a good, garages, idea to trim shrubs and trees near windows, as these can provide cover for burglars.
Careful with your keys. Don't keep your keys on a ring with your home, garages, address anywhere on it. And don't hide, garages, an extra key under the doormat, in that flowerpot by the, garages, door, or anywhere else outside. You may think you've found the perfect hiding place, but most burglars know where to look, garages, . Think about getting, garages, a key safe.
Contact your local police. Often, the police will send someone to assess your house and recommend the steps you should take to make your home safer. This is a good thing to do anytime you move into a new house, or, garages, if there have been robberies at other homes in your area recently.
Keep your house from being a tempting target. Don't help burglars rob you by keeping your house dark at night,, garages, keeping expensive items by the window, or neglecting your windows and doors. Follow these simple tips, and your home will be much less inviting to criminals—and much safer.
Source: articledashboard.com
Burglars will always go after the easiest target. Not necessarily the biggest house on the block—but the easiest one to break into. Burglars like dark, garages, houses, and they like to get in fast. If your house is well-lit or takes more than five minutes to break into, chances are they'll go elsewhere, garages, . If you want to make your house less inviting to burglars, here's how to do it, garages, .
Keep the lights on. It's a good idea to invest in security lighting. If your home or yard is kept lit at night, it's a definite burglar, garages, deterrent. When lighting your home, it's important not to make it blaze so brightly it bothers the neighbors—but a downlight over your garage and front doors,, garages, uplights beneath windows, and a few well-placed outdoor lamps in the yard can go a long way towards discouraging most break-ins.
Get a good home security system. The best home security systems have an alarm that automatically alerts, garages,, garages, the police. Motion detectors are useful, garages, to install in your yard—turn them on before you go to bed at night so they don't go off when you and your family are outside during the day.
Have a thick door, garages, with a deadbolt. Your door should be in good repair. It should fit its frame well, with no chinks and no soft or rotting wood in the frame. The best lock in the world, garages, won't keep a burglar out if your door isn't strong as well. You should, garages, have a deadbolt—never rely on those doorknob locks. Get a peephole, preferably a wide-angle one, installed in your door. It's much safer than using a chain—strong burglars, garages, can break those chains and push you aside to get in.
If you have a garage, this also applies, garages, to the door that leads from it to the inside of your house. Garage doors,, garages, garages, are often flimsy, with cheap locks. Make sure the door that goes into your house from your garage is just as strong as your outside-access doors, with the same strong deadbolts and peephole.
If you have sliding glass doors, you've probably noticed the locks are, garages, weak. Don't depend on a stick set in the door channel. Go to your local hardware store and see what, garages, they have for strong locks for these doors.
Don't make it obvious you're away. When you go away on holiday, don't close your blinds any more than you usually do. Have the post office hold all, garages, mail and packages so it doesn't, garages, collect outside your door. Ask a friend to collect hand-delivered circulars from, garages, your doorstep. If you're going to be gone for longer than, garages, a week, pay someone you trust to mow your lawn or shovel your driveway.
Many people install timers on the lights in their homes, and set them to go on and off at appropriate times to make it look like you're home. There are lots of other ways to do this, garages, as well, like installing motion-sensitive lights outside of your house and putting your radio, garages, and TV on a timer so that they go on and off, as well.
Get a home security safe. If you have anything especially, garages, valuable in your house—jewelry or important documents, for example—protect them with a home security safe. These can go a long way toward protecting your peace of mind, as well as your, garages, belongings.
Don't show off tempting items. Open your blinds and look in your windows—from the street as well as from your yard. Can you see a television,, garages, a computer,, garages, stereo equipment, or any other valuables from your windows? If so, you may be advertising to burglars, garages, without knowing it. Make sure nobody from outside can see any valuable objects, garages, in your house. Also, don't leave anything outside in your yard that can be carried off—it, garages, makes too tempting a target for even casual thieves.
