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Archive for December, 2008

Seeing the country in a kayak

December 22nd, 2008

As many of you know, I have been involved with Houston kayaking for many years. I absolutely love to kayak and have owned and personally built almost every type and size of kayak including sit-ins to sit-upons and both single person and two person models.

I have never been especially fond of ocean kayaking but prefer the tranquility and calm of floating down a quiet lagoon or exploring the hidden coves of a fresh water lake.

A few months ago, my best friend Tony and I decided to pack our favorite kayaks on top of my Hummer and travel around the country for a couple months exploring different places to splash our boats. The trip actually got extended to almost seven months but that one of the benefits of being semi-retired and not needing to go to a job. The trip also ended up taking us out of the country to Canada which hadn’t been in our original plan.

Needless to say, we had some unbelievable experiences! We kayaked mountain streams in Colorado, some beautiful lakes in Minnesota and many, many other truly fantastic spots.

One of the places we kayaked that was especially nice and rather surprising was in the Boston, MA area. We had heard that the back bays and estuaries around Boston were a particularly interesting area to kayak and we definitely found that to be true. It was amazing to find such primitive areas and wildlife within just a few miles of Harvard Square.

The only problem we had with Boston is that it is almost as expensive as New York and we had to do some serious hunting to find affordable Boston hotel deals. We succeeded but the funny thing is that we then left the country to kayak the St. Clair lakes chain outside of Montreal, Canada and by that time we were ready to indulge ourselves and went shopping for a great deal on a luxury hotel Montreal.

We finally made it back to Houston after almost seven months of traveling and kayaking with memories that I hope we will never forget.

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What to look for in a wooden porch swing.

December 20th, 2008

Before buying a wooden porch swing, it’s important to make sure that the swing you are buying meets a number of important criteria. Here is a list of what you should look for in a swing, along with some reasons why it’s important.

Hand Made - A hand made swing is certainly a must when buying a porch swing. This is because each piece is individually crafted, ensuring better cuts and a smoother finish.

Cypress - Cypress has been called the “eternal wood” because of its ability to stand up to the elements. A cypress swing is as durable as teak, while being as little as one-tenth the price! Don’t buy a swing made from exotic woods only to watch it rot on your porch.

Size - Be sure that the porch swing you choose is the correct size to fit on your porch, and to fit the number of people you expect to be swinging on it.

Accessories - Would you like your swing to have a cup holder? An interesting question, perhaps, but certainly something to think about. What will you want with you while on your porch swing? Keep that in mind when looking at what’s available.

The Porch Swings I Love Most

Of course, I have a very strong preference in porch swings. There is one particular artisan who builds beautiful, durable porch swings from Cypress. His name is Ted Leger (pronounced Lay-shay), and he’s based in Louisiana (where a lot of cypress trees grow). All of his swings are hand made, and he can ship anywhere in the USA.

Visit our blog for more information on patio swings.

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Three Lenses At Squidoo.com About Making Money At Home

December 20th, 2008

Here are three lenses at Squidoo that are about ways I can vouch for to make money from home. Perhaps they’ll be of help to you as we enter the new year. Even if you don’t choose one of these paths for yourself, it may get you thinking about options which ARE appropriate for you.

Home Medical Transcription - One Woman’s Journey is about my wife’s path to working at home as… you guessed it … a medical transcriptionist! It summarizes what we learned and some of the travails we had to getting there. Most importantly it gives you a few simple tricks to see if Medical Transcription might be “for you” before you invest $2000 in training and $2000 in books and software. That’s what a REAL MT program costs. And of course we tell you the ONLY program we recommend. I wish they had an affiliate program but they don’t so we’ll just have to tell you for free.

Here’s one we get lots of inquiries about: How to Make Money with a Digital Camera. This lens discusses a variety of ways to make money from home using your digital camera skills! Not everybody makes money taking pictures of children per se. Some do field inspection, some do antique photos… you name it. There are dozens of ways to begin and make money in the process. If making money with a digital camera is your idea of the ideal home based business, you WILL find ideas here!

