Use Bible Gateway

Use Bible Gateway

For anyone who has ever had only their Bible and a concordance to view and interpret scriptures, Bible Gateway will prove to be a valuable asset and time saver. This one site offers all that a person needs in the terms of research into biblical perspectives. For the pastor and the layman, Bible Gateway is extremely useful.

Instructions

1. Go to the Bible Gateway website (see link below). Type a Bible passage, key word or topic in the “Quick Search” box. From the drop down menu to the right of that choose the Bible version you would like to read from. Click “Search the Bible” and seconds later the entire verse appears.

2. Type a topic into this search box and lists of verses where this topic is located will appear. You then can click on a verse selected in a particular book of the Bible and that verse will appear. You don’t always have the verse but you may have an idea what the topic of the verse is about. This is where this feature becomes valuable.

3. When you click on “Additional Resources,” you will notice that Bible Gateway offers other features. Click on “Use Audio Bibles” to hear the Bible read to you. Choose the version you would like to hear. Click the format and then the book and chapter. Click “Play Audio” and sit back, relax and listen to the speaker Max McLean read to you.

4. Click on “Dictionary” and you will have use of three different dictionaries. These are Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary, Hitchcock Bible Names Dictionary, and Smith’s Bible Names Dictionary. Typing a word or a phrase in the search box and clicking “Search Dictionary” will bring up the meaning of the word or phrase as well as different verses that they appear in.

5. Click on “Study Tools” and you will have access to Bible studies, devotionals, bible forum, excellent lexicons and more commentaries. On the Additional Resource page you can plan your Bible reading plan. Choose from four different reading plans: Comprehensive, Biographical, Survey or Chronological. Choose from the amount of days you would like to read the bible in; 61,121 or 365. Whatever you use Bible Gateway for it will certainly be of value to you and you will refer back to it time and time again.

Tags: Bible Gateway, would like, Bible Gateway will, Bible Names, Bible Names Dictionary, Choose from, Dictionary will

What Are The Steps To Start A Group Home In Kansas

A group home can be a daycare facility for children, for the elderly or any other other kind of care home. Other less common examples are homes for challenged teens or mentally ill adults. Starting a group home is a rewarding enterprise that gives you a profit while allowing you to help people in need.

Initial Decisions

Decide which kind of group home you would like to have in Kansas. Consider all of the options already available and the sectors of Kansas society that need the most help. You can choose to have group homes for troubled teens, impregnated teens, runaways, homeless youths, adults with mental illness or children who do not have parents or whose parents cannot take care of them either permanently or for a period of time.

Programs

Choose the programs your group home is going to offer. Conceptualize programs and services that would help your clients thrive and improve their daily lives.

Location

Decide on the exact location of your group home. Consider details like local crime levels and proximity to prospective clients. For example, if you wish to have an elderly group home, you should choose a location close to areas of Kansas with heavy populations of elderly people. Also, consider the effect the environment may have on your clients.

Logistics

Decide on the number of occupants you'd like to have in your group home. This varies according to available space, your number of employees, services you are going to offer and the needs of your clients.

Employees

Make sure that you know the type of employees and the manpower you need to operate your group home. For example, if you decide to have a group home for troubled teens, you may need employees with experience dealing with teenagers in trouble. You may also need a psychologist, social workers and employees with experience relating to drug addicts.

Licensure

Obtain a group home license from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. According to Kansas.gov, the application for Foster Home Shelter License is $10. In addition, the department may have its employees make occasional visits to your group home to ensure that you are complying with all specific policies.

Grants

Research grants that would match your choice of business. As of 2008, Grants.gov reported that a total of $12 million was available for distribution to states, counties and city governments. The institutions receiving the grants should use them to help, build or support maternity group homes for runaway and homeless youth. The State of Kansas may have some options available to you, as well as the federal government and your local government.

Tags: group home, your group, your group home, group home, your clients, employees with, employees with experience

Organize A Home Office

Organize a Home Office

Even the smallest home office provides an opportunity to establish a space custom-tailored to your personal tastes and work habits. Choose the furnishings wisely and arrange them efficiently to create an office you'll be comfortable and productive in. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Measure the room and make a rough blueprint, including locations of windows, doors, electrical outlets and heating ducts. Cut out paper shapes to scale for furniture and large pieces of equipment so you can experiment with different layouts.

2. Position your desk first. If space allows, an L- or U-shaped desk is ideal. Pair it with a good chair, preferably one that is ergonomically sound. If your chair's height is not adjustable, get a footrest to ease the strain on your back. Add a hinged drop leaf to the shorter end of an L-shaped desk. Flip it up when you need more work space.

3. Use several adjustable task lights in the room rather than relying on a single ceiling fixture. Reducing overhead lighting will cut down the glare on a monitor's screen.

4. Place a small table (one of the most underrated home office furnishings) alongside the desk. A two-tiered unit is ideal; use the lower shelf for reference material, the upper for a file of items you're currently using. If space allows, place a large table parallel to your desk. You'll find it incredibly useful for laying out research material or large projects in progress. Folding tables are cheap, portable and storable.

5. Track your workflow and arrange furnishings accordingly. Frequency of use is the key to location. Put those things you use most often closest to you and equipment you use less frequently on a credenza or bookshelf. Don't devote prime real estate in your office to a fax machine or copier that you need only occasionally, for instance.

6. Add a second comfortable chair, along with a good reading light, to the room. It's relaxing to get up from your desk chair occasionally and do some of your reading in a different chair.

7. Set a tiny table--or hang a single shelf--right next to the door to hold outgoing mail. Now you'll never leave the room without the letters and parcels that need to leave with you.

Tags: your desk, home office, Organize Home, Organize Home Office, space allows, that need, with good

Use A Box Blade

Working in a supermarket can sometimes be tedious, but if you're going to do something, you should do it right. You could tear all of the boxes on your pallet jack open with your hands, but that would make the store's aisles look messy. Using a box blade to cut cardboard allows you to get a smooth edge. Even if you're not putting out groceries, any large paper or cardboard projects will go easier if you use a box blade according to these tips.

Instructions

1. Examine the box blade to make sure it's functioning correctly. While it's not a complicated tool, it does take a lot of abuse. Make sure that the blade slides in and out of the sleeve easily, but not so freely that the blade won't stay in the position you want. Double check to make sure the blade doesn't extend past the handle when it's closed.

2. Replace the razor blade inside the handle whenever the blade is too dull. Trying to cut boxes with a dull blade will prevent you from getting the crisp lines you want. It will also take much longer for you to get through the cardboard. It's probably not a good idea to sharpen blades instead of replacing them. Not only are razor blades cheap, but it can be dangerous to try and sharpen blades that are designed to be thrown away.

3. Practice safety each time you use the box blade. Always push the blade away from your other hand. Don't cut a box unless it's in a comfortable place in front of you; cutting off-balance reduces the amount of control you have over the blade. Plan each cut before you make it.

4. Follow all directions printed on boxes when you cut them. This will prevent you from inadvertently cutting whatever is packed inside. Even if there are no specific instructions, figure out what is inside the box, so you know how deep you can make your cuts. For more control of your cut, grip the box blade closer to the front. For more power, grip it closer to the rear. If you're going to turn a packed box into a display, consider each of your cuts ahead of time.

5. Consider the aesthetics of your presentation. If you have extra time, cut shapes into the side and rear of display boxes for a nice added touch. For extremely straight cuts, hold a metal T-square in place while you slice.

Tags: prevent from, sharpen blades, that blade, will prevent, will prevent from

Replace A Sears String Trimmer Head

Always check your trimmer head for any cracks or heavy wear.

Whether the head on your Sears trimmer is worn out or the inner parts are damaged, you will need to remove it occasionally. Because the trimmer head holds the line, spring and inner reel, it is crucial that it works properly. Check the head for any cracks or holes every time you prepare to use it. If this head isn't cared for you can wind up damaging more expensive parts in your engine. Always refer to the owner's manual for recommended maintenance. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Turn the trimmer off and let the engine cool down for a few minutes. Flip the trimmer upside down, with the head in the air, to work on the head attachment.

2. Hold the outer frame of the head in place and twist the center knob on the string head counterclockwise to remove it.

3. Remove the inner reel and spring. Pull off any old line and clean inside the head, inner reel and spring with a rag.

4. Replace the trimmer head with a certified Sears trimmer replacement part. Install the spring by holding it against the inner reel.

5. Hold the inner reel and spring in place over the trimmer shaft's screw. Put the knob back on and turn it clockwise to tighten it.

Tags: inner reel, inner reel spring, reel spring, head cracks, Sears trimmer, trimmer head

Start A Group Home Successfully

A compassionate group home is a successful one.

Group homes provide housing for unrelated people who need daily living assistance to cope with social inadequacies, trauma or mental disability. Usually located in private residences converted to accommodate larger numbers of residents, successful group homes can help residents achieve health or social turnarounds.

Instructions

1. Establish your group home as a nonprofit organization by obtaining a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. It's normally difficult for group homes to generate a profit, particularly those homes that cater to mentally disabled individuals, so creating articles or bylaws to govern your organization will help you secure government and foundation funding. Building a board of directors will also give your business a better chance of a successful start because different ideas and knowledge brought to the table can be beneficial.

2. Hire a professional staff of compassionate individuals capable of assisting your clients with their particular needs. Staff members should hold at least a bachelor's degree in their field. For example, hire a nurse to tend to the residents' health and an administrator who understands both the Medicare and Medicaid systems. While a potential employee's strong desire to help may be commendable, a trained and licensed social worker will make the best candidate.

