Part 3. Classic Literature VideoBook with synchronized text, interactive transcript, and closed captions in multiple languages. Audio courtesy of Librivox. Read by Eric Leach. Playlist for The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: www.youtube.com
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Italian Classic Bedroom
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
Garden Planters - A Way To Never Run Out Of Planting Space
It's every gardener's worst nightmare, running out of places to plant in their outdoor space. If this happens, their summer season is ruined because they can't continue to do the thing that they love the most. Well, this whole situation can actually be avoided by purchasing some garden planters, they allow you to plant as much as you want.
Garden planters are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, making it a synch to plant anything that you want pretty much wherever you want. For instance, maybe your backyard garden area is filled with mulch and rocks, making it hard to dig and plant those shrubs that you've been wanting to add. Well, instead of busting your rump digging through all that stuff, just purchase a few larger square ones to plant those shrubs. Or, maybe you just want to add some decorative touches to your patio area, then a great way to go would be to purchase some smaller round ones, ideal for planting flowers.
Those are just two of the many garden planters that you could use in your outdoor space because there are many, many more. Some of the other options include deep rectangular ones that are ideal for planting vegetables or taller trees, v-shaped options that would be a great way to partition off a backyard area, and there are ones that can actually hang right of your window sill, which is perfect for fresh herbs. So, when you want to add some parsley or chives to something, all you have to do is open up that kitchen window of yours, snip off what you want, and you are good to go.
If you are thinking that garden planters might be a good thing for you to purchase, one of the main things that you need to keep in mind is to purchase ones that are crafted using top quality materials. Cheap particle board and rusty old nails will not get the job done because they can't stand up to the elements. So, make sure to go with quality always and some of the finer options include those made from Redwood and Teak that utilize stainless steel bolts and mortise and tenon joinery. Some plastic or polymer options are also a good way to go if they are thicker and you could even get ones made out of stone or granite, but most people avoid them since they are so heavy and hard to move around.
For a quick way to browse all the garden planters that are out there, forget about going to the local garden center or hardware store. Their choices will be very limited and you probably won't get something made out of a material that can handle the elements. Instead, what you need to do is just go online and do your shopping there. It is fast since by a few clicks of the mouse you can find what you want and when you do, it will generally be at the best prices around.
When it comes to planting, don't run out of space this year by purchasing some garden planters. They are a gardener's dream come true.
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Sofa Beds - A Great Space Saving Solution
As our homes shrink (or we simply accumulate more 'stuff') we are becoming more inventive with our interiors, & dual purpose furniture are becoming more and more popular. Sofabeds enable us to use just a small fraction of the area of a bed on the days when we (or our guests) don't need to sleep, so work really well in these new properties.
So how do you make sure you choose the right one? There are several different types of sofa beds & they all have their place, depending on how much room you have, how often it will be used & which room you are planning on putting it in.
If room is limited, but you need to put up two adult guests in a double bed then a fold down bed (sometimes called a click clack bed) is perfect. To turn these into a bed the back of the sofa is pushed down, & the back becomes part of the mattress. Generally less comfortable for sleeping than pull out sofa beds, nonetheless these are easy to use, & not usually too pricey. They don't, however, have any storage room for duvets, pillows etc, & fabric options on the budgets models can be severally limited.
Another alternative is a single sofa bed, sometimes called a daybed. These are essentially a single bed, with a proper single mattress, but with a fitted mattress cover to match the base, & a covered back &/or sides. To look at they look like a sofa, or chaise lounge, but the seat cushion is actually a mattress. Suitable for children's rooms & spare rooms these can often have storage options including under bed drawers or a lift up storage base, where sheets, duvets & pillows etc can be stored when not in use.
An interesting option for these is that many of them can include a second bed stored in the base, complete with mattress. By the time you buy the mattress a good quality day bed is not cheap, but they are very useful, & don't take up too much room. As the guest is staying on a proper mattress they are very comfortable to sleep on, although not quite as good to use every day as a sofa.
Finally, a pull out sofa bed can give you the best of both worlds. If you are planning on putting it in your living room, & planning on using it every day as a sofa then it's important to shop around & find a sofa bed that you like the look of as a sofa, & that is nice & comfortable to sit on.
These sofa beds usually have a much wider choice of fabrics than fold down sofa beds & daybeds, allowing you to make sure it looks perfect in your room (these can be quite a large investment, so this is an important point) & many have some room for pillows &/or a duvet, so can be a good solution if you only have one bedroom & often have guests to stay.
They have a pull out mechanism, so the bed is folded into the base & only pulled out when needed, & many even have some room to store pillows or duvets. The mattress sizes can vary from 120cm wide to 160cm wide, & the better models have mattresses that are comfortable enough for daily use (great if you live in a studio).
The mechanism is usually metal, & as they vary in robustness & ease of use it is best to either buy a high quality Italian sofa bed, or test a less expensive one carefully before you buy. The only disadvantage is that they can take up quite a bit of room when extended, so measure up carefully, & make sure that any other furniture in room can easily be moved to make space!
Style is important too. Most of these new homes are modern, but fortunately sofa beds have changed over the last few years and provided you are prepared to spend a little more, finding a stylish contemporary sofa bed is not impossible any more. There has been a lot of growth in contemporary style decor over the last few years, and modern sofa beds have become much more widely available.
