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It is always amazing to me what people decide to save and what they decide to make art projects out of. Each year I go to a few arts and crafts shows, just to see what creative things people will come up with. There are so many times when I say to myself why didn’t I think of that. Each sale I go to I see an idea that I think I can duplicate at home, but by time I get home some of the details of how the item looked escape me. The craft shows are getting very particular of how much time you spend looking at the items. They do not allow cameras of sketch pads, so that people cannot steal ideas.

This year there were several crafters that used wine bottles in their projects. I think the popularity of wine has caused people to consider some use for the empty wine bottles. One project involved an amber colored bottle. The label was kept intact. A strand of small twinkle lights was fed into the bottle through a small hole that was created at the bottom of the bottle. The cork was placed back in the bottle and a clump of artificial grapes were hung around the neck of the bottle. When it was plugged in the lights were quite pretty. I was with my sister at this craft sale. She liked the wine bottles so much that she purchased one for twenty five dollars. As we continued going from booth to booth we came across another vendor with the same idea. His bottle did not have the hole in the bottom; instead the plug in for the lights came out of the top. A slice was made in the cork to accommodate the cord. This bottle was being sold for fifteen dollars. My sister learned that even at craft sales it pays to comparison shop.

Another art project utilizing wine bottles used clear bottles. This crafter used a funnel to layer the dry ingredients for cookies into the wine bottles. She then tied a wooden spoon unto to the bottle with a ribbon along with the rest of the ingredients needed to make a batch of cookies. I had seen this same idea using other containers, but this was the first time I had seen it in wine bottles. My sister and I agreed that this was one project that we could remember how to do once we returned home.

On the way back to my sister’s house she stopped at the liquor store and bought a bottle of wine. She said she wanted to get started on her art project, but first she was going to empty the bottle of wine.

When most people have a party, the balloons are sort of thrown in as an afterthought. They may decorate with balloons, but they usually think that it is enough to scatter them around to create a festive atmosphere. This is because balloons are so versatile. They don’t make a mess, they can be moved to and fro without a problem, and they even look good lying on the ground. This is why I think it’s a shame that people don’t put much more thought into decorating with balloons. There are just so many possibilities!

The only time when decorating with balloons is a priority is when someone is sick. People often buy festive balloon bouquets for their loved ones, hoping that the bright colors will help. I have always thought that decorating with balloons makes a lot more sense than decorated with flowers. In this age of chemical sensitivity, many people are actually allergic to flowers. The aroma itself is enough to set them sneezing. And besides, flowers wilt after only a few days. Decorating with balloons is a much better idea. If you have well made, high-quality balloons, they can hang around for weeks!

In my own home, I like to take decorating with balloons to a higher level. I use balloons for everything. I’m an artist, and I even incorporate balloons into my work. If you shellac balloons, you can decorate with them and they will last forever. Another technique for decorating with balloons is to use them to make masks. If you blow up the balloon and then cover it with papier-mâché, you already have a well formed mask. All you have to do is put some eyes and a mouth on it, and you have an instant homemade decoration.

Of course, one of my favorite ways to decorate with balloons is to use them outside. On a nice summer day with the breeze blowing, what looks better than balloons tied to a deck and just blowing in the wind? Nothing looks quite like it! Decorating with balloons can create the perfect backdrop for a nice summer day. You can drink iced tea, chat about this and that, and just watch the decorative balloons blow in the air. Best of all, when you’re done with them you can give the decorating balloons to your kids, or to other neighborhood children. Kids always love to get a balloon!

December is well-known for Christmas but do you know how people in countries around the world celebrate it? Here are some customs from various parts of the world.

Australia

Greeting - Merry Christmas

Santa’s Name - Santa Claus. Children leave him a piece of cake or biscuits and a glass of milk or a bottle of beer.

Food - Many Christmas dinners include roasted meats and vegetables, special fruit cakes, and puddings with a coin baked inside. Since the temperature can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, people are starting to eat cold meats and salads, tropical fruits like mangoes, and stone fruits like plums. Often, the main meal is eaten for lunch.

Gifts - These are left under the Christmas tree and opened Christmas morning.