And if you’re into blogging with Wordpress, then you really want to visit Cool Wordpress Plugins. This lens is about the Wordpress plugins I personally use and recommend to others. In fact, I start by showing you the VERY first plugin you should add to any Worpress blog to make adding every OTHER plugin “child’s play”. Then, of course a laundry list of other Wordpress plugins to make the webmaster’s life easier.

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Roofing For New Home Construction

December 20th, 2008

Residential roofing sounds like a boring topic. Except for roofing contractors or other residential roofing specialists, who would want to talk about residential roofing? How about home owners? The roof is one of the most important aspects of a home. So it’s essential for homeowners to be up to date on the subject of residential roofing at least as far as it pertains to their own residence.

One of the most important points to consider when discussing residential roofing is the area where the residence is located. Roofing needs vary by region and include such considerations as need to withstand tree limbs, wind resistance, fire resistance, ability to withstand the weight of snow or to allow snow to slide off, and even color when it comes to a good looking roof for the area. Residential roofing needs are quite different in a northern, cold and snowy region than they would be in a hot and dry region. For those who purchase homes it’s important to understand the features and maintenance needs of the roof. For those who build homes, particularly if they serve as their own general contractor, choosing the right roof for the region is a key.

Since it’s more common for a homeowner to purchase a home complete with a pre-installed residential roofing system, let’s examine some of the maintenance issues that are important to ensuring the best performance and longest life from the roofing system. First amongst these issues is timing. Proper maintenance should begin the second the roofing system is complete. Such maintenance will save money in the long run. Immediate maintenance includes inspecting the work and checking the contractor’s license, insurance, and whether all aspects of the roofing system were installed to manufacturer’s specifications or to local government guidelines.

After six months to a year the roof should be inspected for debris such as sticks, leaves, and even garbage such as aluminum cans, and those debris removed. This should continue at least once a year. Also make sure the gutters are cleaned at least once a year to ensure proper drainage. If the residential roof can’t drain, it will develop leaks. Leaks cause a great deal of damage, including the possibility of mold that can completely destroy a home.

Pipe boot, the material at the bottom of vent and other pipes on the roof, often require replacing after only a few years. Many states require pipe jacks made out of lead, and this will last longer than the roof. But some states, including Oklahoma, don’t require lead pipe jacks.

Many roofers convince home owners that the entire roof needs replacing even when there’s only a tiny leak. That’s nonsense. And the best way to avoid the scam is to have the roof inspected twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. An easy way to remember to have the residential roofing inspected is to do it when the clocks spring forward and fall back.

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An Attractive Alternative for Academics: Home Schooling

December 19th, 2008

When it comes to the subject of home schooling, there are negative connotations and implications. Most parents when given the choice, prefer that their children attend private schools or standard public schools. Sometimes, however, there are situations when children have trouble dealing with the demands and everyday rigor of classes in public schools. In this situation, the child’s academic performance may experience significant delays and home schooling should be considered.

Of course, there may be negative connotations which are not necessarily founded. In so many places these days, home schooling has become a very attractive alternative. When it comes to home schooling, acceptability is not much of an option nowadays. Meeting the needs of the child is the most important thing.

The curriculum is very extensive for home schooling; therefore this should not be an issue. As a matter of fact, there is a large array of options available here. Complete home schooling curriculum covering the usual courses and subjects include Alpha Omega Publications and Calvert School. Check out their curriculums and see if these would suit the needs of your child.

You could also choose the eclectic approach to home schooling which allows you to choose among the hundreds of vendors listed and pick snippets of each curriculum that would serve you best. The noticeable benefit here is that you would have the choice to tailor your curriculum according to your child’s needs. This will ensure that you have a more guided path for your child’s home schooling requirements. The eclectic approach is also advantageous for children with learning disabilities.

If you are willing to do your part, you shouldn’t worry about how effective that home schooling would be for your child, especially if you provide a superb quality curriculum. As an added benefit, your child will not have trouble coping with issues that regular students have to deal with every day. Studies have shown that home school students surpass public and private school students, which is one of the main benefits of home schooling and a good reason that it is a very popular option these days.