3. Make decisions about the residents with emotional investment. A nurse, director or administrator may have a loved one who suffered from a mental, physical or social disability, which can add a higher level of compassion to the care that is given. A trained staff that makes heartfelt decisions will please the residents, keep occupancy high, and enhance the lives of suffering or recuperating group home residents. This can help generate ongoing funding from government grants, private investors and community donations.

4. Manage your funds so that both your budget and receipt slips communicate the same numbers. Keep all bills, invoices and the resident's medical records safe, secure and organized to make sure your business provides a helpful service and has the best chance for success. You can manage your funds and take on these responsibilities yourself, or hire an administrator or corporate director to handle the money management duties for you.

5. A professional and trained staff is best for success.

Provide ongoing training for your staff members to keep them abreast of the group home population, up-to-date with industry trends, and interested in their jobs.

Tags: group home, group home, group homes, trained staff, your business

Make Square Holes For Mission Furniture

Homeowners decorate their homes with mission-style furniture to exhibit a simple design. Mission-style furniture has straight lines, free of carvings or ornate decorations. Mission furniture makers assemble furniture pieces with mortise-and-tenon joinery to create a sleek style of construction. Tenons have a square or rectangular tongue at the end of rails, top of legs, chair rungs or any two pieces that join. A mortise, the second half of the joint, is a square or rectangular hole cut into the wood support and fits the tenon. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Cutting by Hand

1. Measure the size of the tenon and note the measurements. Draw guidelines on the wood support matching the tenon measurements with a pencil.

2. Align a metal straightedge to the lines and score them with a utility knife. Measure the width of the mortise and mark the halfway point down the center with a pencil. Place the wood piece in a vise with the scored lines facing up and tighten the vise.

3. Equip a power drill with a doweling jig that is 1/16-inch smaller than the width of the mortise. Place the tip of the doweling jig onto the line marking the halfway point and drill into the wood, matching the depth to the length of the tenon. Do not allow the doweling jig to move to the outside of the guidelines. Move the doweling jig down the centerline slightly overlapping the first hole and drill another hole. Continue to drill overlapping holes until holes fill inside the lines of the mortise.

4. Hold a wood chisel that is 1/16-inch smaller than the width of the mortise on the guideline with the tip slightly angled to the center of the mortise. Strike the chisel with a wood mallet to chip out the center of the mortise. Continue to angle the wood chisel toward the center of the mortise and strike it with a wood mallet until no excess wood remains inside the mortise.

5. Wrap 80-grit sandpaper around a piece of wood that is 1/2-inch smaller than the mortise and sand the inside of the mortise smooth.

Cutting with a Mortiser

6. Measure and mark mortise guidelines on the wood with a pencil.

7. Equip a mortising machine with combination hollow chisel and auger bit.

8. Place the wood piece onto the mortiser, align it to the bit and clamp it in place. Set the mortiser's depth stop to the appropriate depth. Set the fence to keep the bit within the guidelines of the mortise.

9. Turn on the mortiser and pull the lever down to cut a square hole within the mortise guideline. Move the wood along the mortiser's fence, pull the lever down and cut a second square hole slightly overlapping the first hole. Continue to move the wood along the fence and cut successive, overlapping square holes until no wood remains inside the mortise.

10. Wrap 80-grit sandpaper around a piece of wood that is 1/2-inch smaller than the mortise and sand the inside of the mortise smooth.

Tags: inside mortise, smaller than, center mortise, width mortise, with pencil

Make A Small Rocking Chair Out Of Wood

Build your own small rocking chair for a child or small space.

Rocking chairs are a classic piece of furniture that fits most any decor. A rocker is good for relaxing at the end of a long day, soothing a child before bedtime, or just sitting on the front porch watching the world go by. Smaller size chairs can be made to fit in more compact spaces, or to fit a child who also loves to rock. Building your own rocker is also one of the less technical pieces of furniture you can make on your own.

Instructions

1. Draw the shape of your rocker panels on a piece of scrap plywood to use as a template. Using a template for your rockers ensures they are exactly the same on both sides and no wobbling occurs due to odd-shaped cuts. You want a shape with a wider curve at the front and slightly more tapered at the back to avoid tipping. The end result should look roughly like a half teardrop on it's side, with the rounded part down. Begin by blocking out a rectangle that is 5 1/2 inches by 36 inches on the plywood. From the top corners, draw your desired curve down and around the bottom half of the rectangle, removing the bottom two corners and making your rocking curve. Cut this template out.

2. Cut 4 rocker panels from your pine board using the template. Trace the template and cut each piece so they are exactly the same. Set the rockers aside.

3. Cut the stock for the legs. The front legs are straight up and down supports. The back legs angle from from to back and also support the seat base. Cut 2 pieces for the front legs 5 1/2-by-21 inches. Cut 2 pieces for the back 3 1/2-by-30 inches.

4. Make front supports for the rocker by cutting 1 piece of the pine 5 1/2-by-23 1/2 inches and a lower support that is 1 1/2 inches-by-22 inches. Cut 2 back supports 3 1/2-by-22 inches.

5. Use the jigsaw to cut a notch in each front leg. Start by measuring 6 1/2 inches up from the bottom of the leg board and mark it. Draw a line 5 1/2 inches long from there going up. Find the center point of the board width on your line and measure out to each side so you have a 3/4 inch width. Mark this so that you have a rectangle that is 3/4 of an inch wide and the 5 1/2 inches in length. Cut this out so you have a notched hole. Do this on both front legs, the center front cross support will fit in these notches.

6. Put the front of the chair together by gluing and screwing the front support into the notches in the two front legs. When that is attached, screw the bottom front support between the two front legs level with the bottom edge of the legs, centered on the leg. Screw through the leg into the ends of the front bottom support to hold it in place. Set this front section aside to let the glue dry completely.

7. Cut the remainder of the pieces while the front section dries. Create 11 seat slats that are 1 1/2-by-22. The back slats are 3 1/2 inches wide and 26 inches long and you need 5. You also need 2 back supports that are 3 1/2 inches wide and 22 inches long.

8. Cut a notched corner out of the back bottom support that is 2 inches high from the bottom and 3/4 inch in from the end. This makes a square notched area you have removed, do this for both ends. Now screw the back slats in place on this support by marking a line across the board 2 inches above the bottom, or a line even with the top of your notches. Line the bottom edge of the slats up with this line and beginning with one slat even with a far edge of the board, glue and screw them in place across the back support, spacing them roughly 1/2 inch apart. Use two screws per slat through the slat into the bottom support.

9. Add the top back support by measuring up from the bottom support top edge 13 1/2 inches; draw a line and place the bottom edge of the back support along this line. Screw and glue it in place and set the back support of the chair aside to dry. When dry, use the jigsaw to cut the square top of the slats into a rounded curve if you desire.

10. Cut 2 armrests, 5 1/2-by-25 inches. Reduce the back edge of the arm at an angle with the jigsaw so that the width is closer to 2 to 3 inches and tapers up to the full width at the front. You can play with the shape of this, making them curved or square, however you desire. Cut 4 small blocks of wood, 1-by-3 inches each, as supports for the arms.

11. Shape the back legs of the chair to fit the seat slats and angle the ends to sit correctly on the chair. Begin by cutting the ends of the board at angles to meet the front and bottom where it rests. The top you will cut a rough 45-degree angle down from the top left corner of your leg to the bottom edge of the board. Once you've done this, hold the board in place as it will be mounted. Draw the bottom angle so that the bottom edge of the board is cut so that it sits at the same line the front leg is resting. This can be adjusted and is primarily according to the way your chair is laid out. Adjust as needed. You can choose to curve the seat if you desire by cutting a curved "S" shape into the seat beginning about 3 inches from the front end and ending no more than 20 inches from the center of the board. Repeat the exact same cuts on the second leg by tracing the completed leg onto the second and cutting it out.

12. Construct the chair by screwing and gluing the bottom legs in place on the inside of the front legs. Attach the armrests to the top of the front legs and screw in place. Screw 2 of the 2-by-3 blocks you cut to the ends of the top back support. Sit the backrest in place on top of the back legs and put the armrests on the blocks attached to the top back support. Adjust everything so it sits at the angle you want and fits together. Screw the armrests to the support blocks. Now add the other 2 support blocks to the front of the armrests by screwing and gluing them in place just below the armrest on the outside of the front legs.

13. Screw and glue the bottom support of the backrest between the back legs. Now add the seat slats by laying them across the top of the back legs and screwing and gluing them in place roughly 1/2-inch apart. Allow the chair to dry completely.

14. Finish the rocker by laying it on it's side and screwing one, then the other outer rocker panels to the front and back legs. Screw and glue the inner rocker panels to the legs, sandwiching the legs between them.

Tags: front legs, back legs, back support, bottom edge, bottom support, rocker panels

Information About Public Schools

The average school system assigns your child to a public school based on your home address.

If you are a parent whose children may be enrolling or are currently enrolled in a public school, you might have some concerns about the educational school system they are attending. Overcrowded classrooms, concerns regarding nutritious lunch options, violence and low test scores are just a few things that might cross your mind. Despite these looming issues, the Institute of Educational Sciences National Center for Education Statistics reported that in the fall of 2010, nearly 49.4 million students were expected to attend public school.