Decorations - Shops and homes are decorated with tinsel, Christmas trees, decorations for the holiday, and special lights.

Customs - Traditional and Australian carols are sung by candlelight on Christmas Eve and are broadcast on television. On Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, two sporting events take place:

The Boxing Day Test Match (cricket game) and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Brazil

Greeting - Feliz Natal

Santa’s Name - Papai Noel (Father Noel), who is dressed in a red, silk suit with boots.

Food - Many people eat a traditional feast with roast turkey and vegetables, while others eat chicken and rice or beans. Beer and wine are also served. Some regions begin eating around 9 PM on Christmas Eve, while others eat around midnight.

Gifts - Local charities take in donations but do not seem to have enough presents for all the children.

Decorations - Brazil has a mixture of people so Christmas is celebrated in different ways. In the northeastern area, it is common to find Nativity Scenes; in the southern part, snow is simulated with little pieces of cotton on pine trees.

Customs - Brazilians sing a number of Christmas carols.

Greece

Greeting - Eftihismena Christougenna

Food - Special holiday cakes are baked.

Gifts - Most Greek people exchange gifts on Saint Basil’s Day, January 1.

Customs - To honor Saint Basil, the holiday cakes have gold coins hidden inside them. The cakes are cut at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Whoever has a gold coin in his piece of cake will have good luck the following year.

Hungary

Santa’s Name - Actually, the Baby Jesus is said to bring presents on Christmas Eve. A bell sounds signaling that the Angels have brought the tree and gifts.

Customs - On December 5, children leave out their shoes. During the night, Mikulas and Black Peter come to fill them with goodies for well-behaved children and switches for naughty children.

India

Decorations - Sometimes, houses are decorated with mango leaves; mango or banana trees are also decorated. Small, clay, oil-burning lamps are placed on the edges of flat roofs as decorations.

Israel

Greeting - Chag Semeach (Happy Chanukah)

Santa’s Name - Actually, parents, grandparents, and other family members give presents to the children.

Food - Because oil is an important part of the holiday, many foods are prepared with it. A favorite is potato latkes (pancakes).

Gifts - Since Chanukah lasts for eight days, children may receive one present each night.

Decorations - Jewish stars, blue or silver foil garlands,

dreidels (spinning tops), Chanukah gelt (chocolate coins), and pictures of the Macabees (Jewish army that recaptured the Holy Temple and Jerusalem from the Assyrian Greek King Antiochus) are found around the house.

Customs - The menorah (candelabra) is lit each night. On the first night, one candle is lit; on, the second night, two candles; and so on until all the candles are lit on the eighth night. After lighting the candles, families eat a festive meal, dance, play games, and open presents. They also attend Chanukah parties.

Japan

Greeting - Kurisumasu Omedeto

Santa’s Name - Santa Kurohsu. He does not appear in person but is pictured in advertisements as a kind old man with a round sack on his back.

Food - Depending upon the family’s custom, they eat turkey on Christmas Day or on Christmas Eve. Japanese families also eat Christmas cake.

Gifts - Stores sell merchandise for men, women, and children; and on Christmas Day, families exchange gifts.

Decorations - More and more artificial Christmas trees are beginning to appear. They are decorated with small toys, gold paper fans, dolls, lanterns, paper ornaments, and wind chimes. A popular ornament is the origami swan. Other decorations are mistletoe, evergreen, tinsel, and lights. An amulet is put on the front door for good luck and children exchange ‘birds of peace,’ pledging there must not be anymore war.

Customs - The daiku, or Great Nine, refers to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and is performed many places.

Mexico

Greeting - Feliz Navidad

Customs - Beginning on December 15, some families carry colorful lanterns and walk from house to house in their neighborhoods, each night, until Christmas Eve. This is called La Posada, which means ‘the procession.’ On each of the nights, the families are invited into different houses where they become guests at a party. There is plenty to eat and drink. Children play the pinata game, trying to break open the papier-mache figure with a stick while blindfolded; when it is cracked open, candies and small gifts fall out.

