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Water is a part of nature – it is in every function of daily life. It gives life to the most stunning fountain of the world while pumping through the cells of our bodies. Water covers roughly two thirds of the earth surface, but only a small amount is fresh water. The water, covering the surface of the Earth, is a major player in the daily weather of the Earth.

Humans also need water to live. Our bodies need water intake to survive, but our senses also love water. We admire the stunning fountain of flowing water, the naturally forming waterfalls, the soothing sounds of the ocean waves, and the myths and legends that surround water. Civilization, from the beginning of time, has tried to control and manipulate water for both decoration and necessity. Water has developed cities and villages, and guided the entire political and economic course of history!

While we’re contemplating all the benefits of water and of water features for your garden, don’t forget to add a chance for a nice cool bath for your summer feathered friends! Chose from the huge selection available from Garden Fountains – many of these birdbaths, fountains, and garden statuary are available with free shipping in the Continental US.

Don’t forget to look at the beautiful Home & Garden Fountains while you’re there!

Where would we be without water? Too frightening to even contemplate…

As much as I enjoy HGTV, I get so annoyed with some of the House Hunters programs. Well, not the programs, but at those trying to choose new homes. Outside the fact that they should be thankful they have the money and means to be looking for a new home is the rather odd list of “Have-tos” some of them come up with.

So my question for this year is – “What’s up with granite?

I got a little mailer last week with a 3″ x 3″ piece of sample granite enclosed. While reviewing the marketing brochure I found that I too could have granite counter tops in my kitchen for a mere $8,000 to $12,000! Woo-hoo – what a deal! I had a look around my kitchen and saw a perfectly good set of counter tops that are completely in-line with what’s in the rest of the kitchen and what’s in the rest of the house.

If I now go and change over to granite counter tops – that I don’t require to use my kitchen – am I then throwing the kitchen out of alignment with the rest of the house? Quite probably.

If I change over to granite counter tops AND I believe everything I see and hear, I will HAVE to have stainless steel appliances – to go with my new granite counter tops. Apparently, you could be lead to believe that you can’t have one without the other.

Once I have the new granite counter tops – let’s guess $10k for those, and the new stainless steel appliances – we’ll add $8k for those, will I be able to stand (on) my current kitchen floor? (Pun intended.) Will I now require Travertine tiles to match my new granite counter tops and my new stainless steel appliances? Won’t I then need to repaint the walls to match all this new stuff?

You can see where I’m going with this. I started out replacing what were perfectly functional and attractive counter tops in my kitchen and now my frenzy to have “what everyone else has” would have cost me around $25,000. For a kitchen. This is assuming I can still stand the cabinets – which will probably not look right with all my other new kitchen toys.

Before you get on this sort of remodeling treadmill, think about what is really important to you. Granite counter tops may impress your friends, but they won’t make you a better friend, or a better chef. Ending up with a $25,000+ kitchen will NEVER be more than partially recovered in a resale – especially in a lower priced property. If the home improvement bug takes you over, stifle yourself and drop $200 on a really nice upgrade to your kitchen sink hardware (faucet, etc.) You’ll be amazed at how smaller, less expensive (and less invasive) improvements can still make you feel better about your surroundings

So I’m looking at some stepping stones for the garden this morning and find, as expected, a wide variety of shapes. Here are a few that are a bit quirky and unusual for your backyard living space…

“Faux Bois” means “fake wood” and I think the texture of this stone shows a pretty good job of it!

Here are some oak leaves on which to tread…

You can add some “sun” to your garden path with this stepping stone…

But if you really want to see if your garden visitors are paying attention, try throwing a few of these in their path!

A dozen or so of these, (available in both left and right-side flip flop or as a set of two) might add a little challenge to a summer game of Hopskotch. Does anyone actually play that anymore?

Free shipping on most of these items for those in the continental US…check out other sizes and patterns…

I’m enjoying flower #4 on my Hibiscus:

But this morning I focused on the little micro-world also going on during the plant’s bloom process:

While all this was going on I had another little visitor:

You can see on the pole the remains of the ants I managed to destroy yesterday. Ants can quickly make a Hummingbird feeder all but useless since they get in the mixture and gum up access for the Hummingbirds. A little spray on the pole and some Sevin Dust at the ground seems to have done the trick – for now. This will have to be repeated in a day or three…just follow the ant’s trail and make sure you treat all the way back to the source.

Queen Mattress Barrier Cover – $256.00 The uniquely designed Mattress Barrier Cover shields your mattress and foundation from harmful exposure to bacteria, mold, and dust mites. The organic cotton cloth is woven so tightly that allergens cannot penetrate it. A durable brass zipper attached to the soft fabric allows for convenient removal for machine-washing.Available in depths of 8 to 16 inches. Brass zipper extends two thirds around the perimeter for easy removal. Fully machine washable and dryable. The soft organic cotton fabric is more comfortable than other barrier cloths. Pillow Barrier Covers are also available.

