This is very encouraging, because I have been thinking of putting in hardwood floors for quite some time now, and this article is just what I needed. I wasn't sure if it would be worth the expense or not. I wasn't sure if it would be worth the upkeep either, but now I am thinking just the opposite. It would actually be a really good investment in the value of my home, and would be something that I would be proud of for a really long time. I want it in a big room that I can entertain in, and that guests can share the beauty and warmth of the hardwood floor right along with me.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tea tree oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
via en.wikipedia.org
The harvesting of melaleuca alternifolia oil, also known as melaleuca oil or tea tree oil. This stuff is amazing. It smells slightly like camphor, a little less obnoxious than eucalyptus. But it works amazing! We use it for mosquito bites, itchy rashes, to speed healing of minor injuries, etc. It is topical (do not ingest it). And don't pour it into an open wound. Ouch! But definitely take it hiking/camping with you. It immediately takes the itch out of a mosquito bite, and it works wonders on getting rid of the itch of eczema and other itchy spots.
Follow instructions on the bottle you purchase.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Her Blog Inspires Others | Fitbie
via fitbie.msn.com
This blog is awesome. A lady who lost weight, got fit, and changed her life all by herself. So inspiring, I am determined to do the same thing too. What a great way to help others and earn money at the same time. I love it. It doesn't get better than that! If you look through her recipes, they look fabulous. The only difference I would make is that I would not microwave my oatmeal! It changes it! It doesn't taste the same. It tastes like you're eating melted plastic. So yucky!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Graeme Robin
via graemerobin.com
This building is so eye-catching that I can hardly take my eyes off of it. In fact the blog in general is a fairly new travel blog and so far I am really enjoying reading it and seeing the pictures.
This looks like places I would love to go and visit.
I like that Graeme's grandson got to make some of the journal entries. It looks like quite an adventure they're embarking on.
Friday, July 15, 2011
HIMALAYAN KITTENS FOR SALE | HIMALAYAN CATS FOR SALE
Designer Himalayan Kittens.com
Designer Himalayan Kittens®
is where you will see our beautiful Champion Designer Himalayan Kittens and Himalayan Cats. We take pride in raising Beautiful Healthy Himalayan Kittens in our cageless-no cat enclosures home where the needs of our Himalayan Kittens are at the forefront of all we do. Our Himalayan Kittens are never isolated in any way and allowed to go anywhere they want to go in our clean stress free, environmentally friendly home. All our Himalayan Kittens & Himalayan Cats are members of our family, and cared and loved for as our own children. We intentionally limit the amount of breeding cats we have. We are small so that we can devote all our attention to our Himalayan Kittens & Cats. Our Himalayan Cats are our cherished pets, which is why we never have "retired" cats. We are Himalayan Cat Breeders with more than 2 decades of breeding and show experience, & over 3 decades of both human and feline nutrition experience. We're Persian Cat Breeders of the most sought after and rare lynx color point persians: cream point, flame points, lilac point persians, chocolate point, and cream point persian kittens. Our Cream Points are especially light, lighter than Flame Points and look like pure white persian kittens. Our girl kittens are very petite, and grow to an average of 5-6 lbs, & our boys get to be 9 lbs at the heaviest.
