Rose Cottage Ltd

Here are a few luxury real estate properties or in the case of birds – more like vacation “rentals.”

“Lake View” Cottage Bird House

Who could resist this one? The light blue and white trim birdhouse is made from outdoor grade plywood and finished with non-toxic outdoor paint.

Authentic details and turn-of-the-century style – just look at the flower boxes and hanging plants – add oomph while the rich Western red cedar roof completes the cottage look. Mount on a post and you’ve got the perfect home for wrens, chickadees, finches, nuthatches and titmice with a generously sized (1-1/4″) entry hole, removable back wall for end-of-the-season cleaning.

Little Wren House

A cheery wren house!

Here’s the perfect bird house for attracting wrens in style. This adorable “cottage” will provide a cozy nesting spot for a lucky wren couple. Handcrafted of kiln-dried hardwood and cedar shingles. Includes a bottom clean-out and proper ventilation. Light yellow, 1-1/4 inch entry hole, 9 inch hanging chain.

Country Comfort Bird House

Give your birds all the comfort of country living!

Designed to look like a rustic log cabin, this bird house spares no detail. With hewn timbers that make up the frame, green front door and window trim, a chimney and a tiny little decorative bird house, this is a nesting spot that is as visually appealing as it is functional. With a wide entry hole (1-1/4 inches in diameter), cavity-dwelling birds such as nuthatches and finches will find this house irresistible to nest in. The back wall is able to be removed for easy cleaning.

Love the “stone” chimney!

Don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but some foods – especially fruits and vegetables, just don’t seem to have the flavor they used to have.

I’ve been using nearly the same level of ingredients in my spaghetti sauce for around 35 years and have noticed I now usually go back and add more basil or oregano to the sauce. I suspect the green and yellow peppers are not providing the flavor punch they used to add.

Many of us are growing more and more suspicious of what is being done to our food supply. You don’t have to be paranoid to know about GMO corn, or vegetables sprayed with wax so they “look” appetizing longer. You also don’t have to be a scientist to realize that soil used over and over without adding nutrients, will not produce the same result year-over-year.

I’ve been looking into hydroponics for the last month or so and have decided to order the Dealzer Hydroponics 101 Training e-book to see if this is something I can manage. If you’ve wanted to know more about hydroponic “gardening” you can get more info here.

The good news is that for those who don’t happen to have their own farmland or room or even access to garden space, you can still “grow your own” in one of the many units available from Dealzer. It might be a good resolution for this new year of 2014 to take a little control back of what you eat.

And what better time to get them thinking about a new way to do things when so many of us “outdoor types” are in our Winter doldrums period – stuck inside lusting over seed and bulb catalogs and waiting for Spring 2014!!

Dealzer Hydroponics is one of the most popular online hydroponic gardening stores. Hydroponics are ecosystem for growing plants and are very popular.

Want to find out more? Click the link and check out the products they have to offer. You might find you have a whole new way to think about “growing” things! That will give us something to do until the Spring thaw!!

Quite a bold statement! But no doubt true when you give a gift of lobster. And since one rarely sees the words “free” and “lobster” in the same place, I thought this post was worth the effort.

Chicago Steak Company is the premier provider of gourmet steaks, seafood and desserts. They are proud to continue the long and rich tradition of delivering Mid-Western Corn-Fed USDA Prime, Black Angus, and Premium USDA Choice steaks to homes and businesses across America.

Their juicy steaks were recently showcased on the Discovery Science Channel’s Catch It Keep It, as the “Must Have” luxury item for any steak lover. Jim Johnson, a celebrity on Chicago Radio’s Roe Conn Show, stated “The steaks were great…quite possibly the most tender I’ve ever had!”

Use Promo Code: FREEGIFTS

Yesterday we looked at some beautiful Alpaca sweaters and a solid, heavy-duty WWII Military sweater with patch elbows. Free shipping has been extended through December 15th so, now’s a great time to finish that Christmas shopping. Time is running short…

Today we’ll see what the world of Aran has to help us keep warm this winter…which believe it or not, hasn’t even started yet!! Below are 3 of many available from National Geographic Online!

Women’s Irish Aran Turtleneck Sweater

Available in black, natural or red and at just under $150, this 100% Merino wool sweater is made in Ireland and will certainly keep you warm!

For hundreds of years, women in the rural villages of the Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland have knit natural wool sweaters for their fisherman kin. Although the myth that you can identify island families by the stiches in their sweater—like a Scottish tartan—isn’t true, every knitter does have her own special patterns, passed down through generations of mothers and grandmothers. At weekly gatherings, they continually invented intricate new stitches.

Women’s Irish Aran Merino Wool Long Cardigan

I like a long sweater – this is a great option. In natural at $159.00.

Stay cozy indoors or out with this thigh-length Aran knit sweater. These iconic symbols of Ireland’s northern Aran Islands are well known for their intricate stitches and symbolism. In this flattering cardigan, the honeycomb stitch symbolizes the hard work of the honeybee and the rewards of an industrious life. The cable stitch stands in for the fishing rope that was so essential to livelihood on the islands. Knit from 100% merino wool, with a button front.

Irish Asymmetrical Cardigan

Here’s a sweater option with a bit of asymmetrical style! In natural or blue – for $149.00.

In a contemporary twist on traditional Irish Aran knitting, this cardigan has an asymmetrical wrap style with a single button that creates a cowl-like neck. The textured wool sweaters of the Aran Islands have become a worldwide symbol of Irish culture. The patchwork of different stitches speaks to the ingenuity of generations of knitters.

A week and a day until the first day of Winter 2013 which starts December 21st – and only TWELVE days left until Christmas. Great news for kids – shop online and those twelve days won’t seem to fly quite so fast for those with long and unfinished gift lists!