Holidays

We're usually far away from our spread-out family members at holidays, and it's been so for many years. It's generated a simple tradition of putting out a few Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving to enjoy the week or so before leaving for winter break travels.

The two small stockings were in cards my grandparents sent many years ago, with small cash gifts. The reindeer set came from my Mom, as did the angel candle-holder.

We're looking forward to travels to come.

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Modern Interior Design

How to Get a Cutting-Edge Look

Modern interior design is a new cutting edge style of design that is becoming more and more popular in interior design in homes, offices, hotels and many other places.

The amazing thing about this type of design is that it gives a very impressive look to your place that people will be amazed about.

A modern or contemporary interior design gives a rich, luxury look to your house or office that you'll enjoy.

It's important to know that the interior design you choose is not only about the objects and furniture used, but also all other smaller parts of the entire picture matter. Parts like the walls, floor, doors, and even window curtains.

So it is the job of your interior designer to choose them all together the way they match perfectly.

So after you choose a good, skilled, reliable interior designer, you can sit back and relax. The rest is all to do on him.

Easy Tips: To make sure you choose the best design for your house or office, it is a good idea to first do some research online and see some picture galleries of top interior design samples.

Comparing various designs will open your eyes on the creative possibilities so you can choose the best one you like more easily.

To find these samples, simply search in Google. You'll quickly find hundreds of great designs this way so you can decide which type you like the most.

Source: http://www.interior-design-ideas-now.com/

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Office Interior Design Ideas

How to Get the Perfect Design for Your Office

Using a professional impressing office interior design for your office will make a special look to your business and company. Because just like the cover of a book, the design of your office says a lot of things to your clients and customers.

That's why more and more professionals and businesses are hiring interior designers to create an impressing, effective design for their office. And the results have been proven to be effective.

Here are some important tips about choosing the right interior design for your office...

1. What Is Your Business About?

Because the design you choose for your office really depends on the nature of your business.

For example the perfect interior design for a doctor's office will be totally different from a high-tech computer company, or an engineering company.

So you or your interior designer, should first ask yourself what the nature of your business is and what message you want to communicate with your design: seriousness, impressive, luxury, friendliness, etc.?

2. How Much Space Is Available?

The amount of furniture you can use in your design depends on how big/small your office is. So depending on the space, the design also will vary.

3. Will Clients Visit Your Office?

Sometimes your office is mainly built for the visits of your customers or clients. Sometimes it is just for your own employees to work in it.

The design for either will be very different from the other. So you want to take that into consideration too.

Source: http://www.interior-design-ideas-now.com/

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A Job Completed.

At last the tidying up of the side of the drive is done. This is the before picture. I didn't mind the grass in the middle of the drive but it made the 'washing away' problem worse.
Work in progress - Linas dismantled the old fallen down block wall and stacked the blocks for me and Romas did some of the heavy weed clearing.

Job done- the ornamental grass that I planted has a fair chance of surviving. The London Pride at the bottom end only has a slim chance but as it was a clump that was being cleared away anyway I thought I'd give it a go. I've a nice rockery sedum with dark red flowers that I shall use to cover up the rest of the bare soil but not until spring. It's not that I don't like bare soil, just the weeds that are bound to grow there.

It's been a house of ailing people this weekend. Romas is suffering badly from a 'boil on the bum' and a nasty cold, Pete woke up with back ache after moving his servers yesterday and yesterday evening I was hit with severe gastric pain. Apart from being extremely painful I was annoyed because I know that I have to be careful eating fatty foods especially when I've not eaten any for months and I over indulged yesterday. Well it's a good warning just before the festive season and going out for meals with work colleagues etc. It would be so embarrassing to be struck down in company. As long as I watch what I eat I'll be ok. It's all due to the medication I take.

This morning I had to go into town to get painkillers and drawing paste from the chemist. I am not a fan of Sunday shopping but the High Street was full of families doing their Christmas shopping. I heard one little lad say plaintively " Are we going to be much longer?". I'm sure he would have been much happier kicking a football about in the park or going for a walk on the beach.

Linas has been home for the weekend , he has been going to the gym every day and he tells me that they don't go out that much because they have too much work to do for their assignments - good!