Himalayan Kittens © ~ Designer Himalayan Kittens
Himalayan Kittens at Designer Himalayan Kittens® have very distinct looks~sweet wide open faces, full kissable cheeks, & big round expressive crystal blue eyes. All our Himalayan Kittens have plush, elegant, long full and glossy coats, thick full lions manes-also called "rough," & flowing thick tails. We have worked to "Design" a Himalayan Kitten that meet
Champion Himalayan Breed Standards without extreme faces! ***(anytime you see a CH before our Himalayan Cat's name that means that Cat has won the title of Champion)*** Therefore our Himalayan Kittens aren't the "Doll Face" Himalayans that most breeders have with long narrow faces which actually look more like Ragdoll and Birman Cats. Designer Himalayan Kittens ® all have pleasing round cute kitten faces which they keep as they turn into adult Himalayan Cats. Our himalayan kittens are the most adorable and loving kittens you'll ever experience. Not only are our kittens lap kittens that purr as soon as they are touched, they are also very playful, outgoing & attentive, and love to follow you around~they act a lot like little puppies! We are rewarded everyday with the immense love of our Cats and Kittens, and rewarded with the updates on how fulfilled our Proud Owners are with our Himalayan Kittens. (read more comments and updates about our himalayan kittens in our Proud Owners page), (See our affectionate & smart kittens doing tricks such as high fives in our himalayan kitten videos)
Himalayan Kitten Health & Interaction at Designer Himalayan Kittens®
Designer Himalayan Kittens ® in an effort to maintain the integrity of the breed and health of mother and her kittens, limit the amount of times actual mating occurs. We want the best in looks, health, genetics, and want to maintain Designer Himalayan Kittens ® CFA Championship lines. Play and interation increases physical coordination and social skills. Our himalayan kittens are touched and played with everyday, we sing to them, we include our kittens in all family activities, bathe, groom, massage (yes massage--they all love it and it has been found to heal sick and shy kittens!). None of our cats or kittens are ever shaved because we include comb outs into their daily interaction and play activities. Which is one of the reasons all our kittens love to be touched, and never shy away from people.
Mommie is massaged while she nurses-which makes "happy milk," and happy kittens! Our himalayan kittens are taught not to scratch or jump on furniture, and are litter AND toilet trained at 6 weeks-(no more scooping cat litter means a cleaner home and less allergies!). Both mother Coco and father Ch Maxi (read more about our Star and CFA Champion) and older siblings help raise the himalayan kittens, and are always kept together as seen in the natural settings in all our himalayan kitten pictures.
Himalayan Kittens ® & Travel
We take our himalayan kittens out for rides in the car, and in a pet stoller for long walks. Our himlayan kittens are well trained by the sixth week, and answer to their names (see them answer to names as soon as their eyes open in our himalayan kitten videos)!
Himalayan Kittens ® with Children
We introduce our himalayan kittens to children and other family pets early so they will get along in all family situations. Our kittens are patient & tolerant with children. We have no alpha, or dominant personalities. Under no circumstance is a kitten or cat at Designer Himalayan Kittens ever disciplined! There is no need to when a kitten is in a stress free home & knows only love and positive reinforcement. All our kittens are well behaved and make loving, affectionate, devoted loyal family companions.
Himalayan Kittens Healthy Diet & Holistic Approach
We take a natural holistic approach for our Kittens Nutrition. All kittens & cats are fed a special hand prepared, high protein, no carb, raw diet (no wheat, corn, or soy fillers and everything is USA made only!) We use only local farm raised grass-fed fresh meats-not frozen. We supplement their diet with high grade vitamins & minerals, including DHA Omega 3 fish oils for brain power, and herbs from our own garden for organic catnip. We don't have to worry about pet recalls. They only drink purified water, (purified water makes their eyes and coat bright and shiny, and reduces tartar buildup). Read more about how we maintain optimum health for our Himalayan Kittens in The Persian_Kittens_Diet©! All this makes a solid foundation for a well adjusted, happy, healthy, playful and loyal persian kitten that can easily fit into any new loving home. If all kittens were given the foundation we have given our kittens, there would be no unwanted kittens.
Himalayan Kittens® Health Guarantee & The Himalayan Kittens ® Lifetime "Kitten Tech Support"
All our Himalayan Kittens are given a health-guarantee, and a Certified Health Certificate signed by a state licenced Veterinarian verifying the perfect health of all our himalayan kittens. Our Himalayan Kittens go home at 10-12 weeks, are Vet checked, de-wormed, current on shots. We guarantee NO problems. We want you to be happy with our kittens, which is why we offer a life-time of " kitten tech support." As a registered CFA cattery, a CFA pedigree for each kitten is available certifying it as a purebred Persian Himalayan Kitten from our Champion and Grand Champion lines. A Purebred Cat is a cat whose ancestors (usually over 3 to 5 generations) are the same breed. A Himalayan Cat without an established and registered pedigree is classed as a domestic longhair cat. A pedigree is the only way to ensure a kitten is indeed a purebred Persian Kitten, without a pedigree, you may just be getting an expensive long haired domestic kitten. All Designer Himalayan Kittens are Certified PUREBRED HIMALAYAN CATS! Make sure to read our guide on how to choose persian cat breeders.
