Wedding Superstitions

How does that saying go? "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and silver sixpence in her shoe." It is a credo believed to carry good luck dating back to the Victorian era and many folks, brides especially, try to arrange their wedding attire accordingly.

* Something old: Something old represents the link with the bride's family and many brides choose to wear a piece of antique family jewelry, her mother's or grandmother's wedding gown.

* Something new: This is to symbolize good fortune and success for the future of the couple. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item.

* Something borrowed: Something borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there for her when help is needed. The borrowed object means something such as a lace handkerchief.

* Something blue: The color blue is meant here to symbolize the loyalty and fidelity of the couple. Often the item is the garter.

* Silver sixpence in her shoe: A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe is to wish the bride wealth. But frankly, if you are willing to go through your entire wedding with a coin in your shoe, well that's just crazy :)

The bride's bouquet at its inception formed part of the wreaths worn by both the bride and groom. It was a symbol of happiness. Today the practice of tossing the bouquet is an off shoot of throwing the garter. Single women compete to catch the bride's bouquet because according to superstition the one to make the catch will be married next.

The wedding tradition of throwing the garter began in France when pieces of the bride were considered lucky. The bride would throw the garter to those attending the wedding and whoever caught it could expect good luck. In some states, the groom traditionally removes the garter from the bride and throws it to the unmarried men. The man who catches it is thought to be the next to marry. As the wedding ceremony progress, the excitement level of all increases.

* Catching the garter: Men compete to catch the brides garter as the groom tosses it up in the air.

* Garter game: At some weddings the man who catches the garter places it on the leg of the lady who caught the bouquet or they have the next dance.

These superstitious wedding games have become part of the wedding tradition today. It is believed that by participating you are bestowing upon the couple good fortune.

A century ago, wedding superstitions were even more deeply rooted.

* Marrying a man whose surname began with the same letter was thought to be unlucky.

* Marrying on Friday the 13th cursed your wedding from the start.

* Brides who choose to be married in December were thought to be the wisest woman because she surely would be marrying her true love.

The desire for a marriage to last is strong, and consequently weddings are particularly vulnerable to superstitious beliefs that can supposedly affect it. My thoughts? Try not to take any of them seriously, there are so many superstitions to follow it can drive you crazy! And of course there's the whole "superstition" aspect. You do know that it's all made-up, right? That it's not going to have any bearing on your marriage or wedding day at all, right? Good. I've got to go get the penny out of my shoe now. Good luck!

Remembering the Meaning of Memorial Day

Wearing poppies, waving flags, parades, placing flags and wreaths at soldiers' graves, twenty-one gun salutes followed by hot dogs and ice cream at the local American Legion were all part of the Memorial Day pre-boomers remember as kids. It was a solemn yet celebratory day because we remembered those who died serving our country and rejoiced in the freedom we enjoyed as a result of their sacrifices.

There are many versions of how this day of remembrance came to be. Dozens of cities in the United States lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. In fact, it was originally called Decoration Day - a time to place flowers and flags on the graves of America's fallen heroes and honor their service.

Some say the day got its start before the end of the Civil War, when ladies in the South organized to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead. Others believe a group of former slaves exhumed the bodies from a mass grave in South Carolina filled with the bodies of Union soldiers, buried the remains in individual plots and planted flowers to decorate the cemetery. But Waterloo New York is considered to official home of the day's first observance in 1866.

The tradition of honoring the military dead was renewed during WWI. It started in the United States with the wearing of poppies, inspired by the poem, "in Flanders Fields." The poppies were sold and the proceeds used to benefit servicemen in need. This idea later caught on in Europe to benefit orphaned children and widows of servicemen who lost their lives. A few years later, the European effort petered out and the founder approached a US organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), to support the effort. In 1922 the VFW began selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.

Although the term "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, it did not become more popular than "Decoration Day" until after WWII. Memorial Day was declared a Federal Holiday in 1967. Over the years, the meaning and observance of the day has diminished. Poppies are still sold by veterans groups. Flags are displayed, but fewer than in the past. And the parades have all but vanished; however, there is a national parade each year in Washington, DC.

Now, Memorial Day, which has turned into a long weekend, marks the beginning of the summer season with cookouts and family activities taking the place of community events. Many have tried to return to the traditional roots of this day. To accomplish this, Americans must be re-educated about the history of Memorial Day and set it aside as a day of remembrance rather that just a day off from school or work.

Legislation has been introduced to Congress in an effort to return the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th instead of the last Monday in May. If you believe this is a tradition you would like to see restored, contact your elected representative and let them know you don't want the meaning of Memorial Day forgotten.

Yarrow-Achillea Millefolium

Yarrow is used to exorcise evil from locations or even people. It confers protection and courage when worn and attracts friends and loved ones. When dried and used in wedding bouquets, it guarantees at least seven years of love.

References to yarrow date back many thousands of years. Fossils containing yarrow pollen have been found in 60,000-year-old Neanderthal burial caves. Achilles reputedly used the herb to dress wounds during the Trojan War, hence its botanical name, Achillea millefolium. The herb was still being applied to battlefield injuries during the American Civil War, 3,000 years later. Its war time vulnerary use caused yarrow to be dubbed "Herba Militaris", the military herb, in early Europe. Other nicknames for yarrow include "bloodwort" and "nosebleed". "Millefolium" means one thousand leaves and refers to yarrow's finely divided foliage.

The ancient Chinese method of foretelling the future, based on the I Ching, a classical book of the Confucian era (551--479 BC), uses 50 sticks of dried, stripped yarrow stems. These are tossed into the air and meaning is attributed to the pattern they form upon falling.

The herb's common name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word, "gearwe", which would have been pronounced something like "Yawraway".

The genus "Achillea" comprises of over 80 species. If you've resisted adding this weedy and invasive plant to your herb garden, with its dull white and pink flowers, you'll be delighted to learn that breeders have recently augmented the herb's color range to include lilacs, crimsons and clear whites. These improved cultivars are generally less invasive than the species, but may revert to the latter if allowed to go to seed. Wild and cultivated yarrows hybridize freely. The Richter's catalogue for 2000 lists the following varieties: Standard, the preferred type for medicinal use; Mace, with its spicy aroma of the oriental spice; Moonshine, the best variety for drying; Red; Sneezewort; traditionally used as a snuff for clearing nasal congestion; Woolly, a low mat-forming variety with golden flowers (this particular yarrow will rot if not given good drainage), and Yellow, a tall variety - up to 5 feet - with large yellow flowers.

Yarrow grows easily from seed and will thrive in the most marginal of soils with the exception of soggy ground. Indeed, manure or fertilizer, or too much shade, will cause the development of weak stems. The herb prefers full sun in slightly acid soil, although a few species prefer a higher pH. Yarrow is a winter hardy perennial in zones 3 to 9 and thrives better with cool nights. It will attract many species of butterflies to your garden, along with lady beetles and tiny parasitic wasps that prey on aphids. Also, yarrow discarded in your compost pile will speed decomposition.