 

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Barnes N Noble is My Choice for a Book Store

December 19th, 2008

I have always loved visiting Barnes N Noble book store. I could spend all day looking over the numerous books, and I often do. However, I actually order most of my books from their online store. I have always had great luck. Barnes N Noble online has exactly what I need at prices that are the lowest I can find.

This past weekend I was shopping for a specific book for my husband’s 42nd birthday. I was out driving past another large book store and thought to stop in and buy it. The book I needed was $27 at this store! That seemed like a lot and knowing I could get it cheaper at Barnes N Noble I left. Sure enough, when I got home I saw the book I wanted online for $11.95. Hmm, Barnes N Noble offers free shipping on orders over $25. I started searching for another book, but then remembered that they also carried CD’s and my hubby wanted one of those too. Before long I had both items in my cart and they will be delivered to my door at no cost in the next couple of days.

Their website has always worked out great for me. I can always find Barnes N Noble coupon codes and the customer service and shipping are the best. Shopping and searching are super easy to do at Barnes N Noble and make gift giving very easy. They have more than just books though. They sell magazines, toys, textbooks, music and even items for the house. If you want to make shopping easy on yourself, try Barnes N Noble today.

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What is a home based business review?

December 19th, 2008

What on earth is a home based business review? I need to understand it well enough to talk about it. The images in my mind are confusing to me.

So what is a home based business? It often refers to some sort of online work or internet marketing but is not all inclusive.

One effective way to accomplish your background research is by finding good home based business reviews online.

Be sure to use first hand reviews
written by people who have actually done this kind of work. Keep an open mind but be a critical thinker, you want to know the good and the bad information.

If you are looking for an online business, you want to be sure to check some good product reviews. . Delete all hype filled emails from your inbox. You want to read about a business from people who
have actually been using that model.

Stay focused, if your home based business has nothing to do with ornithology, stop spending your time reading those bird binoculars reviews.

However, I admit that if there is exceptional activity at my bird feeder I will spend some time with my birding guides even in the midst of my research.

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A helping hand with credit card debt is necessary many United States debtors

December 18th, 2008

As of the moment here in our beloved country of the USA we’re experiencing a uncommonly bad state of affairs financially. It’s just that there have been such a big amount of situations that have gone completely wrong in virtually every facet of the financial industry, which has left us in a recession. To make matters worse it does not look as if it will be rebounding anytime in the near future. One of the bigger issues that is destroying so many millions of US residents is the terror of bad credit card debt. We have hit a record high here in America with unsecured credit card debt.

Presently there are two methods of debt relief that get exercised rather often. The first is a home equity debt consolidation loan and the second is credit card debt settlement.

Debt consolidation loans can end up being pretty precarious. And why is if you are to fall behind on any of the payments you take the possibility of losing your home. Plus you must first own a piece of real estate in order to apply such a loan. However a mortgage like this could make your life a little simpler.

Debt settlement is a different ballgame. This procedure has helped loads of consumers to save large sums of income on how much they presently owe their credit card companies. Another great thing is this process also saves a large amount of time too.

The lone real downside to debt settlement for debt relief is you need to fall into default on the bills in order for any of the creditors to be at all willing to negotiate on your bills. So understandably your FICO score can be negatively affected by utilizing this debt settlement process.

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Easy and Fast Soup Recipes

December 18th, 2008

Less than enchanting economic times prompt you to look for ways to save on the grocery bill, while hectic days encourage you to have a small stockpile of meals that can be brought quickly to the table.

Meal Menu Planner suggest that one of the easiest ways to satisfy both objectives is to spend a Saturday making a couple of quarts each of two or three easy soup recipes. Portion the soups in individual or family size servings to freeze for future cheap, quick-to-fix and delicious meals.

Here are two such easy soup recipes to get you started. These recipes can be followed exactly as given, but they are also generic recipes. Substitutions give a similar texture and body, but with different flavors. Suggestion for alternate ingredients follows each of these easy soup recipes.

