Some Quick Tips that can help you to take care of Your Gardening Tools

To maintain your garden nothing can be better than tools for gardening. However, the question is how much well do your really know on how to handle the tools carefully and make the best use of them. It is a fact that the technology has advanced so much due to which now you can come across so many different type of products available in the market at a great quality. Such tools are one of such equipments with latest use of technology, durability and quality. However, the fact is if you don’t handle these products well, you will end up losing the best of the tools that would help you in gardening

To maintain your garden, maintaining the tools is equally important. There are so many different types of gardening tools available in the market. However, to make the right choice, you need to follow certain tops and tricks such as:

·         A good hygienic condition matters

·         Try to clean the tools soon after they are used

·         Make sure that the tools that need to be replaced are done on time

·         The tools that are sharp one should always be covered and must be out of the reach from the children.

Quick tips to buy the tools:

When you purchase the tool, make sure you buy it if high quality that valued good. Besides, they should be easy to handle. These type of tools are designed keeping the basic necessity in mind. They are designed from the last year and must be cared on regular basis. You can opt for the bargaining tools as well. The good part is it does not need maintainance as you can throw it off once they are done with its utilization

How to Maintain and Care for Your Gardening Tools

• To maintain the garden tools on regular basis. You need to make sure that you use it on regular basis. Besides, such type of tools are easy to carry and hence must be always kept after they are cleaned.
• After you sue the digging tools, remove all the soil from it otherwise it can end up getting worst. You can use a screwdriver to remove the mud slowly and properly
• To maintain your garden tool on regular basis is important so that it will work always in much needed way and thus will provide you with value for money.
• There are metal parts of shears and pruners with an oily rag that you may see after every wipe. Make sure you clean it with the rag and spray out little oils like WD40 so that longevity is ensured.
• Always make sure that the tools which you will be using for cutting out or the showers and spades blades are sharped in every gardening seasons. You can use a file to remove the nick and thus make the edge smooth
• For further cleaning, you can use the chemical applications. These applications are easily available in the market. When you plan to buy such one, make sure you get it form the company that has got a good reputation and offer the durable products. Incase you need any extra prevention against rust, you can get the 5 gallon bucket of sand and put some new motor oil in it and mix it well and clean each tool

To make sure your every gardening tools is in a good working condition. Make sure you instate process by buying the quality products that would be easy to take care of it. Moisture is said to be the biggest enemy and if you don’t maintain the tools well, then certainly it will be a waste of your money. Follow the above tips and maintain your garden tools.

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Some Advanced Bathroom Accessories

Even though a bathroom is used for simple obvious purposes, still a well furnished bathroom can cost you just as much as your bedroom. A carelessly chosen bathroom accessories set can escalate the cost factor further so you must pay proper attention while purchasing bathroom accessories by keeping your budget and your needs in mind. There are plenty of options available in the market for bathroom accessories. In this article we will mention some of the bathroom accessories that you can buy to enhance your overall bathroom experience.

Rainmaker Shower heads: Gone are the days when shower heads used to be simple. Today shower heads are complex electronic devices that require installations by expert professionals. Rainmaker shower heads are meant for large bathrooms. They are designed to mimic different kinds of rain droplets. You can even control the size of the rain droplets. Some rainmaker shower-heads come pre-installed with lighting features that can reflect your moods. Rainmaker shower-heads do not rely on simple water pressure, they have inbuilt electronic circuits to control the flow of water and to modify the size of the droplets.

Adjustable shower heads: Adjustable shower heads will be a great addition to your bathroom accessories collection. These shower-heads are wall mounted but they can be adjusted to convert them in to body jets, even though the experience is not as complete as you would get from a body jet but still having a shower head that can be converted in to a body jet anytime is a multipurpose bathroom accessory that you will definitely enjoy a lot.

Heated towel rails: Some of us try to avoid taking a bath on those chilly winter days. Well, they can’t be blamed for feeling the cold. There is nothing better than a warm towel after taking a bath. Obviously we can’t have someone standing by with a warm towel but we certainly can install heated towel rails. They are also known as towel radiators so don’t get confused. Whether you have a contemporary bathroom or a traditional one, a towel radiator will fit right in and will provide that much desired warmth after taking a bath.

Toilet seats: Toilet seats have come a long way. From simple oval shaped designs they have evolved in to various contemporary designs that offer added functionality. If you live in cold climatic conditions and you don’t have enough budget to get floor heaters installed then don’t worry, today you have the option of purchasing toilet seats that have hot air blowers to warm up the surrounding floor. You can also go for a seat that has heating elements in them. We all know how awkward it can be to sit on an ice cold toilet seat on those cold winter nights, installing a toilet seat with heating element will surely solve this problem. If you live in a joint family and your bathroom is used often then you can go for a toilet seat that has inbuilt deodorizing features to reduce the foul smell.

Emily Anderson runs a bespoke bathrooms blog and frequently posts content related to home improvement, bathroom accessories, bathroom renovation, garden furniture etc.

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Access To The Valid Information On Various Types Of Roofing Materials

Roof is considered to be one of the basic components when it comes to constructing a home. Roofing is said to be the first procession of defense against adverse weather conditions and various other elements which would affect the value of a home, its appearance and quality. So it is very crucial to consider about several factors while choosing a roofing material for your fantasy house. A good thing is that, there is a wide range of roofing materials from which you can choose the one as per your requirements and budget. Some of the roofing materials include asphalt, tile, wood and rubber. Benefits of these roofing materials are discussed here which help you to pick up the right one for your home.

Asphalt Roofing:

This type of roofing is very common among the American homes. This roofing material will be facilitating for a wide range of roofing styles and thus it is ensured that it will be perfect your dream house. These asphalt roofing shingles may cost between $1 and $4 per square foot and the total pricing depends on the size of your home. There are a lot of advantages associated with these asphalt roofing shingles. They are affordable when compared to other types of roofing materials. The repairing and maintenance costs are also comparatively lesser than other roofing materials. It is suitable for a wide array of roofing styles. They are made with various colors, shapes and dimensional shapes. This type of roofing has the ability of resisting the effects of adverse weather conditions and direct sunlight.

Rubber Roofing:

This type of roofing material can be used if you are looking for an eco-friendly and leak proof roofing material. When compared to conventional roofing materials, the rubber roofing materials are cost effective, highly durable and it is manufactured from recycled material. It also features low maintenance, flexible and light weight. There are two types of rubber roofing and the types include shingled roof and whole roof. Shingled roof is made out of a synthetic material. It is light weight and can be shaped with the help of a utility knife. However, you need professional roofer to install shingled roofs. Whole roofs can be customized to fit appropriately to your house design and architecture. This roofing is expensive but you can enjoy the benefit of seamless and leak proof.

Tile Roofing:

Tile roofing is considered to be the most popular roofing material across the world. This type of roofing also protects your home against fire and ensures durability. It can last for more than 100 years and benefits you with improved air ventilation. Tile roofing is available in various textures, colors, shapes and patterns.

Wood Roofing:

Wood roofing is highly used for those houses which required having major renovations. This type of roofing provides a warm look and has the aptitude of resisting heat transmission higher than composition shingles. You may opt for any of these roofing materials, but it is very important to discuss with a professional roofer in order to install the materials perfectly. These professionals will also suggest you the best material that is appropriate for your house.

This informative article is sponsored by primecoroof.com

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Bathroom Accessories You Must Buy

Source: katerha, cc-by-3.0, flickr

If you think that a bathroom is just a wall bounded space with a shower head and a toilet then you cannot be any more wrong. Bathrooms are just as important as your living room or bedroom. A well styled bathroom spells out the standard of living of the owner. Don’t worry if you can’t afford a custom made bespoke bathroom, you can still make your bathroom attractive and stand out by enhancing its look and purpose with some easily available bathroom accessories. In this article we will mention such bathroom accessories that will take your bathroom experience to the next level:

Dispensers

You must have seen dispensers in public toilets and hotel washrooms. They are a great addition to any bathroom. We all hate it when we have to touch a soap that has been used by someone else plus if you have a liquid soap bottle then it is destined to get dirty every time you use it because of the soap foam deposits. It not just looks unhygienic but it in actual is unhygienic. Installing a dispenser will solve this problem. You can install multiple dispensers and fill them with products like liquid hand wash, shampoos, conditioners and hand sanitizers.

Toilet Caddies 

A lot of people like to read in their bathrooms. Some people like to read newspapers while others like to read magazines. If you too like reading while sitting on the toilet seat then a toilet caddy is a must have bathroom accessory. Imagine what a mess it would be if you stacked newspapers and magazines in your bathroom without a toilet caddy. It basically helps you in organizing the bathroom space so even if you don’t have any newspapers or magazines, you can still use it to hold other items like toilet paper and shampoo bottles.

Heated towel holder

A lot of you will say that it’s really not a necessity. Well, yes it’s true that it is not necessary for everyone to have a heated towel holder but have you never purchased anything that is more of a novelty rather than a necessity. A heated towel holder is a style statement in itself and it also provides you with that nice warm feeling after you get out of shower on those cold winter days. Use it once and we guarantee that you will fall in love with it. Having a heated towel holder as a bathroom accessory shows how creatively you think about enhancing your bathroom’s features.

Waterfall shower

Again, this is not a necessity as you can easily live without it with your good old shower head. But ask yourself how many times you have wished for a more rejuvenating shower experience. The whole idea of taking a shower is too feel fresh and rejuvenated. If your shower head is not giving you that experience that you shouldn’t wait any longer and get yourself a waterfall shower. Waterfall shower-heads will sooth your nerves and will take away all your tensions. They are designed to imitate real waterfalls and they are more resistant to line buildup. Another advantage is that they require less maintenance as their design includes just one large water hole. Given its size it’s much more resistant to getting blocked by fine debris.

Choicelle Hardware Inc. is your excellent choice for Jewelry of the home. We are an established architectural door hardware and bathroom accessories supplier.

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An Attention Grabber Now At the Conform Of Your House

Indoor Water Walls

Sometime back, the use of Indoor water fountains to add prestige and luxury to hotels, motels, and expensive resting places was the norm. However, nowadays you can fit these unique water walls into your home, creating an air of complexity in your home. 

An Amazing Indoor Water Wall comes in a wide array of shapes and sizes, types and prices. They make wonderful accessories to an office or home decorations, since they are most soothing and beautiful. You can use natural materials like copper, aluminum, stone, and wood to make water walls with incorporations of decorative materials like mosaic tiles. Indoor water features like the water wall are often called “living art” Flowing water produces sound, which provides soothing, and calming effects and therefore, more commonly in resting areas.

One of the reasons as to why water wall are amazing is because they engage viewers through a number of of their five physical senses. Due to this, it comes with benefits that appeal to your senses of hearing and smelling.

Water walls are a beautiful sight and automatically become the centre of focus in a room. Because of this, they you can use it to ingeniously create a background within the décor of a room.

The flow of water provides very relaxing, tranquil feel to a room. This creates an ambiance of peace and tranquility with a gentle backdrop.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Water Wall Feature.

Before you take the cash out of your pocket to buy an indoor water wall feature, there are a number of factors to that you must analyze:

Ø  Size – It is one of the most important questions to ask yourself before you buy a wall water feature. You must know the room that you want to put your fountain and the space it will occupy. For this case, a water wall feature will take a considerable space and requires special coordinating in terms of electrical hookups. This means that you must measure the space that you want the wall water feature to go in.

Ø  The place – Before you make any purchase, consider where you fountain will go. Will it be your living room, entry way or bedroom? If it is in an entryway, a full streaming fountain will be fine because it will not bother you with the noise. A soft bubbling flow in the bedroom or living room will help sooth away stress, calm you down, and put you in a relaxing mode. Coming to its placement, make an impact that will be eye catching to views, that is, can draw attention.

Ø  Do some background shopping and consider practicality - Carry out a background research in different qualities and pricing before you embark in actual buying of your water wall fountain. Make note on custom – made and readymade water fountains in both retail and discount prices, sometimes it is worth purchasing second hand, as it is cheap. You may need also to consider traffic flow and the type of furniture you have and buy fountain that will suit you life styles.

An indoor water wall can fit within any style in respect to the decoration of your home. Therefore, you should ensure that you choose the best match. Indoor water wall usually come in three basic models with a numbers of different designs to fit your personal preferences and likes. An indoor fountain consists of a basin, a fountainhead, and a pump.  Typically, an indoor wall water feature becomes the focal point of a room owing to its touch and complexity.

Wall water features are challenging to install and are permanent features. They will require you to install a mounting bracket on the wall and require a GFI electrical outlet. The cord is sometimes difficult to hide when it is not directly behind the wall hanging fountain.

If you are looking for a way to create an only one of its kind, a classy look in your living areas, consider buying and integrating an indoor fountain. You can have you own Amazing Indoor Water Walls fountain in your home and you can relax to the sound of cascading waters.

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Get Mesmerized with the Lure of Coffee Tables

There is no gratification in buying furniture until and unless it compliments your house. The alluring feeling looking at these fitments in your house makes you feel having a life worth living. Such beauty in these well furnished pieces of art gives your house the modern look while till maintaining the antiqueness. Such an ardor feel can only be achieved if one is able to get such pieces of artwork. Many people are acquisitive which is not bad as they just want to live a good quality life. The pride in showing that quality life increases the fun further. Therefore, there are enthusiasts who like to buy such things not just for a living but also for a quality.

A spectrum of tables to choose from

When a customer wants to choose a coffee table, design is the most important aspect. It is their elegant structure that separates these contemporary coffee tables from the rest. These furniture retailers are at the pinnacle of their business and are well aware of the current market trend. According to them a coffee table is not just a structure for keeping someone's coffee mug, it's much more than that. It’s a masterpiece that defines the taste of the person who owns it. On approached by any customer, these retailers showcase coffee tables having a variety of structures and utility. At these retail stores, each coffee table has a distinct look and feel and are available in a range of material ranging from simple cast iron to perfectly sculpted tables made of timber and glass. Many of these coffee tables have built-in storage facility too.

Coffee table, worth investing in

A customer might think twice before buying a coffee table as longevity and price would be their point of concern. Generally a coffee table has to sustain numerous spills from the coffee mug thus bringing into focus the concern about longevity. Would the customer's new valuable coffee table be capable enough to withstand such exposure to spills? Thanks to good quality of material used to manufacture these tables, they are worth every penny.  During the manufacturing process of these coffee tables, stringent measures are adopted to make sure that the product's quality isn't hampered. They come in various color, shapes and sizes constituting of different material like steel, cast iron, glass and wood. Once a customer has made up his mind and ordered a one of a kind coffee table these retailers deliver their table at their doorstep. Not only those, the retail store helpers even place the coffee table inside the room of a customer's desire and performs required set-up of the same.

When a customer thinks of getting an elegant coffee table, they must take into consideration that, these contemporary coffee tables would reflect their taste and also might have an impact on the other surrounding furniture. So the customers need to make the wisest decision and select the most apt table with least negligence. Every interested customer should do proper research regarding the material and color of the table that would suit their taste and browse carefully through all the coffee tables present at the retailer's disposal before choosing the right one.

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Soothing Walls For Interior Decoration

Soothing walls is a great source to figure out the most appropriate fountains for your needs. When there are wide ranges of selections, you can settle for the best. Sufficient information is available on the site so that you can have an idea about the kind of fountain that you can install at home or office. There are indoor as well as outdoor fountains to take care of your needs. Indoor fountains can be installed on walls, tabletops and floor. There are outdoor fountains which are powered by solar energy as well. You can order a fountain of your choice from Soothing walls.

Huge collection

Soothing walls present huge collection. By installing the most appropriate fountain as per your needs, you can certainly make the most from your investment. The elegance will increase through the deployment of the right kind of fountain on walls. Wall fountains can be selected which facilitate you to keep various kinds of items including logo, slate, mirror, marble and art. The website presents a wide range of walls which can be filtered as per your needs. You can search for a model of your choice by clicking on the link. For example, if you are budget conscious, you can opt for fountains whose price is less than $500.

The blog presents extensive information about fountains. Soothing walls is the one stop solution for all kinds of fountain requirements. You can order a fountain based on the frame finish, trim style, surface material, features, fountain style, height, width and price. You can find traditional as well as modern fountains on the website. There are large-sized fountains as well to take care of the needs of enterprises. By installing at prominent locations of business units, it is possible to create the most impressive looks and visitors would love to come back to the site again. When users are present for a long period of time, the sale volume will increase. The most memorable events can be created so that your brand will be in the minds of customers forever.

How to select the most appropriate fountain?

In order to select the most appropriate fountain for your needs, you should want to go through the reviews.  Soothing walls presents useful information for customers. There are solar powered fountains which do not require any power cord and outlet to supply the power. Cast stone fountains are very much durable and they can be carved into various shapes in an effortless manner.

You can go for fountains that come with floor water features in order to fill them indoor spaces. By including few art pieces, you can certainly make the most from your space. By going for rare and fresh collections, you can entertain your family members and guests. The aesthetics of your room will be transformed completely by going for modern designs. If you go for a rear-mounted fountain, it will give a flat impression. Awkward wall can be decorated without any difficulty.

If you go for slate collection, it is possible to get natural sound. You will get a feeling of a real waterfall. You can create earthy atmosphere through the use of slate. Indoor waterfalls are prepared with river rocks so that you will get a natural appearance. There are fountains which come with LEDs so that dancing flame can be created. By deploying outdoor wall fountains, it is possible to create a feeling that water oozes out through the cracks of the walls.

There are fountains that stand on the ground. If you are living in a rented house, this will be the best option. From simple to heavily designed varieties, the options are unlimited. You can incorporate lion into the fountain so that the symbol of power and loyalty can be expressed in an effortless manner. If you go for a small cherub fountain, you can find angels as well. In order to break away from traditional styles, you can go for bubble water elements which are available at Soothing walls. 

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Make Your Neighborhood A More Enjoyable Environment

A neighborhood is defined by much more than its physical boundaries. The people who live there, the rhythms of their lives, and the history of those who once lived in the neighborhood all contribute to making a place special. When you learn how an area's public spaces, community assets, and residents work together to create this special place, you understand the concept of placemaking. 

Placemaking is both a sophisticated societal model that takes a huge amount of information into account when improving a neighborhood and a brilliantly simple hands-on plan for improving that region. The city government may play a role by posting informative signs about items of historical interest or updating directional signage on streets, but City Hall can't do the most important neighborhood building. For that, residents need to get involved by starting community gardens, beautifying public green spaces, and sharing stories about why their neighborhood is unlike any other.

Adding Value to Homes

A community that cares about its current residence is more welcoming to future ones, so placemaking plays a vital role in increasing property values. Adding safety signage to tell pedestrians about a sidewalk that gets slick in the rain or directional signs to help new families find the local school's bus stops may feel like small changes, but they create a sense of place that transcends individual differences and builds a thriving community. 

The implication of designated paths for children or sidewalks will make the neighborhood appear more accessible for outdoor activities and highly visible gathering areas. By creating a safe environment for children to gather at designated school bus stops, drivers passing through the neighborhood will feel more inclined to drive slower and pay closer attention to safety signage marked along the roads therefore decreasing the risk of accidents occurring within the neighborhood.

Placemaking at the Ground Level

Whether a city has a few hundred thousand residents or millions, it's made up of neighborhoods that hold just a few dozen families. How those families interact with each other and with the neighborhood help define the sense of place they experience. As the Project for Public Spaces describes it, placemaking is a grass-roots effort, not a city-wide phenomenon. It separates one place from another while bringing the people who share that place together. Community input helps define where parks should go, which streets are best for shopping and how safe people feel when strolling home from a local restaurant at night. Making a city organized and safe from the top down is an incredibly challenging task, but making a neighborhood a better place to live is achievable for any community. 

Strong ties to a locale and community are empowering for everyone, but they're especially important for people who might otherwise miss connections with others, suggest researchers with the South Carolina state government. For elderly people and families with young children, finding transportation and sharing public spaces can be a challenge that leaves them feeling isolated from their community. People from all walks of life can contribute meaningfully to placemaking by creating a shared history or building the kinds of public places they want their children to experience as they grow. 

Defining a Neighborhood

Some neighborhoods are well defined because of age, history or some other unique characteristic. The French Quarter in New Orleans, Greenwich Village in New York and the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco have such a strong sense of place that they're unmistakable. Their colorful histories, interesting architecture and lively culture have converged to make these places unique. Not every neighborhood can stand out like these icons, but every community can develop its own local personality and pride. 

Does a resident artist live around the block from you and have a yard filled with whimsical sculptures? That sculptor could be one of the people who helps give your community its identity by placing carved figures in other places around the neighborhood. Imagine if more homes were adorned with personalized art. Do you take your kids on a nature walk no one outside your area knows about? Customized directional signage pointing the way to sites of local interest could make that hidden treasure a fixture in your community. Who is the oldest resident in your neighborhood? That person could have fascinating photographs and stories of how the area used to look. 

Creative placemaking starts with a single act that improves the community and fosters a stronger sense of a place's personality. Be a part of revitalizing your neighborhood and enhancing its character by helping clean a public park, replanting your garden or just getting in touch with neighbors you haven't seen in a while. Every great community starts somewhere. Yours could begin with you.