New Technology

Most adults can remember their childhood school experience; with these memories are clear images of a schoolteacher standing at the chalkboard. The chalkboard was the go-to-place for new assignment information, difficult math problems solved in front of the class and where your name would go when you misbehaved. In 2006, however, millions of American classrooms did away with chalkboards, replacing them with SMARTboards. SMARTboards allow teachers the opportunity to bring educational information from across the World Wide Web right into the classroom. In an interview with 22 WWLP News, Alan Katz, the Executive Director of the MLK Junior Charter School, stated, "SMARTboards provide an enhancement to the learning experience for children. Teachers now have a new tool to help students become excited about learning."

Meals Provided at School

Children who enjoy eating healthy food at home can also eat healthily at school.

Public schools are serious about providing nutrient-rich meal options to every student. American public schools are a part of The National School Lunch Program, which is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced lunches to students each school day.

Children are also offered a school breakfast through the School Breakfast Program, which is established at the federal level to be nutritionally balanced, and then administered according to state education agencies before being operated by local school food authorities.

At the beginning of the month, your child should bring home a school meal calendar that allows you to review the meal choices made available. If you find the choices unsatisfactory, you should contact the school's cafeteria director.

Average Class Size

The average class size is important because it is a contributing factor to the type of attention and one-on-one assistance a child receives in the classroom; however, class size is not the main ingredient to quality education. Parental involvement and teaching style is just as influential, if not more so. According to the Institute of Educational Sciences National Center for Education Statistics, "3.3 million teachers are employed through public schools. The average public school student teacher ratio is 15:3."

In several school districts like the School District of Osceola County in Florida, only 18 students are allowed per class in grades Pre-K through third grade, 22 students per class in grades fourth through eighth and 25 students per class in ninth through twelfth grades.

School Violence

The CDC gives mention that school violence is the effect of youth violence that is often experienced in various communities and individual homes. Because school violence goes beyond fatal incidents and injuries, but can also cause emotional and psychological damage, public school districts undergo training courses to prevent and identify potentially violent circumstances. Parents should also be proactive in talking to their child about the social interactions they experience daily. Children should be encouraged to share with a mentor, teacher or parent those incidents where they were threatened or witnessed the threat of a classmate.

Tags: public school, Center Education, Center Education Statistics, class grades, class size, Education Statistics

Put Speakers In A New Cabinet

Speaker cabinets are used for electric musical instruments or simply to secure your speakers to achieve the highest sound quality possible. Given a certain number of conditions, you can put speakers into a new cabinet as long as the speakers are the appropriate size.

Instructions

1. Purchase a new speaker cabinet that is compatible with the size of your speakers. If you have 12-inch speakers, your speaker cabinet will need an amplifier that can handle the size of the speaker input (see Tips for more information).

2. Assemble all of the components of the speaker cabinet if they are not already in the new one. These include the proper gauge of speaker wiring, amplifier, speaker jack and jack plates, grills and damping material.

3. Remove the front panel. Use a screwdriver to take out the screws and gently slide the front panel off of the cabinet.

4. Guide the wires through the correct holes. Make sure the wire is of the appropriate gauge. Wire gauges get thicker the smaller the number, so it will depend on what size you need.

5. Make sure you have damping material installed. Place the damping material on the wood paneling inside your speaker cabinet.

6. Attach the wires to the speakers. This is just a matter of installing the wire into the wire terminals of your speaker. Screw the speakers into position and put the grill over them.

Tags: speaker cabinet, damping material, your speaker, front panel, Make sure

Update Eset Files

ESET is a Slovakian Internet Technology Company that focuses in security analysis and malware detection. The company provides software solutions for Windows security threats. Software applications include ESET Smart Security, ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Online Scanner. Update ESET files from all applications by using the "Update" option available in the "Support" menu on all ESET software. You need administrative access to the machine on which you are running the program to access the update feature.

Instructions

1. Click "Support" and "Update."

2. Click "Next' to submit the software version to the Internet and analyze possible updates.

3. Click "Download" when prompted for an update. Wait for the files to be downloaded.

4. Click "Install." Wait for the program to begin the installation procedure. If you are asked to provide administrative consent for an installation, click "Yes."

5. Click "Finish" when the update has completed. ESET has updated.

Tags:

Install Curtain Brackets With Decorative Rods

Select curtain rods that go with your decor.

Decorative curtain rods add personality to a room around your windows or doors. With such a range of styles, you're sure to find one that meets your style and taste requirements. Installing the curtain brackets that fit the curtain rods is a quick task. Make sure the brackets fit the decorative rods if you didn't purchase them together as a set. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Run a stud finder over the walls on each side surrounding the window or door where you'll install the decorative rods. Mark the stud with a pencil on either side.

2. Measure from the floor upward to the point on the stud where you want to install the curtain brackets. Mark the height with a pencil. Repeat on the other side.

3. Hold the curtain brackets with the bottom lined up with height mark you made. Drill pilot holes through the holes for screws present on the bracket. Insert the screws in the proper holes and tighten to complete the installation process.

4. Place the curtain on the decorative rod and place the rod so it sits between the two brackets.

Tags: curtain rods, curtain brackets, with pencil

My Bonsai Tree Is Turning Yellow

The foliage of some bonsai trees are naturally yellow and should not cause you concern.

If your bonsai's foliage has begun to yellow, and is not naturally golden, it is indicating that there is a problem in its environment. Depending on the type of bonsai you have, yellowing foliage can be a sign of a lack of nutrients, a root-bound root system or too much water. If caught early, the ailing bonsai can recover from its struggles. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Inspect the bonsai thoroughly. Remove any foliage that has completely lost its green color. Use sharp, sterile shears to remove the leaves or pinch them away with your thumb and forefinger.

2. Prune the branches and stems to remove any deadened or suffering areas, as this will help redirect the tree's energy to viable areas.

3. Prepare to repot the bonsai as this will give you an opportunity to inspect its roots. Select a new, well-drained potting container for the bonsai. Be sure to choose one with several drainage holes at the bottom. Line each of the drainage holes with wire mesh to keep the roots in and pests out.

4. Create a loamy, well-drained soil environment for the bonsai. Select a nutrient-rich potting soil, clean sand and clean pine bark or leaf mulch and incorporate the materials thoroughly. Line the bottom third of the prepared bonsai container with soil and set it aside.

5. Remove your bonsai from its container and place it on a clean, flat surface. Crumble the soil gently from around the root system and inspect the roots thoroughly. Comb the top and bottom of the root-bound system with a sterile root hook, removing no more than a third of the mass.

6. Cut away any dead, wilted or mushy roots back to the root mass. Trim back the healthy roots about a half-inch or less from the tip to provide fresh entry points for water and nutrients. Trim back no more than a third of the healthy roots to prevent stunting the bonsai's growth.

7. Set the newly pruned bonsai in the prepared container and fill the container with the prepared soil mixture. Check that all of the roots are covered and then press the soil firmly around the bonsai's base to secure its position.

8. Allow several days to pass before watering the newly repotted succulent bonsai. Irrigate all other bonsai trees immediately after repotting. Give the bonsai a deep irrigation with tepid water. Pour the water, with a low stream, evenly across the surface until it begins to run from the drainage holes.

9. Place the bonsai in a warm, sunny location that receives full morning sunlight and intermittent shade in the afternoon and evening. Allow the soil to dry slightly before irrigating again to prevent over-watering.

10. Allow the bonsai to establish before introducing fertilizers. Feed the bonsai periodically throughout the growing season but only according to its needs. Cease winter feedings to prevent root burn. Select slow-release fertilizers for drought tolerant bonsai trees and water-soluble fertilizers for water-loving bonsais.

Tags: bonsai trees, drainage holes, container with, healthy roots, inspect roots

Steps On Make A Concept Paper

Steps on Make a Concept Paper

A concept paper can help capture a funding agency's interest and show that your proposal is worth a closer look. From a funding agency's point of view, concept papers give them a brief overview of potential projects and help them to quickly eliminate proposals that don't fit their requirements. A concept paper can be viewed as a brief version of a business plan and may be requested by investors, a chamber of commerce or professors at your business school. This paper usually is no longer than a few pages.

Instructions

1. Write a few introductory sentences about you and the funding agency. These sentences should show that you know what the agency is looking for and that your business idea meets their requirements. If you have any partner agencies, a description of them should be included in your introduction.

2. Describe in a few paragraphs what your project is going to accomplish and why your idea is unique.

3. Write a couple of brief paragraphs describing your goals and objectives. You might include your research questions if your project is research oriented.

4. Add more detail about your goals and objectives, giving an overview about your methodology (how you intend to complete the project from start to finish). Make sure to include a general time line for your project.

5. State the benefits of your project and describe who will benefit from it.

Tags: your project, funding agency, about your, concept paper, goals objectives

List Of Furniture Manufacturing Company Ratings

Consurmers must perform adequate research in order to get the best quality furniture at the lowest price.

Depending upon a consumer's budget and needs, buying furniture is often a major investment. Outfitting a bedroom in your home may cost thousands of dollars. To help cut expenses you may want to compare and contrast furniture manufacturing companies to identify the best deal. There are a variety of resources available to those who seek this information out. Does this Spark an idea?

Consumer Reports

"Consumer Reports" is one of the United States' most well known magazines. There is also an online version. Both are administered by the Consumer Union, an organization calling itself an "expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers." The group does not take ads. Consumers who subscribe to the service are able to access in-depth reviews and ratings of furniture manufacturing companies. In addition to the periodical and website, the Consumer Union publishes an annual report, a comprehensive list of ratings and review of a variety of consumer products, including furniture.

Better Business Bureau

American consumers may determine how reputable a local furniture manufacturing company is through the Better Business Bureau. The bureau is a consumer protection agency with a comprehensive set of standards, known as the BBB Standards of Trust, in which businesses are evaluated. Regional offices of this national organization can be found across the country. Ratings and reports on companies are available on the group's website.