Standard yarrow can be cultivated as a lawn. It will withstand light foot traffic and will eventually choke out weeds. It should be mowed about three times a year to prevent flowering. Sow the seed in late summer or spring, using half pound of seed per 100 square yards. Spread evenly and press lightly into a prepared bed with a roller. Do not use fertilizer.

The wisdom of yarrow's traditional use as a wound healer has been verified by current research. More than 82 medicinal compounds have been found in the herb. Achilleine works as a hemostatic (blood clotting agent) and an astringent. A German study published in Planta Medica in 1994 found that the chamazulene in yarrow inhibits the formation of leukotriene, which triggers inflammation. Another German study, published in Arzneimittelforschung in June 1995, found that yarrow's flavonoids (which provide the plant's pigment) help the body produce prostaglandin, a chemical that controls smooth muscle contraction. When taken internally, this makes yarrow a useful herb for relieving gastrointestinal ailments including diarrhea, bloating and cramps. According to the German Commission E, yarrow's antispasmodic qualities make it particularly useful for treating menstrual cramps. Yarrow is also antibacterial and contains salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. To reduce fevers, yarrow combines well with elder flower, peppermint, boneset, cayenne and ginger. For reducing blood pressure it may be combined with hawthorn, linden flowers and European mistletoe. These herbs may be taken internally as teas or tinctures. To make yarrow tea, steep one tablespoon of the dried herb in one cup of boiled water for 10-15 minutes. Strain and drink three cups in one day for gastrointestinal problems, fever, hemorrhoids or bruises, or drink all three cups at once to slow heavy menstrual bleeding. For toothaches and minor cuts and burns, apply the tea topically.

To combat a cold, make a tea of yarrow along with elderflower and peppermint. Combine equal amounts of all three herbs. Infuse one teaspoon of the dried herb mixture - twice as much if you're using fresh herbs - and allow it to steep in one cup of water for 10 minutes. Drink three cups a day. If you can catch the cold early enough, you'll find this a very effective remedy.
Yarrow is not toxic, but allergies to the herb are common and sensitivity appears to increase with use. Even simple teas that contain yarrow can cause a mild skin rash and increase photosensitivity. If these symptoms develop, use should be discontinued.
Because of its potential as an allergen, yarrow should be used in moderation in the kitchen. Its leaves and buds have a mellow, sage-like flavor and may be added to wild salads and soups. Mace yarrow (Achillea decolorans) is the one species with culinary appeal. Its narrow, sharply toothed green leaves have a distinctive nutmeg or mace aroma. A small amount of the leaves, finely minced, add a pleasing piquancy to soups, stews, salads (especially potato salads) and cheese dishes.
Yarrow is enduringly popular for dried flower arrangements and wreaths. The yellow-flowered yarrows in particular last for years with minimal fading. The new pastel cultivars do fade upon drying, but the resultant muted colors are still beautiful and popular among crafts aficionados.

Decorate Your Stairway For Christmas

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! And decorating for the holidays can be a pleasure in itself. Your house can be alive with the holiday spirit without putting a huge dent in your time and budget.

It is helpful to simplify things. The tips offered here are fun and easy to do-you don't need to be a professional interior decorator to have a lovely holiday house!

If you have a staircase or railing in your home or on the porch, it is easy to make it festive. Start by choosing fir garland. You can use real or fake, and there are upsides to both choices: the real thing has that Christmas tree pine smell that delights our senses, while the fake garland can be reused year after year, and doesn't pose a fire hazard.

Once your garland is hung at even gently curved intervals from the stair railing, you can add your own personal touch. Use the following suggestions to get your creative holiday juices flowing.

You may choose to string cranberries or popcorn as in the olden days. Or you can paint the edges of pine cones white to suggest snow (or leave them natural). Now add these winsome lovelies to your greenery by fastening with bright ribbons in white, green, red, blue, gold, or silver.

If an outlet is handy, string indoor/outdoor Christmas lights to your garland. Make sure they are cool-burning, and do not leave unattended when lit.

If your staircase or railing is long enough, you may want to hang Christmas wreaths at even intervals.

If you have a landing at the bottom or middle of your staircase, group poinsettias or small potted pine trees in a corner or two. Decorate with ornaments, ribbons, and bows. Or you can fill decorative baskets or containers with fragranced potpourri for an interesting display.

Experiment to see what works for you. Once your staircase or railing is pleasing to your eye, you know you are finished!

Wreaths Galore - Not Just For Christmas Anymore

Wreaths are most often thought to be a Christmastime decoration. Around the holidays, many of us decorate our homes with evergreen wreaths with lights and red bows. Christmas wreaths are a traditional decoration that we're all accustomed to. However, more and more designers are using wreaths as a constantly rotating seasonal decoration. Why limit yourself to only displaying wreaths during the month of December? Wreaths can be a unique and versatile decoration for any season or holiday. Here are some fresh ideas on using wreaths as year-round decorations.

New Year's:
You can easily take your Christmas wreath into New Year's Day by removing the red bows and adding gold or silver ones with some streamers. Other possible decorations include a Happy New Years banner or hat and some small party horns or plastic champagne glasses.

Valentine's Day:
Nothing says love like a pink or red heart shaped wreath. Consider using silk roses, fabric hearts or even wrapped candies. A stuffed animal like a pink or red teddy bear, or small cupid also adds character. Top it off with a beautiful bow and you have a bright decoration for those cold winter days!

St. Patrick's Day:
Everyone can pretend to be Irish on St. Patty's Day! Of course, when designing a St. Patrick's Day wreath, green is certainly a requirement. A mass of green shamrocks wrapping your wreath would look very festive (garlands of plastic or fabric shamrocks can usually be purchased at decorating stores). Additional decorations might include small gold coins or leprechaun figurines.

Easter:
An Easter wreath can be decorated in many ways. Some choose to focus on the Christian celebration of Christ's resurrection, and others choose a lighthearted Easter Bunny theme. Whatever your choice may be, beautiful spring flowers are a good base for an Easter wreath. Other choices might include Easter eggs, chocolate candies or bunnies, and Easter ribbons.

Fourth of July:
In the United States, July 4 is an important holiday when we all like to show our patriotic spirit. Try a straw or grapevine wreath spray painted with red, white, or blue gloss paint as your base, and then have fun from there! You can use firecrackers, streamers, and ribbons for decorations. And don't forget to include some small flags to celebrate our independence.

Halloween:
After Christmas, Halloween is the most "decorated" holiday we celebrate in the United States. Welcome your trick-or-treaters with a festive Halloween wreath. Orange and black are traditional colors, and there are many materials and items you can use to create your wreath. Decorations might include pumpkins, ghosts, black cats, witches, spiders and wrapped candies.

Thanksgiving:
A wreath is a wonderful way to welcome guests to your home for a Thanksgiving dinner. Consider using natural materials this time of year, as they are so abundant. You may have to plan ahead and pick up beautiful leaves as they fall from the trees to create your own special design. A large fall bow with some colorful corn will complete your Thanksgiving wreath.