I’ve been looking for one of these covers for my mattress and for my pillows. I’m less worried about the highly-publicized bed bug crisis than I am by mold and mildew – and waking up with itchy eyes and blocked sinuses. These covers should make a major improvement – available in sizes from Twin to California King.

Be sure to look at many other healthy options for your home from Green Nest.

Caught a view of this little visitor early this morning checking out the “breakfast bar” at a local Magnolia…

There were about eight of them just meandering around – Cato was a bit surprised to see them trotting along the fence line!

Happy Sunday!

In a world that seems increasingly out-of-control – along comes a hot stretch of summer heat – and around and around goes the electric meter on my house (Okay, it’s digital but you get my point). I’ve been conducting a non-scientific experiment over the last few days to see what is sucking down all the kilowatt hours and to figure out what I might do about it.

The most obvious thing is to set the air conditioning up a few degrees. I did this about two weeks ago but with my sinuses, had to back it down a bit because when it gets stuffy in the house I can’t breathe well. So, I’ve compromised.

My computer runs pretty much 24/7 along with the attached printer – both of which are on a surge protector/battery backup box. Not much I can do with this, but I have started turning the printer off at night and not turning it on again unless I need to use it. Although I work at home most days I don’t have the large-screen TV on that often until the evening. This is a good thing because that unit uses a lot of “juice” and also puts out a fair amount of heat. To get specifics I’ll need to break out my Kill A Watt unit for some 2013 numbers. You can get one for yourself via Amazon:

++ P3 International P4480 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor with Electronic Graphic Timer

You can read my earlier findings on the usage of some common household appliances by reading my post from January 2011: “A Kilowatt Saved is a Kilowatt earned.”

I’m always interested in ways to conserve and to make the planet a better place but for the moment, this is all about my wallet – and how many hours I can limit to save money. With temperatures as hot as they are this summer, it seems worth the time and effort.

Knowledge is power – pun intended…

This year in Central North Carolina hasn’t had the drought conditions of the past five or six. Rain came – in some places too much too fast – right at the first official week of Summer 2013. But in the last week at my location there has been none and we still have to get through August and September…

A good way to take advantage of the water Mother Nature provides is with a rain barrel. As you can see here, you aren’t stuck with some industrial-appearing 55 gallon drum either.

Crafted for extra strength and durability, the Algreen Sandalwood Cascata Rain Water Barrel is sure to provide you with efficient and long lasting functionality. This collection of rain barrels not only aid in preserving the environment, but also efficiently help in water conservation. They let you do your bit for the environment, while ensuring your backyard or garden function efficiently and look great.

The smartly designed Koolscapes 75 Gallon Sandstone Rain Barrel combines the contemporary aesthetic of authentic stone with the enduring longevity of resin. The Koolscapes 75 Gallon Sandstone Rain Barrel is ready to go. It comes with all that you need to start conserving water, preserving the environment and the size of your wallet. The rain barrel construction is UV protected, made to withstand harsh temperatures, at either extreme. This is an investment that pays off.

Dimensions: 46”H x 23.5”D

The Rain Wizard Urn is a thing of beauty and clever design. Constructed with thick and durable polyethylene resin which holds up to the harshest elements, the exterior has the appearance of a terra cotta urn. The graceful lines, curves, and garnishes on the exterior make it an accent peace on your home’s exterior and not something that just sticks to your house. The flat back design optimizes space used and allows you to position the barrel close to walls or flat areas. The top is the only of its kind that not only acts as a planter space, but also features a unique watering system that leeches excess water from the barrel itself.

++ For a limited time – get the Rain Wizard Urn with free shipping!

Some municipalities are (in my opinion) gouging people on water. Prices are ridiculously high – forcing customers to curtail yard and garden activities because of the constant fear of the darned water bill. At least with a rain barrel you can have water for your plants and if you use it right – enough to help wash your car. Until ever-reaching local governments put a tax on personally-owned rain barrels, this is a way to help the environment and save a bit of cash.

Every once and awhile you buy a plant that is supposed to bloom more than one season – and it actually does!

Such is the case with this Hibiscus I bought at the Lowes garden center July 2012:

This was the first of potentially many blooms to come on this showy little plant. If you’re looking for something that is low maintenance, grab one of these and just ignore it over winter. A little sun, water, and a top-off of some good potting soil in the spring will all but guarantee results like these.

It does seem a bit prone to white fly so a sprinkle of Sevin dust is also a good idea.