Leather Furniture Shoppe

Leather Furniture Shoppe is a website specializing in rating leather furniture manufacturing companies in the United States. Boasting more than 30 years of experience, the Internet resource both sells furniture and aims to be as "objective as possible" when ranking furniture manufacturing companies based upon their quality, upholstery detail, warranty and price value. The Houston, Texas-based organization also provides consumers with a glossary of terms specific to the leather furniture industry.

Review Centre

Review Centre is a United Kingdom-based website providing consumers with ratings and reviews of furniture manufacturing companies. Unlike Consumer Reports which maintains a staff of professional reviewers, Review Centre allows consumers to weigh in on which products are best based upon personal experience. Those who wish to write a review must simply create a profile. They are then able to rate a furniture manufacturing company, giving it up to six stars. In addition, they may write a brief summary to describe the service they received.

Tags: furniture manufacturing, furniture manufacturing companies, manufacturing companies, Consumer Reports, Review Centre

Uninstall Eset

ESET offers both a comprehensive security suite and a standalone antivirus program. Although both products include antivirus and spyware protection the security suite includes additional spam and firewall protection. If you want to change ESET products, upgrade to a newer version of your existing software or are having problems with ESET, you can uninstall either version of the ESET software in a few simple steps.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" followed by "All Programs" and click the "ESET" folder. Click "Uninstall" below your ESET program's name to launch the setup wizard.

2. Click "Next" on the first screen of the wizard and click "Remove." Fill in the survey on the "Questionnaire" step of the wizard or clear the box next to "I Want to Submit the Questionnaire Data" to avoid the survey.

3. Click "Next" and "Remove" to uninstall your ESET product. Click "Yes" to confirm on the User Account Control message if prompted. Click "Finish" and click "Yes" to restart your computer after ESET uninstalls.

4. Click "Start" and "Computer," then select "Folder Options" from the "Tools" menu. Click the "View" tab, click "Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives" under "Advanced Settings" and then click "OK." Navigate to "C:\Program Files\ESET" and

"C:\ProgramData\ESET" in the Windows Explorer window. Right-click each of these folders if they still exist and select "Delete."

Tags: Click Next, Click Start, security suite, your ESET

Repaint Cabinets With A French Country Look

Paint cabinets to bring a French country look into your kitchen.

The French country look is easy and inexpensive to create by repainting your existing kitchen cabinets. For an even more rural, antique look, you can distress the paint job, either by applying crackle paint or by layering colors then sanding them so that the cabinets appear to have been exposed to the effects of weather and heavy usage over many decades. Replace fixtures such as modern drawer handles with rustic knobs and tarnished brass pulls to compliment this look. Finishing touches can be toile-de-jouy patterned curtains and flour-sack dishtowels. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove the doors from the cabinets at their hinges with a screwdriver.

2. Remove the hardware from the doors, saving the screws so that you can reattach the hinges later.

3. Sand the cabinets and doors inside and out to roughen them up, giving the primer a surface to which it can adhere.

4. Paint the cabinets and doors with a base coat of primer. Use a small roller or a paintbrush to cover all the surfaces evenly. Allow the primer to dry according to the directions on the paint can; this can take between three and 24 hours.

5. Paint the first coat with a paintbrush or roller. Use a paintbrush for a more rustic, hand-painted look; use a roller for faster coverage. Allow the paint to dry completely, between three and 24 hours.

6. Apply a second coat of paint if necessary to ensure solid, even coverage. Allow the paint to dry.

7. Apply a top coat in the finish that evokes the look you want to create. Use a crackle finish for a severely weathered look, or a lighter shade of the base coat around the edges of the cabinets for a sun-bleached look. Use a contrasting top coat if you plan to sand portions of the paint job heavily to reveal the base coat, creating a dramatic, playful effect.

8. Distress the cabinets. Scratch and sand them to allow the base coat to show through the top coats. Sand the edges of the cabinets and doors to simulate natural wear. Scratch cabinets with any somewhat hard object, such as a spackle spreader or a length of chain, nicking their surfaces until you achieve the battered effect you desire. Be creative; you can always repaint the cabinets if you overdo the weathering.

9. Apply a layer of wood wax by rubbing it in a circular motion with a clean dishtowel to seal the paint job and make it resistant to fingerprints and moisture damage.

Tags: base coat, cabinets doors, Allow paint, between three, between three hours

Tune Up A Sears 32cc Gas Line Trimmer

A well-tuned engine will make using your Craftsman 32cc Gas Line trimmer much easier. A basic tuneup should be performed at least once per year and preferably at the beginning of the mowing season. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug. Drain any fuel remaining in the trimmer from previous usage. Old fuel stored in the trimmer through the winter months should be discarded completely. Gas will go old over time and may prevent the trimmer from running properly or even starting at all.

2. Check the fuel lines. There is a general life expectancy of around 2 years or seasons of use. After this point, the lines will begin to show general wear and tear and may even begin to fail if not replaced. Make sure they are not damaged and are attached properly.

3. Remove the carburetor and thoroughly clean it with carburetor. There are two basic types of cleaner available for this purpose. First is a complete soak cleaner which requires removing the entire assembly and placing in a "bath" of sorts. Then use compressed air to blow debris from the parts. The other choice is a can of cleaner which is used to spray the carburetor and all intricate parts. Either is an excellent choice, and both must be used with caution in a well-ventilated area away from open flame.

4. Reassemble the carburetor insuring all parts, both new and old, are securely tightened. You will need to adjust the fuel mixture using the fuel mix screw. As a starting point, begin with the screw at 1 1/2 turns from the fully flush position. This is a good starting point, however, there will need to be minute incremental adjustments once the engine is started in order to achieve a smoothly running engine.

5. Remove the spark plug and replace with a new recommended plug. Remember to gap the plug to ensure proper firing, and tighten snugly. Do not over-tighten the plug. There may be some tightening of the plug during normal usage, but over-tightening may make the removal process very difficult. Carefully reconnect the spark plug wire to the top of the plug.

6. Remove the air filter and replace it with a new recommended filter. Removing the filter cover may require a screwdriver. Care should be taken not to damage the cover or housing into which the filter sits.

7. Refill the tank with with fuel, and start. You can now adjust the the fuel mix screw to properly set the idle speed of the trimmer. Your tune up is complete.

Tags: spark plug, 32cc Line, adjust fuel, cleaner which, fuel screw

Troubleshoot A Craftsman Brushwacker 31cc Gas Trimmer

Craftsman's Brushwacker gas trimmers are great for trimming the grass in places your lawn mower can't reach. The Brushwacker trimmer has a small engine that rotates the trimmer head, which cuts the grass and brush. The trimmer engine is fueled by a mixture of gasoline and two-cycle oil. Like similar small engines, the Brushwacker trimmer's engine may occasionally fail to start. Sears -- manufacturer of the Craftsman Brushwacker -- provides troubleshooting steps in the event the trimmer will not start properly. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Check the trimmer On/Off switch. If the switch is in the "Off" position, move it to the "On" position, using your fingers.

2. Check the primer fuel bulb. Push the primer fuel bulb five to seven times fully and slowly with your finger. You should be able to see fuel in the fuel bulb.

3. Check the fuel tank. The fuel level should be close to the full indicator. Add fuel if necessary.

4. Determine if the fuel in the fuel tank is old. Drain old fuel by removing the fuel cap and tilting the trimmer to empty the fuel into a drain pan. Add fresh fuel, and replace the fuel cap. Dispose of the old fuel according to local rules and regulations. Make sure the fresh fuel is mixed properly with two-cycle engine oil.

5. Inspect the spark plug. Remove the spark plug wire, using your fingers. Remove the spark plug, using a socket wrench. If the spark plug is fouled or cracked, you will need to install a new spark plug. Install the spark plug and tighten it with a socket wrench. Push the spark plug wire onto the spark plug, using your fingers.

Tags: spark plug, Craftsman Brushwacker, fuel bulb, using your, using your fingers, your fingers

Refurbish Old School Desk For Children

Refurbishing old school desk

An old school desk provides an area for your child to do nightly homework. The school desk with the storage area is even better. The storage area provides a safe place for homework away from pets and younger siblings. If your children have laptop computers, old school desks are just the right size for personal computer desks as well. Once you clean the desk, remove the rust, and add fresh paint the desk looks like it belongs. If your children poke and squabble at the table during homework, give them each their own work space. You can purchase old school desk at garage sales and school closing sales for a few dollars or less. Then it is inexpensive for you to refurbish the desk. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Disassemble the old school desk. Remove the bolts, screws, and nuts holding the desk together.

2. Sand the metal parts until you have removed the rust and loose paint.

3. Paint the metal parts according to the directions on the paint you chose. This may require a well ventilated area and a primer. The paint may also have minimum and maximum temperatures for curing.

4. Scrub the wooden desk top and seat (if applicable) while the paint is drying.

5. Reassemble the desk after the paint is dry using new hardware if necessary.

Tags: school desk, metal parts, storage area, your children

Sunrooms In Hawaii

A kitchen is the perfect location for a sunroom addition.

Beauty is abundant in Hawaii. Constructing a sunroom allows people to enjoy Hawaiian views from the comfort of their homes. Conservatories, solariums and pool enclosures provide light and space for indoor tropical flower gardens and private pool enjoyment while receiving sun protection. With sunrooms, people can enjoy breakfast and a Hawaiian waterscape view while sitting in a cool, air-conditioned environment. Does this Spark an idea?