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Bare Balcony, Bad Back

I finally got back out on the balcony last Sunday, spurred on by weather forecasts that promised snow. Snow. In Milan. In November. Were they joking? As the temperature on the balcony was 18°C at the time, and I really didn't need the thick sweater I'd put on, it seemed unlikely. But it was a good excuse to get on with all the clearing up I'd been putting off for weeks, and to move the stuff that had to overwinter close to the walls of the house, where it would stay warmer.

So I pottered around for a few hours, by the end of which the balcony was starting to look remotely as if it was cared for again, if somewhat bare. My motivation crisis has meant few biennials this year. And some of what I did put in didn't come up - my pansies, hollyhocks and foxgloves were a total failure. Out of the lot, I got one pansy plant. The only success has been a little container full of wallflowers, which are coming on fine.

I was relieved to see that my ill-treated cyclamen had picked up again though. I moved them from individual pots into a single container, and they seem very happy there. All three plants are full of little buds just starting to come through.


And then I came in, and went back to work.

So there I am sitting at my computer half an hour later, when I decide I'd like a cup of tea. I go to get up - and can't. My back's just seized up completely - a classic case of what Italians call il colpo della strega - the witch's blow.

How had I done it? I was fine when I sat down, and it wasn't until I tried to get up again that I even realised that it hurt. I can only imagine that I made the usual mistake of lifting things badly as I was shifting the containers around - something have no excuse for because I know how you should do it, I know I have back problems, and I know I shouldn't risk it.

Two days and a lot of ibuprofen later, I was more or less back on my feet. But for any of you who don't know the "rules", here's a summary from the Family Doctor site. When you have to lift something ....

• Don't lift by bending over - OK, guess who put the containers on the balcony floor then bent straight over to pick them up again. Guilty.


• Lift an object by bending your knees and squatting to pick up the object - Yeah, but my knees are in an even worse state than my back. Squat to pick up ? If I squat someone has to pick me up .... Guilty but I plead mitigating circumstances.


• Keep your back straight and hold the object close to your body - And squash all the plants to death? Objection, your Honour.


• Avoid twisting your body while lifting - OK, OK I twisted. But if you saw the size of my balcony ... What else was I supposed to do ? I throw myself on the mercy of the court.

But my protestations were to little avail and I was sentenced to two days flat on my back. I did consider an appeal based on the ruling I found on the Wellness site suggesting that following the the rules doesn't work at all, but I have to say the prison conditions were fairly comfy, and the time passed relatively pleasantly. The warder was very kind, and kept me supplied with plenty of reading matter and copious cups of tea. He was so kind in fact that I think the next time I have to shift containers, I might just ask for his help. Now there's a foolproof way to prevent back injury while lifting ...

Sorry ? Oh the snow. Well yes, it did arrive. There was a sprinkling that night, but it was more or less gone by the morning. And then on Friday it came back and snowed for five or six hours - just enough to send Milan into total chaos and cause havoc with the public transport system.

You know, I can hear you laughing all the way from Alaska ...

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A blue jay's diet

I often catch a glimpse of a blue jay foraging in the main vegetable garden out the kitchen window or mudroom door window. I've always assumed that seeds or insects were the food of choice in the vegetable garden, but seeing a jay again this morning had me thinking.

I knew blue jays have a broad diet -- The Birders Handbook lists "insects, other invertebrates, small vertebrates, carrion, bird eggs, nestlings, but mostly acorns, fruit, nuts, seeds."

But, since it's a cold rainy day (we're thankful for the rain), and we've had temperatures below freezing for a number of nights already, any insects still around are in very sheltered spots.

So, as I wondered out loud about what the blue jay was eating, my gardening companion said, "earthworms?" and I smartly replied, "they don't eat earthworms" ...

A minute later the blue jay returned, nabbed an earthworm about where the arrow points, much to the glee of my gardening companion (whose knowledge of bird foraging habits is not deep). Hmm, I guess earthworms ARE invertebrates, after all.

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Christmas Decorating Ideas

Christmas decorating in the Shabby Chic Cottage Style is defined as an elegant, comfortable, "lived in" feeling with a perfect mix of the old and the new.