As you can see, wreaths aren't just for Christmas anymore! Seasonal wreaths are a great way to decorate for each holiday. If you have a nice base wreath, it would even be possible to just change out the decorations to accommodate each holiday or season. And because most wreaths aren't very large, they are an easy way to add a special touch to your home's decor without busting the budget. Be sure to protect your seasonal wreaths by storing them in a secure and efficient manner so that you can enjoy them for years to come.

Christian Fundraiser Ideas

Looking for Christian fundraiser ideas? Here are ten ways to raise funds with a Christian approach or focus, even more if you include fundraising events as well as selling products.

Christmas trees

A great fundraiser at Christmastime is selling Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and other holiday decorations. Simply setup a tree lot in your church parking lot, staff it with volunteers, and promote it with large signs well down the road.

You can also offer Christian-themed ornaments, decorative yard art such as wire-framed angels pre-decorated with twinkling lights, door wreaths with bible messages, etc.

Garden sale

A garden sale makes a wonderful spring fundraiser. Emphasize your Christian theme with peace lilies, Easter lilies, and other plants symbolizing peace. Flower bulbs and wildflower seeds are always good sellers, plus you can make arrangements with a nursery for flowering shrubs such as azaleas.

Mulch or pine straw are also good revenue producers. You can even sell Father Dom's Duck Doo Compost, an organic fertilizer that supports a good cause.

T-shirts

Many church youth groups sell message t-shirts that appeal to today's youth. These can be custom produced by a screen print company or ordered in bulk from national t-shirt companies. Expect to pay about $8 plus freight for shirts selling in the $12-$15 range.

Christian music

CD sales of Christian music groups are another easy way to raise funds. Focus on top selling groups and look for compilation CDs that feature hit songs from a variety of musicians. That way your music will have the broadest appeal. Take orders in advance and expect to pay 50% of retail price plus freight.

Auction

Hosting an auction is a fun way to raise money for your favorite cause. Seek donations from local businesses and ask everyone in your group to also ask their personal contacts. the more items donated the more you'll raise. To attract an even larger crowd, publicize your event well in advance with a press release.

Yard sale

A yard sale or rummage sale is another easy fundraiser. Put the word out to get as many items to sell as possible. Have it on a Saturday morning in a church parking lot and use road signs and newspaper classifieds to draw a big crowd. You can even turn it into a monthly event during good weather.

Music concert

A Christian-themed music concert can be a great family night or you could do the same thing for a teen audience. Be sure the groups you bring in have the right sound by asking for tapes or CDs. For bigger groups, you can pay a fee or give them a share of the ticket sales.

Fundraising bricks

Many church groups do landscape projects with laser-engraved fundraising bricks. Design a sidewalk, meditation garden, or outdoor patio fountain and incorporate the use of message bricks. Sell individual bricks that people can inscribe with a name and message of their choice. The bricks are surprisingly affordable and priced right, the project will raise amazing amounts for your cause.

Discount cards

Contact local Christian businesses for inclusion on a discount card for families. These usually retail for $10 and expire after a year. If you supply the advertisers, you can get the cards printed for $1 each which means huge profits. Sell these to supporters or to the general public with a sales table outside a grocery store or other high-traffic location.

Christmas carol-grams

Instead of going door-to-door caroling, assemble some talented singers, print up some flyers offering Christmas Carol-grams, and you're in business. Arrange to have a quartet deliver holiday cheer to a loved one's office, nursing home, hospital room, etc. Make sure your singers take flyers with them because this is a great word-of-mouth fundraiser!

That's all the space I have in this article for Christian fundraiser ideas. Look for the companion article coming soon on Christian fundraising events.

Create Your Own Christmas Wreath

Did you know you could make your own Christmas wreath? Christmas wreaths add so much pleasure and whimsical interest to any home or office. Wreaths are easy to make because all you need are the supplies, the effort and your imagination. They are displayable inside or outdoors, depending on their construction materials. You can even make Christmas wreaths for gift giving since nearly everyone has a soft place for such charming sentiments during the holidays.

Traditionally, wreaths were made of evergreen. However, there are several different types of wreaths of decorating, such as Styrofoam, grapevine, straw and wire base. Each of these wreath types has its own special features for wreath making.

You can get craft supplies for Christmas wreath making by shopping online specialty websites as well as hobby and department stores or you can even make your own.

Basic craft supplies will include:

- Wire cutters

- Hot glue and hot glue gun

- Floral picks

- Ribbon cutting scissors

- Florist tape

- Craft wire of either 22 or 24 gauge

Christmas wreaths can be classically simple or they can be outrageously contemporary. The way you make your Christmas wreath look original is to follow your instincts and let you imagination run free to choose a theme, while staying within your budget. You see, the wreath symbolizes the circle of life and immortality. What better why to celebrate life at Yuletide than to make your own original festive Christmas wreath?

Always buy or make your wreath before you consider the decorations to go on it. This will help you determine just how much of what types of decorations you may want to make or purchase to display on your Christmas wreath. You will save money by acquiring the wreath before you begin to decorate.

Stay flexible and creative while making your own Christmas wreath. You can use or make all sorts of items to decorate your homemade Christmas wreath. For instance, you can use cookies, dried or silk flowers and berries, different types of ribbons or bows, tinsel, greenery and other ornaments. You can use just about anything that catches your fancy when making your own Christmas wreath, since you will determine a theme before you begin to make your own wreath. For instance, Christmas specialty socks for babies are just the right size for decorating a wreath. Even large unworn earrings with a lot of glitter and sparkle make a great accent on a wreath. You are only limited by your imagination.

You can even use several small wreaths and create candle holders, just be sure to follow fire safety rules. Alternatively, you can make several Christmas wreaths and hang them as a Christmas wreath collection. On the other hand, you may want to make a large wreath as a center wall piece, or hang it outside or inside the entrance door to your home.

Everyone is sure to enjoy the pleasure of gathering to make his or her own Christmas wreaths. So you may want to make a day of it by making Christmas wreaths a family or group activity. If you decide to have wreath making as a group activity, everyone could bring a few different items and then everyone shares their goods. That way everyone has a surprising original Christmas wreath that is akin to others in the group. Christmas wreath making is fun and provides you with a nice looking decoration and the pride of knowing you can make your own Christmas wreath. Remember with the proper care and storage your Christmas wreath can last for many years.

Fuzzy Blue Lights

There are a multitude of people, all in black. All the same, yet all very different.

Some are men and some are women; some are blond and some have red hair; some are tanned and some are pale as death - but, they all are in black and they all look the same. There is a heavy gloom about the hall - it is as if the world has forgotten about color and if you try hard enough, you can taste the sadness in the air, and it makes you want to cry.

Your three-year old self does not exactly understand what is happening, and your bewilderment shows clearly on your face.

You want to know where your mother is, but no one will tell you anything. You have not seen her in days.

She goes on trips sometimes, and people always tell you where she is, and point it out on the globe at home, just like your mother normally does before she leaves. She did not this time though.