Sunrooms

Decorate with colorful items, such as this coral-colored chair.

Sunrooms can take on many forms. They can be any size and can be for any purpose. The sunroom design can be any wish of its owner. Hawaiian sunrooms present the main purpose of bringing the outdoors in. Using the Hawaiian view as a backdrop, sunrooms create scenery, space, tranquility and beauty to any home. Decorate with bamboo furniture, Polynesian lamps and colors that mimic the Hawaiian flora, such as anthurium.

Conservatories

Coffee tables, chairs and sofas keep conservatories comfortable for guests.

Conservatories are as important to a Hawaiian resident as a front porch is to an American southerner. The place for quiet conversation, reading a book, writing in a journal or sipping a glass of wine, the conservatory will look out over a plush Hawaiian garden, waterfall, landscape or golf course. Decorate with neutral colors, such as white, cream or mint green, to create a peaceful streamlined look or decorate with bold, colorful Hawaiian prints.

Solariums

A solarium in Hawaii is a private paradise.

Solariums appeal to people with green thumbs. Plants thrive in solariums and so do tans. People wanting to work on their tan without being under damaging ultraviolet rays can tan safely within a solarium. Many solariums also have roofs that open, hot tubs or wet bars for people to enjoy a Hawaiian starry night. Use flowers and plants to do the decorating for you. Add some pieces you love, comfy wicker furniture, pillows and splatter color here and there with fabric or blooming plants.

Pool Enclosures

Sunrooms with pool enclosures are sound investments in Hawaiian vacation home rentals.

Pool enclosures are found in many homes and hotels within Hawaii. The interior view allows people enjoy the sun during the day as well as the night sky. These enclosures often use a a glass that blocks damaging ultraviolet sun rays. Pool enclosures often are designed with cathedral ceilings that can open and close via a remote control. Consider decorating with tiki sculptures, Hawaiian native flowers, plants and comfortable wicker furniture.

Tags: people enjoy, Decorate with, allows people, allows people enjoy, damaging ultraviolet, damaging ultraviolet rays, enclosures often

Italian Restaurants In Riverside California

Riverside's Italian restaurants offer cuisine such as pizza, plus pasta and lasagna.

Riverside, California, a city alongside the Santa Ana River and 60 miles east of Los Angeles, has many restaurants for diners searching for Italian cuisine. Offering casual or formal dining, most Italian eateries feature the ever-popular pizza. Riverside is also home to a University of California campus with 40 acres of botanical gardens.

Mario's Place

Mario's Place serves Northern Italian cuisine, with menu selections that include appetizers like raw Carpaccio of beef, classic Caesar salad and butternut squash ravioli. Grilled swordfish and roasted breast of chicken count among its main dish choices, along with basil pesto and pear Gorgonzola pizza. The restaurant offers a selection of Italian desserts, cheeses, dessert wines and grappas to its diners. Mario's Place serves lunch and dinner, and patrons enjoy live jazz music on Friday and Saturday evenings, according to the restaurant's website. The facility also has private party rooms.

Ciao Bella

Ciao Bella Ristorante offers lunch and dinner selections such as pasta, pizzas, salads, gourmet sandwiches, steaks, seafood and poultry. The restaurant's website says it offers many gluten-free and vegetarian selections. Signature dishes for lunch include chicken farfalle, sun-dried tomato and artichoke ravioli, and steak salad rustica. Dinner items feature lobster ravioli, veal osso bucco, filet mignon and halibut. Ciao Bella takes reservations, offers catering services and has space for private parties.

Romano's

Romano's Italian Restaurants and Chicago Pizzeria has four locations in Riverside, with most offering a full Italian cuisine menu, plus a Chicago-style pizzeria. It has dining for families, as well as people looking for a quieter, more elegant dinner. Appetizers include bruschetta, fried mozzarella, and sauteed clams and mussels. Diners can select soups and salads such as minestrone, Caesar salad, spinach salad and antipasto. Pasta selection include spaghetti marinara, Bolognese, fettucine alfredo, penne mushroom and many others. Romano's Riverside locations also have a children's menu.

D'Caesaro

D'Caesaro Pizza & Italian boasts pizza selections, along with pasta dinners of spaghetti, ravioli and lasagna. Its menu includes sub sandwiches and a small selection of salads. Customers can also choose from specialty dinners at D'Caesaro, such as chicken cacciatore and chicken parmesan. This Italian restaurant has dine-in and take-out.

Antone's

Family-run Antone's Italian Food in Magnolia Center opened in 1965. Menu selections include hot and cold grinder sandwiches, spaghetti, salad, pizza and bread. Antone's special dish is pizza on garlic bread. The restaurant also offers catering services.

Famous Joe's

Famous Joe's Italian Kitchen & Jazz Club offers online ordering of its wide selection of Italian cuisine, with appetizers that include brushetta, calamari and shrimp scampi. Chose from salads such as Caesar, spinach and caprese. Pastas include fettucine, penne pesto, carbonara and capellini pomodoro. The restaurant also offers pizza. Famous Joe's also serves sandwiches for lunch, such as the classic club, pastrami dip and a hamburger. The restaurant does catering, too.

Tags: Italian cuisine, Ciao Bella, Mario Place, along with, also offers, Caesar salad, catering services

Train A Puppy Not To Bite

Teaching puppies not to bite is an important lesson.

For a puppy, biting is part of play, and even painful bites are rarely meant maliciously. The problem is that people have thinner skin than dogs, so your puppy needs to learn to be gentle. Showing him that his bites hurt is usually enough to get him to stop.

Instructions

1. Decide what is acceptable. Some pet owners don't mind light nips from their dogs, while others believe any biting is unacceptable.

2. Whenever your puppy hurts you, sharply say, "Stop," "Ouch" or something similar. Dogs yelp when they are hurt, so your puppy will immediately recognize this as a cry of pain, and she should stop.

3. Immediately give the puppy a chew toy.

4. Leave the room or put the puppy in his kennel if he continues to bite too hard. This will teach the dog that if he continues to bite, you will not play with him. A few minutes is enough time for the puppy to understand.

5. Use an old, knotted rope, towel or something similar as a toy you and the puppy can use to play tug of war. Puppies have a lot of aggressive energy and love to chew things, so having an outlet for those instincts will make your dog happier and provide you both with a lot of fun.

6. Give the puppy something to do. A lot of dogs are trained to work, and will behave better when they have some task to perform. Teach your puppy to carry things for you or to play fetch.

7. Teach your puppy to heel. Even the most well-behaved canines get a bit out of hand from time to time. A "heel" or "sit" command will stop her when she gets too excited.

Tags: your puppy, continues bite, something similar, Teach your, Teach your puppy, when they

Respool A Craftsman Weed Eater

Craftsman string trimmers are also referred to by the generic term "weed eater." Featuring a two-cycle, gasoline-powered engine, Craftsman trimmers use small-diameter nylon cutting line to cut weeds and grass in areas that a lawn mower cannot reach. Some Craftsman weed eaters feature a short and easy-to-change line as part of the Hassle Free Cutting Head design. Changing a trimmer line should be done periodically so that there is enough line available for properly cutting grass and weeds. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Place the Craftsman weed eater on a level work surface such as the ground or a sturdy work bench.

2. Pull the glide plate straight off the bottom of the trimmer head. Remove old trimmer line from the trimmer head and wipe the glide plate clean with a rag.

3. Determine the diameter of the Hassle Free Cutting Head. Choose medium-diameter, red-coded line for grass, or larger-diameter, black-coded line for weeds.

4. Insert the glide plate back into the trimmer head. Align the arrow on the glide plate with the "A" for larger, black-coded line and "B" for medium-diameter, red-coded line.

5. Form a "U" with the replacement Hassle Free trimmer line by bending the length of line in half.

6. Insert the ends of the U-shaped trimmer line into the two small holes in the trimmer head. Push the line through the line tunnels of the trimmer head.

7. Pull both ends of the line at the same time, making sure that an even amount of line extends from both tunnel holes in the trimmer head. Pull the line so it is securely held in place in the Hassle Free Cutting Head.

Tags: trimmer head, glide plate, Hassle Free, trimmer line, Cutting Head, Free Cutting, Free Cutting Head

Mexican Marriage Requirements

Couples planning to marry south of the border need to know the Mexican marriage requirements.

Destination weddings are very popular because they allow couples to plan their wedding and honeymoon at the same time to save money. Mexico is a common location for destination weddings because of the peso-dollar conversion rates, as well as the country's wide variety of natural settings, such as tropical beach paradises. Mexican weddings are also typically recognized as being legally valid in the couple's home country. While each Mexican state has different legal rules, most have similar marriage requirements.

Legal Requirements

The legal age of marriage consent in Mexico is 18. Parental consent is needed for boys at least 16 years of age and girls at least 14 years of age. Foreign citizens may marry each other in Mexico with a passport and tourist permit. Most Mexican states require the bride and groom to undergo blood tests and chest X-rays in Mexico within a certain period of time before the civil wedding. Couples must have a minimum of four witnesses at the legal ceremony, and the witnesses must have valid identification, such as passports. Couples must ensure their marriage certificate is legalized in Mexico, from the Mexican registry office, to have it recognized in their home country.

Necessary Documents

There are many legal documents required for a Mexican marriage. With the exception of the foreign passports, all documents must be translated into Spanish and be notarized by the local Mexican consulate. The required documents include full passports valid for at least six months; copies of passports; marriage application forms; travel permits, such as a tourist visa, FM3 or FM2; birth certificates; and divorce decrees and death certificates, if applicable. Mexican law states that a person must have been divorced for a minimum of one year before remarrying in Mexico.