Netherlands

Greeting - Hartelijke Kerstroeten

Santa’s Name - Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), who wears a red bishop’s hat and bishop’s cloak and has white hair and a white beard. He arrives on a white horse with his servant, Black Pete, to put small gifts in children’s wooden shoes.

Food - The Dutch people eat lots of marzipan, spiced ginger biscuits, tall chocolate letters, and ‘bankletter’ - initials made of pastry and filled with almond paste. When they are around the Christmas tree singing songs, they eat ‘Kerstkrans’ - a Christmas ring.

Gifts - On December 6, after hearing a knock at their door, children find a bag full of toys, nuts, and gifts.

Decorations - The Christmas tree is known as the Paradise Tree. Decorations of the season include dolls, musical instruments, fruit, candies, and lights.

Customs - The Dutch sing carols, the most popular one being “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.”

Sweden

Greeting - God Jul

Food - Coffee, cakes, and special buns are served on Santa Lucia Day, December 13.

Customs - Santa Lucia Day honors Saint Lucy, who helped blind people. The oldest daughter in each Swedish household dresses in a white gown with a red sash, wears a crown of evergreen

with seven candles in it, awakens the family with a song, and serves the coffee, cakes, and buns. Each town and city also chooses a young woman to be Lucia for the day. She then serves coffee and food to the townspeople at schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. From these women, a national Lucia is chosen; followed by a parade, feast, and dance.

Now that you have this data, let your children put the information in a comparison chart. Label the left side with the names of the countries and the bottom with the various information (ie: Greeting, Food, and so on). Then fill in the boxes!

Let your children do research to find out the information I left out.

Conduct research to find out the same customs for other countries, especially the heritage countries of students in your class or your own family.

However you celebrate the holidays, have a safe, wonderful season and a Happy New Year!

I hope these ideas are useful and inspire your own creative thinking.

And remember…Reading is FUNdamental!

About The Author

Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental! Copyright © 2003-2005 Sandral Sensations, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida All Rights Reserved

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 EVRYONE!

Every year you plan that THIS will be the year you have pots and pots of lush plants on your balcony or deck. Then you visit your local nursery in the spring and reality hits -– the cost for your fantasy is just outrageous! Sound familiar?

But you can have the planters of your dreams at a fraction of the cost and with a choice of varieties far beyond what the local garden center offers. How? Start your own flower seeds now.

If you’ve never grown from seeds indoors before, it’s best to begin with just a few types. Easy starters: Trailing lobelia and petunias make a bright and simple garden for sunny spots. Licorice plant and dwarf nasturtiums are also attractive.

Once you’ve decided on your plants, you must know two things to determine when the seeds should be started: the last frost date for your area, and the time required before transplanting.

• The last frost date is the date beyond which there is a low chance (usually about 10%) of temperatures at or below the freezing mark. This is important because many traditional plants for hanging baskets are tender, that is, they will not survive when frozen. You may already know what the frost date is for your area. If not ask gardening neighbors or your local gardening center. If you are in the USA, visit http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/documentlibrary/freezefrost/Spring32F_hires.jpg for information from the national Climatic Data Center.
• The time required before transplanting is different for each type of flower. You’ll see this listed in seed catalogs or on the seed packet. For example, a packet might tell you to “start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date.” Some seeds such as nasturtiums, zinnias, or cosmos may be sown directly outside but if you have to wait after the danger of a frost has passed, you may want to get a jump on spring by starting those inside too.Licorice plants and geraniums need 12 weeks to sprout from seed. So if my last frost date is May 15th, I’ll want to start them around the last week of February. Petunias, impatiens and lobelia require 10-12 weeks, so I would start them around the first of March. Morning glories, which make a beautiful privacy fence from a plain piece of latticework, need six weeks from start to transplant, but can’t be put outside until two weeks after the last frost date. This would mean starting them indoors about mid-April. I’d start nasturtiums and zinnias about then too.

  Your goal is to promote germination (with heat and water) and seedling growth (with light) while preventing your seedlings’ chief enemy, “damping-off” (with air circulation and proper drainage). Here are some tips for successful seed growing.

