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There is nothing nicer than giving one of the best gardening
gifts for friends and relatives who love nature and all its
beautiful aspects right on their own backyard. The problem you
may encounter is choosing the best gift there is for your loved
ones.

To ensure that your gift will be appreciated by the recipient
and also your budget, here are some guidelines you should
consider:

In choosing the type of gardening gift, consider your budget.
When your budget is holding you back from buying the best gift,
dont fret. There are garden accessories and gardening wear
that would suit your fund.

Gardening gloves, footwear and kneepads, may be bought in a
variety of colors, texture, and material. You could choose the
perfect accessory for the person youre giving the best gift
to, which won’t cost you much. Simply do your homework -
research either on the net or rummage through catalogs.

Common garden hand tools may be found in most hardware stores.
The handiness of hand gears like pruning shear, secateurs, hoes
and a watering can will never lose their magic touch.

Surely, with these hand tools, your friend will appreciate how
much you know that he really is into gardening. What would be
nicer than two or three tools gathered nicely in watering can.
This helps not only your budget but also a nice way to give it.

If you have prepared a bigger budget, specialized gardening
tools may steal the spotlight. Before choosing which tool to
purchase, make sure to check which tool is missing from your
gardener friends backyard. To prevent duplication, you may
even stealthily ask your friend which gardening tool she is
dreaming of having.

Digging tools like rakes, shovels, pitch forks and spade are
some of the basic tools used by professional gardeners as well
as beginners. These types of equipment may be expensive, but it
surely will be money well spent.

The most extravagant gift you could give a friend is some type
of heavy gardening equipment. These gardening machineries could
serve well as wedding present or a house- warming gift for a
gardening enthusiast.

Automatic lawn mowers, electric cultivators, dirt diggers, hedge
trimmers, brush cutters, or trolleys could provide so much ease
to your gardener friends daily routine. These gardening gifts,
which are considered the nature-lovers dreams, may give your
friend a reason to smile all year round.

Your gift could be as simple as a water resistant garden gloves
or a more expensive gift like an electric cultivator. When the
recipient realizes you have given a gift that complements his
passion, expensive or not, it would certainly become the best
gardening gifts your friend has ever received.

Remember, for the holidays or for that birthday gift gardening
utensils are always a wonderful gardening gifts.

Many of us might have come across “glow in the dark” effects in the form of a green glow, found on the hands and dials of some clocks and watches. Purpose of this is to allow one to be able to tell the time, in the dark.

What if we could apply this glow in the dark technology to normal products around us. We could make signs, banners, billboards, glow in the dark. We could also make curtains, carpets, clothes, glow in the dark. We could apply this on light-switches, remote controllers, door knobs, key holes, key chains and a list of other daily utilized products and make them glow in the dark.

You might now be wondering as to why anyone would want to do this or how could someone benefit by doing this. Well! for starters, safety is one important reason.

My estate had a power failure recently and the whole area was plunged in total darkness suddenly! Luckily for me, I had glow in the dark technology, used in key areas, throughout my house. I made direction signs using glow in the dark stickers and pasted these all over the house. I also placed signs leading to the emergency kit containing lamps, candles and torchlights. By doing this, my family and I, were clearly guided to the emergency kit and got our house lighted up again.

Now we come to the part on what this product actually is and how to apply it. Glow in the dark comes in powder form. This powder can be mixed with other raw materials like paint, plastics, rubber, glass, fibre and other clear materials. I found some good information on how to use and apply it from http://www.glowinfo.com This site also deals in a wide range of Glow in the Dark Products like - glow paint, glow stickers, glow cloth, glow plastic and more…

Now, anyone can easily apply glow in the dark technology around them, just by using these ready made products available online. Besides safety, glow in the dark can also be used for decoration. http://www.darkniteglow.com has this product called “Night Sky”, which allows you to transform any ordinary ceiling, into a night sky with glowing stars. I have not purchased this but saw the effects when I went over to my friend’s place. He did this in his video room and I was amazed at the result. He also lined the edges of his bar counter and pool with glow stickers. It gives off a soothing effect which is very relaxing.

