Home & Garden

Our previously nebulous and ephemeral trip was finally planned, the route chosen, reservations made and wardrobes packed.  We left early on a Thursday morning and headed north to our first overnight stay in aptly-named Greenwood, California.  We stayed with a pastor friend and his young family.  From there, we drove into the middle of Oregon. 

At Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s Maternity Unit, the professional and caring nursing staff prides itself in providing parents with a secure and serene birthing experience.

Outdoor parties can be real fun if carried out efficiently.  Many people spend a lot of money on such parties but few of them are able to get the whole thing right.  There is great amount of planning involved in carrying out an ideal outdoor party.  Here are a few tips to put a smile on the faces of your guests:

Off all elements that you can place in your landscape, from flowers to plants to trees, the shrub is the most versatile.  When you consider your landscape, you’ll find that shrubs are one of the most versatile elements that you can employ.  Shrubs can serve as a background for your flower or vegetable garden, as dividers between different areas of the yard and even as privacy screens (otherwise known as hedges).

What have they done to Pluto?  Since it’s discovery in 1930, Pluto had been considered a planet, but of late the International Astronomical Union voted on a resolution defining the true definition of a planet.  And guess what? Pluto no longer qualifies.  Can you believe it?  For seventy plus years it was a planet and now suddenly, it’s not.  What, you might wonder is what is poor old Pluto now? It is henceforth to be known as a dwarf planet.

Dear Designer – My name is Mike.  My partner and I live in Valencia, at the Woodlands.  We moved in just a few months ago and are just getting around to buying furniture.  My partner Tom has a flare for design and I must say he’s very talented.  He did our former condo and everyone that saw it, loved it.  I on the other hand really know nothing about the art of interior design and try to stay out of the whole design process.  Well, you’re probably asking yourself then what’s the problem.  Normally, I would just let Tom work his fabulous magic and just stay out of it, but this house is a short term investment and I want to make sure that its done right, so that its easy to sell.  Tom thinks it would be nice to have different themes through the house.  He wants the living room to look like something Jean Harlow would have and the kitchen in farmhouse/country.  What do you, the professional, think about all this?  I look forward to your response and suggestions.  Thanks – Mike

The best natural garden plants are those that look the part, grow without fuss and have something to offer wildlife.

Don’t feel you have to stick rigidly to genuine wild plants.  In some cases their cultivated close cousins can work just as well and look even more decorative. Here are top suggestions for natural-garden plants:

I just love the summer.  It’s a time when we can get out on our boat and enjoy the weather with our best friends.  Our four best friends just happen to have four legs and some funny names.  Sausage, Tutz, Spanish and Delilah are our four family dogs.  They go everywhere with us.  In the summer we love to take the dogs on the boat and enjoy the sun as much as possible.  Just as we need to protect our skin and hair from the sun, your family dogs also need protection.  By using the right shampoo and /or conditioner followed by a paw conditioner, you can help protect your four-legged friends from a summer spent itching and the discomfort of fur matting.

There are a few simple ways to add sparkle to your bath.  You don’t have to endure a whole bathroom remodel to enjoy a fresh look.  If your bathroom feels dull and dingy, there are a number of things you can do in a day or a weekend to really perk things up.  Without spending a lot of money, you can freshen up your bathroom with organization, fresh color, updated lighting and good accessories.  And every one of these ideas will help to really make a difference in the look and comfort of your bathroom.

A relaxing afternoon by the pool.  The delight of dining al fresco.  An evening sky aglow with another glorious sunset.  Such are the rewards of a summer evening in Santa Clarita.  What better way to enhance these moments than with comfortable, innovative, quality outdoor furniture?  Let’s look into one such manufacturer, Tropitone, to see the difference quality makes.

Watermelon is a totally good-for-you food: the sweet, juicy pink melon is high in cancer-fighting lycopene and vitamins, but has zero fat or cholesterol.

The benefits of a water conditioning system from Santa Clarita Water Conditioning are:

• Provides great tasting, fresh water from every faucet

• Removes chlorine, bad taste and odor from water

Fire is fast, in less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and can turn into a major fire.  It only takes a minute for thick black smoke to fill a house.  Most fires occur at night when everyone is asleep.  If you wake up to a fire the only thing you will have time for is to escape.

The birthplace of our present day 4th of July fireworks, generally originated in China.  It is said that a Chinese cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients.  The result was colorful flames.  The cook also noticed that if the mixture was burned when enclosed in the hollow of a bamboo shoot, there was a tremendous explosion.  

There are many makes and styles of smokers and grills.  Some units have been adapted to be both.  Whatever a customer looking around wants has probably already been built.  One type of smoker that can also grill is a pipe smoker. 

Part 8 in a series of 10 most fortunate events

Part 1: Understanding what you want will create an accurate sense of expectation between the homeowner and the contractor, leading to a satisfying pool construction process.

Part 2: In preparation for the Excavation process, all aspects must be properly managed to ensure that you are insulated against undue stress and burdens.

Looking to get fit and sexy?  There’s a new exercise series designed exclusively for couples wanting to improve fitness, communication and intimacy and it’s called, “The ABC’s of Couple’s Fitness.”

Continued from last month’s issue, this is the second article in California Pool’s Smart Choices in Pool Building series.  This article will extend the initial planning stage to discuss what homeowners can expect during the pool-building process.