Marrying a Mexican National

If you plan to marry a Mexican national, you must fulfill all of the aforementioned requirements as well as additional ones. The couple must receive permission to marry from the Government Secretary-Immigration Office, pay a fee and gain a marriage permit. The marriage permit must be acquired in the same jurisdiction of where the actual marriage will take place. The process can take anywhere from two days to two weeks. If you plan to marry a Mexican citizen, you'll need to fulfill all of these requirements, as well as obtain permission from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior.

Tags: must have, Couples must, from Mexican, home country, least years

The Best Places To Buy Furniture

Find the best places to buy furniture for your needs.

Shopping for furniture can seem daunting. Your options feel endless, you're scared of making costly mistakes and you really aren't sure where to shop. Don't let it overwhelm you. Decide what matters most to you--antiquity, quality, style, cost--and shop the places best suited for those needs. Does this Spark an idea?

1stdibs

For exquisite high-end antique and vintage furniture--including one of a kind pieces from legendary furniture designers and makers--shop at 1stdibs. Featuring the best offerings from dealers around the globe, 1stdibs is an online marketplace. Expect to see lots of pieces from Parisian flea market Marche aux Puces. You will have to register to see prices or purchase, but registration is free.

1stdibs

1stdibs.com

Stickley

Though famous for their Mission furniture, particularly the designs of Gustav Stickley, the L. & J.G. Stickley Company makes wood furniture and upholstery of numerous periods and styles. Originally founded in 1891, Stickley has continued their tradition of superb craftsmanship, even in today's market of cheap imports and disposable furniture.

The flagship store and the Stickley Museum are located in Fayetteville, New York, but Stickley has stores and authorized dealers across the United States and Canada.

L. & J.G. Stickley Company

300 Towne Drive

Fayetteville, NY 13066

315-637-7770

stickley.com

Room & Board

Room & Board sells well-designed, high-quality wood and upholstered furniture in modern styles. The company is strongly committed to environmental responsibility. It fulfills that commitment by building 80 percent of its pieces in the United States for fuel conservation, by constructing long-lasting furniture, and by implementing tree replanting programs.

Room & Board has a handful of storefronts in major cities, but it is primarily a catalog company. The company regularly receives glowing reviews from customers and has a generous exchange policy. If that sofa you plan to order isn't as comfortable as it looks in the catalog, you can trade it for another style. They will prorate the refund for any wear or damage, but the exchange option eliminates one of the drawbacks of furniture shopping via catalog.

Room & Board

800-301-9720

roomandboard.com

IKEA

IKEA sells inexpensive furniture of Scandinavian design. Everything is sold "flat pack," which means it comes in a box and you assemble it yourself. IKEA furniture isn't high quality and it won't last forever, but it's well-designed and cheap--perfect for those just starting out, or for anyone with more taste than money.

Founded in Sweden, IKEA is the largest furniture retailer in the world. You can buy IKEA furniture on the website, by catalog or from any of the hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores located all over the world. IKEA stores are usually huge and often feature restaurants and staffed play areas for children.

IKEA

ikea.com

Tags: Room Board, IKEA furniture, pieces from, Stickley Company, United States

Lodging On Treasure Island Florida

Treasure Island is one of the premier islands off of the Florida coast.

Treasure Island, Florida is one hot spot in Florida for tourists looking for a relaxing and fun filled family vacation. Treasure Island is aptly named because of the historical rumors of treasure chests that were buried and found on this string of islands in the early 1900s. This island is unique because of its white sandy beaches. Lodging is easy to find on Treasure Island.

Provident Resort

Provident Resort on Treasure Island is a beachfront resort that offers a swimming pool and kiddie pool along with whirlpool spas, fitness centers, queen--sized beds, and breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico. This resort comes complete with a cafe and beach bar, high-speed Internet access, private balconies and children's activities.

The Bilmar Beach Resort

Enjoy Treasure Island with a plethora of activities within the Bilmar Beach Resort including a Family Movie Night Under the Stars, shopping at the gift shop, or relaxing in the whirlpool spas. Each room has several amenities including a flat-panel LCD television with satellite programs, complimentary wireless Internet, and a private deck or balcony.

The Tahitian

The Tahitian is a resort that comes with several complimentary amenities that include but are not limited to: a heated pool, a kid's pool, free wireless Internet, beach and pool towels, bay-side fishing, and a shuffleboard court. Ground floor units for this hotel are pet friendly.

Treasure Bay Hotel and Marina

This upscale resort is a proud member of the Chamber of Commerce of multiple Chamber branches, and is affiliated with Luxe Worldwide Hotels, the Treasure Island Yacht and Tennis Club, and the Freedom Boat Club. Amenities for this hotel include daily housekeeping, jacuzzi, fitness center, rooftop sundeck, and a brand new marina along with an on-site ATM. The clean and neat accommodations include private balconies, high-speed Internet access and kitchenettes.

Tags: Treasure Island, along with, Beach Resort, Bilmar Beach, Bilmar Beach Resort, high-speed Internet, high-speed Internet access

Texture Walls With A Compound

Paint the textured wall to add more depth to the design.

Adding texture to your walls with a compound is a decorating option that can replace simple paint or wallpaper. The room becomes your canvas and the texture material is your palette. When applying the texture, you can use almost any item to achieve the look you want. You can also add pigment to your texture materials to add color to the walls.This easy and fun decorating project can be done in your spare time. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Inspect the wall for any holes or cracks. Repair them before applying the texture compound.

2. Practice your texture design. Mix a little of the texture compound with water and apply to drywall scraps or cardboard to determine the look you want to use in your room.

3. Mix the remainder of the texture compound. Open the box along the lines for cutting and add water slowly. Mix with the drill until you get the texture consistency you want.

4. Start at the far inside corner of the room. If you plan to follow a pattern, pencil it lightly on the wall. If you are just going to cover the walls with no pattern, do so evenly.

5. Decide what implement you are going to use to apply the texture. You can use anything that the texture material will adhere to such as a brush, sponge or old cloth slipper.

6. Work quickly. The texture compound will dry fast and if you wait too long, you will be able to see the overlap marks on the finished wall. Use fluid vertical strokes and keep a ladder handy if you are doing the wall from floor to ceiling.

7. Use a spray texture that comes in a can if you do not want to bother with mixing materials. Work in a vertical manner doing as much of the wall at one time as you can. Let the wall dry and add another coat if necessary.

Tags: texture compound, applying texture, look want, texture material, your texture

Maintain Antique Furniture

Special maintenance is necessary for antique furniture.

Antique furniture must be properly maintained to retain both the value of the piece and its appearance. Unlike newer furniture, antiques need a little extra care. This care translates into years of use and the ability to pass furniture down from generation to generation. If you have an antique with a scratched or worn finish, keep in mind that some of these techniques will not work - the piece will need to be restored before it can be maintained. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove antique furniture from direct sunlight. Ultraviolet rays are harmful for wooden and antique furniture and may cause drying and cracking. Never place an antique directly under a window or where it will receive more than just a few hours of indirect sunlight each day.

2. Balance humidity levels in your home. The atmosphere is important to antique furniture. If it's too humid, the piece may rot; if it's too dry, the piece may crack. If you live in a moist climate, use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. Conversely, if you live in a dry climate, you will need to use a humidifier to maintain proper moisture levels. Shoot for a level of around 30 to 50 percent humidity.

3. Wax the antique furniture twice a year. Use a high quality furniture paste wax and apply a thin coating to the furniture. Rub this in with a soft cloth.

4. Dust antiques regularly. In between waxings, antique furniture can be maintained with a simple dry dusting with a soft cloth, performed weekly or as necessary. Use a soft bristle toothbrush to get into detail work or carving, where a cloth cannot reach.

5. Vacuum upholstery. Antique upholstery does not hold up well against traditional cleaners. Simply vacuum over cushion covers and spot clean with a dye-free dish soap as necessary. Always test soap on an inconspicuous part of the furniture before using it where it will be visible.

Tags: antique furniture, antique furniture, soft cloth, where will, will need

The Best Hotels In Greensboro North Carolina

North Carolina features beautiful scenery.

Greensboro, North Carolina is home to family fun, golf courses, shopping, museums and wineries. Tourists and visitors come to see the Greensboro Children's Museum, have fun at the Wet N' Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park and bowl at the Gate City Lanes. After a long day of fun you can find some of the best hotels (three star rating) in Greensboro, according to the Forbes rating system.

Grandover Resort

The Grandover Resort is nestled on 1,500 acres. The resort has an indoor pool, 36-holes of golf, a spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, whirlpool, tennis court, high-speed Internet, two restaurants and two bars. It is an 11-story hotel with 247 guest rooms. Each guest room has a marble entry foyer, marble bathroom, desk and a flat-screen cable TV. Local attractions include the Emerald Pointe Water Park, Guildford Courthouse National Park and the North Carolina Zoo.

Grandover Resort

1000 Club Road

Greensboro, NC 27407

800-472-6301

grandover.com

Marriott Greensboro- High Pointe Airport

The Marriott Greensboro is located near the Piedmont Triad Airport and has a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle. Hotel amenities include on-site laundry, concierge desk, newspaper in lobby, indoor/outdoor connecting pool, volleyball court and a spa and fitness center. Each guest room offers room service, over-sized chair, desk and cable TV. Concierge rooms include a free continental breakfast, evening turn-down service, living/sitting area and a robe. JW's Steakhouse is a restaurant located on site that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also located on-site is the Pitchers Bar and Grill, which is open for lunch and dinner.

