Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Although some may think of organizing a home as a daunting, dreaded task, the end result provides an extremely rewarding satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment. It may feel overwhelming at first because the tendency is to see the job as a whole. It appears to be an unending chore to be put off at all costs. However, the mind must be set to take this task in steps. Conquering the worthwhile task of organizing can be achieved one step at a time with a positive attitude and the proper tools.
Most people think of cleaning as something that goes along with organizing a home. So, let’s explore cleaning for a moment. Your cleaners should be organized, too. Many people have an over-abundance of cleaners, which is simply not necessary. If you have several piece bottles of the same product, combine them.
If you have old cleaners and are unsure of their age and effectiveness, toss them out. Some cleaners are effective for several different jobs, which can reduce your spending and storage as well.
Some people prefer to keep all their cleaning supplies in one area. To save time, designate an area of each room or part of the house to the cleaners needed for that area. For example, place the kitchen cleaners in or near the kitchen. Should you have an upstairs area, it’s more efficient to place cleaners upstairs as well as keeping some downstairs. If you have a place for cleaners in each bathroom, it’s easier to keep some in each bathroom than to haul them all over the house while cleaning.
When you get ready to organize, make a list of rooms in order of priority. Work your way through the room by doing tasks in order of importance. Decide which area of your home can benefit the most or should have priority.
You may first prefer to organize the parts of your home that company will see. That would most likely be an entryway or living area. Your first step in organizing in any room would be to throw away unnecessary clutter. It may be helpful to toss useable items into a bag or box to give a special charity.
In any area, from cabinets to drawers to closets, you’ll want to give the most used items easier access. Use hard to reach areas for storing things you hardly ever need or won’t use but can’t bear to part with.
Do you own things that are broken that would be cheaper to replace? Do you have saved items that you meant to repair years ago? Now that you’re in the mood for organizing your home, it’s the perfect time to unburden yourself of this useless clutter.
Make organizing your home fun. Set up the potpourri burner and turn on the music that inspires you. Get your children involved. Turn the process into a game or challenge. Give rewards to yourself or your helpers for a job well done when you’re finished or for progress that was made.
About the Author:
Kurien Abraham is the owner of DiscoverOrganization.com where you'll find easy solutions, ideas, and tools to help you get organized and simplify your life. Visit www.DiscoverOrganization.com for more information and sign up for a free Home Organizing Mini Course.
Flowering Dogwood Trees: A Favorite Tree Of America
The State of Virginia has adopted the dogwood flowering tree as its State tree, and many cities in America have named themselves 'The Dogwood City.' Atlanta, Georgia holds a spring festival every April to coincide with the flowering of the of the dogwood trees in Atlanta, Georgia. The Dogwood Festival has continued for 70 years, successfully attracting visitors for events such as outdoor musical extravaganzas in Piedmont Park and the attraction of many artists to display and sell to those visitors who wish to buy pottery, sculpture, oil paintings, and photographs.
Flowering dogwood trees, Cornus florida, were discovered in the South by William Bartram in 1773; these trees were beautifully described in his exploratory book, Travels (page 399). Near Mobile, Alabama. Bartram encountered a grove of dogwood trees that aggressively covered an area 9 miles long. The dogwood trees were growing so thick that sunlight was practically excluded, and almost all other plant life was excluded except for an occasional white flowering Magnolia grandiflora. The land on which the white flowering dogwood tree grew was level soil that was loose with a humid black organic mould on the surface with dogwood roots growing into a stiff yellowish clay. The limbs of the flowering dogwood trees were interlocking and spread horizontally at a tree height of 12 feet. The vast interlocking limbs of the dogwood trees covered the entire area as a shade tree that cooled the camping area used by William Bartram. After exploring for another seventy miles, Bartram wrote "spacious groves of this fine flowering tree, which must, in the spring season, when covered with blossoms, present a most pleasing scene; when at the same time a variety of other sweet shrubs display their beauty.
The white flowering dogwood is a native tree to the forests of America and has been exported worldwide as a seedling dogwood and as a grafted white dogwood also flowering in pink and red. The pink flowering dogwood is available to buy as a seed grown tree, but the most desirable, stable, predictable pink dogwood trees are nursery grafted trees. Red flowering dogwood trees are not available as seedling trees, but as grafted cultivars, such as the Cherokee Chief, red flowering dogwood tree.
The dogwood tree, Cornus florida, is very adaptable in America, ranging from Massachusetts to Florida, and the tree is generally grown as an understory tree 12-15 feet tall, although some old specimens of 40 feet tall are recorded. The flowering dogwood tree is perfect for planting and growing in a small garden or in large parks and as big landscape specimen trees. Dogwood has the unusual quality of growing well when planted beneath pine trees, where only a few other shrubs such as redbud trees, azalea plants, and camellia shrubs can compete successfully, because of the dense root pine tree competition near the surface of the ground.