When I first came across this product, my first thoughts were, is it safe or is it something radioactive. After doing some research at how-stuff-works, I found that it is actually phosphor. All glow-in-the-dark products contain phosphors. A phosphor is a substance that radiates visible light after being energized. Occasionally you will see something glowing but it does not need charging. The most common place is on the hands of expensive watches. In these products, the phosphor is mixed with a radioactive element (like radium), and the radioactive emissions. So if your glow product requires charging, it is safe to use and non-radioactive.

About the author:

Randy Stevens is the CEO of E-Commerce Services, an Internet web hosting and marketing company. http://www.hosting-server.net

It is quite simple to repair a hole in a Sheetrocked wall, however there are minor differences in methods of repair depending on how large the hole is.

Small size holes (1/4″ or smaller)

With small holes, simply apply a little joint compound or wall putty with a small putty knife or trowel. Let dry, then sand lightly and paint.

Medium size holes (Greater than ” in diameter and smaller than 2″ in diameter).

First clean out the hole and surrounding area of any debris and loose sheetrock.
Then apply a mesh tape, specifically manufactured for sheetrock applications, across the hole. Use your putty knife to ensure that it is applied evenly on the wall surface.
Next apply a liberal amount of Joint Compound over the hole and mesh. Let this set for 1 to 2 days.

After the initial coat has been applied and has had time to fully dry, apply a second skim coat of Joint Compound over the area. However, this time spread the Joint Compound over an area that is 2-3 times the size of the original hole. Basically you want to flare out the area that you are repairing so that it will blend in nicely with the rest of the wall. Again let the area dry for a day.

Finally lightly sand the area and apply one last skim coat over the area. Again spreading the Joint Compound out a little further than the last application. Let the Joint Compound set up one more day, sand lightly and then paint.

Holes larger than 2 inches.

With large holes, I recommend cutting out an area such that a new small piece of sheetrock can be applied to the 2″x4″ studs. For example, I would consider putting in a new 16″x16″ piece of sheetrock for a hole that is greater than 2″ in diameter and less than 16″ in diameter.

The best method to remove the piece of damage sheetrock is to use a Carpenters knife (razor blade) and score the area where you want to cut out. Repeatedly apply the knife until you have worked your way through the sheetrock. When complete, you should have about ” to ” of the 2″x4″ stud showing on each of the two exposed studs.

Note: Care should be taken to ensure no wires are cut behind the sheetrock when cutting out the damaged piece.

Next, cut a piece of new sheetrock to the size of the hole, and secure with sheetrock screws or ringed sheetrock nails.

Next, tape the cracks with the mesh tape material mentioned above. Then as described earlier, apply three skim coats of Joint Compound, with each successive coat getting flared out further. Make sure you wait for the Joint Compound to dry before applying the next coat. Perform a final light sand after the final coat has been applied and has had time to dry, and then paint.

About the Author

Me_Donovan@comcast.net
http://www.homeadditionplus.com
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan’s formal education and profession have been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

Do you know just how durable teak wood really is and what makes
it that way? Have you ever thought about where it is harvested
from and how long it has to grow before it can be harvested?

Well, if you have pondered some of these questions you are in
luck because you will find some answers here. If you haven’t
pondered these questions, or questions like it, then this will
just be a fun learning experience for you. And hey, this article
will make an excellent conversation starter at your next family
get together or your next party. You will be the hit of the
gathering!

