Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Among the many indoor projects that people are working on at this time of the year, painting is one of the most common.  This is understandable, as it’s a great way to give a room a whole new look, without the expense of remodeling; and virtually anyone can do it.  For first-timers, however, the myriad choices in paints can be rather confusing.  Heck, it’s difficult enough just to pick from the millions of available colors.  Then, after you make that monumental decision, you have to figure out whether flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss paint, will best suit your purpose.

So, if you’re not familiar with these terms, remember that flat paint has a matte finish, with no sheen, shine, or shimmer.  Because it doesn’t reflect light, it can hide some minor imperfections; but it’s less durable, more porous, and harder to clean, than glossier types.  This makes it more hospitable to mold and mildew growth, so it shouldn’t be used in high-humidity rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens, or in backyard structures that aren’t insulated.

Eggshell has just a slight hint of luster, but can add a bit more depth and warmth to a room.  Easier to clean than flat paint, it still disguises small defects, and is less attractive to mildew.

Smooth and somewhat shiny, satin paint is much more durable than flat and eggshell varieties.  Very easy to clean, and resistant to mold and mildew, it’s great for use in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as high-traffic areas.

With its beautiful, sparkling finish, semi-gloss paint is extremely durable and easy to keep clean.  It’s used mostly for trim, doors, and bathroom and kitchen cabinets; but it’s highly reflective, and will draw attention to even the slightest blemish.

Gleaming, glistening gloss paint is mainly for trim, wainscoting, and cabinets; but it can also make a home look stylish and welcoming when used on the front door.  Because it spotlights every imperfection, however, wherever, whenever, and if ever you use it, be sure that whatever you put it on has no flaws whatsoever.

Once you’re done with the indoors, you can start planning a fresh look for the outdoors.  Adding patio furniture to your porch or lawn is a great way to add an entirely new living space to enjoy.   Of course, with the thousands of patio chairs, porch swings, garden benches, swingbeds, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, hammocks, accent tables, gliders, outdoor dining tables, garden structures, and ottomans available, there’s practically as many varieties of outdoor furniture as there are paint colors!

Luckily, though, this will cause you no consternation.  Because materials can be easily split into two categories; cedar, pine, oak, cherry, teak, eucalyptus, and cypress, verses aluminum, synthetic wicker, polywood, and vinyl.  Your decision is simple: either you wood, or wood not.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, adirondack chairs, aluminum, backyard structures, cedar, chaise lounges, cherry, cypress, eucalyptus, garden benches, garden structures, gliders, Hammocks, oak, ottomans, outdoor dining tables, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic tables, pine, polywood, porch swings, Swingbeds, synthetic wicker, teak, vinyl

As we anxiously await the arrival of spring, it’s being reported that all of the lower 48 states have snow at this time.  So, it looks like Punxsutawney Phil was dead serious.  In fact, he seems to be downright angry, for some reason.  Well, I don’t know what happened to displease him, but it appears that there’s nothing more dangerous than a vengeful groundhog.

One thing for sure is that we all want to put this behind us, and welcome the warmer days, when we can put out our patio furniture, picnic tables, porch swings, hammocks, gliders, and outdoor sofas, and get back to some refreshing outdoor living.

However, the recent, crippling winter storms, which caused week-long power outages, impassable roads that took days to clear, and nearly-empty store shelves, have taught us that it is possible to have trouble surviving in our own homes.  That’s a lesson that is worth remembering, because, even without snow, at any time of the year, many things can happen, from natural disasters that affect millions, to individual emergencies that occur in our homes.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to have an emergency survival kit, which will include many things that you already have around the house; you may just have to stock up on some items.  Although, in most cases, you’ll probably just have to get through a power outage, you should still be prepared for the worst.

Naturally, the first thing you’ll want is a supply of batteries and flashlights.  Yes, you can use candles, but they pose a real danger, especially when people light a bunch of them in every room, to try to keep their entire houses bright.  Forget about that.  After all, you’re supposed to turn out the lights in empty rooms anyway, so it’s better to use only flashlights, or battery-powered lanterns, particularly with the powerful, long-lasting, LED flashlights that are available today.  Having a portable generator can be a blessing; but it has its own, long list of hazards and safety precautions, so make sure that you know how to use it properly.

You’ll also need a source of heat.  Even if you’re not in danger of freezing, you’ll still want to be comfortable, so, for starters, dress in warm layers, and always have plenty of extra blankets on hand.  If you have a fireplace, that’s great, but make sure that it’s clean and safe to use.  In fact, that should be a part of your yearly routine maintenance.  Kerosene and propane space heaters are also excellent for providing heat, but they, too, require many safety measures, and must be clean, fully operational, and constantly attended.

You should also have a supply of non-perishable foods, such as energy bars and canned goods (make sure you have a manual can opener) on hand.  Try to get things that can be eaten – and enjoyed – cold.

I know, right now, in many areas, it seems like everything’s cold, and impossible to enjoy; but spring will come soon, and winter will be a distant memory.  You know, I’ve heard that they may be making a movie about this month of monstrous storms, which they’ll call “Snowmageddon.”  Hmm.  I prefer, “The Wrath of Phil.”

