Log Homes And Log Furniture - The Norman Rockwell Effect
September 30, 2009
Log Homes And Log Furniture - The Norman Rockwell Effect
by: Tom Heatherington
In case you haven’t noticed, the world is “going to hell in a handbasket”. No one knows where that phrase comes from or what it means exactly, but the implication is understood by anyone who hears it - that things seem to be out of control. If you watch the evening news, read today’s headlines, or listen to the radio then you know what I am talking about. The world is going to hell in a handbasket. So what does the world’s demise have to do with the title of this article? That’s easy, in a world out of control, there’s just something miraculous about logs that creates peace and tranquility in my life.
If that sounds a little bizarre to you, permit me to explain. Your house may be of a contemporary design, or a Mediterranean style bungalow, or perhaps you make your home in a French chateaux, but for me there is no warmer, or more peaceful environment than a log home richly decorated with rustic and log furniture. I call it my “Norman Rockwell effect”.
Causes of Acne breakouts
September 29, 2009
Causes of Acne breakouts
by: Martha Fitzharris
If you discover that you recently suffer from acne, don’t desperate, there are possible cures for this skin disease. If the cause of acne has been established, a solution is possible.
Anyone with or who has had acne can tell you, how many times a day they’ve cleaned their faces with anti-bacterial facial wash and still faced new pimples the next day.
The same goes for all the other topical creams for acne available in the market, which kills germs and open up blocked pores. These may provide temporary relief, but you will never experience acne free skin by only focusing on acne from the outside.
The real and main causes of acne are hormone imbalance, water retention and toxins. Let’s talk about hormones.
Hormones are chemicals that are produced by glands in the body and circulate in the bloodstream that control numerous body functions including sebum (skin oil) production and regulation. The hormones that are responsible for acne are called androgens. This is because androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands (glands in the skin that secrete oil to the surface of the skin.)
When Is It Time to Buy New Furniture
September 28, 2009
When Is It Time to Buy New Furniture
by: Bob Benson
When is it time to buy new furniture? Take a look around your house and ask yourself these questions:
1. Are your sofa or chair cushions showing signs of wear? If it’s leather, maybe the seat cushions are discolored, lighter in the seat area than the rest of the sofa or chair. If it’s fabric, see if the upholstery threads are pulling apart or discolored. If your furniture is showing signs of wearing, it’s time to consider new furniture or at least slip covering options.
2. Are there holes in your furniture? You might be able to stitch or patch the holes if the rest of the piece is structurally sound. Otherwise, start thinking about new furniture.
3. When you rise from the seat, does the cushion remain sunken? Check the springs to see if that’s the problem. If a broken or stretched spring is the culprit, the problem can probably be repaired, maybe even by yourself if you happen to be handy in that way. If the springs look okay, maybe you just need a new cushion. Take a cushion with you to an upholstery shop or fabric store to show the sales person what kind of cushion you need to replace the bad one. It’s a good idea to take a good cushion with you so the sales person can help match the cushion to the firmness and density you want to replace the bad cushion with.
Growing Organic! Herbs, Flowers and Fruit
September 27, 2009
Creating no dig gardens on top of the soil gives you many immediate advantages over the usual garden.
While my site has concentrated on the vegetable garden, the same garden building techniques can be used for flower beds, herbs and fruit trees.
Herbs
Herbs can be planted straight into the no dig garden bed. Because of their uses, the herb garden should be situated in a sunny spot very near your kitchen. Then you can simply step out the door and make an ordinary meal into a culinary delight! If there isn’t an obvious space handy, herbs will grow very well in containers.
However, if you do have the space, there is a wonderful project called the ‘Herb Spiral’ you can build. It’s extremely space efficient and caters for the various microclimates that herbs like.
It involves building a vertical spiral, usually from rocks, about 6 ft across and 2-3 feet high. The top is quite dry and hot, the bottom is moist and there is a sunny side and a shady side. A garden of this size will need about 1.5 cubic metres of soil or compost materials.
Buying Furniture at Yard Sales
September 26, 2009
Buying Furniture at Yard Sales
by: Bob Benson
Buying furniture pieces at yard sales offers many options, but you must look closely to know what you’re getting.
Are you interested in trying your hand at some creative furniture painting? If you don’t already have an old piece of furniture to practice on, shopping yard sales is the best way to come up with a piece.
If you are buying the yard sale furniture for the sake of practicing your creative idea, buy away! If you are looking for a particular piece to use, take time to look the furniture over to make sure you are getting a solid piece at a good deal.