In researching this article, I could only go back in time about
600 years. That was the time frame when the Chinese Ming Dynasty
had a pretty powerful fleet of ships called “junk” ships. These
ships were built out of teak wood. These were huge, powerful
sailing ships that could carry thousands of men and cargo for
extended periods of time. The Teak wood used was said to have
been buried for several years before the Chinese deemed it
usable to build into one of these ships. The Chinese knew that
teak wood could withstand the sun while out on the ocean. They
also knew that teak wood would not shrink when exposed to the
wind, the heat, the rain or the salty ocean water itself. These
are some of the main reasons why boat and shipbuilders today
still prefer to use teak wood when building ocean vessels.
Because teak wood experiences such little shrinkage, it makes an
excellent choice for the ships doors and cabinets.

Teak wood contains a very large percentage of silica (sand) and
natural oils. It is also a very dense wood. Because of these
characteristics, teak wood is the preferred wood for decking
either on ships or at the home. Believe it or not, the silica
content in teak wood actually helps to attain sure footing when
used in the flooring of a ship. The oil content assures its
durability. To maintain it, it just needs to be cleaned off
periodically. The benefits do not end there. Because of the oil
content, the silica, and the density of the wood, teak wood does
not react with any metals that may come in contact with it.
These are the same characteristics that have caused people
around the world, and companies that operate resorts and
retreats to invest in outdoor patio furniture made of teak wood.

Back to the article at hand. The Ming dynasty needed to tough
ships for several reasons, one very important being that it
wanted the word of Zen spread to all lands to the edge of the
earth. It is being reported that indeed, the Chinese did just
that. It was 600 years ago that the Chinese circumnavigated the
earth, and they did so in ships made of Teak wood.

Teak wood takes approximately 50 to 60 years to grow to
maturity. One reason for the cost is just that. It is a
commodity that is heavy demand, but with a limited, recurring
supply.

In early history, Britain was very interested to grow and
produce this wood. The British quickly realized they did not
need to grow Teak Wood as they could annex those countries where
the Teak wood was grown and have a plentiful supply: India,
Thailand and Burma. I am not saying this is why the British took
over Asia and India, but it certainly helped to give reason.
Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and
Yangoon became the first places where teak was being harvested
for British ships. Calcutta was set up as another British
shipbuilding site. All of the British merchant ships built in
Calcutta were built with Myanmar teak logs which were said to be
the best at that time. Once the wood was depleted from India,
teak logs were harvested from Thailand and Burma. The British
needed many ships to be able to go on to conquer and take
control of British colonies and the naval fleet was their
primary means. Teak forests were quickly being depleted. Teak
was now the preferred wood used for building ships as we have
previously explored. The wood was also impervious to wood rot
and insects, like the mighty woodworm, (side note: The famous
Ocean liner “Queen Mary” used no less than 1000 tons of teak
when built). The British quickly realized the depletion of teak
wood that was taking place and developed a re-forestation plan.
They appointed a leader to head this new bureau and began
replanting teak trees on what are now called teak “plantations”.
A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut
teak wood and who can purchase it. Once these laws were set in
place, one needed to have permission from the British Government
to be able to cut a teak tree down and or export it. Teak was
also being used by the locals for furniture, posts for houses
and paneling, (another side note: India is the third largest
importer of teak wood today, behind China and Japan. As much as
80% of India’s timber consumption is teak). Teak wood is used in
India today for local consumption; building homes, furniture,
fencing, etc. It is the one wood that can withstand the
monsoons, the blistering heat and the humidity. It is the wood
that all other timber species are compared to.

Due to the large demand for teak wood today, many countries
that now have government controlled plantations are reviewing
the possible rotation (cutting down the teak wood trees) after
30 or 40 years. The consensus with this rotation is that the
wood will not be inferior at that rate. However, there are some
countries that are trying tree rotation after only 25 years.
This would help their particular economy by turning out teak
wood more frequently. The result of this shorter rotation cycle
is timber that is smaller in diameter, color, and grain.