Here are a few simple steps for creating a shabby chic, cottage Christmas by turning your home or apartment into a place of warmth this holiday season!

1. Choosing a color palette - Whites and creams are the staple colors for Shabby Chic style and also Christmas decorating projects. They can be used to create both an elegant or casual theme. White can be used exclusively or you can warm it up with beautiful pastels such as pinks, blues, or lavenders.

2. Fabrics - Use beautiful vintage inspired floral fabrics that fit within your Christmas color scheme. Damask would enhance and elegant theme while, quilted floral matelasse, white denim, and crisp linens can be used for table clothes or napkins for a more casual decor.

3. China - Set your table with mismatched china remembering to keep with your theme. This can be done fairly inexpensively with the help of your local thrift stores and flea markets. Using simple white dishes with small accents of floral china will add a special shabby chic Christmas charm.

4. Candles/Lighting - IllumiWhite Christmas treenated lighting is a critical element in creating the atmosphere of warmth. lights are perfect for trees doorways and mantels. A chandelier adorned with glass prisms reflects the light . Candles of different sizes, displayed beautifully in old canisters or on saucers will add that extra

5. Christmas Tree Decorations / Floral Arrangements - When entertaining guests, use fresh flowers as finishing touches all around your home. A bouquet here and a single flower there. Use interesting things to display them in such as tea pots, bottles, water pitchers. A single white rose in a small charming vase next to the sink in the bathroom reminds your friends and family that you care about even the tiniest details.

6. Pillows - Place floral accent pillows in your white or cream color scheme on dining room chairs, benches, and unexpected areas to create an inviting comfortable atmosphere while adding extra seating.

7. Slipcovers - If you don't already own slipcovered furniture, pre-made slipcovers can be purchased relatively inexpensively at many local department stores. The benefit of slipcovering your furniture during the holidays protects your furniture from the occasional seasonal spill. Simply take them off and throw them in your washing machine when your guests have left.

Christmas decorating in a Shabby Chic cottage style brings joy and elegance into holiday. It's a charming, kid friendly, and relatively inexpensive. Decorate with the things you love and the warmth of the season will fill your home. Happy Holidays from our home to yours.

Materials From: http://www.rentaldecorating.com/

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'Recycling' fall leaves

The leaves are almost all down now, and many of our neighbors have raked (or blown) much of them to the edge of the street, for the City's leaf vacuum truck to collect.

My gardening companion already called to put dibs on one truckful (most of the rest are delivered to the Garden, where they're put to good use, too).

Oak, hickory, maple, dogwood, and birch leaves are a wonderful mulch and soil builder and we always wonder why people don't keep them in their yards! Needless to say, ours aren't going to the street; they replenish the soil beneath the trees that produced them.

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Another Week Over.

At last, a clear view of distant Dartmoor at sunrise this morning on my way into school. I had a very useful morning with the reception class teacher going through all the assessments we have to do in the foundation year and the all the forms we have to fill in. In the foundation year at school there are 6 areas of the curriculum, each of those is broken down into 5/6 sections and each of those sections has a whole list of sub-sections which we have to assess, with evidence - 80% from independent activities ( not tasks or questions initiated by the teacher), and this has to be done constantly for each of the 30 children in the class. It is good to have objectives and know where your children are but the government is obsessed with records. There are so many documents published that we are supposed to read and every year there are several radical changes. The foundation stage guide lines actually goes right down to birth with the government stating achievement targets from 3 months. This is to ensure that parents will be confident leaving small children in childcare while both parents go back to work - a government aim. And then the politicians complain that children do not have good parenting role models. I didn't work at all until Romas was 6 as we chose to be poorer but for me always to be there for the children. But that's not economically good for the country !!

I spent the afternoon teaching the reception class, already the school is fully in the Christmas mode. In every corner there are costumes, (for the Christmas play and the Nativity service at the Church), toys & stuff for the Christmas Fayre, ( next week) and shiny paper, glitter & sparkly pipe cleaners for Christmas art work.

