Amaryllis Amaryllis How Does Your Garden Grow? "Organically of Course!"

Her First Gardens

Her imagination would take her to faraway places where ancient gardens grew, outside castles in England or country farms around the world. She had no idea, when she began, about soil and water, or how to plan. She just got out there into the garden. Her soil was sandy, it had little nutrients; but she was more concerned with the design of her rows. She made the most unusual trenches that swirled in river-like forms and she imagined this is how a garden is planted. She placed the seeds carefully, as instructed on the package, one in each finger hole, about an inch apart, with a half-inch of dirt on top. For days she misted the squiggly rows until, seven days later, amidst the bare dirt, came little leaf pairs emerging from the earth. Each morning she?d look out to see how they were doing and sure enough, they grew into tall skinny zinnias. When they finally bloomed she had to laugh because even in the unhealthy soil they still presented many shades from salmon pink to magenta, bobbing on heavy heads almost falling over.

Cymbidiums My cymbidiums, oncidiums and phaleonopsis all grow in cinder and hapu fern like the Japanese ladies do.

The epiphytes with aerial roots grow so easily. They like the elevation up country I know. I learned that in a book about how certain orchids grow.

But mostly I?ve learned from others and by trying everything. I keep them evenly moist but never overwater!

My name is Marilyn Jansen.

I live on the island of Maui pursuing life as a writer and budding artist. I worked as a registered nurse for 14 years until I began to follow my true dream of expressing myself creatively through drawing, painting, writing, designing books, creating jewelry, and fashion designs and developing a line of food products to go with my cookbook. It is so fulfilling to pursue a dream with a passion!

I love to do Hawaiian Quilting, & Hand-painting on t-shirts. I plan to create DVDs of a craft series to go with small books. I have painted on tees for over 25 years and have taught teens and adults how to paint. They love it! It is fun and healing for the body, mind, soul & spirit. When creativity flows we feel alive, energized by the excitement overflowing from us. We also experience relaxation because we let ourselves go! It is my goal to get young people interested in gardening & cooking & sewing so they can develop passions of their own. Life is great when we slow down and enjoy the simple things and find beauty in everyday life. http://www.amaryllisofhawaii.com

Putting your Baby to Sleep

One or if not the purpose of marriage is to have baby. Babies are just too lovable and parents can?t resist cuddling. Most of the activities during the day are bearable. Babies often do things that make parents happy and even proud at times. A smile from the baby is more than an embrace to parents. Problem comes during bed time. It is always a problem especially for parents having a baby in the first time in putting their babies into sleep. Most parents get crazy about this. How to solve this? This article will give you seven easy steps in helping your child to sleep.

1. Safety First!

Make sure that you have a safe place where you can put your baby before putting him to sleep. He must have a safe place that he will not be prone to falling or suffer any injuries while sleeping. This must be a firm surface and assure that he is protected in both sides.

2. A conducive place for sleep.

Comfort is always one of the things needed to be taken in consideration. You might be able to put your child to sleep but as soon as you lay her to bed she wakes up just because maybe its hot, environment is noisy or the bed sheet is not clean. Having a place that is conducive for sleeping will help in putting your baby into a deep sleep.

3. Learn sleep signs.

There are signs that babies makes when they are ready to fall asleep. Does she pull her ears? Does she rub her eyes? Does she twirl her hair? One baby I knew makes tantrums. His mom thought she just want some milk or that he is bored, but really, that?s a sign that he wants to rest. These are just moments that you can take opportunity and put your baby asleep.

4. A sleeping routine will be helpful.

A routine will make your work easy. As most adult do, when it?s not yet time for bedtime though they want to sleep, they can?t. It?s an everyday routine and this can also be called body clock. Same principle can be applied into babies. You can make a sleeping routine for your baby too and this makes your future work easy.

5. Try to let your baby fall asleep on their own.

To avoid further confrontation with your baby and also for a better sleeping result just let your baby fall asleep. We can observe most of this while traveling, watching TV, etc. they generally fall asleep on their own and you can observe that babies sleep longer.

6. Spend the whole night sleeping.

Hearing your baby cry at night or waking up middle of the night to change diapers is really uncomfortable and this is entirely unlikely both for you and the child. To get over with this makes all necessary arrangements before putting your baby asleep and make sure that she is safe and comfortable.

These are just easy steps that parents can follow. As a mom says, ?you can?t ask for more after having your baby sleep peacefully.? John Armand, a new parent, has followed these easy steps and after a week said, ?having a baby is worth a million joy specially when you don?t have to wake up at night to change diapers. All is quite and comforting for all of us in the household.? These steps are just practical and which anybody can follow. Well there is nothing to lose try it and let others know the results.

Parenting: How to Get Both Parents on the Same Page

Q. My spouse and I cannot agree on how to raise our kids. I think my spouse is too strict and my spouse thinks I am too lenient. Meanwhile, the kids are getting away with everything. What can we do?

A. This is an excellent and all-too-common question. So, in typical therapist fashion, I'm going to begin my answer with a question.

Where in the world did we get the idea that two parents have to agree on every aspect of parenting? Somehow, we are supposed to believe that two separate individuals, who grew up with different models of how to parent (if they had models at all), different life experiences and probably different temperaments, are now going to come together and agree on every facet of the complicated task of parenting.

