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Archive for July 15th, 2008

How to build a koi water garden pond.

Published under Home by Bruce Contryman. No Comments .

by Bruce Contryman

Designed and build your own water garden Koi pond. I visited Japan a number of times and always admired their Koi and water gardens. Our Koi pond design has three ponds, the top pond has water hyacinths that float on the water and filters it, the water is very clear. Water falls from the top pond and aerates the water in the middle pond. The main pond is about 2000 gallons of water where the Koi and water lilies thrive.

It is very soothing and relaxing to sit beside the pond listening as the water tumbles down a small water fall. The dragon flies are darting in and around shrubs and plants, crickets are chirping, bees are buzzing and humming birds are flittering around. I can sit for hours in a lounge chair listening and watching this while the Koi swim lazily around in the pond.

We have about 6 water lily plants with large pink and red blossoms in the bottom water garden pond. They cover almost all the pond in the summer time but they die off back to their roots in the fall and re-grow in the spring as the days get warm and long.

I have about 40 Koi in the pond, it is hard to get an accurate count as they never stop swimming. I purchase small Koi, 2 to 3 inches long and place them in the pond. They will grow to over 10 inches long.

We have unwanted visitors to our water garden pond. Egrets will stop on our or the neighbors roofs then fly down and wade into our pond. If we see the egret, we will let our dog out to scare off the egret.

The raccoons like to play in the pond and sit on the water lily containers. I saw a mother and 3 baby racoons play and try to catch the Koi in our water garden pond.

I laid out the pond design for our do it yourself Koi pond, with stakes and string. I laid down 3″ PVC pipes to pump water from the lower pond to the top pond. I treated the block wall with asphalt paste as I piled dirt against this wall. I stacked 4 railroad ties two layers high in an L shape to make the front edge of the upper pond and to make the waterfall.

I constructed a 1/4 circle ridge from the ends of the ties to make the front edge of the middle pond where water would tumble over the edge into the bottom pond. I removed about 18″ of dirt for the lower pond, putting the dirt into the walls of the upper ponds. I put a PVC liner that we cut and glued to fit over the ponds.

I started with a 1/5 horse power above ground pump with a 2″ inlet and outlet. This provided a good flow of water over the waterfall. Sometimes it would lose its suction and I would have to re-priming the pump.

I found a 1/3 horse power submersible pump that could be used in a fish pond. Some pumps cannot be used in a fish pond, check the fine print. I found this out the hard way when I tried to get a replacement pump.

I designed and built this water garden pond about 15 years ago and we have had good luck with it. The raccoons and egrets like it also.

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Tips Of Choosing The Right Organic Fertilizer

Published under Family by Ray Lam. No Comments .

by Ray Lam

Why should you use organic fertilizers in your garden? Simply because they are good for your plants and good for the environment. Nearly 70 percent of water pollution comes from agricultural areas that use chemical fertilizers, according to the EPA. These chemicals leach into the water and cause soil erosion. While large-scale farming operations are a chief source of chemical fertilizers in water, home gardeners are also guilty of such pollution. However, many growers are attempting to correct their mistakes by using organic growing methods.

There are several types of organic fertilizers available in the market, such as fish emulsions, seaweed extracts, bone meal, kelp extract, corn meal, etc. You can purchase them in a liquid or pelletized form. Some require being sprayed on, powdering the foliage, or spreading pellets around the base of the plant. These may come in different forms, e.g. liquid, powder, granular or pelleted organic fertilizers. The liquid organic fertilizer is basically applied via foliage spray while the powder form can be applied like tea. The liquid version gives your plants an instant feeding, while the pelleted is more of a slow release or longer lasting version.

Organic based pelleted fertilizers contain only a minor amount of chemicals and is mostly natural. The low chemical structure makes it ideal for a great nutrient-source for plants and for the soil. I usually use kelp meal and fish emulsion, which are both bi-products of the sea. This way I get a liquid and a pellet. Using both versions during the growing season has its advantages.

Adding crumbs microbe, you can take only a month to make Fermented Compost. This is caused by the microbes which work intensively to crumb the organic materials and is supported by human touch to blend it periodically. Besides the time is relatively short, quality of the Fermented Compost is much better because it still has the crumbs microbe to fertilize the soil. Therefore, you can use half quantity from the Compost usage.

Chicken manure is the best as far as sheer nutrients go. It’s rich in nitrogen; an application of chicken manure will grow some of the best corn you can imagine. However, chicken manure is what’s know as a ‘hot’ manure; it will burn plants, and cannot be applied directly to the soil. In order to use it, let it compost for at least three months (six months to a year is better) in an out-of-the-way corner of the garden, then apply it sparingly to your unplanted beds and wait at least two weeks and one good rain before planting in it. Or, mix it with dry matter, such as leaf mold or sawdust, to cut down on the heat. (Unfortunately, this also dilutes the nutrients. But chicken manure diluted this way makes an excellent organic fertilizer because it can be applied directly to the beds, left two weeks and one good rain, and then planted.)

