Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

On Tuesday, Punxsutawney Phil came out of hibernation, saw his shadow, and predicted six more weeks of winter.  No surprise there, especially since spring officially begins on March 20^th, which is just over six weeks away; so it’s pretty much the same, shadow or not.

Sure, Groundhog Day is just for fun; but it certainly is strange.  I mean, what started this whole idea of a groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, or a whistle pig, being able to predict the weather?  Naturally, it began ages ago, and, like all other holidays (although it’s not actually a holiday), it’s so wrapped up in obscure traditions and folklore, that it’s difficult to pinpoint its exact origin.

As usual, when it comes to the unusual, the ancient Celts are somewhere in the mix.  In the 5^th century, they believed that, on certain days, halfway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox, animals possessed supernatural powers that enabled them to predict the weather.  In some parts of Europe, such as Germany and France, people thought that animals coming out of their dens too early would be frightened by their own shadows, and go back inside for another four to six weeks.  Often, these animals were badgers and bears.

Some also suppose Groundhog Day, which falls on Candlemas Day, to be inspired by the old Scottish couplet, “If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.”

It is widely believed that the Pennsylvania Dutch brought the old tradition to this country in the 18^th century.  The first written American reference to Groundhog Day was found in the diary of James Morris, a storekeeper in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  Dated February 5, 1841, it reads:

“Last Tuesday, the 2^nd, was Candlemas Day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.”

So it seems that, during the winter, people have always looked anxiously for indications of spring.  Here at CedarStore.com, the signs are unmistakable.  Instead of a rodent popping out of a hole, we have a whole bunch of eye-popping new products coming out.

Yes, we already offer thousands of patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, picnic tables, accent tables, hammocks, garden benches, chaise lounges, and teak screens.  But with these fantastic additions, we’ll have the most extensive collection of outdoor furniture available anywhere, beyond the shadow of a doubt!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, chaise lounges, garden benches, gliders, Hammocks, Outdoor Furniture, patio chairs, picnic tables, porch swings, teak screens

As I was saying, some of the things that people do to keep warm in January include partaking of comfort foods and beverages, sitting by roaring fires, luxuriating in hot tubs, and jetting off to tropical islands.

I also mentioned that sunrooms are great places to stay warm, whether you have one that’s built into your home, or standing separately in your backyard.  But, guess what – they’re not the only garden structures that can shield you from the cold.  No-o!  Gazebos can keep you nice and toasty as well.

Now, I realize that, if you’re picturing the gazebos that stand in town parks, or the ornamental gazebos that are in many backyards, you may be thinking that I’m crazy for saying that; but you would be wrong.  Okay, okay – you’d be half right.  Sure, I may be a bit, well, let’s just say, eccentric (no, you don’t have to be rich to be eccentric!), but I definitely know what I’m talking about when it comes to gazebos!

Believe me, they’ve come a long way over the years.  While gazebos certainly can still be used for decorative purposes, or as shelters for picnic tables, patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, outdoor sofas and settees, or other outdoor furniture groups, these days, they’re available with so many features that people can actually live in them!

If you want proof, just go to GazeboCreations.com.  Right away, you’ll be amazed at our wide variety of cedar, treated pine, and vinyl gazebos, which come in all sizes and shapes.  Then, to further astound you, we’ve enlisted the services of a genuine Gazebo Wizard, who will help you to customize you own gazebo right on the site, by offering you dozens of options, including insulation, storm windows, different kinds of flooring, decorative railings, wiring, built-in benches, ceiling fans, special lighting, cupolas, several types and colors of roofing, and more.

Furthermore, he’ll add each one you choose, instantly, right before your eyes!  Truly!

You know, I really, really hope that you do visit our site now.  I mean, after all that stuff I said about a Gazebo Wizard, if you don’t come and see it for yourself, you really will think I’m crazy!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cedar, garden structures, gazebo, Gazebos, gliders, outdoor furniture groups, outdoor sofas, patio chairs, picnic tables, porch swings, settees, sun rooms, treated pine, vinyl

Although it’s important to winterize your home before the weather gets cold, life often gets so hectic that, before you know it, the year is over, the world is frozen, and you’ve already paid a fortune in heating bills.

The bad news is that the worst is yet to come.  The good news is that you can still do something about it; and the bitter cold and snow can give you a good idea of what needs to be fixed.  Now, you won’t have to search for gaps and cracks that let air in, because the bone-chilling gusts of wind that whip through your living room will help you to easily pinpoint them.  Just get some weatherstripping, caulk, or heat-shrinking plastic, and seal them.

A substantial snowfall can also tell you a lot.  If it melts rapidly from atop your shingles, and icicles form quickly, without a thaw, it means that heat is escaping in the exact direction in which your heating bills have been heading – through the roof.  Check your attic floor to see that it has adequate, evenly-distributed, gap-free insulation, of uniform thickness.  If you have to add more, be sure that the side with the vapor barrier is facing down, toward the rooms that you want to keep warm.

Break up any ice dams that form along the eaves, as they can cause melting snow to puddle and leak through your roof.  Wherever possible, sweep snow off roofs that have shallow angles, on your house, garage, gazebo, carport, cabana, pool house, shed, or sunroom.

If you have not taken measures to prevent your pipes from freezing, do it now.  You can use foam insulation sleeves, or electric heat tape, but don’t use the latter on plastic pipes.  If a severe cold snap is imminent, turn the sink and bathtub faucets on to a slow trickle, and cover exposed crawl space vents with plywood.

If your porch chairs, gliders, swings, and picnic tables are still outside, and they’re not the synthetic or metal types that are impervious to the elements, either store them, or put outdoor furniture covers on them.