Himalayan Kittens ® Himalayan Cat Breeders of Excellence
Designer Himalayan Kittens® are not merely "Himalayan Cat Breeders," we are raising kittens that will be loving family members. We strictly follow our Responsible Himalayan Cat Breeders Statement, that we have developed and refined after many years. Our cattery is FeLV/FIV negative, Cardiomyopathy negative, and Radiologist and DNA Certified ~ PKD Negative. We are proud to display our CFA_Cattery_of_Excellence_Certification. This certification means we have gone far beyond the requirements for a persian cattery. We take this very seriously. We consider Designer Himalayan Kittens ® much more than a cattery, Designer Himalayan Kittens ® is a home, where our beautiful kittens and cats live and thrive. This distinction shows in the health, condition and temperament of our kittens. It would be difficult to find cuter, healthier, and happier kittens! We have the Best~See for yourself! Feel free to to look and visit often Designer Himalayan Kittens ® Find us listed: Persian Cat Breeders Enjoy!
Designer Himalayan Kittens® is a member of The Atlantic Himalayan Club
These little Himalayan cats are so darn cute. Especially the kittens; their hair is longer than their little legs. The blue eyes are adorable, and the all-white color looks nothing less than royal. The sad part is, they would probably be really a big allergy to my son. Who, unfortunately, loves dogs and cats even though they make him sneeze and give him really itchy eyes.
The Pros & Cons of Teacup Chihuahuas - The Fun Times Guide to Dogs
I never thought I was very much in love with chihuahuas. My friend has a white one and I don't think its really that cute, plus it isn't very friendly or very nice. But then another friend got a little black one. She named her Lola. She is just a puppy and is VERY cute. This little baby that can fit in someone's hand is just a heart-beat stealer. Wow. If I had a pet like this I would never put it down. I would seriously get no work done. I would be holding it all day. Too cute for words.
The Pros & Cons of Teacup Chihuahuas - The Fun Times Guide to Dogs
I never thought I was very much in love with chihuahuas. My friend has a white one and I don't think its really that cute, plus it isn't very friendly or very nice. But then another friend got a little black one. She named her Lola. She is just a puppy and is VERY cute. This little baby that can fit in someone's hand is just a heart-beat stealer. Wow. If I had a pet like this I would never put it down. I would seriously get no work done. I would be holding it all day. Too cute for words.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Celebrating Turtles: World Turtle Day 2011 | Nature | The Earth Times
via earthtimes.org
World turtle day...I like that idea!! Turtles and tortoises are some of the most ancient species alive on the earth today. Sadly, almost half of all their species are endangered. They are migratory and frequently get caught in fishing lines and drown. Turtles breathe air, so if they can't get back to the surface they drown. They can "hold their breath" for a long time, to do some deep underwater swimming, but they eventually have to breathe air.
So this is an approximation, but in active mode they can stay underwater about 30-40 minutes, in sleep mode about 2 hours and in hibernation mode (where their body systems are pretty much shut down) for months.
Pretty amazing species.
How do turtles communicate? With a shell phone.
hardwoodperfections
You already have your heart set on hardwood floors. You have made an excellent decision, and you can enjoy your luxurious, elegant hardwood floors for many years to come. When the floor has been laid properly by a professional, such as hardwood floors Marysville WA, then you will have the peace of mind that the job has been completed with high quality craftsmanship. When your newly laid floors are finished with just the right finish, the shine and depth of personality of your wood floors will delight you every time you look at them.
Hardness of Hardwood Floors
There are many kinds of colors, textures and sized of hardwood to choose from when planning your home’s hardwood floors. First let’s talk about hardness. Wood is gauged for its hardness depending on its strength of resistance when a force is applied. This is done by testing the wood when the force of embedding a 0.444 inch steel ball is applied to the wood. This is called the Janka hardness test, and woods are tested and then assigned a number.