You did not know she was leaving until she did not come back home.

They say she has gone away, and that she is watching you. Why then, you ask, can you not watch her too? You do not care. You want her to come home.

Now they look uncomfortable, eyes darting, murmur something about heaven (what is that?) and say that at three, you are too young to understand - how can you, though, when no one will tell you anything? You want your mother and she is not there.

You see a big wooden box in the centre of the room, that the people in this dank, stone-walled cathedral with pretty little stained glass windows seem adamant to keep you away from. You wonder what is in it. It is a pretty, rectangular box, stained dark, and ornately carved. It is levitated on a stand above a deep, vibrant burgundy carpet that your mother would hate. Your mother hates red, but only you know that, even if you do not know why. People like to give her red things because they look good on her. You are proud that your mother tells you secrets.

There are wreaths of roses, some red; some dyed black. It seems sort of scary, but oddly fitting in the somber room.

Someone holds your hand. An aunt. You do not really like her, but she is the only one in this room that you recognize.

Her palm is cold and clammy, and you would have yanked you hand out from hers if she had not had such a tight grip on you.

Your clothes are black too, and made of an awful material that makes your skin crawl. You squish the urge to fidget and squirm - you have been taught better than that. 'It's rude,' your mother tells you.

People line up, and more roses are given out. This time, they are individual and white, and the sudden burst of sheer brightness makes you blink. You are not given one, however, and you are rather put out by it. Slowly, people place the roses in the box, and look sadly at something inside that you cannot see.

Your older sister, once a part of the black blur, steps out and kneels in front of you, smiling and holding out her arms. You are relieved to see another familiar face, and to be away from your aunt, so you bury your face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent, and her arms wrap around you in a tight embrace. She carries you over to the box, where people try to stop her, and they block her way. 'He does not understand! He needs to say goodbye,' she hisses, and you know that she is talking about you. They let her pass.

You see your mother in the box. She has a proud, dignified sort of aristocratic elegance that simply emphasizes her seeming frigidity, and her eyes are closed. She is beautiful, but there are scars on her face that were not there before. Her eyelids are shaded dark, and her lips stained red, as if it were summer and she'd eaten too many berries again. Her face is caked with skin-colored paint, making her look stiff, fake and unnatural, and it is something you want to claw and scratch off. She is normally full of warmth and life, and you do not understand why she does not move.

You reach out to touch her face to know that she is really there, and she is hard and icy. Her hand does not come up to clasp yours and she does not open her eyes and smile at you. Slowly, your realization sets in. A while ago, your grandmother was exactly the same, and your mother had explained what that meant.
You did not quite care then. You do now, and greatly so.

You let out a half-strangled cry, and wild-eyed, you search for an escape in this entirely too claustrophobic room. Your sister hugs you to her, and she smells like your mother - of vanilla, and apples and cinnamon - and for a second you are calm, before you remember what so distressed you in the first place.

You shake your head stubbornly, gaping, trying to say something, but all your mind can think is no, and all you can whisper is no. You wriggle out of her arms and run down the aisle of the cathedral; out the doors. There is a sycamore tree outside, on which fading, blue fairy lights are hung, and you climb it. You sit on a branch, and hug your torso tight, hoping that if you constrict it enough, your heart will not burst.

Your mother is gone too, like your father (who was never there anyway), and she's not coming back.

You do not notice that you are crying.

It occurs to you that she did not even say goodbye.

You realize that you did not say goodbye.

You start to weep in earnest, and you ask the Gods 'why'.

Year Round Decorating Ideas For The Front Door

The front door of your home is the first thing that visitors will see. You can make a good impression on your guests and visitors by adding some special decorative touches to this area. These decor accents do not have to be elaborate or expensive. Many times just one or two specially selected pieces will go a long way. By decorating the front doorway area you can lend a nice touch to your home, and make your guests feel especially welcomed. Here are some ideas for making the most of your decorating area with ideas to give special pizzaz to your front door.

Hang door garland. This can be in any theme and will cover a large amount of space on the front door. Make sure you choose something that will be relatively weather resistant, and will not fade easily. A garland of fall colored leaves would make a wonderful autumn design. For Christmas, holly or poinsettias could be used to make a similar garland.

Display a large wreath or other floral display with the use of an over-the-door wreath hanger. Try making your own wreath out of natural materials like pine cones. This can be easily accomplished by using a glue gun and adding some decorative floral picks. I usually make my own Christmas wreath by using a pre-made wreath shape, and adding Christmas floral picks or handmade bows. I purchase these inexpensively from the Dollar Store.

Add a door knob hanger. This could be as elaborate as a handmade, one-of-a-kind piece, or as simple as a colored ribbon with bells attached. For seasonal themes, a strand of dried corn or even small fall leaves would make a nice hanger. Snowman and poinsettias would be fun ideas for Christmas or Winter.

Seasonal door decorations are a fun way to decorate the front door. For autumn you could use a fall themed wreath with apples, fall leaves, even tiny pumpkins. Thanksgiving ideas include the cornucopia or dried corn. For the past couple of years, I have used a heavy wrapping paper to "wrap" my front door to look like a present. I usually use a bright red foil paper, then add a handmade wreath.

Understanding How to Grade Coins for Collecting

If you are into collecting coins, then you need to know how to grade coins as well. You'll find it's both an art and a science and if you're keen on coins, you'll find that this knowledge proves to be very helpful even if you are not really looking to becoming an expert in this field. At least it will make sure that you never get cheated.

What are grades? Well, in the 1950s, a man called Sheldon developed a system of grading from 1 to 70. Over the years, this has been revised, expanded, adapted and earlier definitions like Poor, Fine, Fair, Mint State, Uncirculated, etc have now been combined with numbers.

Where should you begin? Well, start with your own coins - that will be where you can build up experience. You need to familiarize yourself with the terminology of grading. For example, the very first thing you need to know is the 'obverse' of the coin, which refers to the face and the 'reverse' of the coin which refers to the back. Attention should be paid to the lettering which refers to both the letters and the numbers as well as the devices which refer to the buildings, faces, laurel wreaths, etc. You should also look for the 'wear' and the 'luster' as well as if any 'damage to the rim' has occurred.

Let's look at the Winged Liberty Head Dime as an example. There was one that was minted in 1941 which was 10% copper and 90% silver. Now these metals can very easily be identified and the quantities too, measured. So simple tests could tell you if it is a fake or not. Now look at the back or the obverse. You'll find that there's a lot of detail in the hair on the face at the back. If this is well defined, then you could probably classify it as EF or Extra Fine or maybe even Uncirculated. On the wing, the feathers should be clearly visible with the edge coming out from the background. Uncirculated coins too can have abrasions and nicks which can occur when they are moved around together in a bag. So even if the coin never really went out into circulation, it does suffer from some amount of wear and tear.

