Ten basic rules for gardening

Rule #1 – Buy plants from a very reputable source–I prefer nurseries over discount stores and warehouse stores.

Rule #2 – Select plants that will grow in your climate–consider your high and low temperatures.

Rule #3 – Plant your plants in the right place in your yard–sun-loving plants in the sun, shade-loving plants in the shade.

Rule #4 – Provide your plants with complete nutrition. Most fertilizers and plant foods don’t. Spray-N-Grow and Bill’s Perfect Fertilizer provide major and minor elements identified by botanists as necessary for plant growth and production.

Rule #5 – Water your plants properly.

Rule #6 – Keep your plants bug free. Look for bugs on your plants as often as possible. Apply an organic and environmentally friendly bug killer if necessary.

Rule #7 – Watch for plant disease. Spray your plants with Physan 20 or Serenade if you see any wilting, black spots, etc.

Rule #8 – Weed around your plants or use All Down Organic Weed and Grass Kill or Burnout Weed and Grass Killer.

Rule #9 – Deer, rabbits, squirrels and other animals may try to feast on your plants. If you see evidence of munching, use a humane animal repellants. It may take a little detective work to figure out what type of hungry animal is invading your garden.

Rule #10 – Gardening is a physical activity–take care of yourself. Wear a hat and gloves. Use sunscreen and watch for stinging insects. Use safe products–many common gardening products are not organic or all natural. To buy garden products mentioned in this article, visit Spray-N-Grow’s website ( http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com ). Their garden products are safe for people, plants and pets.

One of the least expensive ways to update your home is to change your lighting. Home track lighting is one viable option available to homeowners, especially those on a budget. These lights can be both stylish and affordable.

When it comes to updating your lighting, it can become overwhelming due to the enormous amount of choices available today. Home track lighting is just one of those options. If you are having trouble making a choice, you could consult with a professional to help narrow down the choices. You can also perform a search on the internet to come up with some ideas on different styles, along with the costs associated as well.

Home track lighting is available at most lighting specialty stores and home improvement centers. At these locations, you will see a wide variety of styles available. Try to choose a combination of lights that will work well with the layout and style of your home. Track lighting can often be used as secondary lighting in a room that does not feature enough traditional lighting.

Home track lighting can be used in virtually any room in the house. A popular room to use it is a recreational room or games room. On many occasions, you do not require full or bright lighting in these rooms. In addition, this style of lighting can be directed to shine on a specific area or focal point. Many homeowners point them towards a specific piece of artwork.

Once you know where the home track lighting will be installed, your next step would be to install the track itself. The fixtures themselves are easily installed to the track. Another benefit is that they can be easily moved or removed from the track as well.

Most people are comfortable installed home track lighting themselves. Just follow the simple directions that come with the lighting. If you are not comfortable doing the work yourself, just hire an electrician. You should know some basics before beginning however. Make sure the power is off before doing any electrical work. Make sure that no one else is working near the power box that could turn on the power before you are finished. Communicate with everyone in the home before starting. Once the job is completed, have it checked by a licensed electrician.

Home is the ideal place to unwind and the only place you want to rush to, after a day’s work. A lion prefers his den to the wilderness and this holds good for all creatures. Living in a habitat is interesting but having a niche or a place, you can call your home is indeed a blessing.

In the past, by virtue of civilization, there have been incessant changes in trends which have by and large, improved the way of life. Today, home decor and home furnishings epitomize good civilization. Home furnishing is considered to be an art; so much so that professionals are specifically trained to add ingenuity to your home with suitable home decor.

The whole concept of ideal home furnishings can be explored and simplified as follows.

Oriental home decor- an overview:
Oriental home decor is ideally suited for Indian homes and is widely seen across Asia. The house is generally spacious and there is often ample space for wooden furniture. The very common items of oriental home furnishings include wall hangings, ethnic curios, curios with carvings, Idols of gods, artificial or fresh flowers, pottery, bamboo craft and much more. The way you arrange them will define their resourcefulness. A few key points to consider when you do up your home are as follows:

Is space a constraint?
Size does matter when it comes to your abode and it is important to decorate your home accordingly. If space is a constraint, make sure the curtains and walls are of a lighter shade. The more the light filters in, the wider the space will appear. Let the various curios and artifacts adorning the floor, tables and walls be smaller. Vertical wall hangings festooned with smaller designs and subtle hues are ideal for smaller homes.