Sorry, I just don't buy it.

Not only is this an unworkable notion in the real world, it can be a damaging one as well. The optimal goal, of course, would be for these two different people to combine their respective parenting styles into a well-functioning and supportive parenting team. This is difficult, although it can and does happen. But when people believe the lie about always having to agree, a power struggle can be set up between the two adults.

We all like to be right and we tend to fight for our positions. In too many situations, instead of coming together as a team, parents grow farther and farther apart, rigidly adhering to their own styles.

A person with a more strict style has something to learn from the person with a more lenient style, and vice versa. But instead of learning from each other, the strict one becomes more strict and the lenient one becomes more lenient. This creates, at best, criticism and resentment and a gap big enough for a child to drive a truck through. The children suffer, and the parents cancel each other out.

It also sets up what I call the ``parent trap.'' Picture the face of a clock. At 12 o'clock is the word ``angry,'' at four the word ``sympathy'' and at eight the phrase ``taken advantage of.''

The trap begins when a child misbehaves, does something wrong or gets in trouble. The parent starts at the top of the clock, becomes ``angry'' and says something like ``OK, that does it, you are grounded for life!'' or some equally realistic statement.

After a while, the parent moves on down the clock to ``sympathy,'' and lets the child off the hook.

Sure enough, the child takes advantage, and repeats the same action or something equally frustrating. This moves the parent over to feeling ``taken advantage of.'' The parent doesn't feel this way for too long before thinking or saying, ``How could you do this after all I've done for you!?!'' The parent quickly returns to the top of the clock and ``anger.''

Do you see the vicious circle this sets up? In the middle is the child, running the show.

Now let's complicate this process even more, with our two different parenting styles. Imagine having one parent stuck on anger and the other one stuck on sympathy, or some equally damaging combination. There's that hole you can drive a truck through.

There are many useful ways to get out of this parent trap. One of the simplest is called the odd/even schedule.

Here's how it works: On odd-numbered days, one parent will be in charge of parenting. That means that all discipline, privileges, discussions, etc., go through that parent for that entire day. The other parent is to stand by and merely observe (unless there is blood or some other legitimate emergency).

The parent who is on for that day can call on the other parent as a consultant if he or she so chooses. Otherwise, the off parent is required to ``sit on their wisdom'' for the day. On the next day, the even day, the roles are simply reversed. The parent who was in charge is off, and the parent who was off is in charge.

This plan can benefit the family in several ways:

The parents come together to agree to follow the plan.

Each parent gets to see the other one in action and see that he or she can parent.

Each parent gets to practice his or her own parenting skills.

The children get to see each parent in charge.

The door is open for the parents to come together as a team.

The task of parenting is difficult enough without it becoming a power struggle between the two adults. It's crucial to remember that the goal is to form an effective team, with both parents drawing on their own unique skills and learning from each other. In this way, the entire family benefits.

Visit ParentingYourTeenager.com for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to Your Teenager, from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring.

Teach Your Child Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness skills are key to reading success

Phonological awareness is an important foundation for learning to read. Scientific research has documented that phonological awareness is a better predictor of reading success than IQ, vocabulary, or socioeconomic level of the family.

Research has shown that children who begin reading instruction with sufficiently developed phonological awareness understand the instruction better, master the alphabetic principle faster and learn to read quite easily.

Children who will later be identified as being dyslexic often do not have phonological awareness skills. Teaching these skills has been shown in research to prevent the occurrence of dyslexia in many children. Accordingly, many school systems now follow a program of early screening for phonological awareness skills.

No area of reading research has gained as much attention over the past two decades as phonological awareness. Perhaps the most exciting finding emanating from research on phonological awareness is that critical levels of phonological awareness can be developed through carefully planned instruction, and this development has a significant influence on children?s reading and spelling achievement.

Why Is Phonological Awareness So Important?

An awareness of phonemes is necessary to grasp the alphabetic principle that underlies our system of written language. Specifically, developing readers must be sensitive to the internal structure of words.

If children understand that words can be divided into individual phonemes and that phonemes can be blended into words, they are able to use letter-sound knowledge to read and build words. As a consequence of this relationship, phonological awareness is a strong predictor of later reading success. Researchers have shown that this strong relationship between phonological awareness and reading success persists throughout school.

Early reading is dependent on having some understanding of the internal structure of words, and explicit instruction in phonological awareness skills is very effective in promoting early reading. However, instruction in early reading ? especially instruction in letter-sound correspondence ? strengthens phonological awareness.

Success in early reading depends on achieving a certain level of phonological awareness. Instruction in phonological awareness is beneficial for most children and critical for others.

What Is Phonological Awareness?

Phonological awareness is the ability to break words into separate sounds. A child who has phonological awareness can tell you when two words rhyme and when two words start with the same sound. Further development of phonological awareness will allow the child to tell you when two words end with the same sound. For example, they can tell you that ?bat? and ?sit? end with the same sound but ?bat? and ?sad? do not end with the same sound.

