The Landscape and Garden Blog
Jan
21
Not long ago, many people made decisions to “Go Green.” Human beings did live a green lifestyle for ages, then with industrialization came products that while they may have made day to day life easier and less time consuming, those products started to make us sick. With regards to gardening and redesigning landscape, this may sound like a silly idea…Green in the garden? Sounds a little redundant, however think pesticides, weed killer sprays and even some fertilizers. Creating a green environment is not that difficult. And in there are many ways to save money in the process. And these beautiful landscapes are developing all across Toronto and other Canadian cities. Check rentstarlight.com if you’re planning to move there and discovery these beautiful gardens yourself.
One way of becoming more environmentally oriented is by composting. There are sustainable green fertilizers, but composting…is free. Instead of putting leaves and other yard waste into a plastic bag and into the dumpster, but them in the compost pile. Same goes for vegetable and fruit scraps left over from the kitchen. And then leave it up to nature, the bugs and the worms will turn all that into fertilizer. Another way you can save in the renovation of your garden and landscaping, is by making a small initial investment at the plant nursery. Do a little research and find out the plants and flowers that were indigenous to your area. Things like wild grasses are easy to take care of and spruce up any yard. With plants native to your weather zone, your upkeep will be minimal as they will just about take care of themselves.
Instead of pesticides, build a bird house and keep it filled with seed. This will attract the birds who will not only eat the birdseed, but the pesky caterpillars and other tiny creatures that can reek havoc on a budding vegetable garden. And again in following with the way our ancestors gardened and cared for their landscaping, rain barrels. Rain water just seems to make plants grow better than water from the hose. At least it seems that way. When it rains, that doesn’t need to be the only time your garden gets watered naturally. By keeping rain barrels around, you will have a supply of fresh water long after the rains have stopped. This helps the pocket book as well, by cutting back on the amount of water coming out your hose.
In renovating your backyard garden, making everything going into filled with green sense, will make everything coming out of it and surrounding your home, green and fresh. The trend in the population has been moving increasingly towards local produce, and there are many reasons why. It’s better for the environment, and better for our health. With these few minor adjustments, your ‘going local’ is as easy as going out your own backdoor. And you can find apartments just as easily.
Nov
4
The worst thing about moving is rarely the logistics of the move itself. It’s usually the overwhelming levels of physical, psychological, and emotional stress that accompany the process. Moving, along with most types of major life changes, is considered to be one of the leading causes of stress in both adults and children. Be prepared to handle this stress is an essential element to a successful move experience.
The main thing you can do to reduce stress during a move is to simplify as much as you can. Yes, there are going to be pages of checklists and tasks to complete. Whenever possible combine related items and multi-task similar activities. If possible, replace time consuming things such as meeting various friends and family for goodbye lunches and dinners into one group going away gathering. Anything that isn’t really a necessity should be dropped in favor of things that really are essential — and this include throwing away old possessions or adding them to a donate pile instead of wasting time packing and moving them.
The next key is to be willing to let go of control. This may mean delegating responsibility for certain move decisions or activities to your spouse such as choosing movers or older children who can take over running a yard sale. In fact, children who are physically capable should take ownership of packing their own room and belongings. There’s also nothing wrong with letting a trusted friend plan that going away party, drive things to goodwill or even pack your china for you. If someone offers to help, don’t hesitate to take them up on it. Everything you move from your plate reduces your overall stress.
Oct
24
A swimming pool in the backyard is the American dream for many middle class families. They imagine cooling off on a hot summer’s day and hosting parties for friends and neighborhoods. Whatever the specific dreams, it’s extremely important that the families come to an agreement of the primary uses for the pool before hiring Dallas swimming pool builders to begin construction.
As with many things, the form a swimming pool takes is closely related to the function it is intended to fill. A pool that is primarily used for exercise or even practice laps for budding competitive swimmers is going to be very different from a pool used for entertaining and to demonstrate a family’s economic and social status. Other potential purposes are family fun pools which might have water slides or game nets, and diving pools which are deeper. Additional pool features that depend on function are attaches spas, waterfalls, and lighting or heating elements.