On the other hand, a larger interior space can have dark colored walls and curtains adorned with bold prints and embellishments. The artifacts can be of appropriate shapes and sizes, as space is not a limitation. Wall hangings with darker hues and bold designs may seem ideal. Dangling wall hangings, suspended cane swings or the traditional swings festooned with carvings and oriental wind chimes may be included in home decor.

Art of choosing ideal home furnishings
The type of home furnishings you choose will depend on the wall color, the type of furniture (if the abode is furnished), number of people living in the house and the type of flooring, in addition to the size of the abode as mentioned earlier. Here are a few aspects that are integral to home decor which you may find useful:

Curtains: Choose them right
Your living room and bedroom curtains need to be of thicker fabric while door curtain fabric can be the thin and flowing type, exuding fluidity to the ambiance. This not only enhances the relaxed atmosphere native to a drawing room but also adds a touch of panache to your interiors. Translucent curtains embellished with embroidery or self prints make ideal door curtains. If you do up your house in a particular pattern and want similar curtains for the whole house then go for pastel shades like beige, off white or the lightest shade of pink.

A pair of window curtains can be teamed with netted or translucent curtains in lighter shades, to enhance the look.

Furniture:
A leather couch, cozy sofa with fabric upholstery or the very oriental cane chairs, makes ideal home furnishings for a contemporary house. If you want wood in the house and do not have the space to add an ensemble, a pair of rocking chairs or chairs with elaborate carving which exude a traditional touch is recommended. This could be complemented with a magazine or paper stand in the same material. Cane furniture is cost effective and ideal for people who keep changing homes.

Bedding:
If you spend most of your time in the confines of your room, make it more appealing by including the precise elements of home decor. Match the bed cover with the color of the lamp shade. It is ideal to have lamp shades in neutral colors like cream or light beige which complements almost every shade of the curtains and bedding you may wish to use. Take care to choose the curtains too, lest it should appear out of place.

Decorative flooring for that extra element of style:
Carpets are another integral part of home decor. Not only do they enhance the look of the floor but add a distinct panache to the interiors. The color, design and quality are the decisive factors before you zero in, on the buy. The flooring need not be done up entirely in carpet, more so if the home decor boasts of attractive flooring. Besides the flooring, intricate ceiling is in. A wide gamut of artistically designed ceilings and art fiberglass for windows are the latest trend.

If home decor is on your mind now and you have been considering these options, wait no longer. Take time to analyze the house, its pros and drawbacks and choose home furnishings accordingly. Shopping for home decor at renowned outlets is no doubt a good option but if you have been contemplating buying and presenting them as gifts, an online mart is the best bet. They assure a wider product range, easy website tools and hassle free delivery. What more could you ask for?

Time spent in planning and smart shopping is any day better than time wasted in finding a suitable niche to place curios. So plan and get started to make your home a pleasantly trim and amicable place to live in.

Gifts to India – Infibeam.com is an exciting new online destination and community that focuses on selling latest Mobiles, Books, Cameras, Apparels, Jewellery and Send Home Furnishings Products to India at guaranteed lowest price.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2005, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,200 reported home structure fires, 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 civilian injuries, and $909 million in direct property damage.

In 2005, most home heating fire deaths (73%), injuries (64%), and direct property damage (57%) involved stationary or portable space heaters.

Chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share of home heating fires (36%).

Although we have had several balmy days this past week, the heating season is right around the corner. This morning alone I saw two “breaking news” reports regarding fires in our community. Please take a moment to read these important safety topics and be a step ahead to protecting yourself from a house fire.

Gas or electric furnaces that have not been used for several months will most likely have a build-up of dust and dirt on heating elements. This can cause a burning smell and even a light haze of white smoke when first operated for the season. This smell and haze are not harmful, and will take only several uses before all the dust and dirt on the heating unit are burnt away. To be safe, try to run the furnace on a warm day while opening all windows so the smell can escape. If the smoke turns black and the furnace starts to rumble leave the building immediately and call the fire department by dialing 911.
Before using the fireplace for the first time in a season, make sure the flue is open. The flue is a trap door that keeps heat out in the summer and cool air from coming in when the fireplace is not in use. You can check it by looking up the chimney to see if you are able to see daylight. If there are any obstructions, remove them. If not removed, these obstructions will cause carbon monoxide to back up into your home. Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless and invisible gas. Artificial logs made from wax and sawdust should be used one at a time. Pressure-treated wood should not be burned in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can make you sick. Never leave a fireplace unattended. Chimneys and vents should be inspected and cleaned annually. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned when necessary by a professional chimney sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Creosote builds up in connectors and chimney flues and can cause a chimney fire. Don’t burn newspapers or other trash in a fireplace because they burn too hot and can ignite a chimney fire.
Coal and Wood Burning Stoves
Use coal only if specifically approved by the stove manufacturer. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire since it might explode or flare up. Never use gasoline in kerosene heaters. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire since it might explode or flare up. The directions on artificial logs made from wax and sawdust say they should be used one at a time in fireplaces and never used in wood stoves. This is because the heat can melt the log causing it to flare up or leak burning liquid from the appliance. Pressure-treated wood should not be burned in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can make you sick.