Because most teak wood today is grown on plantations, and the
demand is growing at an estimated 10% per year, teak is still
heavily regulated and is sold through the auction process. It is
not very easy to get. There are still the regulatory permits
that must be purchased and other expenses that go along with
regulation. For example, once purchased, it is usually the
purchasing companies’ responsibility to provide transportation
if the teak wood is to be exported, and certain countries have
regulations on how many logs can be exported. Currently, Java,
Indonesia is the largest exporter of teak. There are several
companies located in Java that will process and fashion the teak
wood into furniture or planks for flooring or siding, and then
export the finished items to countries around the world.

For those who like to invest, there are several plantations that
have been started and are taking on investors right now. Many
countries depend on teak wood exports for their financial
stability. One country for example that has two main exports:
Rice and Teak, where rice was the number one money generator
recently has experienced a turnaround and teak became their
number one export deriving most of their money. Upon learning
this, several other countries are developing strategies and
seeking locations where they can begin their own teak
plantations.

Remember, because of the characteristics of teak wood, teak wood
patio furniture will last about 75 years. This needs to be taken
into consideration when making your purchases. When regular
maintenance is performed (which means to clean it periodically)
the true annual cost for your outdoor patio furniture really
only comes out to about $133.00 per year (based on a $1000
investment).

So, when you add it all up, you get a much better understanding
of what the hype about Teak Wood is all about: the numerous
qualities of Teak Wood: the supply and demand side of Teak Wood:
and last but not least, the answer to the original question,”Why
does Teak wood patio furniture have to be expensive?”

When investing in your outdoor patio or garden, or decorating
the verranda, and even for indoor decorating, teak wood outdoor
patio furniture is simply the wisest choice you could make.

Garden planning is an avocation that can be carried to extremes. I have heard rumors that there are actually places that pay people to plan gardens for them. No one would be that silly. Imagine being paid to do something that is well, an obsession.

Personally I have perfected garden planning. It is considered high art when I undertake flower garden design!
I post do not disturb “genius at work” signs in preparation.
Pictures of flower garden ideas drift like colors in your mind.
Formal gardens, whimsical gardens, oriental gardens, rock gardens.All the garden types you can dream of are at your fingertips, if not actually in your yard!
Somehow the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew come to my mind as a attainable garden goal.
Better homes and gardens has a wonderful tool to help you plan layouts and colors.
better homes and gardens flower garden planner. It’s a fun way to spend a blustery afternoon.

Planning the layout and textures of gardens is very diverting.
I can spend hours making lists from the garden catalogs.
These usually arrive just in time to take my mind off of winter.
Winter is relative after all. In Florida the land of sunshine, just a few grey windy overcast days,Can precipitate severe gardening withdrawal, fits or even swoons may follow.
I think it is probably akin to those heavy snow days in the north.The kind that cause cabin fever.
Give me a cup of coca and a couple garden catalogs, and I am happy. Burpees catalog another favorite of mine is the white flower farms catalog.

I won’t even mention what awaking to a frost with a temperature of 20 degrees will do to you if you garden in Florida. Living in paradise I consol myself with knowing that in a few weeks summer will arrive.

Then I will of course be nattering about heat and sweating in the summer.

I actually plan flower gardens on paper; I draw them out, several hundred dozen times. Of course I always find a reason to change this or that, depending on catalog advice, which direction the wind is blowing and whether or not it’s a full moon. Great bargains can be found if your patient. Then I throw the flower garden layout ideas in the trash and start buying what’s on sale at the flea markets. Gardening is always good.

Pet Campbell is a gardener, photography and artist, transplanted from the cowboy kingdon of Montana, to gardening in Paradise Florida.

With a little tweaking and with proper tools, you can get a faster, healthier PC, virtually immune to spyware infections and browser hijackers. How is this possible? Find out about the latest tools and how they work.