The flowering of dogwood trees begins in early spring and the flowering lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Oval berries of bright red are formed following the blooms and persist on the trees into fall and winter after leaves are shed, and until they are eaten by wildlife and birds. In the fall the dogwood trees are covered in brilliant red leaves that change to purple. The fallen dogwood leaves are very fragile and usually easily deteriorate without raking. Flowering dogwood trees will grow well underneath oak tree shade as well as under pine trees, but the dogwood tree remarkably will grow well in full sun. Dogwood trees are well adapted to stress and are very tolerant of dry weather. Dogwood trees are tolerant of cold weather, and thrive in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Every landscape gardener appreciates the spring blooms of the white flowering dogwood trees as a background companion tree for flowering redbud trees or in a combination of flowering azalea shrubs in colors of red, pink, purple, or white.
Dogwood trees can be propagated by growing from the seed or by rooting the cutting, but the best dogwood cultivars are grown from grafted trees. The Cloud Nine, flowering, white dogwood tree produces very large (hand-size) blooms, especially in the juvenile stage. The Weaver's Select, white, flowering dogwood tree is grafted and can produce a flower 6 inches wide.
The dogwood tree has been rumored to have been the wood from which the crucifixion cross of Jesus Christ was made in the year 33 AD. This rumor is ridiculous in several respects: first, there is not Biblical record of dogwood trees in the Scriptures of the Old Testament Bible or the New Testament. Most plant references in the Bible are very vague except for a few references to the date palm tree, olive tree, pomegranate trees, fig tree, and grape vines. The identity of those plants and trees is obvious, because of their fruits that are produced, but accurate plant identity could not be done easily until Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish physician, suggested rules on naming plants in the early 1700's.
There are many species of dogwood trees and shrubs, but it is unlikely that any of the Mideastern species of dogwood trees grew trunks large enough to shape into a crucifixion cross. The wood of the dogwood tree is so hard and dense that nails driven into the wood would split the wood. That tree definitely could not have been the North American dogwood tree, Cornus florida, since that tree did not grow in Israel at the time of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps the reason for the rumor is that the dogwood tree was the wood of the crucifixion cross is the fact that the four white bracts (flower) are shaped like a cross. This resemblance of a white cross-shaped flower occurs in innumerable species of flowers of trees and, of course, should not be given any weight of evidence of the dogwood tree wood being the substance of crucifixions by the Jewish High Priest and the Roman rulers.
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Learn more about various plants, or purchase ones mentioned in this article by visiting the author's website: TyTy Nursery
Dish Network offers: 15 things to know before ordering
Dish Network offers: 15 things to know before ordering
Are you shopping for satellite TV? Facing dilemma between Dish Network and DirecTV? What are the consideration points before making any buying decision?
As a matter of fact, the variety of satellite TV deals in United States is quite confusing to most satellite TV buyers and it takes time to pick up the right choice. As for Dish Network, I believe the 15 points listed below are worth knowing from a consumer point of view.
Dish Network is owned by EchoStar Communications and was launched at mid 90s.
Dish Network satellite TV service is the second largest satellite company in United States; the largest is DirecTV.
Dish Network owns about 15 million subscribers at the time of writing.
When you read ‘Dish Network free satellite TV system’, it means Dish Network decoders, the satellite dish, and the remote controls are free of charge. Don’t be confuse, you still need to buy your own TV.
You are wrong if you think anyone is eligible for free Dish Network deals. You can only get them when you are their first time customer and are willing to commit to a 12 months subscription contract.
Only standard Dish Network receiver models are given out for free, you will need to pay extra if you have special order.
Standard Dish Network receivers include DISH 311, DISH 322, DVR 510, DVR 522, DVR 625, and HDTV DVR 921. If you were charged for these decoder systems, ask for the reason.
AllSat, Dish Pronto, and iDishNetwork are some of the authorized Dish Network dealers online. For consumer reviews and guides, www.satellitetvissue.com is one of the reputable websites that provide free satellite TV shopping guides and recommendation.
Dish Network currently owns up to 30 different HD channels - the most HD channels than any TV broadcasting services.
Dish Network’s entry level package – DishFamily cost only $19.99/mo, which is one of the cheapest pay-TV services you can get in the market.
Other standard Dish Network programming packages: Dish Network America Top 100, Top 200, Top 250, and EverythingPak.
Currently Dish Network offers $10 discount per month thus the monthly subscription sounds very low. Consumers should be aware that the price will be back to normal ($10 more) after the promotional period, which is 10 months.
Dish Network is famous with wide selection in International programming choices. South American programming is packaged in their ‘Latino Packages’, as well as Chinese programming in the ‘Great Wall’.
Besides TV broadcasting, you can also have Sirius Satellite Radio and satellite Internet services with your Dish Network dish system.
Dish Network customer services are in good reputation. However, they receive quite some complains on the billing and installation issues, especially on receivers replacement.
If you are not sure about Dish Network and their services, the points listed above should have most of your doubts clear. Before you ask, here is how the ordering process generally works. In case you wish to order your Dish Network, you will need to approach a Dish Network dealer to select the number of satellite decoders, and schedule for the installation. Shipping and installation will be done very soon after the order is placed. Then, you will be required to decide on the programming packages, HD upgrading, DVR upgrading, as well as other supplementary deals. The crucial points of ordering Dish Network (online or offline) is that you have to get a reliable dealer.
In case you are not sure where to look for reliable satellite TV dealer, you can always check out dealer reviews and recommendation with www.sunsatellites.com.
Article by Claudia Walters.
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