Safety Tips:
>Space heaters need space. Portable space heaters need a three-foot (one meter) clearance from anything that can burn and should always be turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
>When buying a new unit, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing lab. Be sure that a qualified technician installs the unit or checks that the unit has been installed properly.
>Wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, chimney connectors, and all other solid-fueled heating equipment need to be inspected annually by a professional and cleaned as often as the inspections indicate.
>Portable kerosene heaters must be fueled only in a well-ventilated area, free of flame and other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer for that device, and never use gasoline instead of kerosene. Also, be sure that portable kerosene heaters are legal for home use in your state.
When turning a heating device on or off, be careful to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. When buying heaters, look for devices with automatic shutoff features.
>Be sure any gas-fueled heating device is installed with proper attention to ventilation, and never put unvented gas space heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms. Also, LP (liquefied petroleum) gas heaters with self-contained fuel supplies are prohibited for home use by NFPA codes.

Tomorrow on Home&Yard Radio with the Fixie Chick, 950am at 10:00am, we’ll be discussing alternative home heating options and renewable fuel types. You can now listen on line! www.HomeAndYardRadio.com
Thanks for reading.
-The Fixie Chick

Baby boomers, baby boomers, baby boomers; we all hear this term over and over again. So who are the baby boomers? Baby boomers are people in the United States who were born between 1946 and 1964. Approximately 78.2 million people fall into this category.

As a group, baby boomers comprise the largest population cohort in the history of the United States. The size of the group gives it vast influence over American politics, popular cultural, and of course, real estate. To evaluate the influence of the baby boomers on the future of real estate, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) conducted a study in 2006. The findings of the research were published in report entitled Baby Boomers and Real Estate: Today and Tomorrow. Below are some highlights from the NAR study.

AGE DISTRBUTION

According to the NAR report, baby boomers now range in age from 42 to 60 years old. The typical baby boomer is 50 years old, and the oldest of the baby boomers turned 60 in 2006. About 46% of baby boomers are in their 40s, and about 25% are at least 55 years old.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

As a group, baby boomers are in their peak earning years. In 2005, baby boomers had a household income of $64,700, and about 25% them had a household income of at least $100,000 per year.

HOME OWNERSHIP

About 78% of baby boomers own a home, which is higher than the national ownership rate of 69%. About 96% of baby boomers believe that home ownership is a good financial investment.

FUTURE REAL ESTATE PURCHASES

About 10%, or 7.8 million of all baby boomers, said they were likely to purchase additional real estate in the next 12 months. Of these potential buyers, two-thirds were planning on buying a primary residence, 26% want to buy land, 19% want rental property, 15% want a vacation home or seasonal home, and 14% want a commercial property.

WHAT FEATURES ATTRACT BOOMERS

When baby boomers were asked about what features are most important to them, 38% wanted a lower cost of living, 38% wanted to be near family, 38% wanted easy access to quality health care, 37% wanted a better climate, and 36% wanted to be near a body of water.

PREFERRED COMMUNITY AMENITIES

When baby boomers were asked about the type of community amenities that interest them most, about 18% wanted to be near cultural offerings, 9% wanted to be closer to their family, 4% wanted to be on a golf course, and 3% wanted easy access to educational facilities.

WHERE DO BOOMERS WANT TO RETIRE

When baby boomers were asked about where they want to retire, 33% of them want to retire in a rural area, 30% in a small town, 25% in a suburban area, and only 12% in an urban community.

BOOMERS AND THEIR REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Baby boomers consistently use the services of a real estate agent. Approximately 60% of homebuyers and 79% of home sellers used a real estate agent in their last transaction.

SUMMARY

The baby boomers have had and will continue to have a significant impact on the real estate market. As the boomers near retirement, they continue to value real estate and will continue to invest in properties and land. Real estate agents would be well served to understand what baby boomers want in terms of their real estate investments, and design strategies that target the needs of this enormous population cohort. For more information, read the NAR report entitled, Baby Boomers and Real Estate: Today and Tomorrow