Another coin that is very popular with collectors is the Morgan Dollar. Look above the eye and the ear at the hairline to spot if there is wear and tear. You should clearly see the strands of hair and the folds of the cap should be free of wear and tear. The talons as well as the eagle's breast should stand out clearly as well as the tips of the wings and the feathers. Like the Jefferson Nickel, the Roosevelt Dime and the Lincoln Cent, coins which have a face should be checked for luster by looking at the forehead and the cheek. Make sure the luster is on account of very little usage and low wear and tear and not because it has been cleaned artificially. Keep in mind that coins that are subjected to artificial cleaning tend to lose some of their value. You can't really hide the fact because it shows up when you look at it through a magnifying glass, especially the abrasions and the unnatural sheen and color.

Grading helps put things in perspective when it comes to coins. Of course, there is always the element of individual differences when it comes to the degree of differences. That can only be solved when grading will one day be based on image recognition software. From the human point of view, subjectivity could be achieved by getting more than one point of view.

11 Celtic Christmas Themes

Since its early beginnings the Celtic Christian Church drew inspiration on the pagan traditions of the past. Many of our present day customs have their roots in the druidic or Wiccan rites of long ago. 

The winter solace starts on the 21st of December and is the shortest day in the year. Pagans believed in holding a festival of the sun to encourage its return and bring good fortune and bountiful crop with it. Accompanying this were a number of practices still very much in evidence today over the festive season.

1. The Yule log that we all have on our mantelpiece is reminiscent of the time when an oak log was burnt for twelve hours using the remnants of the previous years to light it. Once it had been burnt the log was decorated and kept throughout the year and its ashes were spread on the fields to encourage a good harvest.

2. Decorating your house with holly and ivy is very much a druidic tradition. They believed that these evergreens along with their blood red berries were a sign of fertility and rebirth. It was placed around doors and windows, so as to capture evil spirits before they entered the house in its spiky leaves. Echoes of this are in today's practice of placing holly wreaths on front doors.

3. The same is true of mistletoe which grows in the boughs of the oak tree. Druids would cut it down with a golden sickle making sure that it did not touch the ground. Meeting beneath a sprig of mistletoe was considered fortunate and a sign of goodwill; hence nowadays at Christmas we suspend it above doorways and exchange kisses if we meet beneath it.

4. Advent wreaths again have their roots in Celtic traditions. The countdown to the celebrations was marked with an evergreen holly wreath or a Celtic rope knot to hold four or five candles. One was lit each week in the lead up to Christmas. Traditionally there were 24 candles, the last of which was lit on the winter solace, bringing most light at the time when the world outside is at its darkest.

5. Place a lit candle in your window to welcome Mary and Joseph should they be passing.

6. Catching the Wren, traditionally an Irish feast celebrated on St Stephen's Day, December 26th, where participants would try to catch a wren, bringing them good luck. Now it is considered more as a time for going door to door, carol singing and passing around the hat.

7. Hogmanay, the Scottish four day festival of the New Year, is when the streets come alive with singing, dancing and partying. These include eating of haggis, a mince, potato and onion based filling put into a sheep stomach.

8. January 6th is the day to celebrate Little Christmas. Here traditionally women have the day off housework and the Christmas decorations are taken down. It is considered bad luck to take them down before or leave them up after this date.

9. The Celtic knot is a prime example symbolizing the life force, as in its never ending circle it weaves its path. These can be used in a variety of decorative ways, as place settings, Christmas cards or wreaths for your front door.

10. Christmas cake, Christmas pudding/ Plum Pudding or Figgy Pudding contain a rich mix of dried fruit, nuts and brandy. You start making them at the end of harvest and leave them to mature in time for Christmas. A cake of plenty made in the deep midst of winter.

11. In Scotland they have the tradition of First Footing, where at the stroke of midnight neighbors visit each other with a small gift, fruit cake or shortbread in return for a wee dram of whiskey. In other parts it is lucky for the first person to enter the house on New Years Day to bring a piece of coal as good luck for the coming year. Tall dark handsome men are thought to be the luckiest, while red headed women are sadly the least lucky ones to have knock on your door.

The Christmas greetings you will hear throughout both Wales and Ireland in the traditional Celtic languages are in Welsh "Nadolig Llawn" and in Gaelic "Nollaig Shona duit". However you choose to say it, have a Happy Christmas. 

Decorating With Battery Operated Mini Lights

Every once in a while, we all have a decorating project where you want to light a display, wreath, or centerpiece but you just don't have access to an outlet. Or perhaps you need to answer the question - how can you decorate with mini lights without a lot of cords running across the table?

The simple and sparkling solution is to use battery operated Christmas lights. These handy lights aren't just for the holiday months though. They can be used for anniversary parties, proms, dinner parties, baby showers, birthday parties, bridal showers, and weddings, to name a few events.

Battery operated mini lights are the ideal decorating choice for all of your indoor holiday events. Buffet tables won't be just basic anymore. To truly dazzle your guests at your next dinner party, use groupings of these mini lights in and around the punch bowl. The light will cast a beautiful reflection against the glass, especially if the lights are dimmed. In order to lend dimension and interest to your holiday table, elevate Christmas centerpieces behind the food items. Add light by weaving battery operated mini lights into the foliage, hiding the battery pack inside the vase or container. The dessert table will look elegant when decorated with sets of battery operated mini lights.

Wreaths of all sizes are used in homes throughout the year simply beg to be decorated with clear mini lights. Multiple sets of battery operated lights are ideal for this application since the battery packs can be attached to the back of the wreath and out of sight.

You can use wreaths to adorn the walls of every room of the home. They're the perfect addition above the fireplace and can be changed out to match the seasons. The battery operated Christmas lights add a romantic bit of light to the room, as well. While you're at it, use a set of these mini lights along the mantel too for added ambient lighting. Don't forget to add battery operated lights to the Advent Wreath on the table or dining room sideboard during the Christmas season.

Do you have a fireplace but don't want to mess with burning real logs? If you don't have an outlet handy, use sets of battery operated mini lights nestled in and around artificial logs to add a warm glow to your sitting room, den, living area, or bedroom.

Large mirrors are the perfect backdrops for sparkling mini lights. If you have a place behind the mirror where the battery pack could easily be hidden, try outlining your hall mirror or bedroom mirror with battery operated Christmas lights to dress them up for parties and special occasions. It's a sweet way to bring a romantic touch into the bedroom. Your hallway will appear warm and inviting to your family and guests who visit.

I'm sure you've seen people carry interesting things on their heads or on their hats. Why not add some battery operated mini lights to your hat for the parade on the 4th of July? Or build team spirit during your next fun run with lights for every one on the team. Outfit your children with a few too. You'd be the talk of the folks on the sidewalk and your children will never forget the experience.

Say "Merry Christmas" In As Many Ways You Can!

It may happen that this type of weird thought has never drive you mad before. We all know what Christmas is all about but we hardly take note of the thing that Christmas is not same for all. One can try to spell out "Merry Christmas" in various languages and even he succeeds he will rarely keep in mind that the spirit changes from one language to another.