After work I popped into town to return some library books and do a little Christmas shopping but I only bought 2 very small items. There weren't that many people as late night shopping hasn't yet started. I don't think people are spending that much as there is the feeling that we all need to be careful with our spending. Woolworths has folded though the shops will stay open till after Christmas. In general there did not seem to be a lot in the way of Christmas displays ( I suppose it is still November), and the street decorations could either be described as minimal and tasteful or basic and penny pinching. I can't quite make up my mind.

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I've had an E-mail from Christopher Lloyd ...

So there I am, sat at the computer, and I decide to check my E-mail. A few messages from students, the usual collection of spam and phishing mails, and a message from Chris Lloyd. Chris Lloyd? Do I know anyone named Chris Lloyd? I trawl back through my memory but no-one springs to mind. Uh oh - is this more spam? I approach with caution .... and find a very chatty E-mail publicising a new book by Christopher Lloyd.

A book? Christopher Lloyd? Could it be ....? Now I'm not so daft as to start clicking on E-mail links unless I'm 100% sure where they've come from, so I copy the name of the book, toddle over to Amazon and paste it in. And sure enough ....

But wait a moment. Christopher Lloyd is dead - and anyway, this isn't a gardening book. Are we perhaps talking about the actor Christopher Lloyd - you know, the mad scientist from Back to the Future? Back to Google. But no. Cold trail there. Try googling the title. And ... bingo.

This Christopher Lloyd is a journalist and writer. But how did the E-mail get to me? I've never heard of the guy, and if he's stooping to Spam, then I'm not interested, however good the book is. But there's an end message with his address, the web address of the mail company who sent the message, and the usual message saying that I've received the mail because I've signed up for the service and can unsubscribe at any time. I have? I really can't remember when. Or where. So I check out the company on Google, and they seem bona fide - lots of assurances of their privacy policy etc. And I have to say it's the first time I've heard from them, and the product seems very clearly targeted. Sad though that we're all so harassed by spam that we're super suspicious even of publicity that turns out to be something we're happy to receive.

So Chris, (please excuse the familiarity, but that is how you signed yourself) I thought I'd make up for my nasty suspicions by giving you a plug. The E-mail does say to pass the message on, so this is how I'm doing it. The book looks fun, and if anyone would like it signed personally there was this offer in the message...

As a thank you, I am offering to write and send one (or more) personalised bookplate(s) free of charge to stick on the inside front cover of the book if it is to be a Christmas gift ...

You can get it by going to Chris' website, here . I noticed that the book is Amazon's 500th best seller though, so you may have to wait while he recovers from writer's cramp. Amazing what a mail shot can do.

So there you go. If, as the message says, you're looking for a Christmas gift for your 16-year old son / daughter, 45 year old mother/ father or 76 year old grandparents, this could just be it.

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Thanksgiving

One of our family traditions is a morning 'hike' on Thanksgiving. Sometimes this is a long hike, in our nearby mountains; sometimes, it's closer.

A favorite place is the Clemson University Experimental Forest, created by a federal program during the Great Depression to purchase farming land worn-out from the demands of cotton and corn on hilly slopes.

It's now an excellent forest, a mix of ~ 75 year-old oak-hickory forests, planted pines, and lots in between, thanks to succession and forestry rotations.

The area around Lake Issaqueena is especially nice, as it's an unofficial natural area - a great place for a morning walk.

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Being Thankful.

This morning I took Romas to The Ariel music centre where his band were due to do some recording. He tells me they laid down the drum tracks for all their songs so that next session they won't have to set up the drum kit and he can work on the mixing. This is all part of the music course that he is doing at college

http://www.ariel.org.uk/ ( Sorry, can't remember how to do the bit about renaming links.)

Standing beneath the radio aerial that was used for ship to shore communication, is an impressive set of junk drums.

It was a typical wet Devon day.

You can see how low the clouds are looming over Little Hangman and Great Hangman, the cliffs at Combe Martin.

This afternoon I got a reasonable shot of the woodpecker that often visits our bird feeder. It's been a wet day at home and eventually I gave up waiting for the rain to stop. I togged up in a big old gardening coat and went out to finish planting ornamental grass above and in front of the block wall along the drive. It's not really the right time to plant things but if it doesn't take all I will have lost is an afternoon's work while if it does take then it's one more job done and by mid spring the 12" grass should be hiding all the blocks. It wasn't rain that stopped me but the dark so I well may have ended up planting some of the grass upside down! It's a grass that grows well in the garden so I've plenty more if I need to replant in the spring.