One uses a cream base while the other uses a broth. You’ll be surprised to find how a few minor adjustments to each recipe can provide many distinctly different easy soup recipes.

EASY CLAM CHOWDER SOUP

3 Tb. Butter

3 Tb. flour

6 cups milk

2 large potatoes, cooked until almost done, diced in 2-inch cubes

2 3.5 ounce cans clams, with juice

1 15 ounce can corn

3 large mushrooms, sliced

1 large onion, diced

3 green onions, sliced

1 tsp. Thyme

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Use a whisk to mix in the flour. Cook over low heat until the roux thickens. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Add the remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, or until soup acquires the thickness you prefer. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like.

Instead of, or in addition to clams, try shrimp, crab, crawfish or catfish nuggets. Substitute celery, water chestnuts or spinach for any of the vegetables. Chives are good in place of green onions. Use a teaspoon of tarragon or quarter cup fresh cilantro in place of the thyme.

EASY CHICKEN VEGETABLE SOUP

8 cups chicken broth

2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced in 1-inch cubes

1 15 ounce can green beans

1 15 ounce can corn

1 large red bell pepper, diced

1 large onion, diced

2 to 3 stalks celery, sliced thinly

1 tsp. sage

2 tsp. minced garlic

a pinch of cayenne

Drain the canned vegetables. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally. Cook for 45 minutes.

Turkey, sausage or diced ham works just as well as chicken. In place of the green beans, try fresh, sliced zucchini added to the soup just 5 minutes before serving. Substitute one orange and one yellow bell pepper for the beans and corn for a colorful and tasty soup. Rosemary, thyme or marjoram can replace the sage.

Once you try these easy soup recipes, you will see how adaptable they are. Use your imagination. Don’t forget to use any leftovers from the frig. In just a few hours, you can have many lunch or dinner servings ready to go in minutes!

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Ideas When Choosing Concert Binoculars For Yourself

December 18th, 2008

Today, bird watching has become one of the most popular hobbies in the world, and with so many colors and shapes available, it is easy to see why. What you need to make it truly interesting is a good book and a pair of binoculars. The challenging part about bird watching is the fact that this requires a great deal of patience and practice but once you get the feel, you are able to improve your style and in no time can be addicted to this hobby. Those binoculars are necessary to help you enjoy those birds from a distance as they will fly away if you get too close. Investing in a good pair is good to allow you to enjoy these wonderful creatures up close without having to get too near to them.

Find binocular prices along with Swarovski binocular prices at this website. Visit best price on binoculars .com when you are ready to shop.

When you are looking to buy a good pair of binoculars for bird watching, go for something branded and although this may seem expensive, just consider it as a long term investment. It is important to choose binoculars that have at least 7x power magnification view - it allows you to experience birds nearer than they really are. Handling versions with magnification strength of 8x and 10x, often even more than 20x can be rather difficult. You will notice that there is a second number after the ‘x’ that could be 35, 40 or even 50.

If the number is higher, it simply means that mo light will be entered into the binoculars which mean that the view will be clearer. Never invest in compact or pocket sizes binoculars if they say it is 8 x 21 or 10 x 21 as they have a narrow field of view and when the bird flies away it will be hard to track them through the limited view. When the binoculars are in place, then it is time to look for a good book on birds and has the descriptions you can use to identify the birds in the wild. This is due to the fact that the geographical location of birds varies according to the species and the book will help you understand the types of birds that are available in one specific area, which makes it easier for you to narrow down your search.

With both items in hand, start your bird watching activity from home and move on to the local zoo and finally you can start bird watching in the park. To see these creatures in their natural habitat try joining a bird watching club, it lets you get close to them through organized field trips into the forest which you can join. If only we have the ability to zoom in on object like an eagle then we won’t need those binoculars for bird watching. Since it is beyond the abilities of a human to do so, we turn to man made aids to help us out, but do not be disappointed if you cannot invest in an expensive pair, with some practice and patience you will soon develop the skills necessary to make your bird watching activity fun and rewarding.

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