If we say "Fröhliche Weihnachten", we should then think about evergreen wreaths with four red candles hung in the home, cookies on the Christmas tree, lights, ornaments and tinkles... Cookies are in the shapes of people, animals, hearts or stars. Children write to St.Nicholas telling what they want to get as gifts. They believe gifts are brought by Christ child called "Christkindl". The Christmas treat includes roast goose or duck and also "marzipan" candy, cookies or gingerbread with tiny decorations on it. Children love to play with dice and the rule of the game is highly peculiar. One who throws a double puts on a hat, scarf, and gloves and then tries to open a chocolate bar out of the wrapper. It's the German's Christmas! They light up candles on every Sunday before Christmas.

One can taste a different flavor of Christmas when it comes to celebrate the occasion in France. One has to say "Joyeux Noel" instead of "Merry Christmas. It's a fun time for children as they get holidays and New Year is for the adults. The family sets up crèches with Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, and the farm animals. Three Wise men are added to the crèche on 6th January, the Epiphany. Children in this case get the gifts from "Pere Noel". Their favorite Christmas dish is stuffed goose with special French dessert in the shape of a Yule log.

Just wish the Italians "Buon Natale" with a smile on your face. It's a religious time for them. They love to sing and dance and generally set up "Presipio" in their homes. The fun goes for three weeks .It is not Christmas but "Novena" for them. The Italian children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing. But one thing is common in every Christmas celebrations. Children wait for their gifts till Epiphany.

On Christmas Eve as the stars come out they light up tiny oil lamps in their houses. They shake their bodies in the tunes of music on the streets and dance with the merrymakers and onlookers after the Midnight Mass and Christmas Dinner. The special Christian dance is "Jota". The most striking part of the celebration is to honor the cow which breathed on Jesus in the stable at his birth time to keep him warm. Officially the Christmas celebration begins on 8th December. They have given a special name to Christmas Eve, "Nochebuena". The traditional Christmas treat is "turron", the almond candy. People exchange presents in the church and they take part in the swing game. They believe that swinging at this auspicious moment evokes an ancient desire to encourage the sun to "swing" ever higher in the sky. This is a short account of "Feliz Navidad" of Spain.

Customs change with the change in the cultural scenario. So, Christmas has many colors and shades as it is celebrated by muti lingual and multi cultural people around the world. But on the whole the spirit remains the same though the customs may differ.

Swags and Wreaths - Not Just for the Holidays

Swags and wreaths are often used as holiday décor but you needn't put them away for the rest of the year. Typically we think of pine needles and red bows, but swags and wreaths not only come in many spring, summer, and fall colors, they are very purposeful year-round décor for the front door, the family room fire place mantle, and a host of other locations.

Swags and wreaths are generally designed in three ways:

Artificial swags and wreaths are made to last in most environments including high humidity or dry climates and in hot or cold conditions. Advanced manufacturing processes and synthetic materials along with UV and other special coatings mean that they will provide years of lasting beauty without degradation. Hypoallergenic and low or no maintenance are additional benefits of artificial swags and wreaths. Most high quality swags and wreaths look extremely lifelike and will provide years of beautiful enjoyment. The use of artificial swags and wreaths is the recommended and best choice for longevity and lasting beauty.

Preserved swags and wreaths are made of live flowers that have been chemically preserved. Some preserving agents also add a boost of color to give the wreath a longer life and more vibrant colors. These swags and wreaths work best for people living in a dry climate as humidity often causes their artificially added color to run or their preservation to be compromised.

Dried swags and wreaths are made of flowers and leaves that have been dried either in a controlled environment or by exposure to natural sunlight. These swags and wreaths work best for people living in a humid climate. Without dense humidity, breakage and flower crumbling occurs quite easily.

There are lots of choices when it comes to using beautiful swags and wreaths for home décor and keeping them in season is easier than you might think. For a light, happy spring feel, look for swags and wreaths made with a combination of morning glory, petunias, eucalyptus, dainty ferns, hydrangea, daisies, peonies, or other brightly colored blooms. White magnolia swags and wreaths are lovely summer selections. If flowers aren't what you prefer, consider some more earthy choices. Pine cones, wheat-head stalks, textured balls, variegated grasses, leaves, moss and feathers are popular things found on swags and wreaths. For a romantic, Victorian touch select swags and wreaths made of roses with berries, grapevine, ivy, eucalyptus, or small buds and blooms of other types of flowers.

Swags and wreaths are a great decorating choice all year round and with just a little creativity you can use your swags and wreaths in multiple seasons.

Christmas Wreaths - History, Tradition and Uses

Evergreen wreaths at Christmas time are a familiar sight on doors, above fireplaces, and on homes. Wreaths have been in use for many hundreds of years, even before the birth of Christ. Many historians believe that the first wreaths date back to the Persian Empire, when royalty and members of the upper class wore diadems, or fabric headbands adorned with jewels. Other cultures would later become fascinated with this tradition, picking it up and adapting it for themselves.

About 800 years before the birth of Christ, Greeks began to recognize the winners of their Olympic games by crowning them with wreaths made of laurel tree branches. Years later, when the games moved from city to city, branches from local trees were used to make these victory wreaths for the winners. During the Roman Empire, military and political leaders wore crowns of leaves and greenery. For example, Julius Caesar was crowned with a wreath made of fresh laurel branches and leaves. The transition of the wreath from a head adornment to a wall decoration is believed to have occurred when athletes (or perhaps victorious military leaders) returned home, and they would hang their headbands on their walls or doors, as a trophy of their victory.

The Egyptian, Chinese, and Hebrew cultures were known to have used evergreen branches as a symbol of eternal life, because the conifer trees stayed green throughout the winter months. After the birth of Christ, the Christmas wreath made of evergreen branches came to symbolize the triumph of life over the long winter months.

The Advent wreath also became a popular holiday tradition after the birth of Christ. This decoration was usually placed flat on a table and was used to count down the four weeks immediately preceding Christmas. Traditionally the wreath was constructed with four candles in a circle and one candle in the middle. The four outside candles were purple or violet, and the center candle was white. Four weeks before Christmas, the first violet candle would be lit. The following week, an additional candle would be lit, and so on, until the white center candle is lit on Christmas Eve or day, signifying the arrival of Christ. A brief prayer was said to accompany the lighting of each candle. The reason for the final candle being located in the center is to symbolize that we should keep Christ at the center of our lives and the center of the Christmas celebration.

Based on drawings and paintings, most historians believe that the use of evergreen wreaths at Christmas time spread across Northern Europe, Spain, and Italy during the early 19th century. The greenery was used as a symbol of life persevering through the cold winter months, and the holly berries that were often used as an adornment were a symbol of the blood of Christ.

It is also believed that Europeans also used wreaths on their doors to represent their family identity, much like a family crest. These wreaths were made from products grown in their own gardens, such as grapevines, fresh flowers, or other produce. The crafting of these wreaths was a family ritual that followed the same general pattern year after year.