Phonological awareness is a broad term that includes phonemic awareness. In addition, to phonemes, phonological awareness activities can involve work with rhymes, words, syllables, and onsets and rimes

The key to the process of learning to read is the ability to identify the different sounds that make words and to associate these sounds with written words. In order to learn to read, a child must be aware of phonemes. A phoneme is the smallest functional unit of sound. For example, the word cat contains three distinctly different sounds. There are 44 phonemes in the English language, including letter combinations such as /th/.

In addition to identifying these sounds, children must also be able to manipulate them. Word play involving segmenting words into their constituent sounds, rhyming words, and blending sounds to make words is also essential to the reading process. The ability to identify and manipulate the sounds of language is called phonological awareness. There are five levels of phonological awareness ranging from an awareness of rhyme to being able to switch or substitute the components in a word.

Children generally begin to show initial phonological awareness when they demonstrate an appreciation of rhyme and alliteration. For many children, this begins very early in the course of their language development and is likely facilitated by being read to from books that are based on rhyme or alliteration.

Teaching Phonological Awareness

Early experience with nursery rhymes can help children begin to notice and think about the phonological structure of words. Several research studies have shown that the children who know more about nursery rhymes at age 3, are those that tend to be more highly developed in general phonological awareness at age 4 and in phonemic awareness at age 6.

You don?t have to stop with nursery rhymes though. Read rhyming books, sing rhyming songs and chants. Have children identify the rhyming words using picture cards and do rhyming sorts with picture cards.

Also play games that teach children to isolate individual sounds in a word. For example, this game can be played with the ?BINGO? song. There was a letter had a sound and you can say it with me b,b,b,like ball?? Play the game ? ?What?s the First Sound in this Word? This can be done orally or with picture cards

When children learn how to ?listen to language?, they are also learning to connect oral language with the written word. Once they hear, know, and are able to manipulate sounds, they begin to realize how words work.

Deanna Mascle writes many articles on preschool education and emergent literacy for her newsletter Preschoolers Learn More. Visit Teach Phonological Awareness at http://TeachPhonologicalAwareness.info for more information and articles.

Letter to My Son You are Leaving Home Today

You are leaving home today. I keep repeating that statement over and over in my mind, trying to understand what it means. I have had your lifetime to prepare for this, sometimes wanting it to come quickly and sometimes hoping this day would never come. Most of the time though, I have been preparing myself and preparing you, by madly gathering life?s questions and answers in the hope that I haven?t forgotten anything. I keep revising the list inside my head; checking off all the things I know I?ve already told you ? so many times.

As tempting as it is to slip a few of the big ones into a casual conversation I correct myself and let it go. An image of your face appears before me and I see your eyes look upward and your mouth tighten with that expression of yours that we both know so well. ?Mum I know ? you have told me a hundred times already.?

Well, you know me well enough to expect a letter tucked away in your luggage with just a couple of pages of instructions about ?keeping yourself safe and healthy?. You might even expect to find food in there, a little treat to keep you going. And lots of XXX?s scribbled on a note like noisy kisses on your bare belly.

Protecting you and preparing you has been such a big part of who I am ? it?s hard to redefine myself and accept that my job is done.

I remind myself that this is about you, but as usual, here I am making it about me again. Slightly neurotic, I find myself wanting to explain or apologize or gain some kind of absolution from you. I want to go back into your history and call myself to your attention and wipe the slate clean of all my mistakes. I do admit that I have been selfish and hypocritical at times, and I don?t want you to leave now thinking it was your fault or that you didn?t deserve better.

Yeah, yeah, I hear you say ?Don?t worry about it, it doesn?t matter?.

I have such an urge to tell you of promises I made, as you slept below my heart all those years ago. So very real and profound to me and so intense I?m sure I?d weep if I even tried to tell you. You of course, would shift from one leg to the other and endure my disclosure with discomfort and impatience.

Mini movies of first steps, first words and first everything else?s consume me. Tooth fairies and Santa Clause and Easter bunnies. Little trophies, wall posters, clay models and lego buildings.

I?m indulging myself, it?s my prerogative, but I have promised myself to keep it all to myself. I want to reminisce, at a time when you have one foot out the door. I?m going back to the baby and you are going forward to the man. You have freedom, independence and adventure on your mind. I know you are ready; capable, competent and smarter than I?ll ever be.

My attitude shifts as I accept you don?t need any precautions, no more moralizing; no more ?You know what you should do??

And even though I have represented myself as parent and teacher I see so clearly that I have also been the pupil. I have learned so much from you, you have played such a large part in moulding me into the person I am. You have taught me well and I thank you.

Now, I?m compelled to tell you of all the things about you that fills me with pride and awe. Another long list of what you have achieved, the person you are, your character and integrity. I want to place wishes on you and insist that they all become true for you. I want you to stand at the head of the table and have everyone who ever knew you, come forward and pay tribute to you. But, you would hate that too.

It?s never about what you have done or anything that you are capable of doing. It?s only ever about who you are; the real value is in the fact that you exist.

No, you don?t need to be told who you are or what you are capable of. You don?t judge yourself by such things and I don?t want you to do that either. You are your own person and you are comfortable in your own skin, and at the end of the day, that tells me that I have done well. That tells me, that you are ready for the world and the world will be better for having you as a participant.

