Revitalize your Backyard to have a Home you can be Proud of!
Oct 26th, 2010 by Hazel
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Hazel
Jun 30th, 2010 by Kathy
I have to laugh when I think about what serious business Independence Day was for the kids on our block, when I was growing up. I mean, we spent so much time getting ready for the holiday in the weeks leading up to it; and I’ve rarely put anywhere near as much planning into anything as an adult.
The main thing was preparing for the big parade, to which the whole gang of us would ride in formation. That took some pooling of funds, because there were 80+ kids on our street, and all bikes, trikes, wagons, and scooters had to be decked out with red, white, and blue streamers, balloons, and pinwheels (and have cards in the spokes, to make that flapping noise).
T
he other challenge was that we were competing with the grown-ups. After all, those were standard outdoor décor items for the Fourth of July. Indeed, everyone had their porches, patios, gazebos, mailboxes, lampposts, and even outdoor furniture and picnic tables, adorned with the colors of our flag; and that’s one thing that hasn’t changed.
At the same time, not everyone is aware of the meanings of those colors; red indicates courage, white denotes purity, and blue stands for loyalty. On the other hand, everyone knows that there are 50 stars in the flag’s blue field, or union, which represent the 50 states, and 13 red and white stripes, for the 13 states that existed in 1776, when the country was new.
Truly, Old Glory is steeped in tradition, symbolism, history, and mystery; and there are many rules of etiquette for handling and displaying it properly. Although most of us are pretty familiar with them, it can’t hurt to refresh our memories, especially since the flag is going to be exhibited even more than usual in the upcoming week.
When displaying it outdoors, on a staff projecting from a building, balcony, or window, the union should always be at the peak, unless the flag is at half-mast. Incidentally, only the President of the United States, or a state’s governor can order flags on government buildings to be flown at half-staff.
If there are any other flags, such as those of states, communities, or organizations, on the same pole with it, the flag of the United States must always take the top position. It will be the first to be raised, and the last to be lowered; and it has to be the largest flag on the staff.
As a general rule, the flag should be flown only between sunrise and sunset; but if it is displayed at night, it must be illuminated. When it’s lowered, no part of the flag should touch the ground, or anything else. It should be folded neatly for storage, and cleaned and mended when needed.
When it gets to the point where it is so worn out, that it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, a flag should be properly destroyed in a dignified flag-retirement ceremony.
You know, going over these rules reminds me of something else that makes me chuckle. Our Independence Day formations were not all about frivolity, flamboyance, fireworks, and fun. Far from it, in fact; we were also out to find and fix any flagrant flag-flying infractions.
Funny, but I’d forgotten all about that. What a hoot!
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
Dec 15th, 2009 by Hazel
People have different ideas about outdoor Christmas decorating. Some like the traditional, understated look, using wreaths on their doors, and a few strings of lights, perhaps along the eaves, and on a couple of trees or shrubs in their yards.
Then, there are those who go crazy with lights and other decorations, covering every square inch of their houses, their yards, and anything that happens to be standing in them, including the bushes, trees, fences, mailboxes, lampposts, outdoor furniture, and picnic tables – and, in some extreme cases, even the kids.
While it may seem that those who use such huge numbers of lights are bound to end up with hideous-looking houses and yards, that’s not necessarily true. It really is possible for a display to be quite stylish, even when it features a billion lights. It just depends upon a few factors, like, say, whether or not the person putting them up has good taste in the first place; and there’s also the matter of how much experience, and how good a plan, the decorator has in the beginning.
A beautiful display, of any size, starts with a great design strategy, good preparation, and knowledge of the proper safety measures. So, devise a theme, and decide exactly what you’re going to put where, concentrating on two or three focal points that will pull it all together.
Before you begin, make sure that all of your lights have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo on them, and that they’re designed specifically for outdoor use (this goes for extension cords, too). Test them all before you put them up, replacing burned-out bulbs, and checking wires for cracks and worn spots. Decorate on a day that’s not too cold or windy, and keep lights and cords away from puddles, and other sources of water.
Add interest by lighting unusual things, such as empty birdbaths, planters, decorative wheelbarrows, and vintage plows, tractors, bicycles, tricycles, or wagons. You can even make your porch furniture a part of the display, by stringing it with colorful lights, to give it a warm, welcoming glow.
Of course, I must remind you that outdoor furniture from CedarStore.com has that glow all year long; it’s built into every piece we make.
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
May 29th, 2009 by Shari
The only thing that’s more amazing than the number of ways that we have to communicate these days, is the fact that there’s always someone trying to invent something even faster. Heck, I was satisfied with the telephone and the mail – well, okay, e-mail, too, because I wouldn’t be able to work from home without it. But that’s it.
Oh, yeah – as long as I’m on the subject of mail, I may as well get something cleared up that’s been bugging me for a long time now. It’s a term that bothered me the first time I heard it, and continues to irk me, as its usage has increased to the point where it seems to have become a standard reference. I’m talking about calling the good old U.S. Mail “snail mail.” It is not snail mail; it is THE mail. That’s right. That’s what it is, and what it has always been.
It doesn’t matter that the newer forms of communication are much faster; that has nothing to do with it. It is simply that it has been established as “the mail” for centuries, and needs no further qualification or distinction. Only the newcomers, such as e-mail, g-mail, i-mail, or a-to-z mail, all of which are sure to come along eventually, need designations – and that’s what those preceding letters are. So, when you’re sending a card or letter to someone through the Postal Service, you’re sending it by mail. Period.
Okay. Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system (‘til the next time I hear someone say it!), I’d like to point out that, even though some people say that regular mail delivery will someday disappear, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. In fact, ironically enough, the mailbox still happens to be an important part of your outdoor décor. It’s one element, among many others, that is crucial to creating a good first impression, and it plays a huge role in your home’s curb appeal.
You can choose an attractive mailbox to complement the dominant colors or motif of your house or garden, or select one that reflects your personality, hobby, or favorite recreation. Among its gigantic assortment of outdoor chairs, porch and patio furniture, and other home accents, CedarStore.com has a collection of fun, decorative mailboxes, in designs that include lighthouses, log cabins, windmills, mail trucks, trains, and more. Every one of these eye-catching creations is crafted from the finest, decay-resistant woods, and approved by the U.S. Postal Service. We also offer mail posts that are equally durable, so you can be sure that your mailbox will be outstanding in your yard for years to come.
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
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