Today, wreaths are still widely used around the world. In the U.S., wreaths are a traditional decoration for Christmas, as well as many other holidays throughout the year. Wreaths now adorn doors for Halloween, Valentine's Day, the Fourth of July, and Easter. Furthermore, wreaths are no longer limited to only evergreen branches. Many craft stores, books, and television shows feature unique wreaths made of a variety of unusual materials and decorations for almost any occasion.

Christmas Wreath Appetizer

This Christmas Wreath Appetizer is easy to make and looks like you spent hours making it. Your friends and guests will love it and it's soooooo pretty!

The holidays mean lots of parties and this easy appetizer recipe will be perfect if you are responsible for bringing an appetizer. You can make it ahead of time and when you serve it, watch it disappear!

What you'll need:

- 2 8-ounce tubes of crescent rolls*

- 1 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese

- 1/2 cup of sour cream

- 1 teaspoon of dill weed

- 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder

- 1 1/2 cups of broccoli florets (freshly chopped)

- 1 cup of celery (finely chopped)

- 1/2 cup of sweet red pepper (finely chopped)

- Celery leaves

* found in refrigerator section of grocery store

What to do

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Next, remove the crescent roll dough from its packaging (make sure you don't unroll it). Cut each tube into eight slices and then arrange the slices in a circle (about 11 inches in diameter.) I've found it very handy to make your circle on an pizza pan (ungreased - 14-inch size works well.)

Then, bake it for approximately 15-20 minutes or until the dough turns a lovely golden color. Cool for 5 minutes or so before gently removing your crescent dough wreath to a serving platter. Then, cool it completely.

In a small mixing bowl, beat the sour cream, cream cheese, garlic powder and dill until nice and smooth. Then, spread the mixture over the wreath and top with the chopped celery, broccoli, and red pepper. You can complete this pretty picture by making a bow with the leftover celery leaves.

This recipe for Christmas Wreath Appetizer serves 16.

Enjoy!

Add Christmas Splendor With a Santa Claus Postmark!

It's time to start thinking about Christmas again and how to make it even more special. If you are like the typical American that celebrates this wondrous holiday, you will be pulling out your favorite and best loved decorations from past Christmases and adding to them. Most people seem to continuously build that arsenal. After all, there are always new and gorgeous ornaments, wreaths, garlands, and other decorative embellishments we can add. The truth is that having a great variety offers the opportunity to either have a themed oriented decorating scheme, or a free for all style.

Decorating the home is usually a Christmas tradition that all family members participate in. Even the very young get into the act. And of course, us older folks sometimes get a little sentimental at Christmas time. It's not hard to do as we reminisce about favorite Christmases from years gone by. And if we are really lucky we will even have some keepsakes from those times that seem to keep us in touch with our past. Christmas traditions are a great way to bridge the gap between old and new, and young and old. The handing down of traditions keeps a bond of sorts between the generations. Just as our parents did certain things during the holidays, we have followed, and our children will too.

Whether your family traditionally spends a particular day or evening creating and displaying Christmas craft projects, or simply decorating, or just spending quality time together, these can all become treasured Christmas traditions. And great memories will be a part of each Christmas as the tradition is continued. My family's Christmas traditions include putting our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving Day. Afterward we work on a few Christmas craft projects - a family favorite is creating snowmen out of Styrofoam balls. It's easy enough even for the youngest members to do and fun for all.

When the craft projects are finished it is time to write our letters to Santa Claus. The children love this. I always enjoy learning what it is that they really want for Christmas. When the letters are finished we put them in envelopes addressed to Santa Clause at the North Pole. And when the kids receive a genuine letter back with a Santa Claus postmark from the North Pole they are ecstatic. As soon as their eyes take in the postmark from Santa Claus they are overjoyed, and I get to share in their delight.

No matter what activities you and your family enjoy together, the most important thing is to make it fun and make it special. There's something about Christmas that is magical and I believe that magic lives in our hearts. It just takes the magnificence of Christmas to bring it out in each of us.

Decorate For the Birds - Tips For Feeding Over-Wintering Birds

What if all the birds left town during the winter and we had birdless back yards? What if they didn't return in the spring? Wouldn't you miss their songs, their mating antics, their nest-building and food-foraging activities! Who would eat and distribute seeds? Who would scrounge around and consume all the insects? Where would they raise their babies?

As we sit inside our warm homes and feast on a big bird with all the trimmings, we might think about the little birds outside. Food is scarce for them during the winter months, and it is a time when they need extra protein.

There are fun and creative ways to supplement their diets. It's easy to make a popped corn and cranberry garland or small wreaths for the birds. Some suggested materials are:

• A tapestry needle and fish line or floral wire
• Bright ribbon or yarn
• Bag of raw unshelled peanuts or popped popcorn
• 3-4 apples, cut in chunks or bunch of large grapes, if available
• Bag of fresh cranberries
• Chunks of stale bread

Using the tapestry needle, thread items on the fish line, alternating them in a decorative manner. Tie off the ends with heavy knots and drape on tree. Or, you can use shorter lengths of wire, tie into a circle after threading on the goodies, and hang from tree with ribbon or yarn, like small wreaths.

Use stale bagels split in half and spread with peanut butter and/or lard. Press into birdseed, tie a ribbon through hole, and decorate a tree with bagel wreaths. And don't forget pinecones packed with the same mixture; birds love them!

Make an attractive birdfeeder wreath, starting with a grapevine or evergreen wreath as the base. In addition to some of the materials noted above, you'll need a glue gun, a 1/2" sliced orange and small peanut butter pinecones; "bouquets" of dried seedheads such as lavender, verbena, yarrow, or coneflower, weedheads or pods; clusters of snowberry, nandina, or bay laurel berries, or other garden ingredients you know birds love.

If you care about the aesthetics, plan how you want the wreath to look: a trio of apple chunks here, little flower and weed bouquets placed at two, four, eight, and ten o'clock; slices of oranges there; clusters of berries in between; peanut butter and seed pinecones at six or twelve o'clock, bright ribbons here and there. Some items you tie on, some you sew on, some you glue on.

For practical decor, loosely tie on clutches of 8" lengths of yarn for those birds that begin their nest-building early. To enjoy the bird activities, place the wreath in a visible and somewhat protected area and where you don't mind seed dropping to the ground. The birds may take a day or so to use it, but they quickly become emboldened enough to get on with their winter dining.

For the fruit-loving birds, orange, grapefruit, melon, and coconut halves can be hung like little bowls on a tree. Poke or drill holes in three or four places around the edge; tie on equal lengths of twine, and hang outside. Empty halves can be packed with suet and seed.

Lastly, you can make your own economical gelatin seed cakes. Combine a packet of unflavored gelatin with 1/4 cup of water; stir over low heat until completely dissolved. Add a cup and a quarter of your birds' favorite seed combo, and mix well. Pack into small, lightly spray-oiled molds and chill until solid. Unmold several at a time and put outside on a feeder.

Birds will show their appreciation by coming back again and again, even after the last seed is gone. Better have second and third helpings ready to serve when the first round runs out. And don't forget to have clean water available for drinking and bathing; they'll appreciate that too.