I really don?t need to tell you any of this - I even wonder now what impact any of the words have ever had. I do believe that I have taught you by example, but more than that, I think you have always known my heart. The umbilical cord might just be symbology for the heart to heart connection between mother and child.

When you leave today, I will light an imaginary candle and place it on the window-sill. Think about it, if you wander into shadows or if you need to lighten up. Let it always be your beacon.

And all in all, there are only two things left to say to you, ?I am proud of you and I love you.?

Copyright Sonya Green
www.reinventingmyself.com

Sonya Green doesn't just 'get under your skin' she goes straight to your core and pulls out all of your secret places, she then confronts you with a mirror and reflects back to you the beauty, power, uniqueness and wisdom which is your intended birthright. You may laugh and you may cry, but you will certainly be left with a sense that something within you has shifted and a healing has taken place.

Hedging for Shade Discover Why Laurel is a Great Choice

Sizes and uses

Prunus laurocerasus is commonly known as the Cherry laurel or English laurel. It is quite often confused with Laurus noblis (bay laurel or Grecian laurel), which is the victory laurel of ancient Greece.

A hardy evergreen shrub native to Asia and Europe, It is often planted as a large ground cover or under-planting beneath forest trees. I once did some work for Newtown house in Abbeyknockmoy (an old estate house with a forest attached) and witnessed first hand how large and rampant it can grow. In some cases, its mature stems were growing serpentine-like, through and around the surrounding plants and trees. In cases such as this a single laurel plant can grow to the extremes of 7 metres wide (21ft), with a similar height. Within the garden, we gardeners tend to grow this laurel as a formal hedge or screen with much smaller dimensions due to pruning.

Growth rate, leaves, flowers and fruit

It is a hedge that will grow in conditions other hedges dread. Whether the situation is full sun, partial shade, deep shade, damp soil or dry soil, laurel will do well. Space laurel plants at 2ft centres in a row to run the length of your hedge. This hedging plant does not exactly possess the Formula 1 growth rate of the Leylandii, you can realistically expect it to grow 1ft a year. With large, leathery, dark green leaves, Prunus laurocerasus foliage is superior to that of the Leylandii, It is more attractive and will reflect extra light into your garden due to sheen on the leaves upper surface. Each spring, white flower spikes are displayed amongst the glossy leaves, masses of these slightly fragrant flowers will bloom on loosely clipped plants. Small black coloured fruits form after flowering, these are actually inedible cherries. True to its name, the Cherry laurel is a member of the cherry family, the same as the plum, peach, apricot and almond.

When and how to prune

I am often asked when is the best time of year to attempt the pruning of your laurel hedge. Well, anytime from April to the end of August is a good time to prune your laurel hedging plants. The earlier they are pruned within this timescale, the earlier they will put on fresh growth to cover your pruning cuts. Try to prune laurel during a dry spell, as a bacterium know as Pseudomonas syringae can enter through pruning cuts created in damp weather. This unpleasant bacterium leads to the laurel dieback disease called bacterial canker. Pruning laurel with petrol or electric hedge-trimmers can lead to rough jagged cuts and unattractive half leaves; make your pruning cuts with secateurs instead. Do you need to transplant some Laurel? Well, Laurel plants tend to tolerate transplanting better in early spring.

Want to Build a Pond?

A pond, logically, the first question you should ask is WHERE? Do you have a huge yard with a lot of trees and shrubs and flowerbeds? In other words what is the present landscape like? Would you prefer your pond in a sunny spot or in the shade? That may not seem too important, but if you should decide to surround your pond with flowers, it becomes very important. It seems (to me at least) that there are many more varieties of flowers that are sun lovers rather than ones that prefer shade. Another consideration also is that if you place your pond too near to trees, then falling leaves become a cleanup problem.

Once you?ve decided on a location, then the next question is HOW BIG? Do you want a small pond that will only need a few hundred gallons to fill, or something more like what you see in the pictures that accompany this text that holds around three thousand gallons? Do you have a water spigot close enough to your pond location so that you don?t need three hundred feet of hose to fill it?

If you are going to have a pond with a pump and filter to re-circulate the water, then you will need an electrical source nearby. Are you thinking of having a water fall or fountain? Do you think that you are going to want fish or other aquatic life in your pond?

Will you need a fence? Does your city or township require fences or any other kind of safeguards around ponds? If there are no local ordinances in this regard, then how about your own personal feelings about keeping such an area safe for small children, who all seem to love water and gravitate to it like bees to honey?

Where is the one really good spot in your yard where you love to sit and commune with nature? If you have a spot like that, then that is probably the perfect place for your pond. Just sitting and watching a waterfall or fountain is very relaxing, and if you?ve decided to liven up your private little lake, then choose fish like Koi, Comets, and Shabunkins which seem to be quite hardy specimens. They winter well, even here in northern Ohio. We haven?t lost one fish to the weather in the eight years we?ve had our pond.

Now, as to the basic ?hardware? needs. Set your mind to having a strong liner, even if it?s more expensive. This is the key to a trouble free pond. Firestone makes a liner material called EPDM PondGuard that is tough and very puncture resistant. (Holes in the liner are a real pain in the neck!). Besides the liner, you?ll need a submersible water pump, a pond filter, a UV light (sometimes called a UV filter), and a few pond plants.