System LifeGuard 2

This simple to use product is designed to be used frequently to keep your PC running in perfect condition. Every time you use the internet or run programs on your computer - unwanted files and procedures are stored on your hard-disc.Regular computer use accumulates old material that begins to slow down the operation of your hardware and software. So just like your car needs a regular service to keep it running smoothly - your computer needs System LifeGuard 2 to wash away technical clutter - maintain peak operating efficiency - and protect your vital data from loss.
System LiIfeGuard 2 offers now the possibility to shred all unwanted files: you can permanently remove the files you want without leaving behind any chance of recovering those files. You can also optimize the way your disk space is used to store files using the new Disk Defragment.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/systemlifeguard.htm

SpeedUpMyPC 2.0

Every Windows user knows that over time Windows seems to “slow down”. Taking longer to boot, random freezes & crashes, and sluggish overall performance, are all symptoms that we all experience over time, and usually the only cure is to do a fresh install of Windows. SpeedUpMyPC makes it easier than ever before to optimize your settings, free up resources, and remove resource hogs. With simple explanations and real-time graphs for all vital system resources, SpeedUpMyPC identifies performance bottlenecks in minutes. With a heavy-duty arsenal of optimization tools, such as RAM recovery, CPU optimization, startup management, and automatic crash recovery, SpeedUpMyPC is THE must-have utility for both beginner and power users.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/speedupmypc.htm

Security Task Manager

Security Task Manager is an enhanced process viewer that provides detailed information about programs and processes running on the computer. It displays all the standard information as well as a unique security risk rating. You can choose to terminate any process, delete it, or alternately quarantine it, which will disable it from running again without actually deleting it. This handy utility enhances the functionality of Windows’ Task Manager by warning you about potential system threats. Upon launch, Security Task Manager automatically scans your PC to find all running programs. It then displays information about each application in a sortable list, including name, CPU usage, size, manufacturer, and risk factor. Highlighting each entry gives you more detailed data on running processes, including a description of what it does and how much of a threat it poses to your system. If Security Task Manager finds a potentially malevolent program, you can remove or quarantine it.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/securitytaskmanager.htm

About the Author

David Deprice owns and operates Deprice.Com. For latest software tools, go to http://www.deprice.com/utilities.htm

Beauty of Nature Talent of Man, a New Ancient Art Form

Since Mankind first stood erect and developed a consciousness of the world in which he lived; Nature has been a place of many dangers. Violence and death, the need to survive, and the biological urge to reproduce, and to nurture ourselves and our offspring has always been a prime motivational factor.

Being alert to our surroundings has profound implications, and is as pertinent today as it was in the distant primitive past.

“He’s street smart”, Is one way that we designate and congratulate the modern man, who has learned to be aware of his basic world and how to survive.

All living things, share this “aware of surroundings, street smart” necessity for survival.

There are many things which separate us as Humans, from other living things. Most are obvious, and have been studied, examined, dissected, and extrapolated ad nauseum.

However, the Human Spirit, has special abilities and insights which help to define the Soul inherent in Human existence, and is actually a definitive proof of its existence.

Recognition of beauty. Not the beauty necessary for reproduction and the sexual urges which enable its success, but a more abstract and intellectual beauty. The “BEAUTY OF NATURE”.

An animal will stop and survey his surroundings, sniff the air, look at flowers, rocks, majestic mountains, but his motivation is survival. They are searching for a hidden enemy, or a source of necessary food.

Man is different. He can look at a beautiful sunset or a majestic peak, or a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon, an out cropping of rocks or any one of a million gifts of Natures Bounty and beauty, and feel our Soul vibrate and soar in sync with the abundant largess which Mother Nature, and God, has provided.

Of course we have a Soul, feel it beat in rhythm with the beauty of Nature.

Humanity has always been attracted to these dramatic gifts and we create parks, and national monuments, and fight to preserve these special areas of natural beauty.

The beauty of nature does not exist exclusively on this type of macro scale. There is a unique beauty of nature that exists on a very real, yet micro scale.