• Use plastic containers, about 2” deep, fairly wide and with multiple drainage holes. Growers’ cell packs are ideal but you can also use yogurt or cottage cheese containers as long as you sanitize them with a mild bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) for 15 minutes and then punch several holes in the bottoms.
• Use commercial seed-starting mix. It’s sterilized and contains the necessary food to aid germination. You might also want to try using a product specially formulated to prevent damping-off.
• Plant seeds sparingly. You’ll have to thin them anyway. Some growers plant only two seeds per cell pot. If you’re planting in flat trays, place seeds 1/2” to 1” (1 to 2.5 cm) apart, depending on the seed size, and space the rows 1 1/2” to 2” (3-5 cm) apart. Make a depression in the soil with your finger or a pencil and plant the seed about three times as deep as its diameter. If the packet says the seed requires light to germinate, then put it just on the surface of the soil.
• Set the containers in a water-filled tray. This allows the pots to draw water from the bottom without disturbing the seeds. Cover tray and pots with plastic to help hold moisture and heat.
• Place the entire set-up on a heat source between 75 - 85° F (24 - 29° C). Although a heat mat designed for this purpose is ideal, you can also use the top of a fridge, or a spot near a radiator or space heater.
• Once the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic and put the pots (with the water tray) near a light source at a reduced temperature. Good light is crucial at this point to ensure good growth. Fluorescent shop lights within a few inches of the tops of the seedlings are perfectly suited. You can also try a sunny south window but ideally the light should be on the plants for 16 hours out of each 24-hour period. In my climate, we just don’t have 16 hours of daylight this time of year! Seedlings respond best to daytime temperatures of 60 - 70° F (16 - 21°C) and night temperatures of 50 - 60° F (10 - 16°C).
• Here’s where it becomes critical to prevent damping-off. One way to do this is to let an electric fan blow gently across the surface of the soil during daylight hours. There are also specially formulated products on the market that can be applied to the surface of the soil when you are planting seeds that will help stop damping-off from developing.
• When the seedlings have developed their first set of true leaves (not the round little germination leaves), pull all but one plant per cell. It’s hard, I know, to pull up living plants but it’s necessary to prevent overcrowding that will kill all of them.
• When the seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, start watering them (from the bottom) with fertilizer diluted to quarter strength.
• A week or 10 days before you plan to plant them outside, start “hardening off” the tender seedlings. Stop fertilizing, and cut the amount of water in half. If possible, keep them in a cooler space inside and start introducing them to the direct sun and fluctuating temperatures of the outdoors. Begin by setting the trays outside for an hour in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon ad gradually lengthen the time to several hours. Don’t put them out in heavy rain or cold, strong wind and be sure to bring them indoors at night.

Follow these steps and you’ll have a bounty of young, strong plants to fill your hanging baskets and pots. This year, you’ll have the planters of your dreams!

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com
debbie@paradiseporch.com

It has been estimated that 16 in every 1000 households undertake a major home improvement project each year. In 2001 alone, an estimated 13.6 billion was advanced in personal loans for home improvements, making it the third most popular reason for taking out loans. Unfortunately, while the numbers of residents looking to renovate, remodel, and improve their homes continues to increase, so does the number of accidents and injuries associated with those improvements.

It is vital to use all tools and equipment safely when carrying out home improvement projects, including both interior and exterior projects. Whether it’s a simple quick-fix or a major undertaking, using trustworthy tools and equipment is imperative for your safety and security. Little Giant Ladders creates all of their ladders and accessories with your safety in mind, which is seen in their complete compliance with OSHA ANSI A14.2 standards. Nothing is more important than trusting the equipment you are using, and with Little Giant you are guaranteed to feel completely safe while performing home improvement projects even while facing the following challenges.

Weight Capacity

When using any ladder, from a step ladder to an extension ladder, it is important to ensure that it is not being loaded beyond the weight capacity specified by the manufacturer. Little Giant Ladders are government-rated to hold up to 375 pounds but have survived stress testing of up to 1200 pounds with absolutely no structural failure. The incredible strength of each Little Giant Ladder is attributed to its make-up material, heavy wall, 6005-T5 aluminum, the very same material used in aerospace construction. Before using any ladder, make it a point to always check the weight limit. It is also important to note that the load capacity includes the weight of the person in addition to the weight of any materials they may be carrying.