Watch your windows. Make sure your windows are strong and in good repair—including the frames. In addition, it's a bad idea to put a window-mounted air conditioner in a window on the ground floor—these can be easy to push out. It's a good, garages, idea to trim shrubs and trees near windows, as these can provide cover for burglars.
Careful with your keys. Don't keep your keys on a ring with your home, garages, address anywhere on it. And don't hide, garages, an extra key under the doormat, in that flowerpot by the, garages, door, or anywhere else outside. You may think you've found the perfect hiding place, but most burglars know where to look, garages, . Think about getting, garages, a key safe.
Contact your local police. Often, the police will send someone to assess your house and recommend the steps you should take to make your home safer. This is a good thing to do anytime you move into a new house, or, garages, if there have been robberies at other homes in your area recently.
Keep your house from being a tempting target. Don't help burglars rob you by keeping your house dark at night,, garages, keeping expensive items by the window, or neglecting your windows and doors. Follow these simple tips, and your home will be much less inviting to criminals—and much safer.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
All He Wants For Christmas Is
Author: Helen MacKenzie
Source: articleage.com
…a couple of kiddies lifejackets, a Virtual Skipper 2 Computer Game, a Harken Ball Bearing winch handle, a YachtMaster, garages, manual and…
The Sailing Fanatic has been making a festive wish list, which is growing longer by the second. It's all to take his mind off his not-so-festive need, garages, to do list, which also seems to be increasing rapidly. In fact, every time he, garages, goes down to the boat another 'must do' item is added on.
Take the simple matter of clearing the boat, for instance. All the sails, cushions and, garages, mattresses are now safely stashed at home, fragrancing the spare room with the delicate aroma of damp sailing gear. [Note to Sailing Fanatic - please remember to get more, garages, air freshener,, garages, stain remover, new cushion covers and a larger house, preferably with a double garage.]
But mouldy material is not the only new arrival in our home. Every piece of wood that could be removed from the boat without sinking it, is now sitting in our loft, ready to be sanded and revarnished, garages, . [See above re new house, garages, . Also please find circular sander, varnish and an extra four hours in the day]
Wood and mattresses I, garages, can cope, garages, with. I was, garages, not, garages, so happy last week when my father-in-law (the Other Sailing Fanatic) turned up with a chunky bit of metal, which he explained was a new seacock - vital for, garages, fixing the yacht's portside head.
The need for a new seacock is, I have to confess, our, garages, fault. We must have been in possession of the boat for a good three weeks when, in a fit of new-owner anxiety, we decided it would be a good idea to close the seacocks before, garages, leaving the boat. They closed perfectly. But only one re-opened. The other has remained resolutely jammed shut, leaving one of the heads out of action ever since.
The Sailing Fanatics are now on the case, and have promised to get the toilet operational again, and - most importantly - not to bring any old working parts into the house! [Definitely need rubber gloves,, garages, clothes peg and a very hot shower!]
In fact the Sailing Fanatics have been delving deep into all parts of the boat;, garages, fiddling with the bilges, checking behind panels, garages, and generally smoothing over the scrapes that occurred over the season.
One of these is actually quite a large scrape - a bit of a dunt just at the point where the navigator's chair slots into the floor, garages, . This was broken before we bought the boat, and fixing it is one of the main tasks set for this winter [epoxy resin, patience, a bit more patience and definitely no helpful suggestions].
The Sailing Fanatics got to work on the dunt earlier this month, lifted a bit of the floor to access the repair from the underside, and found themselves looking, garages, at a strange metallic substance. It was silver, alarmingly crumbly and there seemed to be an awful lot of it. What could it be? Was it - heaven forbid, garages, - something structural?
, garages, The Sailing Fanatics dug anxiously, heaving out a large mound of the worrying substance, only to find that it was the old aluminium plate that had held the navigator's chair in place. This had cracked and then deoxidised when it came into contact with water from the bilges, expanding into a silver mass under the floor. It was nothing serious!
[Note to Sailing Fanatic -the trauma counsellor says she can see you on Thursday, but keep taking the pills!]
