Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Summer is a wonderful time in the garden. Green, lush foliage provides a relaxing and cooling respite even during the heat of the day. Have an amazing garden this summer by following these four tips.
Ensure Adequate Water
Provide adequate water based on plant type, soil condition and weather. When dealing with plants with varying moisture needs, supplement general watering with a drip system or individual irrigation rather than over-watering some plants to ensure adequate water for others. Water early in the day to guard against excess moisture loss through evaporation.
[credit: Memotions]
Encourage Optimal Plant Growth
Hoe weeds on a regular basis, thin seedlings, apply liquid manure to crops and pick peas and flowers to encourage new blossoms. Thoroughly check for signs of pests and parasites at least weekly and treat promptly, as needed. Drape netting over all kinds of berries to prevent damage from birds. (more…)
Tags: Flower, Garden, Plant, Soil, WATER
Posted in Cleaning Tips, DIY, Garden, Holidays, Home, Plumbing, WATER | No Comments »
Monday, May 31st, 2010
Certain home maintenance tasks should be performed on an annual or semi-annual basis. Appropriate tasks for spring or early summer include ensuring that window screens and the cooling system are ready for the impending warmer weather, checking for water damage around the home or garden and performing a seasonal check on home safety equipment such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
[credit: kaiton]
Inspect each window screen and remove for a thorough cleaning, if possible. Repair small problems or completely re-screen, if necessary. Consider switching to finer mesh screening in areas where midges are a nuisance. (more…)
Tags: Cleaning Tips, spring, WATER, Weather
Posted in Appliances, Cleaning Tips, DIY, Holidays, Home, Interesting, Kitchen | No Comments »
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Image via Wikipedia
Window cleaning is a chore that is often put off. Rarely a favourite housekeeping task, windows should be washed at least seasonally, however. Seasonal cleaning not only provides enhanced enjoyment of the beauty outside but also presents a regular opportunity to inspect for damage and take prompt corrective action, if necessary.
Cleaning Windows from the Inside
Prior to cleaning, inspect each window for damage. Do not clean windows with cracked glass or other damage until needed repairs have been completed. Be sure to also inspect and clean the weep vents found at the bottom of each window.
To make an effective, inexpensive and non-toxic window cleaning solution, simply mix one part white vinegar with eight parts water and spray on the glass. Wipe with newspaper or lint free cloth. For really dirty windows, add a little liquid dish washing soap to the solution and then rinse with plain water. Dry with a squeegee.
Cleaning windows from the Outside (more…)
Tags: cleaning, WATER
Posted in Appliances, Cleaning Tips, Holidays, Home | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
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Spring is here and with the season comes the traditional spring-cleaning. In addition to the long-standing practice of deep cleaning each spring, the brighter days and warmer weather often inspire the desire for a clean, fresh indoor environment. But with so much to do, where is the best place to start?
Start at the Top
Ceilings and high shelves or corners are easily overlooked during the dim days of winter and are often the most neglected areas in the home. Cleaning these places makes an immediate and highly visible impact. To get the most out of your spring cleaning, use a duster attached to a long handle to clean the area where the walls meet the ceiling in each room. Also dust around light fixtures or anything attached to, or suspended from, the ceiling. Pay special attention to cobwebs and shake the duster outside often during this process. Remove and clean all items from high shelves and replace after the shelves have been thoroughly cleaned. (more…)
Tags: Cleaning Tips, DIY, Spring cleaning, WATER
Posted in Appliances, Cleaning Tips, DIY, Holidays, Home | No Comments »
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
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While there are many items that make wonderful Easter gifts, such as spring flowers or chocolate bunnies, consider giving beautiful hand painted eggs this year. Already established in some other countries, the craft of egg painting is gaining popularity in the UK, as well.
Inexpensive and easy to make, hand painted eggs are appropriate for anyone. Male or female, young and old alike, designs can be customised to each recipient.
Prepare the Eggs
To remove the contents, place the egg in an eggcup or similar sized container. Holding it gently but firmly, use a needle to poke a small hole in one end and a slightly larger hole in the other. Insert a long needle or thin wire through the larger hole and stir the insides. Hold the egg over a bowl and blow through the small hole to dispel the contents.