Uneven Surface

When trying to get to those difficult areas located above an uneven surface, such as a staircase, it sometimes seems impossible to reach especially because traditional ladders are only built for use on stable and level surfaces. The Little Giant ladder is more than just another traditional ladder—it’s 24 ladders in one unique design. The Little Giant ladder is able to convert into a staircase ladder. Because each ladder is adjustable in one-foot increments, one side of the ladder is able to lengthen or shorten while the other side remains untouched. This allows for safe and secure use on stairs, curbs, or any other uneven surface.

Little Giant also produces an accessory called the Little Giant Leg Leveler which is an extra appendage that easily attaches to the ladder’s leg to provide better balance when working on unequal grounds. This ladder leveler is a safe and stable solution as it meets the same standards as each Little Giant ladder.

Working Freely

A challenge that several homeowners face is not having the needed space to set tools and equipment while positioned atop a ladder. This problem is especially apparent when painting high surfaces and you constantly have to climb up and down to refill the roller. Not only is it burdensome, but it’s also dangerous to climb up and down a ladder while carry an object. Little Giant has created a movable work platform that is rated to hold up to an incredible 300 pounds. This is sure to hold any tools or equipment you need – from paint to people. Not only will this platform give you space for your tools atop the ladder but it will keep you safe as you will no longer have to climb the ladder while carrying objects. Additionally, its unique design enables it to easily click into place when needed or to tuck away.

About The Author

Amber Sell is a Web Content Specialist for 10x Marketing — More Visitors, More buyers, More revenue. For more information about Little Giant, visit Little Giant Ladder today.

ahook@10xmarketing.com

Some people thought that owning a house is the best big investment they could ever have. In fact, according to the recent survey conducted in the U.S., 90% of the primary wealth of the people. They never knew that there is something more than what the house can offer — the house plans.

What people never knew is that house plans are the better investment.

Why? It is because the foundation, the structure, and the beauty of a house depend on the creation and assumption of house plans.

Therefore, it is important to spend some time contemplating on making and analyzing house plans. If ever the plan was not made in such a way that it would provided the optimum protection for the family, then that is not an investment after all.

Hence, it is extremely important to pay close attention to the house plan. Factors that are to be considered when making house plans should be well taken into account. Here are five things to consider when making house plans:

1. Location

Before making house plans, it is important to contemplate first on the location of the lot where the house will be built. Is it near the schools? The market? Or is it located in an area where transportations are scarce?

The point here is that it is important to consider the location when creating house plans. The design and structure of the house should match the kind of environment the neighborhood has.

2. Lifestyle

Do you prefer to live in the city, or the quiet suburban subdivision living? You definitely do not want to dig yourself a debt hole just to build a new house that conflict with your lifestyle.

When creating house plans, it is also important to consider the lifestyle. The total impression that the house will have on its visitors should greatly reflect the kind of lifestyle the family has.

3. Size of the family

Many houses now are so small because developers have to take into consideration the paying capacity of the buyers.

However, if ever you have the budget and the time to supervise the building of your new house, it is important to consider first the size of your family. For instance, the number of your children will indicate the number of rooms that you have to consider on your plan.

4. Environment

It is extremely important to consider the kind of environment the neighborhood has in creating house plans. For instance, if the area seems to be a hot spot, it is best to include some plans on proper insulation of the house so as to conserve energy consumption.

There are also cases wherein the type of soil is also important in making a house. Therefore, it is best to try to consider the kind of soil the lot area has when making house plans. What good will the designs be if the foundation of the house is literally weak?

5. Law and the government

There are cases wherein certain laws apply when building a particular house. These are known as the zoning laws. Therefore, it is best to consider them when making house plans because there are some laws that limits the height of the house to be built or the percentage of the allowed portion that the house will occupy in a given lot area.

The bottom line here is that the overall foundation and stability of a house is greatly dependent on the proper creation and execution of house plans. No wonder why it is considered by the others as the bigger investment.

About The Author

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides house plan resources on http://www.just-house-plans.info.