A new Art Form. An original way to capture and worship that which “God has wrought.” There are certain natural stones which have captured the originality and overwhelming beauty which is inherent on a macro scale by a Grand Canyon. Imagine, the dramatic originality of Nature, “one of a kind works of art”, available to enjoy and display in your home or office.

This new art form has several methodologies. The nature of the stone makes it a work of art naturally. This can be further enhanced using certain treatments, applied to the stone strategically, to enhance the effects already within it. Stone is also fast becoming a medium of choice for the innovative artist, as this material soaks up paint and gives a depth to color that isn’t achieved on traditional mediums. Sculpture is the most ancient form of stone art; however stacked sculpture is a new form that involves adding stone to a piece to achieve a desired effect.

A gift of Nature, the majesty of the Earth, to cherish and uplift your spirit, and beautify your environment. Bask in the reflective beauty of your World. Stone art provides a true cornacopia of originality and creativity.

A great place to get inspired is the museum of stone art at http://art.pebblez.com

About the author:

Peter Lewitin is an author, and artist. You can see unique creations from him and others at the Stone Art Gallery

If you cant use the other, use this

Peter Lewitin is an author, and artist. You can see unique creations from him and others at the Stone Art Gallery http://art.pebblez.com

Today in this world of fast everything, most of us just don’t have the time (nor patience) to do an all consuming job of making a slipcover. We go buy them and not always are they what we want. They are generic in most cases and just don’t work on the furniture right or look professional. If you can find the time and feel creative, you can produce a masterpiece for an old (or new) piece of furniture that needs a change to correspond with a new room update. The slipcover will produce a sense of confirmation and beauty for “you”, the person doing the work. A job well done is always good for growing self- confidence and character!

I owned a very busy tailor shop and I was use to “custom fitting” my clients and worked the slipcovers the same way. When one was finished, it was hard to tell if the piece had been re-upholstered or slip covered. What a great feeling it was to see the finished piece!

So with that said, I have a few techniques for you to use that will make this lost art of slipcover making a bit easier.

Start with a simple furniture piece. A good example would be an ottoman, simple dining chair or a toaster! Look at the piece, see where the natural lines are? That is where the seams will be for the slipcover. Scratch out a picture of your furniture piece, this will help as you take measurements for pieces. Measure width and length, add an extra 1¼” to width and length for seams. Write each piece size down on drawing to reference from. Make sure you have your closure type figured out. You will need to add extra material for overlapping if using velcro or ties and zippers. Where will your closures be? Do you even need one on this slip cover? All of this needs to be calculated into original diagram of furniture piece. We will tailor fit these pieces to the furniture INSIDE OUT. You will end up with all your slipcover pieces being odd sized squares or rectangles, etc. This is easier for quick marking and cutting instead of attempting to cut the exact shape of each piece. There will be some extra material in certain areas (which you will cut away) but it gives you room for making a few mistakes! Remember, the art of slip covers and upholstery is very forgiving!

If you are using denim or heavy cotton or anything that does not have to be dry-cleaned for your slipcover, I suggest you preshrink the material. You can wash and dry it later many times without shrinkage (a great option if you have small children and newer furniture). Choose a solid color. Sheets or curtains (even older ones found at Goodwill if you’re on a budget) can work for making slipcovers and you may find them on sale to make the cost less. Cording can be covered and added into prominent seams of the slipcover if you want to add some detail. Most of your material to cover cording with will come from the leftover inches at the sides going along the length. They will be long pieces sewn together on a mitered seam. Cording material width is 1 ¼”. Cutting everything with pinking scissors will eliminate (to a certain degree) having to serge or finish the edge of raveling fabric.