The standard to which all other woods are compared is red oak. It has a hardness of 1290.
A chart of some hardwoods and their hardness values is as follows:
American cherry 950 American walnut 1010 Canadian breza 1200 Yellow birch 1260 Red oak 1290 Hard maple 1450 Sapele 1500 African mahogany 1500 Tigerwood 2160 Cabreuva (Santos Mahogany) 2200 Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) 2350 Every different type of wood brings a different look to the design of your room. Try out some colors and textures. Learn about the origin, hardness and durability about the different types of wood before you make a decision. Is the wood domestic or exotic species? What kind of humidity does the room usually see? These are all important questions that should be included in the decision-making process. The traffic the room will see is also an important facet of the equation.
You will want to create the perfect ambience in your room. Does the wood personalize the room; will it fit with the décor you have in mind?
The Lacey Act protects against illegal forest practices. This is a consideration that you should keep in mind when choosing your hardwood. Check with the contractor and ensure that he knows about wood practices and where he is sourcing his wood supplies from.
Advantages of hardwood flooring
- Hardwood is a natural floor covering
- It is eco-friendly when sustainable development is practiced
- Requires low maintenance when done properly
- Creates warmth and luxurious feeling in any room
- It lasts for decades, protecting your investment
- Dust allergies are minimized or even eliminated
- Compares favorably in price to other high quality flooring options
- It adds to the value of your home
- It raises the overall look and appeal of your décor
Hardwood can complement any décor; there are numerous looks available in the wide variety of color, pattern and personality of natural hardwood flooring. Whether your look is fabulous contemporary or charming rustic, resolutely urban or down-home country, there is a hardwood floor perfect for your requirements.
The warmth and natural beauty of hardwood is a temptation that is hard to resist. It is a good temptation that you should not resist.
How to Care for your Hardwood Floors
Your hardwood floors deserve to be treated with love and consideration. Please use the cleaning products and tools that have been specifically recommended by your hardwood floor provider. They should be well-versed as to proper care and maintenance procedures for your specific type of hardwood floor.
High traffic areas on your hardwood floor warrant the use of throw rugs or mats. They look fantastic and add a little zing to your floor, while protecting parts of your floor from excess wear and tear. Vacuum them often so that dirt doesn’t filter down through the weave and then scratch the wood floor underneath.
It is a good idea to keep your hardwood floors clean, because dust and other debris tracked in from outside can scratch your beautiful floor. Proper cleaning with an electrostatic dry mop or vacuuming with the proper tools can go a long way to keeping your floor looking luxurious and welcoming. You won’t be washing your hardwood floors with water. Water can seep down through the finish and ruin the wood. Wet spills will have to be removed immediately and the floor dried thoroughly.
High heels can leave marks or little dents on hardwood floors and so can big heavy work boots. Be wise as to what types of shoes are allowed on your hardwood floors.
Furniture should never be dragged across a wood floor, and to prevent accidental scratches, place gliders or furniture pads underneath table or chair legs to protect the finish on your floors. If your hardwood floor installer has instructed you on waxing and buffing, then follow the directions carefully. Make sure you have clear instructions as to how to properly care for your floor. The qualified and experienced professionals at Marysville hardwood floors can tell you exactly what needs to be done to keep your floors looking amazing for many years to come.
Hardwood floors...who can resist them? They exude such a warm, appealing and welcoming feeling. It's more than just the memory of walking into a cabin and the smell of wood. Hardwood floors are very adaptable to modern look, rustic look, or anything contemporary and upbeat. The beautiful look of natural wood can hardly be beat. And for the eco-friendly conscious people, many woods are considered sustainable by following the procedures laid out in the Lacey agreement.