Marriott Greensboro-High Pointe Marriott Airport

One Marriott Drive

Greensboro, NC 27409

336-852-6450

marriott.com

O. Henry Hotel

Another one of Greensboro's best hotels is the O. Henry Hotel, which features over-sized guest rooms, afternoon tea and a complimentary breakfast. Other hotel amenities include an outdoor pool, room service, wireless high-speed Internet, a business center, complimentary airport transportation and morning newspaper. Each spacious guest room has a 32-inch flat screen TV, complimentary bottled water, microwave, mini-cooler, in-room safe, bathrobes, a desk and a shower with a separate large bathtub. The Green Valley Grill is located on site, as is a bar and lobby cocktail service. Nearby restaurants include Lucky 32 and the Print Works Bistro, and the hotel offers complimentary transportation to local destinations such as these.

O. Henry Hotel

624 Green Valley Road

Greensboro, NC 27408

336-854-2000

ohenryhotel.com

Tags: North Carolina, Grandover Resort, guest room, Henry Hotel, Airport Marriott, amenities include, complimentary airport

Mission Style Window Treatments

Instead of covering your windows, add stained glass for a decorative look.

If you live in a bungalow or other Mission style house, carrying the style throughout your home creates an authentic, unified look for the space. Also known as Arts and Crafts decor, Mission style decorating is all about clean, simple lines and natural materials. Inspired by the look of late 19th-century Spanish missions, Mission homes heavily feature wood and warm, earthy shades. When it comes to window treatments, the look should be simple and natural to match the rest of the house. There are several attractive options, so you can vary the treatments throughout your home. Does this Spark an idea?

Stained Glass

Instead of covering your windows, install stained glass windows for an authentic Mission style feel. Because the Spanish churches inspired the Mission style, colorful, stained glass is a staple of the d cor. In a living room or dining room, large stained glass windows make an attractive focal point. However, you can also use smaller, horizontal windows with stained glass on either side of your front door or in your den or family room to add color and pattern. You can opt for stained glass in various designs, including simple geometric patterns or more elaborate floral patterns. You may also choose windows that only feature small, stained glass accents in an otherwise leaded option. If you do not like the look of stained glass, you can use beveled glass in your windows and leave them uncovered as well.

Wood Shutters

Wood is heavily featured in Mission style interiors, and homes often feature built-in cabinets and window seats, as well as wood flooring, paneling, trim and molding. You can continue this look on your windows by covering them with wooden shutters. The shutters provide a warm, natural look that matches the rest of your home's architecture and d cor and allow for privacy as well. They are also easy to adjust when you want to allow natural light into the room. Match the stain on your shutters to the other wood in your room. A warm, reddish brown color is your best option if you want a truly authentic Mission style look.

Roman Shades

If you prefer a more traditional window covering, Roman shades work well in a Mission style room. They are usually made from woven wood or fabric, so you can find them in warm, neutral tones. Roman shades are easy to operate as well because you can open and close them by simply pulling on a cord. For a simpler look, roller shades are a budget-friendly alternative. Look for shades made of wood or fabric to provide a natural look.

Linen Curtains

In a bedroom or dining room where you might prefer drapes, linen curtains are an attractive option for a Mission style home. Because it is a natural, textured material, it complements the d cor well. Opt for linen in warm earth tone shades, like tan, brown or terracotta. If you prefer a lower maintenance fabric, cotton curtains are an attractive alternative to linen. When it comes to curtain rods, wooden poles that match the other wood elements in the room are an ideal option to maintain the warm, natural feel.

Tags: Mission style, stained glass, your windows, your home, authentic Mission, authentic Mission style

Tell The Age Of A Thonet Bentwood Wicker Rocker

The Gebruder Thonet company was founded in 1819 by Michael Thonet to produce his chairs using a unique process of bending wood ("bentwood") that he designed. The company is still in business today, run by the fifth generation of Thonets, with headquarters in Frankenberg, Germany. Although the company branched off into producing other types of chairs and furniture pieces, it is still best known for its bentwood wicker designs, the first of which appeared in 1860. These have remained remarkably consistent in style since their first appearance, but there are some clues you can use to determine the age of a particular bentwood rocker. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the design of the first Thonet bentwood wicker rocker, the "Schaukel-Fauteuil No. 1" or "Rocking Chair No. 1." Produced in 1890 in Koritschan, Moravia, it was the first rocking chair in the world created from "bentwood," a technique Michael Thonet developed by wetting and bending beechwood. Check out a picture on the company website (thonet.de/en/rocking-chair.html).

2. Notice how the design of the curved legs and arms changed over the years. According to a visual history of the modern rocking chair created by Designboom, the legs on the Thonet wicker rockers began with quite simple curves and then got more elaborate over the years, becoming noticeably more curlicued around the turn of the 20th century. Both ends of the bottom runners on chairs of this period curved under as well, in contrast to the straight edges of previous versions. The arms of the first rocker sat lower than those of later versions, which were markedly rounder.

3. Look for manufacturing marks to authenticate your chair. There have been many reproductions and generic chairs called "bentwood rockers" through the years. A sure way of identifying a real Thonet from around the turn of the 20th century is the presence of the company name (THONET) with a solid line underneath carved somewhere into the chair. This mark could be on the bottom of the curved arms or legs or under the seat . A paper label with the company's name on it may also be present, though it may have come off over the years, so its absence does not prove you do not have a real Thonet.

4. Determine if you have a "new" collectible. In fall 2009, the Thonet company marked its sesquicentennial by producing a limited edition of chairs in the Thonet Collect series that replicated the famous "Rocking Chair No. 1." This collector's edition was limited to 25 pieces made of authentic beechwood and stained in one of three colors: black, hazelnut and mahogany. The rockers were constructed using traditional methods and original tools and, like the originals, the oval back and seat of the chair were made of solid cane work. Individual pieces from the Thonet Collect series were numbered and came with hand-signed certificates of authenticity (which may or not still be with your chair).

5. Consult an authoritative source and study the pictures to familiarize yourself with the different designs of different eras. The book, "Thonet Bentwood and Other Furniture: The 1904 Illustrated Catalogue," by Gebruder and Michael Thonet describes the dimensions of these rockers, and illustrates their designs through the years. It states that some chairs had paper labels affixed with the Thonet company name on them. A new reproduction of this book was produced by Dover Publications in 1980, and is available through Amazon.com.

Tags: company name, Michael Thonet, over years, Thonet company, 20th century, around turn

Wood Finishing Secrets

Use a gel stain on hardwoods.

When inexperienced homeowners attempt to finish wood in or around their home, they often end up with unfortunate complications stemming from a lack of knowledge. Before you attempt to finish any wood surface, learn the strategies professionals use to generate uniform, attractive finishes that stand the test of time.

Lightening

If you're planning to refinish wood already finished with a dark stain, lighten the existing stain first to generate an attractive finish. This is best accomplished by wiping the wood with paint stripping solvent. Wear protective goggles, rubber gloves and a respirator. Scrub the wood with paint stripping solvent using a nylon pad. Once the wood is lightened to your taste, stop wiping and allow 15 minutes for the solvent to evaporate.

Sanding

Sanding wood helps to remove existing varnish which would inhibit absorption of the new finish. Sanding also smooths the surface. Use coarse sandpaper to strip down existing finishes; switch to fine-grit sandpaper to smooth rough wood. Splintering can occur due to improper sanding techniques. You can prevent this by moving the sandpaper in the direction of the wood grain.

Absorption

Many do-it-yourselfers approach a wood finishing project with enthusiasm, but are disappointed when they end up with uneven, splotchy-looking results. This happens when the wood finish dries unevenly, usually because of inconsistent absorption. While softwoods accept any type of stain, hardwoods, such as oak, maple and cherry, have dense grain patterns that repel stain. If you want to promote a uniform finish on hardwoods, apply a thicker gel stain; avoid liquid stains which are better suited for pine, cedar and other softwoods.

Sealer

To prolong the life of stained wood apply a protective sealer over the top. Varnish is well-suited for interior woods used to make trim and furniture. A solvent-based polyurethane sealer is appropriate for exterior woods. Compatibility is critical to promoting a lasting finish that won't flake. Be sure to use a solvent based polyurethane over the top of oil-based stains; don't use water-based polyurethane, or flaking will occur.

Tools

The right tools make wood finishing efficient; the wrong tools can create unfortunate complications. Natural-bristled paintbrushes are appropriate for use with oil- and solvent-based finishes. Synthetic brushes are suited for water-based finishes. Don't mistake one for the other, or you will end up with disappointing results. Wash the tools, using the correct substance: water for synthetic brushes, mineral spirits for natural-bristled ones.

Tags: attempt finish, attempt finish wood, finish wood, paint stripping, paint stripping solvent, stain hardwoods, stripping solvent

Tell Oak From Cherry Wood In Antique Furniture

Oak usually has a coarse grain and honey color.

Oak and cherry are both hardwoods that furniture-makers have used for centuries. Each has its own distinctive characteristics. Oak soared in popularity in the period around 1900 when furniture-makers emphasized its honey color and bold grain, while cherry with its dark reddish hue is common in both sophisticated and country styles.

You can tell whether a piece of furniture is made of oak or cherry by looking for certain differences in the color and grain.

Instructions

1. Compare photographs of cherry and oak wood before trying to identify an unknown piece of furniture. Many can be found online with an image search. Study real-life examples of furniture made from both. Study the color and the coarseness or fineness of the grain, since those are the two characteristics you can use to most easily differentiate cherry from oak.