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Tattoo Design Both Ancient and Modern

Published under Health by Steven McCarthy. No Comments .

by Steven McCarthy

In recent years there has been a great influx of tattoo design inspiration from Asian and Indian cultures. Take for example the henna tattoo that was used throughout time. Many people are finding themselves wanting a tattoo but do not want the permanency associated with the ink. Some find themselves unwilling to subject themselves to the needles of tattoo machines.

Japan’s history of tattooing goes back to 10000 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E. It was often used for healing, and even identifying a soldier should he perish on the battlefield and be stripped of his armor also to identify rites of passage for certain tribes. Perhaps the most familiar of Japanese body art is associated with the organized crime group the Yakuza. Much like the Italian Mafia, the Yakuza have long been affiliated with less than desirable elements of society. Anything from illegal gambling to racketeering is within its grasp.

Early tattoos have been discovered on every populated continent and group of people ranging from Polynesia to Native Americans and Vikings. Early explorers discovered the mummified bodies of ancient Egyptians elected for many years to not make the discovery of tattoos known to the public due to the negative reaction that it might generate. This nondisclosure was not made public until 1891.

One of the benefits of Henna is that it is a natural product. As such there is a great leeway for experimentation in design. Traditional designs do not have to be used and there are many kits available that include design patterns. The henna tattoo removal is simply the skin replenishing the cells and forcing the dye out of the body.

The language of the tattoo used to be a secret code known only to those in the ” know” but with research the meanings have come to light. The social hierarchy of the criminal world is understood. If a criminal tattoo’s an untruth or exaggeration the punishment inflicted by others is harsh. The tattoo is either cut off or sandpapered off.

A note of caution concerning henna is the use of a product labeled as “black henna” or an indigo. Natural henna does not come in dark shades. The dark colors are actually made by combining henna with a chemical. There can be very harsh side effects such as skin blistering. As with any product, even a natural one such as henna, there can be allergic reactions.

This is particularly true if the individual has a rare genetic condition called a G6PD deficiency (G6PD deficiency is an inherited condition in which the body doesn’t have enough of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, or G6PD, which helps red blood cells (RBCs) function normally.) In large doses the dye molecule in henna can be fatal. If it is unknown whether or not henna will cause an allergic reaction it is best to do a small skin test.

A henna tattoo can be incredibly beautiful if applied properly. Much like the mainstream tattooing, a henna artist must pay attention to each stroke to ensure its proper place. The upside is that it will wear off. The downside is that it will wear off as well no matter how much the person loves the tattoo design. With proper care the henna artwork can last for weeks and can always be reapplied.

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Things to consider before ordering your Metal Airplane Hanger

Published under Home by Amy Nutt. No Comments .

by Amy Nutt

Before ordering your new prefab metal airplane hanger, there are things you need to know, especially when it comes to the hanger fitting your plane properly. That is why the first thing you need to do is determine the size of your aircraft. If you do not have your plane yet and are wishing to order your metal airplane hanger first, you still need to know what the dimensions are in order to make sure the doorway is large enough for the plane to fit through. It is simply not enough that the building is big enough, because a door that is too small means you wouldn’t be able to put the plane inside in the first place.

The plane

If you don’t yet have your plane, there are five common models that individuals buy. Knowing these models can help you determine what you may possibly buy and what size hangar you need. Those models are:

- The Cessna 206 - There are several different variations of the 206. However, the 206 has six seats. The length of the wing span is 35ft. 10 in., the length is 28ft. 3in., and the height is 9ft 7in. It is good to note these measurements to ensure your hanger is going to be a good fit.

- The Cessna 182 Skylane - This is a very popular aircraft. It is also said that maintenance is not too bad. The measurement of the wing span is 36ft., the length is 25ft 2in., and the height is 9ft 2in.

- Piper Cherokee 180 - This plane is another popular model with a wing span of 30ft, a length of 23ft. 4in., and a height of 7ft. 4in. This makes this aircraft one of the smaller planes on the market.

- Beech 35 - The Beech has a wing span of 32ft. 10in., a length of 25ft. 2in., and a height of 7ft. 7in. This may vary based on the Beech 25 model you purchase, by only by about 1 foot in all dimensions.

- Piper PA-28 Cherokee Series - This series has a standard wing span of 35ft., a length of 23ft. 10in., and a height of 7ft. 4in.

These are some of the most common planes that you may find flying and you know that the owners have to park them somewhere. They had to get the measurements of their plane before they ever purchased a prefab metal airplane hanger to park it in.

