17th November 2006
People are always saying that it's the little things that make the biggest differences. As is the case with most expressions, you hear it, but you don't give it much thought. This one, however, deserves some consideration. Just think of what a string o...
16th November 2006
For centuries, teakwood has been highly prized for its radiant beauty, as well as its incredible strength and natural decay-resistance. It is produced by the Tectona Grandis tree, which is indigenous to Asia, especially Myanmar, Thailand, India, and Indo...
04th October 2006
There's no question about it – America has fallen in love with gazebos. If you have any doubt, just look around. You'll see them in backyards, front yards, and side yards, in public parks, overlooking rivers, lakes, and ponds, standing alone, or integra...
03rd October 2006
What's more important than our personal treasures? Having the right kinds of boxes for storing them, of course. Throughout the ages, every society has placed great emphasis and value on boxes that were made from stone, wood, marble, gold, silver, copper...
07th September 2006
"TFCSOTSPBWL OCTOBER XVIII MDCCC." This curious inscription was carved by a stonemason, John Lewis, into a block of granite that he had lain as a support for a bridge that was being built by Timothy Palmer. Because of space restrictions, he simply used ...
17th August 2006
With the fascination for outdoor living that has become so prevalent in recent years, millions of people have been augmenting their porches and patios, adding decks, and building gazebos, to give themselves more living room. In fact, with the incredible ...
10th August 2006
For the past two centuries garden bridges, especially covered bridges have sparked fascination, imagination, and admiration across the nation. Once simply necessary modes of crossing waterways, they have ascended to legendary status. Nothing stirs up no...
22nd July 2006
For most of us, talk of picnic tables brings to mind the traditional wood, rectangular tables, with two long benches. Although this table is still quite popular, the picnic table has undergone a dramatic transformation in shape, style, and substance, whi...
13th July 2006
Everyone knows that water is one of the most abundant – and popular – chemicals on Earth. It's so popular, in fact, that anyone over the age of ten (and some who are even younger) can probably tell you that the chemical formula for water is H2O. So we k...
29th June 2006
Gardens have been used as symbols of happiness since the Garden of Eden. Whether or not such a place actually existed, the perception has persisted. The expression, "a garden of earthly delights," signifies utopia or nirvana; and a blissful romance is r...
23rd June 2006
Although things have always changed quickly, in the past few years, the pace has increased so significantly that "new" sayings are being invented every day. All of a sudden, "40 is the new 20," "60 is the new 40," and "80 is the new 60." Also, "bald is ...
08th June 2006
When someone asks you about your most prized possession, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Although some people may think about their houses or their cars, most people's thoughts will immediately turn to things that have no value to anyone but t...
01st June 2006
"Personal space" is a term that's so much a part of today's vernacular that it has become a cliché. There's nothing unusual about that; people are always grabbing onto expressions, then using them ad nauseum. The amazing thing is how quickly a term can ...
25th May 2006
Whether it's a graduation party, a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday, or a reunion, you'll attend at least one family gathering every year. Sometimes you look forward to them; sometimes you dread them. There will be people you're eager to see, as well...
20th April 2006
Not long ago, outdoor furniture was largely comprised of those flimsy, folding aluminum chairs, with interwoven plastic strips for the backs and seats, that always left little red square marks across the backs of your thighs. Some of the fancier chairs h...