Just some things to think about before you build your pond.

Robert Dorrance has had a pond for the last eight years and would like to share his experiences with you. Be sure to come by and download the free e-book, How To Build A Beautiful Backyard Pond. Find out more at http://www.Backyard-Pond-Guide.com

Show Your Baby That You Read

When you take your child to the library, check out a book for yourself. Then set a good example by letting your child see you reading for yourself. Ask your child to get one of her books and sit with you as you read your book, magazine, or newspaper. Don't worry if you feel uncomfortable with your own reading ability. It's the reading that counts.When your child sees that reading is important to you, she may decide that it is important to him or her, too

How Does a Book Work?

Children are fascinated by how books look and feel. They see how easily you handle and read books, and they want to do the same. When your toddler watches you handle books, she begins to learn that a book is for reading, not tearing or tossing around. Before she is 3, she may even pick one up and pretend to read, an important sign that she is beginning to know what a book is for. As your child becomes a preschooler, she is learning that ??

A book has a front cover.

A book has a beginning and an end.

A book has pages.

A page in a book has a top and a bottom.

You turn pages one at a time to follow the story. You read a story from left to right of a page. As you read with your babt, begin to remind her about these things. Read the title on the cover. Talk about the picture on the cover. Point to the place where the story starts and, later, where it ends. Let your child help turn the pages. When you start a new page, point to where the words of the story continue and keep following the words by moving your finger beneath them. It takes time for a child to learn these things, but when your child does learn them, she or he has solved some of reading's mysteries.

Anil Vij is the creator of the ultimate parenting toolbox, which has helped parents all over the world raise smarter, healthier and happier children ==> http://www.expertsonparenting.com

Sign up for Anil's Experts On Parenting Newsletter - just send a blank email ===> mailto: parentingnews@aweber.com

Santa Claus Continues Holdout

With Thanksgiving just over a week away, the holiday season is nearly upon us. However, glad tidings appear to be in short supply at the North Pole. Representatives for Santa Claus and the world?s toy stores remain at an impasse after the latest round of contract negotiations.

If no agreement is reached, the delivery of toys to the world?s youth could be in serious jeopardy. Santa Claus expressed his appreciation for the children, but added that he has the right to demand what he feels he is worth. Furious that the toy stores offered him the same salary as the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus fumed, ?What a joke! Kris Kringle does ten times the work as the Easter Bunny. So Kris Kringle?s gotta do what?s right for Kris Kringle!?

The toy stores counter that due to the expansion of online shopping, Santa Claus is not producing at the levels he once was. ?Nobody appreciates what Santa has done more than we do,? commented Ebeneezer Grinch, counsel for the toy stores. ?He?s an international treasure, and at his peak he was something to behold. But he?s clearly past his prime, and UPS and FedEx are doing lots of his work now. From an economic standpoint, paying him exorbitant dollars makes no sense.?

The relationship between Santa Claus and the toy stores has become increasingly contentious this year. First, the stores angered Santa by insisting on a dress code that would have outlawed his classic red suit and black boots. They relented after Santa Claus repeatedly objected, ?No one makes SC wear a tie!? The stores opted not to push a similar policy outlawing facial hair.

What particularly irked Santa was the toy stores? support of star reindeer Rudolph in his feud with St. Nick. The stores publicly denounced Santa?s statement that his team would be more successful if Brett Favre were leading the sleigh. Press conference rantings by Santa?s agent Drew Rosenhaus only exacerbated the acrimony.

The stores were also less than supportive as media rumors swirled about Santa?s physique. His lighter appearance this season coincided with the first year of the toy stores? new drug testing procedures. While speculation raged about performance-enhancing substances, Santa Claus insisted that he ingested nothing stronger than milk and cookies left by excited children. His weight loss, he claimed, resulted from spinning classes at the new Gold?s Gym on the North Pole.

This issue only adds to the developments that have downgraded the once-beloved icon?s public image. Feminists have long condemned Santa?s trademark phrase, ?Ho Ho Ho,? insisting that his generations of service give him no right to treat women as objects. St. Nick also enraged Arizona residents when he threatened to boycott the state during his infamous ?We talkin? ?bout CACTUS!? rant.

Time is running out for Santa Claus and the toy stores to come to an agreement. If they fail to reach common ground, it?s the children who will suffer. If that happens, the kids will forget the true meaning of Christmas, instead viewing the sacred holiday as a mere celebration of the Messiah?s birth. And that will truly be sad.

Jack Archey is an actor and writer living in Los Angeles. He is a five-time Jeopardy! champion and sports trivia expert. To see his intelligently goofy articles on the sports world, please visit his blog: http://jackssportshumor.blogspot.com

Global Positioning: Finding Your Lost Pet Quickly

It's every pet owner?s nightmare- your dog is lost. Your dog is outside facing the elements and the dangers all alone. You don't know where they are and you have no idea how to go about finding them.

Most dogs just love to explore and some breeds are more prone to straying further than others. Hunting dogs like beagles are even more adventurous than other kinds of dogs and will quickly stray out of sight.

It's not just hunting dogs that can go missing. Dogs and cats escape all the time. Whether it?s the dog that escapes underneath your feet as you open the door or the cat who has escaped over the weekend. Pets also face all kinds of dangers while traveling with their owners.