Other things to think about

Also think about whether or not you’re going to need storage inside of your airplane hangar. You also need some room to move around if you plan on performing any type of maintenance activities inside of the hangar. Usually these activities are carried out when the plane is outside of the hanger, but there are times that maintenance may need to be performed inside. As far as storage room, some may prefer to store their tools and other maintenance materials inside of the hanger. If there isn’t sufficient room, then you may have to invest in some sort of storage building, which can be cost-effective in a sense. However, it may be more convenient and may possibly be cheaper if you can arrange a way to store items inside of the hanger.

Just take these things into consideration and you should be able to order the right size hanger with no problem at all. Most importantly, you’ll be able to protect your precious giant-sized investment and anything that you decide to house with it. You’ll also have that peace of mind that makes investing in a hanger totally priceless.

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Great Digital Wedding Photography

Published under Family by Susan Atkinson. No Comments .

by Susan Atkinson

Wedding pictures are an important part of every ceremony and in the past many photos fell short to meet your expectations. Especially large group pictures can be affected by someone looking in the wrong direction or having their eyes closed. With digital wedding photography this can be a non-issue as photos can be reviewed and any that do not make the pictorial grade can be deleted and taken again while the photographer is still at the wedding.

Another benefit to digital wedding photography is not having to wait until the photo is developed before starting to think about which ones you want printed. Many times, your developer can email you a copy of the photos he took and you can pick and choose right on your computer. Also, enhancing pictures in digital format is so much easier, and consequently cheaper, than in the darkroom.

It is possible to have your photos put on a disk for easier distribution to family and friends at a rate substantially lower than ordering extra copies. Typically, prints should also be cheaper made from digital wedding photography than traditional photography as the developing step has been eliminated.

A Crisper Brighter look

Many times photo photography tends to be a little darker, especially when viewing the unaltered prints while digital wedding photography allows the photographer to lighten images as well as adjust colors to create a better photograph. Even if the wedding was held outdoors, the sky can be made to look clear and blue by using digital wedding photography and the correct photo enhancing software.

While an experienced professional wedding photographer will almost guarantee your wedding album will be perfect, digital wedding photography opens the door to better quality photos from your won family members. Provided the correct pixel resolution is utilized, enlargement should look similar to professionally finished prints. A general rule of thumb is no picture considered as digital wedding photography should be taken with less than five mega pixel if you plan on making prints up to eight by ten inches. A minimum of six pixels should be used for larger copies.

With many systems you can print your own on your home computer and printer. You can also digitally transfer them to a printing service for better quality prints. If you do choose to use your own digital wedding photography instead of hiring a professional, obtaining reprints will be faster and easier.

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Acne Scar Removal - How Do I Get Rid of Old Acne Scars?

Published under Health by Tiffany Stevens. No Comments .

by Tiffany Stevens

How do I get rid of old acne scars? is a question you might be asking yourself if you’re an acne sufferer. The unsightly appearance of acne lesions or pimples isn’t the only potential problem with the disease, unfortunately, but you can get rid of your acne in 3 days! using Chris’s scientifically proven way to permanently clear skin.

In some cases, it’s possible for acne to leave you with permanent scars but there are ways to literally combat your acne in 3 steps and in 3 days. Some conditions may appear to be scars really are not. Macules and other bumps can occur even after acne is treated. Redness may persist for up to a year. But these aren’t true scars. They’re not permanent.

True scars are a permanent change to skin tissue produced by the healing process itself, chiefly creating fibrous tissue. Get the acne free in 3 days solution here

White blood cells attack bacteria they can produce changes in underlying skin cells in the surrounding area. This is one way scars become permanent. They may also not be limited to areas under the surface because so-called icepick scars are small pinholes that form in the surface of the skin. Scars look like the skin has been poked with something sharp like an icepick. That’s where the term came from. They’re too deep to be treated with just straightforward dermabrasion or resurfacing by laser. Get a fast=acting scientifically proven acne treatment here.

Boxcar scars are similar, except they tend to be flatter on the bottom, rather than narrowing to a point like icepick scars. Since they’re often shallower they can sometimes be treated with acne resurfacing techniques .

Keloid scars are quite firm and go further than the original site of your injury. They’re noticeable by the excess production of collagen. A shiny pink or red scar is often they result.

Prevention and cure are the options you should be investigating. Without a doubt, one of the top acne disease treatments recommended by the overwhelming majority of acne sufferers is Acne Free in 3 Days. It’s recommended by the AHHA (American Holistic Health Association) as well. You can try it risk free too!

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Household Dust Mites - Pest In Your Home

Published under Home by writer. No Comments .

Whilst none of us like to admit it we do all have pests of some sort in the home which is why most of us keep pest control products to hand. The problem is however that most of the time we tend to focus on the ones we can see, not the ones we can’t.