Even design choices such as built in planters, mosaic tiles and the type of materials used for the pool and surrounding deck will be determined by function. A family that fails to plan for function may end up with a pool that doesn’t fit their needs and sits unused year after year.
Oct
3
The play area refers to a zone that extends 6 feet beyond the swing set on all sides. This includes the space above the swing and the slide. The ground must be level; the set should not be installed on a sloping ground, which can cause it to crack or lean. Leaning places additional stress on all the joints and connections; in time, this will cause them to fail.
The play area must be free of all structures such as trees, rocks, branches, wires, fences and any other obstacles in order for children to play safely. Tripping hazards also need to be removed including roots, stumps, sprinkler heads, plumbing, railroad ties and electrical connections. Children and be seriously injured running or swinging into these obstacles.
60% of injuries are caused by falls to the ground, so protective surfacing must be used. Providing ground protection around the swing set is one of the more critical safety factors. There are synthetic surfaces, which are acceptable, but check the test data on its shock absorbing performance . Grass and dirt alone are not sufficient shock absorbing agents, adding sand and mulch will help absorb a fall and reduce injuries.
The fall zone, which is the area that must be covered with the protective surfacing, should also be free of other equipment and obstacles that a child might fall on. Plus, stationary climbing equipment and slides should have their own fall zone that extends a minimum of 6-feet in all directions from the perimeter of the equipment. The swings themselves need to have a fall zone extending 6 feet from the outer edge of the support structure and extend twice the height of the swing from the ground to the top of the swing structure.
Jul
23
Caring for someone in need of a shower is a daunting task if you don’t have a shower chair. You will find a shower chair can improve your life considerably and will definitely make life easier for your loved one. Today’s shower chairs come in a variety of great colors, styles, features and textures. Buying the right shower chair may become just as daunting as assisting your loved one in the shower.
Shower chairs generally are prescribed by a doctor and are not normally covered by Medicare. So, choosing a shower chair that will fit your budget is important and understanding some of the basic features will help you with picking the best shower chair for your specific needs. For example: the adjustable height feature means that your loved one can reach the soap and faucets easily as they sit comfortably; the legs of the shower chair should have firm rubber grips that will provide a slip free shower; arm rests, which are optional, can make a big difference in comfort level; and the material of the shower chair should be able to withstand prolonged time in hot water.
You will find most medical supply companies to have the perfect shower chair and at a price you can afford. You will also find many other products that can be used to make the shower time process easier and worry free such as tub transfer chairs, grab bars and bath chairs, all geared for your loved one who has limited mobility or is having a difficult time when it comes to bathing .
Mar
29
Fashion has always been a big priority for those who are inclined to be interested in it. Usually those with a little more disposable income than most of us right now. That is probably why in recent years there have been a number of people and places such as Target , and Martha Stewart who have tried to find ways to make home fashion something accessible to the rest of the people. However, with Target’s Global Bazaar closing down and Martha Stewart moving her stuff out of Kmart, it almost seems as if this may no longer be an option for those without a lot of disposable income. There is one thing happening in the world of home fashion that may encourage some of us or might just make you want to run away screaming. Walmart is putting out it’s own brand of home fashion on the cheap.
It’s not a perfect world, and most people who follow the colors for indoor decoration this season probably want nothing to do with this, but it does give some people some hope. While everyone knows that there is never going to be cutting edge fashion , as the people who are shopping for furniture at Walmart are some of the most conservative fashion wise as can be found out there, there is a chance that maybe some of the latest hot fashions will trickle down into the lower sub-conscious when they start listening to the fashion savvy and throw out those silly dividers made of pine with a red maple finish, and plain white cloth and instead give people the option of cheaper silvery metal frames and exotic Japanese prints .
Until something like that happens though, at least we still have experts who we know well and we know will listen to us when we want to try something new, without a lot of cost. That can be the biggest trick is knowing that it is ok to try out the newest colors and integrate them into a room without fear. Sometimes the best way to do that is with shades, which may be one of the most overlooked home fashion decorations.