Do this even if outdoor furniture is the last thing on your mind right now.  It may not happen today, or even tomorrow, but, believe it or not, the sun will come out again!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cabana, cold, furniture covers, gazebo, gliders, picnic tables, Pool house, porch chairs, shed, snow, sunroom, Swings, winterizing

As I was driving home from a family Christmas with a boyfriend that braved a holiday with my well… interesting… family, I made an observation. I said, “To me… January and February are the absolutely WORST months!” Naturally, he inquired why I thought so. “Because it’s just the dead grayness of winter. In November and December the cold and snow are still new and exciting… and you have Thanksgiving, The Winter Solstice, Hanukah, Christmas, and The New Year to look forward to. But, January and February have almost nothing but cold darkness and dirty snow.”

I thought about the Christmas gifts I bought for my family; mostly the antithesis of the upcoming months. I grabbed The Skyscraper Garden for my green-living urban-gardening sister-in-law, and the Lighthouse Birdfeeder for my backyard bird-watching, retired Naval engineer grandfather. It would seem that I was doing my very best to make sure everyone else got through these months as well. I love to be outside, and these months seem to just trap me indoors.

As I’m sure many gardeners (and those that don’t so much do work outdoors as lounge in Adirondack chairs, hammocks, and gliders) agree, I thought I would do a push for ways to make your spirits bright with tips to bring the outdoors indoors until spring comes around again.

Why not try to grow an orchid this winter? Though widely accepted as incredibly difficult plants to nurture and manage, there are many that are surprising doable for even a novice gardener. There are several varieties that will bloom without greenhouses, sunlamps, sunrooms, or advanced skills. Plus, tending your flowers will keep you happy and ready for the serious gardening sure to come!

The Nun’s Orchid and Tropical Lady Slipper are probably the two least fickle orchids, and are unlikely to be over-watered, as they are almost always thirsty! The Moth Orchid is another good beginner flower, though it is not as water-loving as the formers, and would prefer slightly dryer roots. My personal favorite, however, is the Cymbidium. Why you ask? Well, unlike me, it responds to the short winter days by flowering and expressing colorful blooms to brighten your days.

The Cymbidium

It’s best to purchase your orchid at a plant nursery rather than a supermarket or home improvement store because nursery orchids are more likely to have solid roots and a strong beginning. It will be easier to grow and maintain an orchid that you bring home already strong and healthy. In many orchids, parts of the roots are visible. Make sure you choose a plant with firm roots that aren’t dried up or rotting. Besides the roots, take a good look at the leaves. Leaves with yellowing or black spots indicate disease or insufficient care. Lastly, though an orchid with several blooms may appear the most attractive at the store, it’s better to choose one with several buds that have not yet bloomed. An abundance of blooms indicates that the orchid’s show is almost over— and you wouldn’t buy tickets to a concert after intermission would you?

There’s no reason to abandon the beauty of flowers just because your garden may be covered in snow. Go out and buy three or four orchids, to set on tables, chests, buffets, trunks, and shelves. The sun may be slipping under the horizon before dinner time, but you’ll have gorgeous, exotic blooms around you to keep your chin up!

And, whether you plan to spend your warmer months pulling weeds and planting tomatoes, or gently swaying on porch swings, lazily rocking on rocking chairs (what else could you do on one?), or just enjoying your gazebo, cabana, or pool house… these seemingly difficult orchids will keep you both occupied and flower-filled until you’re out in your garden again!

See You Outside! (or… inside…)

Hazel.

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Tags: adirondack chairs, birdfeeders, buffers, cabana, chests, gazebo, gliders, Hammocks, poolhouse, porch swings, rocking chairs, shelves, skyscraper garden, Sunrooms, tables, trunks

Now is the time when we traditionally reflect upon the many things for which we have to be thankful, but which we often take for granted.  When asked about these, people tend to list the most meaningful ones that they can think of, such as their families, their health, or the roofs over their heads.  While I’m definitely grateful for those, I also want to point out some things that are underappreciated, which everyone enjoys immensely, but surely won’t mention, like, uh, well let’s see… what do we like to talk about here?  Outdoor furniture, of course! 

 Why not?  After all, it plays a big part in most people’s lives.  We all have our favorite porch swings, gliders, lounges, patio chairs, garden benches, hammocks, and picnic tables, where we spend a lot of time.  Whether we use our porch furniture only during certain seasons, or year-round, we love it; and, many times, the thought of getting home to it after grueling hours at work is the only thing that gets us through the day.       

 Indeed, we actually count on it to be there when we need some comfort and relaxation.  Sure, we need our friends and family, too, but, because they also have busy lives, they can’t always be there for us.  Our furniture, on the other hand, exists only to do our bidding; and all we ask of it is to support us and look great.               

 While this may be a lot to expect from ordinary patio furniture, it’s a piece of cake for the kind that comes from CedarStore.com.  We have one of the largest selections of wood, metal, and synthetic outdoor furniture that you’ll ever find in one place.  Furthermore, whether you choose hand-crafted, decay-resistant cedar, pine, oak, cherry, or teak, or everlasting aluminum, vinyl, or polywood furniture, it will be ready to commit to a long-term relationship.  On top of being reliable, it’s available in several styles, and a full range of colors, so it will fit in perfectly with any décor. 

 In fact, a lot of it is so elegant that people often use it indoors.  So, you may actually be having dinner on us this year (of course, that’s just an expression!).   

 Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: garden benches, gliders, Hammocks, lounges, patio chairs, picnic tables, porch furniture, porch swings