If you?re pet does get lost finding them soon will reduce the threat of serious harm coming to them. A pet that is lost after nightfall has significantly less chance of being found safe and returned alive. The cold temperatures and dangers of traffic are increased and your pet becomes more vulnerable to attack by wild animals too.

If this all sounds like a nightmare to you there is a method of keeping track of your pet which might alleviate your worries. Using satellite technology you can keep tabs on where your pet is. GPS technology is not new for cars and boats but for pets it's pretty new. Global Positioning Systems can now be used to keep track of your dog or cat.

The system uses governmental surveillance techniques with satellites; enabling a Mobile System for Communications (GSM). This means you can use your phone or laptop to keep track of anything from your car to your dog. You will need a service provider to relay the information to you which you will need to pay for.

A tracking device can be attached to your dog?s collar; so it doesn't hurt or hinder them in any way. Except for curbing that adventurous spirit a bit! The system is very personalized - you can set perimeters and zones and you can change them as you travel or even move house to house. These safe zones can be set so you are alerted whenever your pet leaves an area determined by you.

If you choose GPS; remember it is only effective as part of a wider strategy. There's no substitute for proper training but there are some tools you can use to make your pet safer.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu?s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide.

Learn about Lawns How to Fertilize Your Lawn

Why do you need to fertilize?

Your lawn takes nutrients out of the soil and uses them to aid growth. If your soil lacks adequate nutrients your lawn will suffer. First, as you probably know, fertilizing makes your lawn greener. Most people fertilize to green up the lawn but they don't know much more than that about why to fertilize.

Fertilizers can include chemicals to inhibit or kill weeds. However, a healthy lawn can actually can keep weeds at bay on its own. A healthy lawn competes with weeds to grow and will win when it has the right conditions.

Another reason to fertilize is that when the nutrients are available, the lawn develops healthier roots. Healthy roots grow deeper. Deep roots can better draw upon water and nutrients in the soil. Furthermore, deep roots reduce thatch and browning. Finally, fertilizer contains nutrients that grass needs to resist disease and drought.

Why are there so many different fertilizers?

The three primary nutrients in a fertilizer are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. Each element has its own affect upon grass. Nitrogen stimulates grass growth and greening. Phosphorous stimulates the development of roots and seedlings. Potassium promotes disease and drought resistance.

As the weather changes, your lawn has changing needs. In the heat of the summer, your lawn needs water and little else. In order to survive the cold weather, your lawn needs to have healthy roots and so a fertilizer to promote root growth should be applied before the cold weather sets in. At other times of year your lawn needs nutrients to enable growth and greening. Finally, various weeds have their own growing seasons. In order to give your lawn the edge over weeds, you should fertilize at the beginning of the various weed growth seasons.

Where you live, the type of grass you have, the condition of your soil and the weather all affect your choice of fertilizer and when it should be applied. You also have a choice of organic fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, which is sprayed on, or time released granules which are distributed with a spreader. All of these factors result in the many choices of fertilizer.

What do those numbers on the package mean?

Fertilizer is comprised of three primary nutrients; Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. The symbols for these nutrients, respectively, are N - P - K. The numbers on fertilizer packages represent the ratio of the nutrient to the total weight of the package. So a 50 lb. bag labeled as 25-5-10 is 25% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous, 10% potassium. By multiplying the weight of the package, by the percentage of the nutrient, you can determine the number of pounds of each nutrient. So in the example above, .25 * 50 lbs = 12.5 lbs. of nitrogen, 2.5 lbs. phosphorous and 5 lbs. potassium.

So what is the rest of the bag contain? Mostly inert fillers. Why not make the bay lighter and leave those fillers out? Those fillers help with even distribution of the nutrients and in the slow-release of nutrients over time.

When should you fertilize?

The weather is the chief influence on when to apply nutrients. The beginning and end of the growing season are the two most important times to fertilize the lawn. These two applications will be adequate to sustain a healthy lawn. However, also preparing for the winter and fertilizing prior to the appearance of weeds will give you the best results.

Where you live influences the timing for each of these applications. If you live in a warmer climate, then the early and late summer are ideal for pre and post growth season applications. In colder climates, spring and fall are the best times to apply nutrients. Early summer is the time to apply nutrients to aid in the prevention of weeds.

For winter protection you should apply fertilizer prior to the first frost or in warmer climates, when the grass stops growing.

Which fertilizer should you use?

You should have your soil tested every 3-4 years to determine what nutrients may be needed. You can purchase a soil test kit, or take a sample to a local nursery. Some counties have agencies that can also test soil for a nominal fee.

The result of your soil test will be a factor in your choice of fertilizer. Generally, the proper ratio of primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and Potassium.) is influenced by the season. The selection of secondary nutrients is influenced by the condition of your soil.

You have three choices when it comes to form of fertilizer; organic, liquid or timed release. Organic fertilizer is your classic food or animal waste that has been composted. The benefit of organics is that you really can't damage your lawn by over-fertilizing. You may also have a ready supply of composted material. The down side is that it won't contain the balance that your lawn needs, it is heavy, requires large quantities and is relatively difficult to apply. Liquid fertilizer can be convenient to apply because it is sprayed, usually with an attachment to your hose. However, it doesn't last as long and so it must be applied much more often. Slow release fertilizer comes in granules which are spread with a hand spreader or larger push spreader.

