The Rich History of Wild Roses
March 6, 2008
Wild roses, of the genus Rosa, are those naturally occurring natives found in Northern Hemispheres around the globe. Wild Roses can be found in forests, canyons, logged wastelands and thickets. They have continued to grow throughout the course of history and across a range of different terrains. Most modern day roses we know are mixed offspring of these wild roses.
Wild roses have had a rich history. They played roles in Greek and Roman culture, symbolizing themes such as love and allegiance. Later they became sought after for cosmetic, medicinal and religious purposes as well. However, with the beginnings of large-scale worldwide trade, rose horticulture and hybridization took root. This forever changed the wild rose landscape from a relatively small number of wild roses across the planet’s surface to today’s world with thousands-upon-thousands of rose varieties.
There are plenty of advantages to cultivating wild roses in modern-day rose gardens. Wild roses are strong, disease resistant plants, which can be grown in almost any less-than-ideal location. They are not dependent on regular fertilization and can tolerate some drought. Requiring essentially no care, wild roses are able to spread on their own, can handle being crowded and withstand transplanting at almost any time of year.
Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days
March 5, 2008
This report is about taking a house and restoring it to an aesthetically pleasing dwelling that has reclaimed it’s functional utility. In effect, it is the anti-aging medication for bricks and mortar.
This report assumes that you have already or will soon acquire the proper house. The one that is in essence, ripe for rehab. Be selective and sure of the house’s potential to allow for a profit after all the hard work is done. I will help you find your house or houses.
In the proverbial nutshell, it helps if you choose a house from the start that has a sound plumbing, heating and electrical system.
- Plumbing
- Heating
- Electrical
These are things that are expensive to correct in relation to the value they return to you upon resale. Most often, people cannot see the inner workings of these systems and they take them for granted.
Very few buyers are going to give you an extra $15,000-$20,000 in your asking price because you have replaced things that they can’t see and already take for granted as just a basic component that is buried in the structure. Also, they assume these components to be warranted against defects by you.
Country Home Accessories
March 5, 2008
Country home décor is the most sought after home interior and it’s no wonder since country décor invites a casual friendly lifestyle.
Make sure you carefully study the specific style, and color scheme then carefully coordinate the colors of each element of your country décor.
Although the kitchen is primarily a working area little touches can make a big difference:
Pie safes or glass door cabinets can be used for displaying antique china.
Hanging potted plants from the ceiling or placing them in the window.
You can also display:
- Cookbooks
- Wooden spoons
- Bowls or baskets of fruits or vegetables
- Vases of fresh flowers
- Pottery
- Old tin canister:
Pot racks are great for hanging:
- Copper pots
- Baskets
- Dried herbs
You can add a touch of country to your bathroom simply by adding:
Old glass jars, which are great, for holding cotton balls, Q-tips, or a fresh flower.
Decorative baskets, a galvanized pot, or a wine rack used in the bathroom are good for holding towels.
Baskets and pots can hold magazines, books, towels, oils, soaps, shampoos, sponges, and lotions.
Shelves can be used to display a collection of:
From Toss Out to Sensational Keeper - Lamp Re-Make
March 4, 2008
When the old lamp from my children’s room was turning decidedly “trash-worthy”, a grand idea formed and kept me from tossing it out. Originally, it had been such a darling lamp - it had magically transformed the room into spinning stars and moons at bedtime. My boys were enthralled with it!
Well, as the boys grew, so did their access advantage to the lamp. The inner spinning mylar cylinder with the moon and star designs turned into a mangled, crumpled, ripped up piece of multi-colored plastic. There was nothing salvageable there. What was left, however, was a perfectly functional light and a plain wooden frame that held four blank canvas panels. Since I couldn’t possibly throw a working lamp away no matter how plain and ugly it was - I had to jazz it up!
Here’s how I did it:
1. I “washed” the canvas panels with a “butter cream” colored bottled acrylic diluted with water using a 2″ brush. To create a weave pattern, I first made vertical strokes on all four panels then went back and did horizontal strokes.
February in the Garden
March 3, 2008
Often in February there is a surprisingly warm day. Everybody sheds their coats and puts a bounce in their step. The next day they hear a snow plow at 4 AM. But the brief warmup gets you thinking "what is there to do in the landscape?"
Here are a few late winter ideas.
Check out your garden tools, patio furniture, window boxes etc. Paint, repair or discard so you are ready to go when it’s really nice out!
It’s a good time to propagate some house plants. Abundant sunshine is on its way!
Order Seeds! Hey that’s always fun. Try something new this year!
Prune decidous trees that need it. Remove dead or problem branches, crossing branches and basal sprouts. Make sure you know the proper way to do a pruning cut and get an arborist for the big jobs for safety and future health of the tree. The ISA consumer site has great advice here. http://www.treesaregood.com/
Try forcing the bloom on some early spring flowering branches. Forsythia is a common choice for this; but pussy willow, quince, spirea, and dogwood can be forced forced to bloom also. It’s easy and gets you out in the garden for few minutes! Gather your branches and when arranging them make slanted cuts to help with water absorption. Put them in a vase and keep the water fresh, changing it a couple times a week.
Home Sweet Home
March 2, 2008
All of us live in houses but how many of us know how to make it a real ‘HOME’.
You may have a very small house with a few rooms: not much to boast about? However, if you follow some very simple and practical steps you can make your house (big or small) a real home?and thus, a better place to live in?
Read On:
1. A Place For Everything
Irrespective of the size of your house, make sure there is a place for everything. Organize your house ? rooms, kitchen shelves, cupboards etc in such a way that there is a place for everything.
2. And Everything In It’s Place
Once you have allocated space for everything in the house, make it a habit to put everything back in its allocated space after use! This will ensure that your house remains organized and well kept. You would be surprised by how much time you save by keeping things in the right place.
3. Discard Unnecessary Items
Hand Stripping Furniture
March 1, 2008
Directions for HAND Stripping.
- Work with plenty of ventilation, safety goggles or glases, and skin protection. Stay out of the direct sun and stay protected from wind or strong drafts if working outside.
- Work in small areas starting at the top and working to the bottom of the piece. Apply a generous coat of gel remover. Brush on in one direction. Do not brush back and forth.
- Use soft wood scrapers and/or Steel Wool to remove crinkled finish and spent stripper.Repeat the above process until all layers of old finish are gone. On fine work, when the piece has all the finish gone and looks ready to refinish, go over it again with one last coat of stripper carefully working from top to bottom and removing stripper with Liberon #00 steel wool to ensure all traces of finish are lifted from the pores of the wood. Neutralize the wood surface by washing the piece down with Naphtha followed by Lacquer Thinner, if the piece is newer and in very good condition, a washdown with Lacquer Thinner may suffice.
- Let the stripped piece dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours to 48 hours for softer woods or pieces that required long soaking to clean off all the finish. Refinish promptly to seal and protect from humidity changes and environmental contamination.
HINTS & TIPS:
