Teak Furniture: The Premier Outdoor Furniture
November 30, 2007
When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase pieces made with teak, a hard strong durable golden-brown wood, which is both resistant to the elements and requires little maintenance.
Teak grows in the region of Southeast Asia, mainly in Java, Indonesia, and is harvested from the surrounding forests and teak plantations by the locals and the Indonesian government. The wood of the teak tree is naturally resistant to insects, warping, splintering and the elements, which makes it an ideal wood for creating furniture.
First brought to Indonesia by the Dutch in the early 1800’s, teak is one of the main crops of the region. While it takes 50 to 60 years of growth before they can be harvested, the height of each individual tree can reach 150 ft. which makes for a high timber yield and a very lucrative crop. In fact, money earned from harvesting teak trees sustains thousands of families in the region.
Once the trees have been harvested, they are shipped to manufacturers in Indonesia and the America’s for use in the production of beautiful, durable teak furniture that is a favorite among consumers.
Journaling
November 30, 2007
How many of you take the time to really write down your thoughts?
Do you know that journaling not only lets you "work" out problems but releases tension and gets the problem off your mind.
I started journaling about 10 years ago right after I had my first son. My husband, Brent, was in the military and I was very lonely. He was gone a lot on field exercises or overseas and I was alone with a baby. Most of the time I couldn’t call home because at that time there was no such thing as unlimited long distance and we couldn’t afford a computer so I was basically alone.
Oh I had a few friends but at that time I was the only one with a baby and all my military friends had a career or were going to school so they were usually too busy to talk or I just didn’t want to tell them what was bothering me.
Is A Premium Dog Food Really That Much Better For Your Dog?
November 30, 2007
==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========
If you’re interested in premium dog food, then I probably don’t have to tell you about the importance of diet in keeping your dog active and healthy. You already know you want something better than “average” for your furry friend.
But how much do you really know about what’s in a premium food and what your particular pet’s needs are? I’m no veterinarian but I do know a thing or two about health and nutrition. (As a family dentist who practiced for twenty years, I saw first hand the effects of poor dietary habits on human health — and particularly on human teeth!!).
Like you, your dog has to deal with the effects of stress, age, exertion, a polluted environment, and foods grown in nutrient-depleted soils. Unlike you, he has to get practically all of his nutrition from a single food. Sure , you may give him a few treats or the occasional table scrap (not too many I hope!), but otherwise he’s eating out of the same bag or can day in and day out. You want him to get complete nutrition out of that one food.
===========Complete Nutrition?===============
1959 Stratocaster Vintage Guitars
November 30, 2007
Mid 1959 Stratocaster vintage guitars have a slab rosewood fingerboard with white “clay” position dots. The fingerboard radius of this Fender guitar is 7.25″. The bottom fingerboard is flat. Vintage Fender Stratocasters made July 1959 and after basically will have rosewood fingerboards. The neck now has a very thin “D” backshape, by the end of 1959 it gets even thinner.
Stratocaster vintage Fender guitars from mid-1959 have a celluloid “mint green” three layer pickguard which is white/black/white. Sometimes the pickguard of this vintage Fender is called a “nitro” pickguard. The celluloid pickguard was first introduced to the Stratocaster guitar around July 1959. Before that, rosewood fingerboard vintage Stratocasters were made with a single white pickguard with 9 or 10 screws.
During the same time period in 1959 some vintage Fender Stratocaster guitars were made with maple neck and a 8 screw three layer celluloid pickguard. In order to replace the thicker and much smaller shield previously used on guitars single layer pickguards, a thin aluminum shield the size of the pickguard was installed underneath the three layer pickguard.
Production and Pricing of Craft Show Items
November 29, 2007
This is where you can really make or break your craft show career. Being able to produce quality crafts as efficiently and affordably as possible is the key to making a tidy profit from craft shows.
How Production Evolves
How you handle production of your craft show items will evolve over time. Initially you may produce all your craft items alone. This will likely be the most cost effective way to start your craft show creations. As your business grows, you may decide it is best to find employees who can recreate your artistic flair ? so you can build more products and increase your overall revenue.
Time and experience will help you streamline your production cycle for maximum efficiency. You’ll learn as you go how long it takes to produce your craft show items, how long to allow for drying, setting or baking, what quantity of supplies you need for a certain amount of inventory and how much inventory you’ll need for a one-day craft show. Basically, you are going to get better and smarter about how to build your craft show items ? so you can maximize the profit!
I Saw the Universe
November 29, 2007
I can see the cerulean blue of the skies
Or the indigo of the night
I can see the stars wink, the grin of the moon
During the changes of it’s monthly face
**
I am in awe
**
I see the sun on it’s annual trek
Alternately awakening the life in the earth
And then fading away to allow it to sleep
Until the next spring
**
I am told the Universe is “out there”
Beyond those stars, moon and sun,
Yet the power of what I can see
Is a fathoming beyond my comprehension
**
I am in awe
**
“Out there” no time, no seasons pass
No sense of age, hatred or loss exist
Only the infinity
0f the Universe
**
What IS “out there”?
What IS the Universe that has no end?
What IS the power that creates all this?
I want to see it too
**
And then I remember…..
**
I saw it once, this gift of glimpse
In the eyes of a granddaughter five minutes old
First Priority
November 29, 2007
No matter what you are writing, the first priority is write the first draft.
Most writers procrastinate. Since writing is a demanding job requiring focus and dedication, most writers delay, dally, defer, and dawdle. How does one get that first draft completed?
1. Plan
2. Organize
3. Implement
4. Write
Without a doubt, the most important step is to plan what one intends to write, be it a novel, an article, an essay, a short story, or a poem. The writer must have something to say and a desire to say it. The need to express, for whatever reason, is important. It may be self-fulfillment, it may be economic, or it may to leave a legacy, but whatever it is it must be strong enough to force the writer to prepare and develop a way to put words to paper.
A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine
November 29, 2007
Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is totally fun and such is the case with my assignment to review Cat Fancy Magazine. My own two Bengal cats volunteered to assist with my research but in the end both of them were found sleeping on the job.
A recent issue of Cat Fancy Magazine estimated that, based on the latest surveys, there are approximately 90 million cats in the United States. Thus, it is indeed fortunate for those of us who own these ‘purrfect’ animals to have Cat Fancy Magazine available as our own resource. Every issue of this magazine contains delightful sections such as: Purrs and Hisses (letters from readers), the Cat Calendar (who, what, when, where), In the Mews, What’s New Pussycat, and other zany sections that make reading each issue a pure pleasure. One of my favorite browse sections of the magazine is the Breeder Directory. It contains about twenty pages of information organized by breed to help anyone quickly find additional resources of interest. The Cat Clinic ? Ask the Vet section of Cat Fancy Magazine contains very important and helpful tips regarding the health of your pet.
How to Create a Wildflower Garden
November 28, 2007
In today’s gardens often populated by geraniums, roses, and zinnias, wildflowers can provide a simple and graceful flair. Almost any garden or landscape can be beautified by their presence. Not only are wildflowers easy to grow but they possess a natural resistance to pests, disease, and harsh climates. They can survive in clay soil, nutrient poor soil, sandy soil, and practically no soil at all. Once established in their preferred habitat, wildflowers can survive on their own without pruning, weeding, primping, and little or no watering.
The easiest way to create and grow a wildflower garden is to sow the seeds (to plant seeds by scattering) on well-prepped ground where they will not be in competition with weeds and grasses. The basic steps are as follows:
1. Decide when to plant (sow) the seeds. Wildflower seeds like warm soil and they can be planted in either spring or fall, depending on the species and where you live. They typically germinate best with a soil temperature of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, if you live in zones 1-6 you should plant in the spring and if you live in zones 7-11 you should plant in the fall. For best results, follow the instructions on the seed packet or ask your local nursery.
Disney Cruise Expert Guide
November 28, 2007
Experiencing the magic of Disney at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Paris is something that is rarely forgotten as a child or as an adult. With a Disney cruise, you can now recapture that magic on board one of Disney’s elite cruise ships. There are several exotic Caribbean cruise routes to choose from, and with a spread of onboard entertainment for all the family it is a cruise that will live long in the memory of the young and the young at heart.
All Disney cruises depart from Port Canaveral in Florida through Disney Cruise Lines, and take guests out on a voyage of the Caribbean. Short 3-night cruises are catered for as well as 7 night cruises that encompass a larger number of ports around the Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean.
A typical three or four night Disney cruise takes guests out into the Bahamas, and includes a visit to the sun-drenched beaches of Nassau. Shore excursions include a magical tour to the Discover Atlantis attraction, which is home to more than 120,000 fish.