About Author:

Alison Johnston is a writer who enjoys visual communications.She is based out of Denver and when she isn't writing, she enjoys venturing throughout the neighboring mountains.

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Tips For Buying A Perfect Indoor Rug - Team up rugs according to theme

Rugs and carpets are an essential element of home furnishing. They are the easiest and one of the best ways to refurbish your decor without emptying your pocket. As available in different fabrics, designs and shapes, the offer an array of choices to find the most suitable piece to rightly match with your interiors.

From antique to vintage and modern designs, you can find a rug or a carpet in any of your desired print. As most of the indoor rugs and carpets and handmade, they are an awesome example of fine artistry of ancient times. Whether it is a Chinese carpet depicting a story of the dragon king or woolen rug from Kashmir showing the beauty of the valley through its elaborated patterns, every piece is special and unique.

Buying the correct rug for your home can add interest to it. Smart choice and their strategic placements in accordance to space and decor definitely needs study and research. Right piece laid in a correct way can bring instant transformation to your room.

Before stepping out to buy a rug, keep few points in your mind to make your choice the perfect one. Here are few helpful tips, which can make your rug choice “Just Perfect!”

Predetermine your budget 

Set your budget in advance before shopping a rug. Like everything else, rugs too come in different types, sizes and quality. Buy the one that fall under your budget. Don’t just go by trends but consider the durability and quality of material too.

Scale up the space 

Always remember to map and measure the area of placement before making a final purchase of a rug. The thumb rule says that the size of rug should fit the configuration of room. If rugs are being placed beneath the furniture then it should cover and frame the whole furniture set up. Try to figure out scale plan of the area in advance to minimize the risk of errors.

Match with colors 

Prefer the rugs that best suits your wall colors. Choose the colors that can coordinate well with your wall shades. Correct choice of color can make a huge difference in the overall look of the room. If colors of your wall and furnishings matches perfectly then it can give a harmonious effect to your room.

Team up rugs according to theme

Traditional, classic, contemporary or trendy what best describes your interior décor? Select a rug that can define your interior look in bold way. For example, if you own sleek and modern furniture, then buy rugs with contemporary design. For traditional interiors, solid colors with classic prints go perfectly. To upbeat your decors, purchase rugs that can go well off with your interiors complimenting your décor style.

Supplements of rugs

Runners and liners are the supplements for indoor rugs. They help the rug from creeping or slipping from their places. While buying liners, always remember to choose it according to your floor type. Runners can be used to cover small spaces left around rugs. Never forget them while buying a rug. They are essential too.

About Author:

By Ramendra
Ramendra is a fashion designer at online shopping portal Rajrang. She loves writing about women clothing, accessories and home decor products.

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7 Ways to Give Your Backyard a Facelift | Beautifying Your Backyard

Do you long for a welcoming backyard space? Beautifying your backyard can be done in numerous ways, from simple improvements to more complex projects. If you don’t have the budget to make all the modifications right away, you can break each project down and start with one area first

.

Here are some landscaping ideas to refresh your tired backyard. Bring out the shovels and gardening boots!

1. Rearrange your plants

Moving your plants from their previous location to another would give your yard a new look. You can either integrate the flowering ones with the herbs, put the trees and shrubs into pots, or simply move new growth into areas that could need a little sprucing up. Play up on texture and color while rearranging. However, you should also consider plants that have climate-specific needs. Don’t put them where they won’t thrive!

2. Leave a spot for contemplation

Backyards aren’t just for plants and gardening. They are also mystical and magical places you can escape to when the going gets tough. Put up a table and chair in one area of the yard and make this a spot for contemplation and solace.

3. Consider an outdoor kitchen

If your family loves to spend time outdoors, cook meals, and entertain guests, consider an outdoor kitchen. Outdoor kitchens can help you prepare meals and entertain guests without the hassle of running back inside for plates or beverages. Plus, it also helps you escape Add weather resistant picnic tables, chairs, and coverage from the sun, and you’ll get an alfresco dining experience.

4. Incorporate a water feature

Any water feature is a great addition to your backyard. It makes your yard look more attractive and gives off a calm and serene atmosphere at the same time. Depending on your style and budget, you can choose a variety of water features such as a fountain, a pond, a small waterfall, or a pool. This feature also makes a great focal point to your whole backyard design

5. Add a garden structure

Add a gazebo, trellis, or arbor to your backyard to give it a more attractive look and intimate feel. A gazebo is a roofed structure that’s open on all sides. A trellis and arbor are both latticelike panels that allows climbing vines and flowers to grow over it. Arbors give more drama to your backyard because of its arc shape that can look beautiful in entrance of your yard. 

6. Build a patio

Backyards can be extensions of the home. Plus, you don’t have to fuss about walls, doors, ceilings, or windows. Converting your backyard into a nice and comfortable lounging area is an option to consider. When deciding on outdoor furniture, choose those that are convenient, weather-resistant, and attractive to the eyes. For instance, outdoor fireplaces by EcosmartFire are fully portable, eco-friendly, and versatile designs that can transform your outdoor space.

7. Add lighting

Not only for daytime use, backyards can look great at nighttime with proper lighting. Of course, you have to install functional lights to make sure you can walk around safely. But for more drama, you can add accent and mood lighting. Paper lanterns are inexpensive lighting options. When hung on trees or on the railings, they can give your backyard a romantic feel. 