2. Find a part of the furniture that shows the wood that you're trying to identify in its most natural color. If the furniture is painted or stained, look at the underside or back to find unfinished areas. Examine the edges to see if the outer surface is actually a thin layer of veneer glued to another wood, since you may want to identify the veneer and the underlying wood separately.

3. Look at the color of the wood. Cherry darkens over time and has a characteristic reddish hue. White oak stays lighter and is usually brownish, grayish or honey-colored. Red oak is similar but may have a slight reddish color. It's generally lighter than antique cherry, though, and has a coarser grain.

4. Examine the grain. Oak has an open grain, with the lines spaced farther apart and in bolder patterns. You may even be able to feel the ridges by running your fingers lightly over the surface. Cherry is close-grained, with much smaller, closer lines and a smoother finish, especially when highly polished. Quarter-sawn oak, which is cut straight across the tree rings, may have characteristic lighter flecks and lines like rippling water. Quarter-sawn cherry appears similar, but the pattern is finer and usually less dramatic.

Tags: furniture made, honey color, piece furniture, trying identify

Tell If Your Girlfriend Is A Psycho

Janet Leigh drove unnanouced to her boyfriends house, and look what happened to her.

So....you've started dating again and just met this great lady. She's attractive, she's fun to be with, things are starting to move along, heck, you may have even been intimate together. But, in the back of your mind, you have this nagging feeling that something is just not right. Here's a quick check to tell if your girlfriend is a psycho.

Instructions

1. She telephones you...constantly. At the office, on your cell phone, at your house. There are multiple messages on the answering machine, in addition to text messages. Anytime she wants you to call her when you get home from work - even if it's 3am ... psycho.

2. You mention that you're going with your children to the park ... and she asks to bring her children along. As a second date this may be a convenient means for her to measure your worth as a parent, but it may also be that she is measuring you up as a father figure for her children.

3. She invites you to go away overnight and requests you to escort her to a meeting in the afternoon. She says "it's a timeshare inspection" and talks about it being "our first purchase together".

4. She knits you a sweater ... and you live in the subtropics. Unbeknown to you, knitters don't craft sweaters unless you're a "keeper". Behold if you ever wear the sweater out in public. That very action is held in the same regard as a wedding ring.

5. She shows up at your residency unannounced. The degree of her being psycho increases proportionately with the distance she lives away. If she lives more than thirty minutes driving, across town, in another state, or crosses an international time zone ... psycho.

6. Breaking and entering becomes her forte when you don't respond to her telephone calls. The extent of her psycho-ness increases exponentially if you live in a gated community and she has to scale the fence to get to your residency.

7. She calls your father to see if you are there ... and he doesn't even know who she is.

Tags: your residency

Make Money In The Stock Market

Make Money in the Stock Market

Making money requires work - even in the stock market. Most successful investors study a variety of sources and ask a lot of questions.

Instructions

1. Shop for undervalued companies.

2. Find stocks that have price-earnings ratios significantly lower than those of their peer group.

3. Watch for bad news. Wall Street often overreacts to bad news such as missed earnings, which will drive a stock lower than it should go.

4. Pick the jockey, not the horse. Find out who is running the company and where the executives worked previously.

5. Look for strong balance sheets. Companies with low debt loads, positive cash flow and consistently good earnings are good prospects.

6. Check out the portfolios of successful mutual-fund companies. If they are getting great returns year after year, they are holding stocks you might want to buy.

7. Know when to cut your losses. You want to invest for the long term, but you don't want to stick with a consistent loser.

8. Work hard. Do research. Read financial news. Study quarterly and annual reports as well as registration statements, looking for trends and opportunities.

9. Grill your broker. If the broker is recommending XYZ stock, ask for a detailed explanation, with an eye to growth prospects and historical performance.

Tags: lower than, Make Money, Make Money Stock, Money Stock, Money Stock Market

Jacaranda Tree Aphids

Jacaranda trees are relatively pest-free.

Jacaranda is a favorite tree in warm climates. Its lavender-blue flowers make a showy display in the late spring and summer. Fairly easy to grow, jacaranda has few disease and insect problems. It does, however, sometimes have problems with aphids. Fortunately, the damage from aphids is limited, and the appropriate treatments are usually simple to apply. Does this Spark an idea?

Jacaranda

Jacaranda tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia) can grow as high as 50 feet tall, but it is usually seen as a smaller, multitrunked tree. It usually has a broad canopy. It can be maintained as a loose, round shrub as small as 5 feet tall. Its tubular blue flowers are borne in clusters in the summer. It's secondary, or species, name comes from the resemblance of its soft, ferny leaves to that of mimosa. Jacaranda grows best where there is little danger of frost, although mature trees are more tolerant of cold temperatures than young trees.

Aphids

Aphids are transparent green or white soft-bodied insects that suck the sap from the soft tissues of new branch, leaf and flower stems. They are approximately 1/8 inch long. On a plant as large as jacaranda, aphids do little substantial damage. They do, however, leave sticky droppings --- honeydew --- that can turn black with mildew. Aphid honeydew can coat plants, structures, vehicles and paving.

Control

On small and medium-sized trees, aphids can be controlled with a strong spray from a hose, which knocks them to the ground. Insecticidal soaps are effective as well, and many formulas are nontoxic to humans and pets. Ladybugs are a natural control and can be purchased from garden centers or online retailers. Spray the leaves with water and release the ladybugs in the evening. The thirsty beetles will stick around to drink the water from your jacaranda's leaves and will soon make a feast of the aphids.

Tips

Aphids do little real damage to a mature jacaranda, so don't take risks with toxic chemical pesticides. If you know that aphids affect jacarandas in your neighborhood, plant the tree away from structures, sidewalks and parking areas. A good warm-weather substitute for jacaranda is vitex, another multitrunked, broadly spreading small tree. Also called chaste tree, it grows to 25 feet tall and has long, spiky panicles of blue flowers in the summer.

Tags: feet tall, blue flowers

Renovate A Victorian House

Renovate a Victorian House

Bringing life back to a Victorian home is worth the effort. Read more about Victorian paint colors and other ways to restore your painted lady. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Fall in love. Whether it's the delicate, detailed woodwork on the front porch, or the decorative mantels, the nook-and-cranny bay windows or winding mahogany staircase, you will need to fall deeply in love with this old Victorian house in order to have the energy to restore her.

2. Survey the damage. Hire an inspector who specializes in historic homes to evaluate the heating system, structural integrity, plumbing, electrical and other home systems. You will need objective information about how much it will cost to renovate the home, particularly if major systems will need repair or replacement.

3. Peel back the layers. If the home has been botched up over the years by various forms of siding, porch enclosures, or ugly storm windows, seriously consider doing everything you can as a homeowner to restore the front facade to its original appearance. Strip back one added layer at a time- the original house is waiting underneath to shine again!

4. Find your true colors. Victorians loved bold colors. If your house has been painted over the years in a mix-matched palette of modern colors from 1960s blue bathrooms to avocado green in the kitchen, start thinking about choosing authentic Victorian hues. Victorians took their color cues from nature- greens, browns, deep reds were popular; they weren't afraid to use dark shades. Contrary to the modern white Victorian house, this wasn't a color used in the period.

Tags: will need, over years, Renovate Victorian, Renovate Victorian House, systems will

Use Peat Pots In Arizona

Ornamental cotton plants started indoors thrive in Arizona deserts during the summer.

Since Arizona has elevations that range from 70 feet in Yuma County to nearly 12,700 feet at the top of Humphrey's Peak in Coconino County, the state has diverse growing conditions. Although the growing seasons and conditions vary in Arizona based on soil conditions and elevation, all the locations in the state are predominantly dry throughout the year, with a few seasonal exceptions. Arizona residents in lower elevations can garden all year long and often start seeds indoors using peat pots. Gardeners in Arizona's higher elevations start their seeds in the late winter for planting in the spring and summer. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Lay out the peat pots on a waterproof pan or tray. A plastic or glass container helps support the peat pots and keeps water from dripping from the pots.

2. Place potting soil in the pots, especially if you are planting seeds in the desert locations where the soil is sandy. Potting soil provides organic matter and nutrients to help the seeds develop into strong plants to set outdoors.

3. Sprinkle water over the soil using a sink sprayer, a spray bottle or gently pour water into the peat pots to settle the soil before putting the seeds or cuttings into the pots. The peat and soil will gradually absorb the water.

4. Place the seeds inside the peat pot. The Arizona Master Gardener's manual suggests placing two seeds inside each pot to assure at least one plant from each pot. Cover the seeds with the recommended amount of potting soil found on the seed package. Plant larger seeds deeper than smaller seeds. Mist the pots so that the soil is wet but not soggy.

5. Cover the pots with plastic wrap and set in a warm place between 65 and 75 degrees F. If temperatures are below 65 degrees, you can place the pan holding the seeds on a heating pad set on its lowest setting to increase the bottom heat. Check the pots daily and mist the tops of the pots to keep the soil moist.

6. Take the plastic wrap off the pots once the seedlings emerge. Put the seedlings in a sunny window or under fluorescent lights. Keep the pots moist but not soggy. If white fuzz starts growing on the pots, you are watering the plants too much.

7. Put plants outdoors before you plant them to harden them off. Arizona's sunshine is intense, the air is dry, and plants started indoors need time to acclimatize to those conditions. Place the tray of seedlings outside in filtered sunshine for a few hours the first day, and increase the length of time each day until the soil is warm enough to plant.

Tags: peat pots, plants outdoors, plants started, plants started indoors, plastic wrap