Also, don't underestimate the value of leaving the lawn clippings when you mow. These clippings break down quickly and return vital nutrients to the soil. The rumors you have heard about lawn clippings leading to thatch are untrue. The USDA has tested and determined that thatch does not result from lawn clippings being left on the lawn. The key is that you don't wait until the lawn is too tall and that you mow only when the grass is dry. Otherwise, you will end up with clumps of clippings that turn brown and are unsightly as well as may block sunlight from the grass underneath.

Because of all the factors that influence the selection of fertilizer, you should take advantage of the knowledge of the staff at your local nursery or home center. First of all, they are generally going to stock the appropriate fertilizer for the current season and the unique considerations for your region. Furthermore, their staff can help you to identify your variety of grass (bring a sample with you), answer your questions and help you select the appropriate fertilizer for your needs.

How much Fertilizer should you use?

Over fertilizing can lead to chemical burn, excessive top growth and weakens your lawn. Under fertilizing results in a lawn that lacks color & lushness, increases risk of disease and results in more weed growth. Clearly, getting the right balance is important.

This is also where the local nursery staff is invaluable. The type of grass will affect the quantity of nutrients needed. Ask the staff to help you select the right product for your type of grass (remember, bring a sample of your grass). If you know your variety of grass, you can also just read the packages as they will include detail of how much of their product to use for your variety of grass.

Always follow all of the directions for the use, application and cautions listed on the package. Use of protective clothing, gloves, eyewear and breathing masks is recommended when working with chemical fertilizers.

Outdoor Furniture Covers

If you have outdoor furniture that can?t be stored indoors in bad or winter months, that you definitely need outdoor furniture covers. As a matter of fact, even people who live in warm, tropical climates purchase patio furniture to protect their furniture from the elements.

Consider your outdoor furniture. If you have wicker, then the seats are probably made of a cotton material. Although this material is usually waterproof, it is best preserved with covers during rain and damp weather. There are also synthetic products like polypropylene that look like wood but have the resistance and durability of plastic. Even though polypropylene is durable, it too is best preserved if covered during inclement weather in order to retain its rich color and wood tone finish.

Wood is also a favorite for outdoor furnishings and is usually treated t with a water and insect repellent paint or stain. Patio furniture covers for wooden outdoor furniture can be purchased to match the color of a deck or poolside set. Easy throw on covers made from heavy plastic material or other synthetic fabric is available for most outdoors furniture and can be purchased individually or as a set.

Covers are a smart investment. They are usually waterproof and UV treated and will last for years. You?ll find patio furniture covers to fit chairs, tables and sets. Most patio furniture covers come with a warranty that guarantees replacement for up to three years. You can purchase covers at your local home and garden shop or check online for ?outdoor furniture covers.?

Outdoor Furniture provides detailed information on Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Patio Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, Outdoor Furniture Cushions and more. Outdoor Furniture is affiliated with Teak Patio Furniture.

Plan for Winter Plantings

Part four in a series

It?s hard to think about winter when our gardens are in full bloom and the vegetables are ripening on the vine! But we must keep winter in mind when we are planning our landscape. Afterall, we have to look at our landscape all year long, including winter. (Unless, of course, you are fortunate enough to be able to move to warmer climates in the winter or live in a climate that is tropical all year long!) But for most of us, we have to contend with four seasons and the life cycle of our landscape.

So when you are planning your landscape, keep in mind this life cycle of the plants you choose to add to your landscape design. Some plants, like flowering trees and shrubs look their best in Spring, others reach their full beauty in Summer, others still attain stunning and vibrant color in the Autumn, and yet, some evergreens look beautiful in the Winter, offset by a striking snow-covered landscape.

Add plants to your landscape that offer a variety of looks in different seasons. Don?t plan your landscape with plants that all reach their peak of beauty at the same time. For example, a bed of perennials will provide a rainbow of color all summer long, but in the fall and winter, you will have to contend with a big empty space in your landscape. The same holds true for evergreens. While evergreens look beautiful in the winter-white of the colder months, they don?t offer much in the summer.

So, try to choose plants for your landscape that have different focal points for different parts of the year. Look for plants that may keep red or orange berries through the winter months, or that keep a beautiful bud head through the winter for a variety of shapes. You can also postpone dead-heading some of your flowering plants until the end of winter so you have some visual interest all winter long.

Just don?t be afraid to experiment. Remember, this is your landscape. Use your creativity! And if something you?ve tried doesn?t work, try something else! You can always move a planting somewhere else and try something new.

Dean Novosat is an avid gardener and landscaper. He has transformed many boring yards into beautiful landscapes. He has several websites including http://www.the-garden-doctor.com and

Graduation Gift Ideas For That Happy Graduate

Graduation at whatever level is an important milestone, a rite of passage, for any educational level. Nowadays, digital cameras and video cameras help to record the day for posterity. It is, however, still good to mark the occasion by giving something to the graduate that will both provide a memento of the occasion to the recipient, and also to reward them for their hard studying over the years.