Once the egg is empty, submerge it in a mixture of three parts water to one part vinegar. Fill half full, shake gently and blow the liquid out of the eggshell. Shells needing additional cleaning may be left to soak a while in the water/vinegar mixture. Once the shells are clean, let them dry overnight. (more…)
Tags: Crafts, easter, Flower, Holidays, WATER
Posted in DIY, Family, Holidays, Interesting | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
With the wide variety of secular Easter activities commonly available today, such as egg hunts and the anticipation of a visit from the Easter bunny, it is easy to forget the true meaning of this sacred holiday. Rather than being totally swept away by the commercial hustle and bustle of Easter this year, slow down and take time to reflect.
Easter is a Christian religious holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To honour the true meaning of Easter this year, plan to attend one or more special services at your own church or a neighbouring place of worship. Take the whole family, even those members who may not attend regularly.
As an alternative to attending traditional services, commemorate Easter by visiting one of the beautiful historic chapels and churches that abound in England and the rest of the UK. Options to consider include:
Roche Chapel, Cornwall – Built during the 15th century into the rock on a granite outcrop near the village of Roche, the chapel remnants on this beautiful site often invoke an eerie feeling.
Lindisfarne Priory – Founded in AD 635 on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the Priory is rich in history and has been a place of pilgrimage for 1,300 years. (more…)
Tags: easter, Family, Holidays
Posted in Family, Holidays, Home | No Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Although Valentine’s Day is nearly here it is not too late to make a truly special handmade gift. All you need is a few photographs, some simple materials and a little creativity. Try one of these clever ideas to craft a unique, personalised gift for your special Valentine.
A Jar Full of Memories
A photo memory jar is a fun and thoughtful gift that is appropriate for anyone and also provides a creative way to use photographs that may be less than perfect. Simply choose a number of photos from a few memorable activities or excursions. Cut them into strips and write a brief message on the back of each strip. For your messages, consider using a theme such as “Why I love you.” Decorate a jar and the lid based on your theme or simply using Valentine’s Day colours, and put the photo strips inside. Add a tag and you’re done! As an alternative in this digital age, print digital photos on cardstock. (more…)
Tags: DIY, Heart, Holidays, Home, Interior design, Valentines Day
Posted in DIY, Holidays, Home, Interesting | No Comments »
Monday, January 4th, 2010
So you’ve decided to make 2010 the Year of the Healthy You! If you truly want to keep your new year’s resolution this year, you can do it. The secret to successfully changing your habits is to start small. Make tiny changes, but make several of them.
Be specific in your goals. Instead of saying “I will lose ten pounds,” resolve to dance, walk or work out for twenty-thirty minutes most days of the week.
And instead of declaring you will “drink more water,” affirm to drink 6-8 glasses of water most days of the week. Purchase a water bottle that you really like, such as one with your favorite team’s logo or the name of a charity you support. You will be more prone to fill it up several times a day and carry it with you if it is also a conversation piece. (more…)
Tags: New Year, new year resolution, Physical exercise, WATER
Posted in Family, Holidays, Interesting, WATER | No Comments »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
- Image via Wikipedia
New Year’s resolutions are fun to make but often difficult to keep. It’s easy to get swept away and find yourself with dozens of resolutions for improvement in every area of life. This will most likely lead to failure, however. When making resolutions this year, follow these simple tips:
- Forget past failures: Dwelling on failed resolutions from past years will make success this year less likely. Ponder past failures only long enough to avoid repeating them. (more…)
Tags: Holidays, Resolutions New Year
Posted in Family, Holidays, Home | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
The holidays are over and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations. Rather than just throwing all the ornaments, lights and other items randomly into boxes for storage until next year, take the time to properly prepare and package the holiday decorations for storage.
Clean and De-clutter
As ornaments are removed from the tree, inspect them for damage. Do the same for other items that have been displayed throughout the home. Thoroughly inspect all items and repair or discard, as appropriate.
Prior to storing, make sure that decorations are clean. Wash and thoroughly dry decorations that are washable and vacuum those that are not. Donate decorations that you no longer want to charity. Keep only those decorations that you know will be of use during future holidays. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, Decorations, Holidays
Posted in Cleaning Tips, DIY, Holidays, Home | No Comments »