About Author:

Melissa Page is a writer for over four years. She blogs about anything she fancies, but would rather write about home improvement, interior design, and travel. Follow her on Twitter @Melissapage90

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Fascinating Sundials | Chankillo | Moondial | Digital Sundial | Noon Dial

Source: Stu Phillips, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Without the sun, life on earth could simply not be possible. The importance of the sun to our very existence has been acknowledged by the very earliest civilisations through worship and myths. 

Sundials

Sundials have been used for millennia and excavations show that even the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians had their own versions.  Their shadow clocks date back to 1500 BC and examples were found at excavations. Another mention is made in the book of Isaiah (Old Testament). That reference to the “dial of Ahaz” dates back to 700 BC and is the earliest known in of in written form.

It is thought that the ancient Greeks were introduced to sundials by Babylonians. The knowledge that the Greeks had acquired in the field of geometry did an enormous amount in the development of the time measuring device. It is said that the Greek mathematician and astronomer Theodosys of Bithynia (ca 160 BC – 100 BC) had developed a sundial that could work anywhere in the world. The Romans learnt of sundials from the Greeks.

Chankillo

 Chankillo is located in the Peruvian desert and is considered to be an ancient monumental complex. It was built to take advantage of the movements of the sun in the same way that sundials were, but the passage of time it measures is different. Thirteen towers were built in a row on a low hill and run from North to South. When perused from a specific vantage point, the position of the sun (at sunrise) either directly above a tower or in one of the narrow gaps between them, will allow the observer to tell the date with an accuracy of 2 or 3 days. It is, in essence, a sun calendar! Only small portions of the tower remain and until 2008, scientists still had not determined which culture may have been responsible for the site.

Moondial

Still harnessing the light that is reflected from the moon’s surface onto the earth, moondials were invented to tell the time at night. They are only truly accurate when the moon is full. During other moon phases at can be as much as 5 hours and 36 minutes slow are fast! Advanced moondials come with charts that show the exact calculations needed to make an accurate reading.

Digital Sundial

A digital sundial diffuses the angle of the light that reaches it in different was so that the observer will (on the opposite side) see digits telling the time. The digit indicating the minutes only change in increments of five, effectively only showing a five or a zero depending on what the time is.

Noon Dial

Noon dials have been around for centuries and are used only to tell when 12:00 is reached locally. Noon dials were also used to correct mechanical clocks which were so inaccurate that they could lose a significant of time every day. Some noon dials were designed with a mounted lens so that the sun’s rays would heat a firing pan in a miniature cannon loaded with gunpowder. There was, of course, no ball in the cannon. It was purely used as an aural time guide. These devices were often called noon cannons and were popular in parks in Europe during the 19th century. In order to maintain accuracy, the position of the lens has to be moved seasonally. 

Natural sunlight hold many health benefits and these days people even install skylights into their homes to increase exposure. In addition to the natural role the sun plays in our lives, humans have managed to extract from it even more value.

About the Author :

Louisa Theart is a freelance writer and musician. She loves sharing her curiosity for everything with the world.

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Most dreaded pests which will affect your house

The quality of our home has direct impact on the health of people who are living there. Everyone including you and I used to follow various tips and techniques to make our home beautiful and lively. A good home will compel you to spend more time there, and the quality of living offered will be simply impeccable in all aspects. But there are various factors which will affect the quality of living in your home, and one such factor is nothing other than pest infection. Your home may turn from heaven to hell if it gets affected with pests. In these times, you should take quick actions, and thus you will be able to save your home from being a playground for these nasty insects. One of the best ways to control pests is the usage of Earth's Best Pest Control. This tip is found to be highly effective in nature, and you will be able to control the growth of pests to a great extend by drastically following pests removing tips and techniques. There are various dreaded pests which may affect your home, and some of the nastiest ones are mentioned below. 

Ants: Ants are the most common pests which are present in almost every house. Normally, these pests may seem quite non harmful, but if gone out of control, it will create huge destruction in your interiors. More than 20 species of ants usually infests our home, and we should deal them with utmost care and attention. You can destroy ants using boric acid, and this is found to be highly helpful. You can also set out traps to eliminate these pests. 

Cockroaches: When it comes to pests which are nasty, then cockroaches can be considered as the king among them. These insects are highly nasty than one could imagine, and it will literally destroy your peaceful living to a great extend. You can use an effective cockroach control solution to get rid of these pests. 

Fleas: Fleas are absolutely the most annoying pests which human species have ever witnessed. These pests are naturally air born in nature, and it will drastically affect the peacefulness of your home. You can kill the flea eggs to control its spreading, and if this is not useful, you can move onto various chemical solutions. 

Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are highly harmful in nature, and these pests can be considered as the silent killer of human beings all around the world. You have to kill each and every mosquito which is seen around us, there is nothing called sin in this. You have to trap each mosquito using mosquito coils, and if this is not helpful, you can try mosquito liquids. 

All the pests which are mentioned above are deadly nasty, and it will create huge chaos in the home. If dealt wisely with Earth's Best Pest Control, you can control it to a great extend

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Why Photos Are Important In Our Life? - Make Memories

Beautiful Photo
Source: freestock, cc-by-3.0, flickr

No one can deny the role photos are playing in our lives. They work in many ways. On one side they save your memories and on the other they tell you about events in history which you have not witnessed. Photos have magic in them that can spellbind your and can change your mood too. Photos are important in a way that they give proof that something really happened like someone landed on moon. Photos can tell you what is happening all over the world even when you are not there. Photos are now new mode of communication; you can send pics of your new born immediately to his uncles and aunt who are far away from him, you can show your friend your new car by sending him fantastic photo of your BMW and so on. They are source of rejuvenation in your life. Let me tell you more detail about how photos affect your life and why they are so important.