The reward element will probably give you a clue in what sort of gift to buy. If it is one of your children who is graduating, then you no doubt know them well enough to be able to choose something that will delight them. Ask them, and they will probably say a car will be very much appreciated, but if you are looking for something more modest, (or a memento to go with the car!), then try considering what really excites them.

As an example, if they are a sports fan, and a baseball fan in particular, a personalised baseball bat or ball, with a message of congratulation, could bring back nice memories in the future for a grateful graduate.

Personalized Graduation Gifts

It is not just baseball bats that can be personalized. By personalising any gift, it can be made special for the occasion, in this case graduation. The baseball gift is simply an example of matching the graduate to the gift.

If you choose what will really make them happy, and proud that you appreciate their efforts, the chances are that it can be personalised in one way or another. Engraving, embossing or monogramming can all be used to add your congratulatory message, as can engraved badges (on the bonnet of the car?). Watches, jewellery and many other metal items, which make good gifts, can all be personalized.

Traditional Graduation Gifts

If you are looking for a graduation gift idea, then you could also start by considering some of the more traditional academic achievement gifts or awards.

High scholastic achievement could be accompanied, for example, by the presentation of some sort of trophy. Whether or not the graduate has won any trophy at school, college or university, you could use that theme as an idea for a graduation gift. A sculpture of a girl, or boy, graduate at their graduation ceremony can make an appropriate memento for the successful graduate.

Still keeping with school and college tradition, a stylish certificate wall plaque is another option. Although this is a very simple and traditional scholastic gift, there is no doubt a certificate of any sort of achievement, attractively housed, makes a fine memento. If the frame is made from an attractive wood, such as walnut, mahogany or cherry, then it will make a long lasting reminder of the graduates achievements.

Another memento of recognition, common in many forms of achievement, is a medal or medallion. It is possible to choose medals in bronze or silver that can be personalized to recognize an individual's achievements, so these too make a good choice for a graduation gift.

Whatever you may decide on, the important thing, of course, is to show your appreciation of all the hard work and study, plus the sacrifices, that have gone into graduating. It is not just about graduation day, it is about the months and years that have gone before. All young people respond to encouragement, so it well worth making that extra bit of effort when graduation comes around.

This graduation gift article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gifts For Xmas and other occasions website.

Fireplace Designs For Every Desire

If you are thinking of getting a fireplace there are a million different types of fireplace designs to choose from. Whether you want a classic brick fireplace designs or a more modern type, you are sure to find the design you're looking for.

Knowing what you want your house to look like will be the biggest decision in choosing your fireplace designs. Always have a few designs in mind before making that final decision, just in case. If you already have a fireplace of your own, make sure it can be upgraded or changed before you try doing it yourself.

Make sure you know what type of fireplace that will fit well in your home before deciding on the type of fireplace designs you'll want. The three types are gas burning, wood burning, and electric burning fireplaces. It doesn't matter if you will use it or if it's just for show, it does matter when making your designs. Many people still like the smell of a real burning log, a wood burning fireplace is for them. But some people prefer gas burning fireplaces because it is more convenient then trying to catch a log on fire and they no longer have to crumble papers or try lighting a fire. With the electric fireplace you can have a fire within a matter of seconds, simply push the button and out pops a fire and you don't even need a vent for this. Depending on the style you prefer, this will determine the type of fireplace designs that'll work best for you.

Brick Fireplace designs are one of the best designs for a wood burning fireplace. They are safe and easy to upkeep while not leaving marks from the smoke either. This looks excellent with a cast iron screen around it and will go with just about any type of d?cor you have in your home. A brick fireplace brings the warmth of the home into your living room, make your house inviting. With a brick fireplace you can even build one in your own backyard, so if you ever dreamed of that backyard barbeque this is the design for you.

If you want to have beautiful carvings around your fireplace you may want to look into the many limestone fireplace designs or stone fireplace designs. Marble fireplace designs are also great for those that never plan on using the fireplace and only want it in the room for decoration. Marble is stunning to look at, and the bright white would look beautiful against the wood burning logs. Fireplace designs that use ceramic tiles will allow you to choose from thousands of beautifully designed tiles that you may want around your fireplace. You can get a solid color, mix and match or even choose from certain themes. You may even want to choose to get a fireplace design on the inside of the fireplace. This can be a beautiful backdrop to your fire.

Once you know where you will place your new fireplace, you can then make the decision on which type of fireplace you'd like and what you want your fireplace to look like. Know what shape it is that you want, for instance, if it'll have sharp corners or rounded corners. If you want your fireplace in the corner, you'll have to take proper steps. The final thing that will determine what type of fireplace designs you purchase will be price. Never go over the amount you have decided to spend. This will only leave you with an unfinished fireplace and some very angry workers if you hired someone to do the job. Make sure you have the money to spend and decide from there. A fireplace is nice to have but only if it's complete. Wouldn't it be nice to bring the family back into the living room? You'll be amazed at how fast the family wants to gather around the fireplace and enjoy some family time once again.

Jon worked in construction for 10 years before starting his own local fireplace installation service 8 years ago. At his website, Jon will show you how his years of experience in the industry can help change your fireplace into the focal point of your home. To learn more about fireplace design ideas visit http://www.fireplacegate.com.