You will “railroad” your slipcover measurements by marking them (and eventually cutting), going length wise on fabric and then side by side across the width of fabric. If you have an exceptionally wide piece you will “railroad” it going length of material instead of across, thus avoiding seams. Visualize how the sizes will lay out on the fabric, using drawings here will be very helpful. Example: If you use 60″ width material, you will get at least 3 dining chair slipcover backs across, if they are 16″ – 18″ wide. They could run 36″ – 48″ in length down the material. Then you will need to figure the inside back, seat, and sides or skirting (remember, if you are doing 2 or more of same, times each piece by the number you are doing). Depending on how much turn up you want for the hem will depend on how much extra you add on side or skirting measurement. Figure out how much material you will need by calculating the length of longest slipcover pieces, adding them together and divide by 36″ for yardage. Make sure to utilize the most from your fabric. There are cheat sheets at some material stores that give basic yardage for upholstering & slip covering furniture , see if you can find one, their priceless!

Once you have all your measurements for your slip cover pieces, start with the largest sizes and mark everything out on your fabric, WRONG SIDE. You will need a yardstick or longer, measuring tool. A large square is good to have also. (Any hardware store should carry the tools) Label all pieces; i.e. back back, front back, seat, sides or skirting, etc. Cut your pieces.

Holding your slipcover pieces up to the furniture piece INSIDE OUT, pin the seams together about every 2 inches lengthwise along the seam. Make sure to center your pieces over furniture so you have equal seam allowance on sides, edges, etc. Back-back to front-back, pin. Seat to front-back, pin and so on. Sew these pieces together. Once you start sewing, your seams will only be about 3/8″ instead of the full 5/8″. This gives the slipcover a tiny bit of room to move when finished. I recommend getting some T-pins to use when you are making slipcovers for larger upholstered pieces, you can stick them into the furniture and they will hold the slipcover fabric in place when fitting the pieces together.

Normally, I will pin fit the whole slipcover together inside out on the furniture piece, then go sew, removing pins along the way. This is similar to a puzzle, make sure to sew all seams that dead end into other seams first. Once you have it sewn together, turn it right side out and fit it. Check for areas that may be a bit off and correct. From experience I can tell you it is usually pretty good if you can sew a straight seam. You can put some masking tape on your sewing machine face plate and mark 3/8″ over from the needle to help with this. Complete all finishing touches, stand back and take a picture!

This is a wonderful way to grow patience, skill and redecorate for less. There is time involved, but you will have a great sense of accomplishing a lost art! Have fun!

There is more to this than what I have here, but you should be able to get a pretty good idea of what to do and how. There are some very good books you can get from your public library and material/craft stores to help you and I would be happy to help, if you mail me at the address below.

About the Author

About the Author: Robin Hall has been a successful Tailor by trade for 30 years. She has sewn everything including home décor items. She has just started an online home décor store where you will find great products including more tips on decorating and home improvement. Stop by and see us/her at www.coollampsnstuff.com or send email with questions to sales@coollampsnstuff.com

Article Source: http://GoArticles.com/

Have you ever thought about which sports are maintained by lawn
mowers? We can start with the steady growth in popularity of
lawn tennis as well as the splendid exercise that results from
playing this game has given it a sure place in the field of
athletic sports. It is a game that requires a great deal of
skill, and as no one realizes this fact more than those who are
experts, a beginner should not be deterred from playing tennis
simply because he may fear the criticism of the more
experienced. The only way to learn the various strokes and to be
able to play a good game is to practice at every opportunity. It
is better to play against some one who is more skilful than
ourselves and who will keep us on our mettle to make a good
showing.

The eye and the muscles must work automatically and with
precision. No amount of written instructions can give us this
skill. The personal outfit for playing tennis is of course very
simple. Every player should own his racket and become accustomed
to it. They cost almost any price up to eight dollars, which
will buy the very best rackets made. The weight and size of the
racket will depend on our strength. The average weight for a man
is about fourteen ounces and for a boy an ounce or two lighter.
A skilful player becomes so accustomed to the feeling and weight
of his own racket that often he will play an indifferent game if
he is forced to use any other.