Make memories:

It is a bitter fact that your good moments cannot last long. Every moment has to pass and it never comes back. Photography helps you to make up your memories and to capture those beautiful moments you don’t want to lose. Photos save your memories and help you to cherish moments even when they are gone. A beautiful photo of your baby’s first step will make you happy rest of your life. The photos of big day (your wedding) will keep you in love with each other and strengthen your love bond. This is how photos are important in making your memories.

Record changes in history:

Gone are the times when events in one part of the world stay remained hidden from rest of the world. Photography has made life easier and it keeps people in touch with their history. Photos record small and big changes in history to keep you aware what had happened in the past so that you can mold your life accordingly. Imagine what would happen if there have been no record of changes in human life? The recorded changes in history enable many new discoveries and allow many fluctuations in everyday life. Gloomy photos of natural disasters encourage scientists to invent preventive measures from all these disasters. So photos keep record of bygone days to make us learn lesson from the past.

Captures beauty: 

                

The mother earth is full of many beautiful scenes and many beautiful people. Your camera has ability to capture all these beautiful and elegant scenes and personalities. Many modern photography techniques can entirely change the look and make things more beautiful.

Helps in learning:

Researches have shown that school going kids learn more from visual expressions. The photos stimulate the visual ability which sends signals to brain and brain recognize and memorize it immediately. Same is true for all of us. We develop more interest in anything presented form of photos and graphs. We learn things easily which are in form of photos.

Helps in home decoration:

You are well aware of role of photos in home decoration. Wall art mostly consists of printed photos, canvas print, paintings, portraits and sculptures. The photos look great on wall and add charm in your home décor.

These are some roles of photos which they play in our lives making them joyous and lovely.

About the Author: AtiqUr Rehman is professional independent information technology provider. He writes on gardening, home decoration and photography.

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5 Household Objects That Are Dangerous To Pets | Inside Choking Hazards

Pets
Source: Andrewr, cc-by-3.0, flickr

You love your furry friend, but you may be subjecting them to health issues without even knowing it. Of course you know certain things that you should keep away from your pet, but there are normal household objects that could pose dangers you are not even aware of. Watch out for these common pet killers and keep your pet safe.

1. Outside Chemicals

You probably already know that some things should be kept away from your pet, like cleaning products and pest poison, but there may be some things you are overlooking. According to the Humane Society, antifreeze has a sweet taste that may entice pets to drink it, but as little as one teaspoon could kill a seven-pound cat. Any pesticides or fertilizer that you use in the yard could also prove lethal for your pet, so keep an eye on them when you let them outside or into your garage.

2. Inside Choking Hazards

Many things in your house could be easily digested and become stuck in your pet’s throat. Never give your pet string or yarn to play with because it can be swallowed and wrap up in their digestive system. Rubber bands, and even dental floss, can also be a choking hazard.

Make sure you supervise your pets when they play with their toys, as small pieces or parts of their toys could become broken or fall off. Anything with small parts that you wouldn’t let a baby play with, you shouldn’t let your pet play with either.

3. Human Medication

Never give your pet any of your medication, unless your veterinarian has specifically told you it’s okay. Healthy Pet says that just two extra-strength tablets within 24 hours can kill a small pet. Always make sure that you keep your medication tightly closed and well out of reach of your pet.

4. Plants

Some plants may be poisonous to your pet. You may not think about it because you don’t expect Fluffy to eat your pretty flower, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Seasonal plants like Easter lilies, mistletoe, and poinsettias are toxic for animals. If you feel the need to have these in your home, make sure you keep them well out of reach.

5. Table Scraps

Fido may beg for a piece of your dinner, but it’s important not to give him any. Those puppy eyes may be hard to turn down, so consider feeding your pet when you feed yourself. Chocolate and onions can be lethal for pets, and lots of other foods can make your pet sick.

To avoid this, make sure that your pet only eats food specifically made for them. Chicken bones and other small bones should never be given to your dog to chew on because they could break and become lodged in your pet’s throat. Even rawhide bones need to be given only with supervision because pieces can fracture off and pose choking hazards.

Even the most vigilant pet owners may find their pet has gotten into something. If this happens, keep calm and call your veterinarian. If your pet has been poisoned, some symptoms could include listlessness, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, lack of coordination, and fever.

Whether you live in Vancouver or Burnaby, veterinary hospitals will be able to help you. You will need to know your pet’s age, breed, gender, what they were exposed to, how long ago the exposure happened, and the symptoms your pet is displaying.

Victoria Ramos studied business and now blogs about developments in the field, as well as her other interests. She loves shopping, socializing, hosting parties, decorating, and writing. She currently lives with her dog, Pablo, and trusts the veterinary care of Central Animal Emergency Clinic.

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What You Should Know When Buying Rugs Online?

Rug making has been around for centuries, it dates at least as far back as 3000 years. However, nowadays thanks to the internet buying rugs online is just a matter of doing a Google search, or is it? Unlike in the past finding a really good rug to buy which hopefully becomes a family heirloom is near impossible. The fact of the matter being that you cannot judge the quality based on a few photos. That said knowing as much about what makes a rug really good can help you a great deal.