Dec
20
It is the perfect winter night. You are sitting with your loved ones in from of an indoor fireplace crackling and popping. You are reading that last few pages of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the kids are finally getting sleepy. Your wife had prepared a wonderful meal and everyone is full and happy. Now it’s time for the little ones to hop off to bed. This is your moment. Your time to sit and enjoy the fire for an hour or two. You make your way over to the bar for your favorite toasty beverage. Aha! Scotch Scotch Scotch. Such a perfect sipper for the fire side relaxation.
As you sit with your Scotch watching the fire dance you may be wondering about the history of you beverage. How it was made or where it originated from. The name give a great clue as to where it came from. Whiskey made in Scotland. Which adds to the whole romance of it. You may have your favorite type of Scotch. What could it be? Single malt whiskey, blended malt whiskey, Blended Scotch whisky, blended grain Scotch whiskey or single grain Scotch whiskey?
Single malt whiskey is made from 100% malted barley, from one distillery, distilled in batches. Single grain whiskey is also from a single distillery but may have barley and some other grains mixed in. Then there is Vatted malt whiskey which is a blend of single malt whiskys that come from multiple distilleries. Blended grain whiskey is a blend of grain whiskeys that come from two or more distilleries. Blended Scotch whiskey is a blend of single grain and malt whiskey that comes from more than one distillery. They all have just a little different flavor. Each maker also has their own styles. Which ever style you choose, is goes best with a nice warm fire.
Dec
17
Fireplace inserts are made to fit into your pre-existing fireplace and will assist in creating the most efficient heat, they will reduce the amount of pollutants that are heading up your chimney, and they will create a new and more modern design, giving your entire house a bit of a face-lift. The way in which the inserts work, is that a fire box is built, surrounded by steel or heavy cast iron. This is kind of like a giant pot or kettle.
The sides of the kettle heat up and retain the heat in the heavy iron, the air circulates around the kettle and back out into your home. Blowers can be installed that help to force this air through, creating a much more efficient burn, heating up your house fully and evenly. This also prevents the heat from escaping through the masonry and the bricks of your classic style fireplace. This will change the appearance of your fireplace, some in more drastic ways than other. The space between the firebox and your existing fireplace will be covered with a face plate. Some of these face plates are simple, and others are more elaborate in design. There are many in which to choose from, and you will find one that suits your taste and the style of your home.
There are different types of inserts depending on whether you have a traditional wood burning fireplace, or a gas fueled fireplace, so make certain to do a little bit of research. Gas inserts can be installed in wood burning fireplaces. Some people make this choose as the gas will burn a bit cleaner. But this again is up to your own personal taste and what it is you want from your fireplace. For some people the convenience of gas is something that they prefer, while for others it is the crackle and the pop of a real wood fire. Which ever way you decide to go, the choice to put in an insert will give you more heat for your fire, and more warmth throughout your home.
Oct
19
Cooking outdoors is a pleasure that wakes up the senses in an extraordinary way. The delightful aroma of food cooked on the grill is something that makes the neighborhood smell heavenly, and people from all around will be wondering what magic you might be up to. Your guests will be the lucky recipients of the treasures of your cooking, and fire magic grills are a splendid way to begin your new adventure in outdoor cooking.
It’s a kind of cooking that’s very easy to learn, and in no time at all you’ll have the basics down on how to prepare meat in just the right way, every time. But the more you learn about outdoor cooking, you’ll soon discover, the more there is to learn. Getting the basics down is very easy, but the variations and subtleties of spicing is an endless adventure. You’ll be collecting recipes from all over, and you’ll even find yourself talking about grilling techniques in grocery stores and butcher shops, and all the while you’ll be learning new techniques and tricks. The art of spicing beef is a complicated one. There are thousands of variations within each culture, and each culture has its own specialties.
For a tasty variation, you can try different Asian recipes for spiced beef, using tried and true ingredients that work on a wok, and then apply the same ideas on your grill. Grilled meat as an addition to any stir fry is a wonderful way to make your guests very happy. There are also fantastic recipes out there for spicing meat the Irish way. Here, you would use the spices to make a marinade, where you can soak the beef overnight and then cook it perfectly on your fire magic grill to make an outdoor dish that has its own Irish slant, for an unexpectedly fantastic taste sensation. The possibilities are limitless!
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