Lawn Tennis Courts

The game of lawn tennis was first played on a lawn or grass
court, and many players still prefer this kind of a court, but
the difficulty of obtaining a good sod, and after having
obtained it the greater difficulty of keeping it in good
condition, have increased the popularity of a skinned or clay
court, which is always in fair condition except immediately
after a heavy rain. The expense of maintaining a tennis court is
more than most boys or most families would care to undertake.

As a rule, tennis courts fall in the same general class with
golf links in that they lend themselves readily to the joint
ownership of a club or school, where the expense falls on a
number rather than on an individual. In a great many places the
boys of a town or village have clubbed together and have
obtained permission from some one owning a piece of vacant
ground that is not likely to be sold or improved within a few
years and have built a tennis court on it. This arrangement
helps the appearance of the land, that should be secured at a
very low rental, or none at all if the owner is public spirited
and prefers to see the boys of his town grow up as healthy,
athletic men rather than weaklings who have no place for
recreation but in the village streets, where passing trucks and
automobiles will endanger their lives, or at least cause them to
be a nuisance to the public.

Called the “herb of happiness,” Origanum majorana, commonly known as sweet marjoram or knotted marjoram, is an herbal symbol of peace and well-being. Marjoram is grown as an annual in the colder parts of the world but is perennial in warmer regions. To keep it growing as a perennial, bring it indoors for the winter. Marjoram may be grown as a houseplant and as it has a tendency to trail when grown indoors, it makes a nice hanging basket. Marjoram has small, grey-green, oval-shaped leaves that are velvety to the touch. Tiny white or pink flowers, reddish stems, and the grey-green colour of the leaves make marjoram an attractive border plant.

Marjoram grows 10 – 24 inches (25 – 60 cm) tall. Cultivation requirements: does best in full sun (will tolerate slight shade); well-drained soil; no fertiliser; water soil sparingly but do not let dry out; pinch back the tips or harvest sprigs to use in cooking to keep it bushy and productive.

Marjoram is easily grown from seed or cuttings. For spring planting, start seed indoors 6 – 8 weeks before your last frost date. Keep the soil moist during germination. After germination, move the seedlings into a sunny position, and transplant into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. If you are bringing marjoram plants in-doors for over-wintering, pot up in fresh potting soil. Check for critters and if your plants are infected, spray with a soap and water spray.

Marjoram requires at least 5 hours of sunlight a day. If you are growing marjoram on a windowsill, turn frequently to ensure all sides receive light. Marjoram can be grown under fluorescent lights. Hang the lights 6 inches (15 cm) from the plants and leave on for 14 hours a day.

In the garden, marjoram entices bees and butterflies for maximum nectar production and pollination. It is a good companion plant for all vegetables especially beets, eggplant, pumpkin, onions, and zucchini as it aids in their growth and fights off insects. Grow marjoram in pots in the garden as well as in the soil. In the kitchen, use in tomato dishes, onions, dairy, eggs, potato salad, soups, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, oil dressings for salads, carrots, and cauliflower. Fresh leaves and young shoots can be added to salads. It is a major ingredient, usually dried, in sausages, poultry seasonings, Italian recipes, or stuffings. Sprinkle fresh or dried marjoram on pizza. Sprinkle finely chopped fresh leaves on meat or fish before roasting, grilling, or baking. A tea can be made with marjoram to treat colds, headaches, and stomach upsets. Add 3 teaspoons (15 mL) fresh marjoram to 1 cup (250 mL) boiling water. Let steep, then drink slowly. Use marjoram sparingly as it is deceptively potent. Add during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Marjoram will keep several days in the refrigerator. The leaves can be harvested as soon as the plant starts blooming. The leaves dry easily and can also be frozen. Many cooks prefer marjoram rather than oregano (closely related), as marjoram is much less pungent. To make potpourri, dry leaves whole and then crush to release the scent.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace – Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 – 2006. All rights reserved.