For instance, if you want to buy a small dresser for a guest room and want to give it a country look, your first concern should be the stability of the furniture. You can give almost any style the look you want, as long as the furniture is sturdy and in good condition. Look to see if any of the wood is buckling or if the piece has any deep scratches that can’t be sanded out. If you want it to have an old look, the scratches might not matter so much to you. The buckling, however, might be a sign of warped drawers that are hard to open or close. Warped furniture is not usually very functional.
Selecting Furniture for a Play Room
September 26, 2009
Selecting Furniture for a Play Room
by: Bob Benson
The furniture you choose to put in your play room depends mostly on your family’s definition of “play room.” If your play room is for a toddler to have lots of running room, your furniture will differ greatly from the play room designed to give adults the feel of a sports bar atmosphere.
If your play room is designed with a mobile child in mind, you probably will not need much furniture. An appropriately sized table for the child to sit at while coloring or drawing, playing with puzzles or doing crafts is a must along with a sturdy chair. A good toy box that could double as a hope chest for the child later is another good furniture item to include in the room. Throw in a couple of chairs for the kids to wallow on and your furniture needs are met!
A play room for older kids will differ in its furniture needs. A table with sturdy chairs will still be vital. Older kids who like to watch television or movies and play video games will also need a solid entertainment center or tv stand on which to hold the tv set. You’ll need more seating for older kids, too. They tend to have more friends visiting and will require more seating area.
Broken Key Removal (Pin Tumbler Locks)
September 25, 2009
Broken Key Removal (Pin Tumbler Locks)
by: Roger J. Fischer
Having a key break off in one of your locks can be a real pain in the neck. But with the proper information you can better understand the problem and take steps to solve it. With the information I provide in this article, you stand a very good chance of removing the key yourself and preventing it from happening to you in the future.
WHAT CAUSES KEYS TO BREAK
Most keys, even brass and nickle-plated keys, will eventually wear out and break along any of a key’s cuts. But some conditions will speed up the process such as:
1. The key has one or more deep cuts which become the “weak point” of the key. After so much use (or just a little abuse) the key will break at these points. Having a deep cut as the first cut (next to the head of the key) can be real trouble but a deep cut in the middle of the key can cause big problems too;
Brilliant Beetroot!
September 24, 2009
Are you looking for a truly versatile vegetable to grow and serve? Try beetroot! It has the most amazing colour and texture. Varieties range in colour from gold to deep red/purple and are delicious raw, boiled, baked, pickled and juiced. Even the leaves are edible! The root is packed with Vitamin C and the leaves are a great source of Vitamin A and potassium.
Beetroot is native to the Mediterranean so needs a fairly warm climate to do well. Unlike most of the plants we’ve discussed in the past, the seeds should be planted directly into the garden (or container) without going through the transplant stage.
Soak the seeds in water overnight to help germination, before planting. You should see your plants emerge in 10-14 days. Two or three plants will emerge from each of the seed clumps, but then you have to make a decision before thinning. Do you want to eat the leaves or the root?
If you pick the leaves often, the root will develop poorly. Some sort of trade off has to be made. Even so, small beets are better than no beets at all.
Kitchen Renovations and Island Creations
September 23, 2009
Kitchen Renovations and Island Creations
by: Savi Decoursey
Most homeowners could rhyme off a list of things they would like to change in their home design or decoration. One of the most rewarding projects I have worked on in recent times was a do-it-yourself kitchen island. By following the instructions below, you will be able to transform your simple kitchen into an island oasisor something like that.
If you are like most homeowners, you have spent a fair amount of time in antique markets looking for that perfect new addition for your home. The next time you are out at the antique market or even a local garage sale, keep your eyes open for an old buffet. You can likely find one for less than 50 dollars, and it could well become your favorite piece of furniture.
Most buffets were designed to rest against a wall, and they generally have a cheaper wood covering the back side. When you get the buffet home, remove the cheap back board and start cleaning it up. I would recommend replacing the back board with tongue-and-groove pine. It is relatively cheap, and it looks great!
Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
September 22, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
by: Damon Thomas
The idea of buying a new home for the first time can be overwhelming for most people. It is probably the largest investment they have ever made, and the process itself seems downright intimidating. Here are answers to a few questions about homeownership from www.casanuevahouston.com and www.casanuevasanantonio.com. Much more information is offered online at these websites.
How do I know how much I can afford?
Most people like to think of it in terms of their monthly payment. A good rule-of-thumb is that your total monthly payment will be about 1% of the purchase price. If a new home costs $100,000, the total monthly payment will be about $1,000.
What kind of down payment is needed? How much money is needed for closing costs?
With 100% financing, which is often available, you typically need about 3% out of your own pocket for various closing cost such as taxes and insurance. So, for a $100,000 loan that is 100% financed, you would need about $3,000 total cash. There are also home buyer assistance programs that can provide down payment grants to qualified applicants.