How the rug lays on your floor

Even though handmade rugs are not perfect but the more perfection there is i.e. fewer irregularities the better its quality is considered. A high quality, professionally handmade rug when put on the floor will lie flat and straight and be regular in shape. The color across the carpet will be even and balanced, not be faded or even bled. A good carpet will be finished so that it does not easily wash out or is unusually shiny or too bright. All the above qualities means that the rug has been woven and designed by skilled artisans.

Know the size you’re looking for

Before you go out searching for a rug you need know the size of the area you want to over. You need to bear in mind that regardless of if you are buying rugs online or from an offline dealer it will have a boarder around it. Ideally, the fringe is something you shouldn’t consider as being part of the size. You then have the choice between contemporary or traditional rug designs. One option would be to consult an interior designer but bear in mind the fact that while your focus will be on the look a dealer or seller will focus his price on the quality. You should also be considering the quality if you want the rug to last you a long time.

What points to consider?

Should the rugs be finely knotted? The fact is that handmade rugs are not limited to hand knotted ones and are available in a number of different densities which range from around 30 knots per inch which is considered coarse to 300 knots which is considered fine. Making finely knotted rugs is very difficult and laborious so these happen to be a lot more expensive yet beautiful. This is a lot like the pixels on modern day LCD screens. So the more knots there are per inch the finer, more detailed and better the quality. You can also expect to pay a lot more for them.

Modern design versus traditional: If you’re considering traditional tribal or Persian rug designs then you’ll want to buy antique rugs via a onilne. However, there is a chance that you can find a few rugs that are new but look old at a much lower price. Modern designs are easily available and many of these have been adapted from traditional techniques.

Hand knotted, tufted of just a flat weave? If you are looking for the highest quality and most expensive handmade rugs then hand knotted are the best choice. Tufted rugs use a stencils to craft a pattern on the rear side of the rug after which yarns will be thread through the design happen to be less labor intensive and so comparatively cheaper to buy. Also flat weave are a lot cheaper because they are easy to make but they are on the whole more expensive than high quality machine made rugs.

Synthetic or natural dyes? When you are buying rugs online you’ll come across advertising that says the carpet is made from natural dyes. This is usually not the case with the latest rugs, this is only the case with rugs which were made over fifty years ago. That said natural dyes will add another 30% of the price but they also improve its resale value for collectors. The synthetic dyes often used in modern carpet designs are available in an array of different shades and colors. The beauty of these dyes is that they rarely fade over time. According to Sydney based Scatter Mats it’s difficult to distinguish between natural and synthetic dyes without a laboratory analysis.

About Author:

Manu Alias is one of the leading authorizes on buying rugs online. Over the years he has examined and labelled hundreds if not thousands of rugs. While his expertise in rugs and carpets spans several years he still require high tech equipment to confirm his suspicions in some cases. 

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5 Cleaning Apps That Make Spring Cleaning Chores So Simple To Do

Spring Cleaning Source: Seemann, CC-BY-3.0, via Morguefile

Winter will soon be over and Spring just around the corner. As spring comes around, we can all enjoy beautiful greenery and warm weather. Spring is also the season for everyone’s common activity – Spring Cleaning.  Sadly, spring cleaning can be quite tiring as well considering the amount of work needed to be done, so you will need all the help you can get, especially when you just do not know where and what to start cleaning. These apps can help you keep track of your chores and make sure you are doing them right.

App #1 – Good Housekeeping At Home 

This app offers a complete guide on how to deal with an array of spills and stains. All you have to do is type in the type of stain or spill in the Good Housekeeping At Home app and you will be provided instructions on how to remove it.  You can also get a complete guide on how to clean different surfaces in your home.

App #2 – Green Shine 

This app offers green solutions for your cleaning needs such as mopping floors, cleaning windows and polishing furniture. The Green Shine app provides details on how to make products as effective as commercial cleaners, while providing warnings about each method as well. The app is easy to use and will be handy for almost any type of household chore that you are having a hard time doing perfectly.

App #3 – Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule

This app offers basic, but efficient and useful features for your chores and organizing tasks. The Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule   makes sure that you commit to at least one chore each day and even informs you about the last time you had actually done a chore. It will tell you the last time you had vacuumed and even the last time you had your driveway and patio cleaned up.

App #4 – HomeRoutines

This app allows you to type a list of chores that you need to do each day and then rewards you with stars whenever you complete them. The HomeRoutines makes sure that you are able to manage all your cleaning and organizing chores, by separating them in to morning and evening tasks. In fact, you can also manage them as recurring tasks or create daily customized lists. The app features a cleaning plan for your home and notify you a week ahead about your tasks. The notifications are useful when you need to contact professionals to do a job for you, such as CleanSweep pressure cleaning, that should not be neglected such as removing grime and spots on driveways, dust and spider webs on the exterior walls and moss on the patio and walkways.

App #5 – Chore Hero

This app makes sure that you complete all your chores with a little competition. The Chore Hero app allows you to assign tasks to members of your family so everyone can help out with the chores. They can also receive points for every task completed and you can decide on what type of rewards to give them. This app will certainly help get kids involved and learn how to be responsible at home especially when they are in a competition with their parents.

Valerie Price is a freelance writer specializing in home and business management and DIY home improvement projects.

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