All in all, it looks like the, garages, Sailing Fanatic is going to be pretty busy for the next few months. So it's probably just as well that he'll have, garages,, garages, a day, garages, or two off over Christmas - time to relax and enjoy the presents I've bought him: a, garages, shiny red bucket; a wooden scrubbing, garages, brush; paintbrushes; antifouling…
Helen MacKenzie is a freelance writer, garages, . She contributes to the web site at http://www.sea-dreamer.com The Sea Dreamer web site has articles, guides and news on sailing and cruising on the West Coast of Scotland.
Source: articleage.com
…a couple of kiddies lifejackets, a Virtual Skipper 2 Computer Game, a Harken Ball Bearing winch handle, a YachtMaster, garages, manual and…
The Sailing Fanatic has been making a festive wish list, which is growing longer by the second. It's all to take his mind off his not-so-festive need, garages, to do list, which also seems to be increasing rapidly. In fact, every time he, garages, goes down to the boat another 'must do' item is added on.
Take the simple matter of clearing the boat, for instance. All the sails, cushions and, garages, mattresses are now safely stashed at home, fragrancing the spare room with the delicate aroma of damp sailing gear. [Note to Sailing Fanatic - please remember to get more, garages, air freshener,, garages, stain remover, new cushion covers and a larger house, preferably with a double garage.]
But mouldy material is not the only new arrival in our home. Every piece of wood that could be removed from the boat without sinking it, is now sitting in our loft, ready to be sanded and revarnished, garages, . [See above re new house, garages, . Also please find circular sander, varnish and an extra four hours in the day]
Wood and mattresses I, garages, can cope, garages, with. I was, garages, not, garages, so happy last week when my father-in-law (the Other Sailing Fanatic) turned up with a chunky bit of metal, which he explained was a new seacock - vital for, garages, fixing the yacht's portside head.
The need for a new seacock is, I have to confess, our, garages, fault. We must have been in possession of the boat for a good three weeks when, in a fit of new-owner anxiety, we decided it would be a good idea to close the seacocks before, garages, leaving the boat. They closed perfectly. But only one re-opened. The other has remained resolutely jammed shut, leaving one of the heads out of action ever since.
The Sailing Fanatics are now on the case, and have promised to get the toilet operational again, and - most importantly - not to bring any old working parts into the house! [Definitely need rubber gloves,, garages, clothes peg and a very hot shower!]
In fact the Sailing Fanatics have been delving deep into all parts of the boat;, garages, fiddling with the bilges, checking behind panels, garages, and generally smoothing over the scrapes that occurred over the season.
One of these is actually quite a large scrape - a bit of a dunt just at the point where the navigator's chair slots into the floor, garages, . This was broken before we bought the boat, and fixing it is one of the main tasks set for this winter [epoxy resin, patience, a bit more patience and definitely no helpful suggestions].
The Sailing Fanatics got to work on the dunt earlier this month, lifted a bit of the floor to access the repair from the underside, and found themselves looking, garages, at a strange metallic substance. It was silver, alarmingly crumbly and there seemed to be an awful lot of it. What could it be? Was it - heaven forbid, garages, - something structural?
, garages, The Sailing Fanatics dug anxiously, heaving out a large mound of the worrying substance, only to find that it was the old aluminium plate that had held the navigator's chair in place. This had cracked and then deoxidised when it came into contact with water from the bilges, expanding into a silver mass under the floor. It was nothing serious!
[Note to Sailing Fanatic -the trauma counsellor says she can see you on Thursday, but keep taking the pills!]
All in all, it looks like the, garages, Sailing Fanatic is going to be pretty busy for the next few months. So it's probably just as well that he'll have, garages,, garages, a day, garages, or two off over Christmas - time to relax and enjoy the presents I've bought him: a, garages, shiny red bucket; a wooden scrubbing, garages, brush; paintbrushes; antifouling…
Helen MacKenzie is a freelance writer, garages, . She contributes to the web site at http://www.sea-dreamer.com The Sea Dreamer web site has articles, guides and news on sailing and cruising on the West Coast of Scotland.
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