Allergies - PubMed Health
via ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Allergies...the bane of my life! The extreme itchiness is the most irritating and severe symptom of all. My eyes get so itchy that I almost rub the skin off the eyelids. My tongue gets itchy, all the way back to my throat. The insides of my sinuses and ears get voraciously itchy. It's miserable. And it's all due to pollen! Seasonal allergies...the most annoying sickness I have ever had!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Jul 08, 2011 - Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are a luxurious yet affordable option when considering renovating or building your home. Hardwood floors offer you versatility and durability. There are many natural looks to choose from. Your hardwood floor installation experts at hardwood floors marysville WA will give you courteous and knowledgeable advice on how to best care for your new hardwood flooring. Good care of your flooring will help you keep the beautiful look of your hardwood floors for decades to come.
There are many hardwoods available to choose from, and each one has a beauty of its own. American cherry has a reddish brown to dark brown color; braxillian cherry tends to be deep red and brown. Brazilian cherry is a very hard wood and holds its own very well in high traffic rooms. Some rooms look great in the creamy white color of ash. Ash sports oak-like grains but is softer than oak.
A more rustic or lodge look calls for hickory. It is creamy white and has brown throughout. It has both hard and soft grain. It can be stained but looks best in the natural finish.
Fir is a great choice with red tones and a straight grain. It can generally be found in older homes and is a very soft wood.
Red oak shows off in a pinkish tone. It is a good wearing wood floor and is suitable for high traffic areas. Lends well to being stained in a variety of shades or can be left natural.
Make sure to check with your hardwood floor professionals as to what type of cleaning solutions are best for the best care and maintenance of your beautiful hardwood floors.
Bamboo is a hardwood floor type which is usually considered to be exotic, and it has rocketed in popularity. Because bamboo is stronger and more durable than other hardwood species, it makes for a very good floor especially in high traffic areas. Bamboo is officially a grass, and it grows rather quickly, allowing harvesting to take place every 5 years. It is considered to be both plentiful and affordable.
Birch is popular for its incredible knots and swirls. Even though this wood is soft, the appearance is amazing. Many people choose birch, taking care to show it off in a less-trafficked area.
Maple is a popular hardwood flooring option. It has a light, fresh color and a slight grainy look, which many people consider very appealing.
Because pine has traditionally been widely available, it has been used extensively for hardwood floors. It is beautiful, easy to maintain, and the look works well with both rustic and contemporary home styles.
For allergy sufferers, cork is the best floor material to use. Cork floors don't retain pollen, dander, dust mites, or other allergy-causing organisms. Cork is easy to clean, with a simple vacuum you can remove anything that has come into the house and landed on your floors.
Cork is a very eco-friendly flooring material, as it is completely sustainable. It does not require deforestation because cork is the bark of a tree; the cork oak tree. Every 10 years a layer is removed from these trees to be used commercially. During the 10 years in between, the cork oak tree will grow a new layer of bark. The tree is not harmed at all in the harvesting process. This makes cork great for the environment.
Cork is a natural resistant to mold, mildew, water and other kind of pests. Allergy to any of these can be a big nuisance to people, so cork floors score another homerun for allergy sufferers.
To learn more about hardwood flooring options, see the professionals at hardwood floors everett WA. Hardwood Perfections is your best choice for perfect hardwood floor installation.
It's incredible that cork flooring hasn't caught on more, especially with the surge in popularity of environmentally conscious supporters. Being that cork flooring is non-allergenic, beautifully appealing and captivating, added to durable and sustainable seems to make it the number one best choice for floors today.
This is a great article about the different types of hardwood floors that there are to choose from. I really liked the write-up about cork floors, because allergies are a real nuisance in my house. The thought of a floor that doesn't harbor allergens is really appealing. It sounds like something I would want throughout my whole house! I am so ready to get rid of carpets.
Besides, the warm, luxurious look of hardwood floors just can't be compared to.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Using Sea Shells to Remove Heavy Metals from Water : TreeHugger
via treehugger.com
This is a beautiful collection of sea shells. But what is more beautiful about it is the story that goes along with it. Some new research completed in Vietnam is suggesting that good old common sea shells are effective in removing harmful heavy metals from water. This is great news to some developing countries whose waterways are toxic with heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc, lead and iron.
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