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Don't worry, you'll be using fire places for marshmellows instead of warmth quite soon!

Tags: gliders, Hammocks, outdoor living, outdoor sofas, patio furniture, picnic tables, porch swings

There are places where people are going to be grilling hamburgers and chicken tonight, and having dinner at their picnic tables.  Certainly, somewhere, there are people who are looking forward to getting home from work and relaxing on their porch swings and gliders, having cocktails at their outdoor bistro sets, lying around their pools on chaise lounges or steamer chairs, or napping under shady trees in their hammocks.  Indeed, I know that all of these things are happening somewhere.

A February Evening... for some!

But it ain’t here!  No-o!

In Western Pennsylvania, and many other parts of the country, from the Midwest, to the East Coast, we’re buried under a few feet of snow.  Furthermore, even as utility crews work around the clock to clear roads and restore power to millions of people left in the dark by this past weekend’s storm, round two is dumping several inches on top of what we already have.  Now, meteorologists are saying that even more is on the way this weekend.

Worse yet, besides electricity and heat being out in many places, the shelves in some grocery and hardware stores are almost bare; and even gas supplies are getting low.  Suddenly, so many different types of calamities are occurring, that people are realizing that it can actually be a struggle to survive in their own homes.

Undoubtedly, the cold and snow can wreak all kinds of havoc, from knocking down trees and power lines, to causing roofs to collapse and pipes to burst.  These things can happen in an instant, so it’s important to know where all of the main valves and circuit breakers are in your home, and what controls what.  So, if, for instance, your home is suddenly being flooded, you’ll know how to shut the water off at its source.  Then, at least, you won’t have one catastrophe on top of another.  Make sure that everyone who lives in the house also knows where these things are, and how to operate them.

It’s also a good idea to put together an emergency home survival kit.  Next time, I’ll have some tips on what should go into one.  This can really be a worthwhile project.  Even if you never see a single flake of snow, cheer up; there are tons of other disasters that can happen, so you may still get to use it.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: chaise lounges, gliders, Hammocks, outdoor bistro sets, picnic tables, porch swings, steamer chairs

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, there’s more than one unpleasant result of being stuck indoors for most of the winter.  Many people, of course, come down with cabin fever, and won’t be cured until they can get back to cooking on their grills, eating at their picnic tables, napping in their hammocks, and relaxing on their porch gliders.  Furthermore, with all of the windows being closed, the air can get a little, well, stuffy, inside.

A lot of offensive odors like to hang out in the kitchen, because all of the good food in there eventually ends up as discarded bits, in the trash can, garbage disposer, dishwasher, or sink, or as leftovers in the refrigerator.

In fact, this situation may be exacerbated now in certain homes, because some people still have food from the holidays in their refrigerators.  Hard to believe, but, hey, why not?  Some still have their houses decorated, and their Christmas lights on!  (By the way, if you’re in that number, I beg of you – TAKE ‘EM DOWN, ALREADY!!)

(A-hem!) So, remember, like last year, and the holidays, it’s out with the old; and that includes old ice cubes, which can hold onto odors.  Clean up any spills in the refrigerator with a soapy sponge.  Put a quarter-inch of baking soda into a few, shallow dishes, and place them on separate shelves, where they will absorb odors for up to three months.

In the dishwasher, smells can be caused by particles of food stuck inside.  First, clean the filter, which is usually located below the bottom rack, with a paper towel.  Then, run the “quick rinse,” or “rinse only” cycle, with the machine empty, to wash away debris.  Afterward, leave the door open a crack, to air it out.

Offenders in the sink are scraps of food that get stuck in the pipes, or the garbage disposer.  Clean the blades by grinding up the old, smelly ice, or make cubes from equal parts of water and vinegar.  If your disposer has a rubber gasket, rinse it thoroughly on both sides.  Whether or not you have a disposer, pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain, while running warm water.

Doing these things on a regular basis will make things a lot more agreeable for everyone, and make everyone more agreeable.  After all, people always get along a lot better after they clear the air.

And now, here’s some inspiration to convince you that, yes, spring is coming!

Ahhhh, now doesn’t that feel better?

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Hammocks, Outdoor Furniture, picnic tables, porch gliders, winterizing

Obviously, our expertise lies mainly in outdoor living. Yep. Picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, hammocks, porch swings, gazebos, gardening, grilling – you name it, and we know all about it.

However, at this time of the year, people are doing a lot more indoor living. Of course, most are fantasizing about getting back to outdoor living; but their dreams aren’t necessarily grand. After being cooped up for so long, many are yearning for even the smallest thing the spring can bring, like, for instance, the day when they can open their windows again!

Yeah, the air can certainly get stale inside during the winter, especially when a lot of people live under one roof. So, if you’re dying (and I’m not using that word lightly!) for a breath o’ fresh air, here are some ways to improve conditions indoors.

Try pulling outdoor furniture inside to keep your spirits up!