One of the smaller (or should we say tiny) pests that fall into this category is the ever present house dust mite, but you’ll be pleased to know that this is definitely DIY Pest Control territory.

These dust mites feed off any organic residue that is left behind by humans, such as flakes of skin and dust. Outside survival is not something that dust mites can accomplish.

This is because they have evolved to specialize well into their environment that if they were to leave the house for some reason, they would immediately be killed by exposure to UV radiation from the sun or killed by hunting predators.

Dust mites are extremely dark and sinister, even though they may seem fascinating. They exist in our homes side by side with us.

Dust mites are the most common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. The European house dust mites and the American house dust mites are the two most common species in existence, however, just because the names of these dust mites are European house dust mites and American house dust mites does not mean that they are only find in Europe and America. On the contrary, they can be found worldwide.

Because dust mites are extremely small, there are some people that have never seen one. You will require a magnifying glass and a strong light source to be able to see them correctly.

The size of dust mites is generally approximately half a millimeter in length. They are extremely light and can be carried around the home by moving currents of air, such as when your turn on a radiator, or when a person stands up quickly.

Most dust mites can be removed from the home by ensuring that you wash and clean properly. Dust mites will also die when they are exposed to high temperatures or freezing.

They also do not do well in places of low humidity. Dust mites typically live in beds, mattresses, bedding, furniture, carpets, and piles of clothing. This is because they can crawl deep into the material and hide from the sunlight and vacuum cleaners that may come looking for them.

As stated above, dust mites are one of the main causes of asthma and allergic reactions. Even though a large majority of the human population is not affected by dust mites, you may, on occasions, notice such actions as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, inflamed eczema, a steaming nose, and other hay-fever like symptoms.

Although many people are not aware that they live with dust mites, and some can live side by side with them without suffering from allergic reactions, it is important to attempt to get rid of them as soon as possible. Even though they cannot be seen, it is not a nice thought knowing that you may have dust mites in your bed or mattress as you are sleeping at night.

It is important to remember that because they are so light, they not only crawl on our skin, but we also inhale them whilst we are breathing in our sleep when they are in such close proximity, example, in our bed.

There are a number of various products available for the purposes of eliminating dust mites, which will enable you to relax and breathe more easily when sleeping. You will be safe in the knowledge that you are not sharing your bed with any unwelcome visitors.

Your local special should be happy to give you any Pest Control Advice you need regarding the best products to use.

Construct Your Personal Sauna Kit For Less Capital

Published under Home by writer. No Comments .

If you would enjoy owning your own home sauna but find the cost prohibitive, you may want to consider actually building your own sauna. If you are a decent handyman and can follow directions it will probably be pretty easy for you to get your own sauna built in no time. Before you start building you should consider any special needs for your sauna, whether you want a modular sauna or a pre-cut kit, and also be aware of any special warnings or precautions you need to be aware of.

Special Needs

Before you get started on your home sauna there are a few special needs that you need to be aware of. First of all, you will need to know what size you want your sauna and if you want to have it inside or outside of your home. If you only want a small sauna for two people, then you will only need to build it large enough to allow 2-3 feet of space on the bench for each person. You should also know, that while you will not need a water hookup for the home sauna, you will need to be sure that there is an available electrical circuit, which will be needed to operate the heater for your home sauna.

Constructing a Modular Sauna

One option that you will have for building your own home sauna is a modular sauna. This is a great choice for people who do not want to do as much work or who are not qualified enough to use a pre-cut kit. A modular sauna comes with most of the work already completed and your only job is to put it together. This is also a great choice for those who relocate often, since you are able to easily disassemble this type of a sauna so it can move with you. Usually everything you need for your sauna, including the heater, will come with your modular sauna kit.

Using a Pre-Cut Kit for Your Sauna

Those who have a bit more experience with building may want to choose a pre-cut kit for building their home sauna. While this will take a bit more time for you to construct, it will also save you a great deal of money as well. The great part about using a kit is that all the boards and necessary trimmings come with the kit, so you do not have to worry about going out and buying the right amount of materials. You will only want to use this type of a kit if you are proficient at building, or you may mess up on the project and it may be difficult to replace the materials.

Warnings

There are a few precautions and warnings that you should keep in mind when you are building your own home sauna. First of all, all the electrical components you use should be UL rated for your safety, and unless you are an electrician, you should leave the wiring to someone else who is an electrician. Also make sure that the door is easy to open and that no locks are used on this door to prevent someone from accidentally being locked in. It is also highly important that no paint or stain is used on the inside of the sauna or the steam may cause there to be very harmful fumes. Keep these warnings in mind as you build and you will be able to construct a great Finnish sauna for your relaxation and enjoyment.