All of the different types of sofa bed discussed in this article are available in both classic & contemporary styles, so finding a modern sofa bed to fit in with your decor should be fairly easy provided you are prepared to spend a little more on quality.
Something else to consider is the size of the room your sofabed is in. If the bed will mostly be used guests who are staying over (rather than just overnight after a few too many) your guests need to be able to move easily around the room, & to get in & out of the door, & they will need room for their personal possessions, & possibly even their luggage!
So think carefully about who will be sleeping on your sofa bed, how often & where, & make sure you choose the sofa bed that is right for you. With so many types & models available you should be able to get something that fits the needs of you & your guests perfectly.
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Thursday, December 1, 2011
Creating an Outdoor Meditation Area
Studies show that Americans have less free time than ever before in history. Our jam-packed schedules of constantly conflicting engagements put our minds in a terrible race. In fact, the absence of leisure time is shooting stress-related illnesses through the roof and plummeting the percentage of people who describe their life as "happy and comfortable."
So, how do you avoid this plight? Experts have shown that meditation can aid in the recovery and prevention of both mental and physical ailments. Deep breathing, relaxation, and reflection time are all critical to our overall health. Perhaps this spring is the season you turn it all around by creating an outdoor meditation area to keep your spirits bright all year 'round!
Separate the area from your home and yard: To achieve true relaxation, you have to remove yourself from your daily stressors. Seeing a kitchen sink full of dishes will not help put your mind at ease. There are several ways to do this; you could start simply by placing privacy screens around a sectioned off area. Using a pergola or an open-air gazebo are other options for completely outdoor spaces. But, if you live in a cooler climate and want to use this space in the winter months, using a pool house or a cabana may suit your needs better. The most important thing is to create an area where cares and worries are "not allowed." Another way to do this is to install some kind of garden bridge; this way you can decide that when you cross over the bridge you are crossing over into a peaceful place. Ancient Japanese and Chinese gardens used zig-zag garden bridges to cross into their gardens, because folk lore suggested that evil spirits could only travel in straight lines and, therefore, would not be able to cross into the space if the garden bridge was constructed in a zig-zag pattern. However you choose to separate your meditation area from the rest of your home, it is most important that you can feel some kind of physical transition from daily stressors to daily calming.
Keep connection with nature: Though you want to create an area separated from the rest of your home, you don't want to lose your connection with nature. If using privacy screens, a pergola, or gazebo, simply make sure that trees, flowers, or foliage still surround your area. If using an enclosed garden structure, like a cabana, pool house, or even a gazebo with walls, be sure to install lots of large windows (preferably ones with screens that can be opened). Many backyard structures support sky lights to let the sun shine into your meditation space as well. If you garden, you know that nature is calming. And, if you don't garden, many expert studies have confirmed that a connection with nature nurtures peaceful thoughts and calm minds. You can also bring the outdoors inside, by placing bonsai trees, green potted plants, and flowers on accent tables around your garden structure to achieve that connection.
Use a water feature for soothing sounds: You may not realize it, but the sounds we hear contribute greatly to our stress levels. Imagine your commute to work without any car horns, sirens, or construction sounds. Picture a trip to the grocery store without people yelling into their cell phones about what kind of milk to get, the constant beeping of the check out lines, and children screaming for ice cream. Sounds a lot better, right? Create the right kinds of sounds in your meditation area by installing a small water feature. If you live seaside, certainly try to situate your peaceful place near the water. But, if you're not so lucky, you can get an inexpensive small water fall that plugs right into the wall or operates by battery. Or, you can go a little deeper by creating a koi pond or small dew pond. Of course, if you must, you can always get a small noise machine that many people use in their bedrooms for sleeping that has ocean wave or running stream sound settings. This way, your eyes will be away from the sink of dirty dishes and your ears will be hidden from the sounds of rush hour or telephones ringing. When your eyes close, you can always just imagine you're withdrawing to your beach retreat!
Use minimal decorations and simple furniture: The last thing you need to do when creating this space is stress out! Don't fret about the decor, because the simpler, the better. Use small side tables or outdoor accent tables for flowers, candles, or your water feature. You can create a bit of interest by using outdoor tables of different heights and sizes to allow your eyes to gently survey all parts of your meditation area. But, this is not the place for your expansive outdoor dining set or deep seating collection. Allow yourself a space to focus inward, instead of on the perfection of your decor (save that for the outdoor furniture your porch or patio!)
Allow a place for true, escaped repose: Though purists would only allow a yoga mat in the center of the room for true, concentrated meditation... I think it's important to make your peaceful area work for you. Doing yoga poses and various stretching is an excellent way to re-center yourself--no question! But, sometimes, you just need a place to rest undisturbed. Try installing a hammock, porch swing, or just a simple and comfy chaise lounge or rocking chair in your new space. There is true value in curling up with a novel, simply staring into space and thinking about nothing for an hour or so, and (of course) guiltlessly drifting off into an afternoon nap.
Sometimes, our American media tries to make you feel guilty for taking time for yourself. But, you'll run yourself into the ground if you don't take some time out to relax. Creating a space away from your daily stressors that is solely for the purpose of inward reflection will have a positive effect on all the different parts of your life. And, remember, it doesn't just have to be for you! A son or daughter after a long and stressful day at school would absolutely benefit from an hour or so of "quiet time" away from the computer, their toys, and loud siblings. In fact, this meditation area could improve the entire family!
Hope to see you (at a distance) in your Meditation Area,
Hazel
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