In most homes, the kitchen is one of the worst offenders, stench-wise. This may seem ironic, because of all of the wonderful, enticing aromas that can emanate from it; but, alas, things do get old, and soon, those inviting scents can become quite unappetizing. Then, with the refrigerator, trash can, garbage disposer, dishwasher, and sink, in the vicinity, it’s the perfect environment for odors to loiter.

Therefore, if you want to get rid of a cooking smell from, say, the fish that you had for supper last night, combine three tablespoons of white vinegar, and one cup of water in a saucepan, and let it boil for several minutes. The vinegar, which is acidic, will soon neutralize the odor, which is alkaline.

As for the trash, it needs no introduction. In fact, in some houses, it’s the first thing that greets you. So, before it gets to the point where it’s screaming for attention, empty it, and wipe away any debris that’s stuck to the inside of the can, or under the lid, with a wet paper towel, then spray the entire thing, inside and out, with disinfectant. Do this once a week, and no one will even know that you have trash in the house.

Next time, I’ll talk about some ways to deal with appliances. Although they’re indispensable, you gotta be tough on ‘em, or they can become quite a disagreeable gang.

Yours Outdoors (well, indoors, for now),

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, Gazebos, Hammocks, picnic tables, porch swings

As I said before, there are many outdoor tasks to do in January, besides shoveling snow.

Yes, I realize that there are places that never get any snow.  In fact, some people in these areas probably had their Christmas dinners at their picnic tables instead of their dining tables.  Right now, they’re doing gardening as usual, then relaxing in their Adirondack chairs, porch gliders, hammocks, or patio chairs, and having a cold one.

Then, there are regions where the temperature rarely goes below freezing, and snow comes infrequently, in negligible amounts.  Residents of these places can do a good bit of gardening now, and will have many days where it’s warm enough to sit on their porches or patios and enjoy their outdoor furniture.

However, because those of us who are snowed under right now, and dealing with below-zero wind chills, actually have to tussle with nature, I’ll concentrate on our priorities.

First, we must remember that wild animals have a tough time finding food when everything is covered with snow.  If you’re not already feeding the birds, start now (you’ll be glad you did).  Set up some birdfeeders and birdhouses where you can enjoy the show that they put on (as I am doing right now), and where there is shelter close by.  If you still have your Christmas tree, prop it up a few feet from the feeding station and use it for this purpose.

Its branches can also be used to cover any plants, root vegetables, shrubs, or perennials that need extra protection from the cold.  Speaking of branches, now is a good time to prune most shrubs and deciduous shade trees.  If snow has accumulated on your trees, knock it off, in an upward motion, so as not to snap any branches; and prune any that break.

You can also use this time to plan for spring.  Make a map of your garden, and list what you’d like to plant where, keeping your seed and bulb catalogs nearby for inspiration.

Oh, I forgot to mention that other wildlife shouldn’t be left out in the cold (so to speak), either; so get some inexpensive bags of ear corn for squirrels and deer.

I probably should have brought that up earlier, but (wait for it) I always like to end with something corny!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, birdfeeders, birdhouses, christmas trees, Hammocks, Outdoor Furniture, patio chairs, picnic tables, porch gliders, reusing christmas trees

Here we go again.  Another winter storm is coming, and the snow, which has been getting heavier all day, is predicted to accumulate to about four inches.  Now, I truly enjoy the snow, and, being from Buffalo, I consider this to be a mere dusting.

Here, in my adopted hometown of Pittsburgh, however, people are rushing to grocery stores and stocking up on milk, bread, certain paper goods, and other necessities, as if they’re going to be snowed in for a week.  Naturally, they’ll be out and about as usual tomorrow; but, no doubt, they’ll be dreaming of the day when they can take the outdoor furniture from their storage sheds, eat at their picnic tables, nap in their hammocks, and relax on their porch swings.

That’s too bad, because there’s a lot to love about snow, including its ability to help us to burn some of those holiday calories.  I look forward to heavy snows, because I can replace some indoor workouts with snow-shoveling sessions.  These can go on for hours, too, because, the more I do, the less I notice the cold.  As long as you don’t have any health problems, shoveling snow can be a great activity.

If you don’t want to do anything that strenuous, get a broom and sweep the snow off your car, porch, gazebo, mailbox, doghouse, birdfeeder, birdhouse, and anything else that’s covered.

Of course, you don’t have to be doing chores to get some exercise in the snow.  No-o!  In fact, just walking through it gives you a workout that’s much better than you get when you’re on a smooth surface, because snow can provide the same kind of resistance that you feel when walking in sand or water.

Playing in it is beneficial as well.  You can work off a lot of calories by building a snowperson or a fort, having a snowball battle, or making angels in the snow.

So, if you’re lucky enough to live in a place that gets a considerable amount of snow, use it to your advantage.  Go out and have some fun in it.  You may as well.  After all, ‘snow’ use in complaining!  (Yeah, I know!)

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: bird feeder, bird house, doghouse, Gazebos, Hammocks, mailbox, Outdoor Furniture, picnic tables, porch swings, snow, storage sheds

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.

Look! We’re on Blog Directories!

The Garden Blog Directory – Great gardening and landscaping blogs are all listed here!

Blog Directory

Web Directory

Blog Listings

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