As it is Thanksgiving (US) today I thought I would follow Julie's thread and make a list of things that I am thankful for :

!. That God is in my life and that my family know God.

2. That I am loved by a good man.

3. That our sons are all growing up into contented, sensible young men and look as if they will be able to follow their chosen careers.

4. That apart from minor wear and tear ailments , we are all healthy.

5. That I live in a country where I do not have to fear becoming ill.

6. That I do not have to fear attack on my family by armed militia.

7. That we live in a comfortable home with beautiful views from every window.

8. That we have secure jobs which will not be affected by the recession.

9. That the people I work with are caring and supportive of each other.

10. That we live in the countryside in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

11. That we have good friends.

12. That my food worries are about how to eat less not how to feed my family.

13. That the sea is only 20 minutes away by car.

Gosh, that makes me feel so much better, it's good to be positive.

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Beautiful Traditional Kitchens

Open bookshelves and full overlay cherry cabinets provide pantry storage and tie this dining room into the adjacent kitchen. An ornate antique carving from an old church customizes this highly functional piece.

White cabinets, white walls, light gray granite countertops and stainless steel appliances keep this traditional kitchen light and airy.

White kitchen cabinets and white countertops act as a canvas for colorful artwork and dishes that adorn the walls. An angled island separates this open kitchen from the living area.

This Neoclassical kitchen features white raised-panel cabinet doors and recessed drawerheads. The dining table of this eat-in kitchen is built into the peninsula and consists of carved white furniture legs and a dark wooden top.

Elegant yet subtle, handcrafted details in this traditional kitchen include carved onlays at the top of the wall cabinets, a mural of leaves and flowers painted above the cooktop, and the inlaid rope pattern in the floor around the island.

The cherry-stained island is topped with a dark stone counter and white trough sink, contrasted by white wall cabinets with a butcher block countertop. White subway tiles and yellow paint keep this traditional kitchen cheerful.

Matching tile backsplashes over the sink and cooktop spice up white cabinets, black countertops and hardwood flooring.

In this traditional kitchen, the cherry wood used for the island and the custom-built breakfast hutch to provide warmth and richness against the cool blue-gray walls and white cabinets used elsewhere.

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Nice Traditional Kitchens

This contemporary classic kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with a large angled island split into zones for
food prep, cooking and socializing. Mullioned French doors, a bay window and two skylights connect this space to the outdoors.

For the true connoisseur, a wine room with wooden storage rack and nearby tasting counter is a must. A prep sink and paneled dishwasher complete the wet bar.

An arched-top window and antique French buffet make the sink area a natural focal point. Dark granite countertops and cognac-stained maple cabinets complete the formal yet comfortable style.

In addition to a cooktop, this kosher kitchen includes two sinks, two ovens and two microwaves. White panels that match the cabinetry conceal the refrigerator and two dishwashers. The range and hood serve as the room’s focal point.

This gourmet kitchen includes multiple workstations. The cooking zone features a six burner Wolf range and hammered copper ventilation hood, while the island offers a prep area with a sink and wide mahogany counter.

Traditional cabinetry accommodates modern amenities. Built-in appliances include a refrigerator, double wall oven and espresso maker. The downdraft ventilation system behind the cooktop lowers when not in use.

Notable elements of this reproduction French-style kitchen include wrought-iron stools with black-and-white striped seats and cabinets with sanded edges and beaded inset glass doors.

Heavy crown molding tops dark cherry cabinetry and helps create a decorative soffit and a glass-front display cabinet. Tall pull-out storage columns flank an integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator.

Square, raised-panel kitchen cabinetry runs along three walls, interrupted only by appliances and a window. Matching panels conceal a built-in refrigerator and trash compactor. A barbell-shaped island puts the gas cooktop near the sink and wall oven, with seating space on the other end.

Elegant green marble counters and floors work alongside cream-colored Corian countertops on the lower level of the kitchen island. Rich floral swags and gleaming cherry wood pillars complete the look.

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