© 2010 Sandy P. Baker

History Of Olive Trees

Olive trees, 'Olea europaea,' are the oldest fruit trees and certainly are one of the most important fruit trees in history. Olive tree culture has been closely connected to the rise and fall of Mediterranean empires and other advanced civilizations throughout the ages. Because olive trees offered wealth and future food supplies to established civilizations, the agricultural nations became stable societies, resulting from a secure expectation from past experience of an uninterrupted food and olive oil supply. This factor was a necessary requirement for population growth and increase. Dependable fruit production and olive oil production means that olive trees must exist in a stable society and a peaceful environment. That stability must extend for many years, since most ancient seedling olive trees required eight or more years before ever producing the first crop of fruit.

Productive orchards of olive trees meant that a foundation of the great empires of Greece and Rome had arisen and developed into complex economic and political forces. It is interesting to note that the historical decline of these empires corresponded to the destruction of their olive tree orchards that reduced the available supplies of olives, olive oil, olive wood, and olive soap. In connection with the destruction of olive orchards, it is interesting to note that in the Israeli wars with Palestine, 50,000 olive trees were destroyed by Israeli bulldozers. That act of agricultural destruction resulted in considerable anger and unrest along the Gaza strip and the West Bank, because the economic livelihood of many Palestinian farmers depended on their products from the uprooted olive trees. Additionally, the olive tree was historically a 'peace and goodwill' symbol, and when the olive trees were leveled near the city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and the "Cradle of Biblical History," that elimination of olive trees seemed like a deliberate provocation to end the 'peace' with the Palestinian settlers and farmers.

Medical properties of olive oil were reported by many ancient Greek writers and philosophers, their importance in creating nutritional benefits and wealth for Greek citizens continues abundantly today--some Greek olive tree orchards containing a million or more trees. Aristotle wrote extensively about the accepted methods of successfully growing olive trees.

Greek mythology records that Athena, the Goddess of wisdom and peace, struck her magic spear into the Earth, and it turned into an olive tree, thus, the location where the olive tree appeared and grew was named Athens, Greece, in honor of the Goddess, Athena. Local legend tells us that the original olive tree still stands growing after many centuries at the ancient sacred site. Citizens still claim that all Greek olive trees originated from rooted cuttings that were grown from that original olive tree. Homer claimed in his writings that the ancient olive tree growing in Athens was already 10,000 years old. Homer stated that Greek courts sentenced people to death if they destroyed an olive tree. In 775 BC Olympia, Greece, at the site of the ancient Olympic stadium, athletes competed and trained, and winners were triumphantly acclaimed and crowned with a wreath made of olive twigs. Ancient gold coins that were minted in Athens depicted the face of the Goddess, Athena, wearing an olive leaf wreath on her helmet holding a clay vessel of olive oil. The Greeks began olive cultivation in 700 BC.

The sacred lamp that was used in ancient Greek culture for lighting dark rooms at night was fueled by olive oil. Aged olive oil was also used in sacred anointing rituals of the church at weddings and at baptisms. Herodotus wrote in 500 BC, that the growing and exporting of olives and olive oil were so sacred that only virgins and eunuchs were allowed to cultivate orchards of olive trees. The first documented plantings of olive trees may have occurred during the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete and are believed to have been growing around 3500 BC. That civilization predates the discovered Mycenae olive fossils from 1600 BC and later in the Greek empire. Sturt Manning, an archeologist from Cornell University, reported in Live Science Magazine (Apr 28, 2005) that the most devastating volcano in 10,000 years occurred on the Greek Island of Thera, after which the city of Akrotiri was totally buried by the falling ash. The finding of olive wood and olive seed fossils buried near the site has shown through carbon dating that the volcanic eruption occurred between 1660 and 1600 BC and may have contributed to the total destruction of the advanced Minoan civilization (Atlantis) on the isle of Crete and may have led to the formation of the Sahara desert in North Africa after vaporizing the native forests there.

The fragrant flowers of olive trees are small and creamy white, hidden within the thick leaves. Some cultivars will self pollinate, but others will not. The blossoms usually begin appearing in April and can continue for many months. A wild, seedling olive tree normally begins to flower and produce fruit at the age of 8 years. The fruit of the olive tree is a purplish-black when completely ripe, but a few cultivars are green when ripe and some olives turn a color of copper-brown. The size of the olive fruit is variable, even on the same tree, and the shape ranges from round to oval with pointed ends. Some olives can be eaten fresh after sun-drying and the taste is sweet, but most olive cultivars are bitter and must be treated by various chemical solutions before developing into edible olives. If the olives are thinned on the limbs of the trees to 2 or 3 per twig, the ultimate size of the olives will be much larger. The fruit is gathered in mid October and should be processed as soon as possible to prevent fermentation and a decline in quality.

The leaves of olive trees are gray-green and are replaced at 2-3 year intervals during the spring after new growth appears. Pruning yearly and severely is very important to insure continued production. The trees have the unproductive limbs removed, "so that it will be more fruitful" John 15:2. An olive tree can grow to 50 feet with a limb spread of 30 feet, but most growers will keep the tree pruned to 20 feet to assure maximum production. New sprouts and trees will emerge from the olive tree stump roots, even if the trees are cut down. Some olive trees are believed to be over a thousand years old, and most will live to the ripe old age of 500 years.

Olives generally are beaten off trees with poles, harvested mechanically or by shaking the fruit from the trees onto canvas. Most ripening olives are removed from the trees after the majority of the fruit begins to change in color. It is important to squeeze out the olive oil within a day after harvesting or else fermentation or decline in flavor and quality will occur. The olive oil can be consumed or used in cooking immediately after its collection from the press. Olive oils are unique and distinct, each brand of olive oil having its own character, as determined by many factors, like those unique flavor differences found in fine wines. Prepared commercial olive oils can vary greatly in aroma, fruit flavor; whether the taste is, flowery, nutty, delicate, or mild, and the coloring of olive oil is quite variable.

Olive oil produces many health benefits when used in cooking or when poured over salads. The use of olive oil can improve digestion and can benefit heart metabolism through its low content of cholesterol. Experts claim that olive oil consumption will cause a person to grow shiny hair, prevent dandruff, prevent wrinkles, prevent dry skin and acne, strengthen nails, stop muscle aching, lower blood pressure and cancel out the effects of alcohol.

Olive trees can survive droughts and strong winds, and they grow well on well drained soils up to a pH of 8.5 and the trees can tolerate salt water conditions. In Europe, olive trees are normally fertilized every other year with an organic fertilizer. Alternate bearing can be avoided by heavy pruning and generally the trees respond to this very quickly and favorably.

Olive trees should be purchased that have been vegetatively propagated or grafted, because the seed grown trees will revert to a wild type that yields small olives with an insipid taste. Olive trees are more resistant to diseases and insects than any other fruit tree and, therefore, are sprayed less than any other crop.

Even though commercial production of olives in the United States is only 2% of the world market, great interest in growing olives throughout the South has been stimulated by the recent introduction of promising cold hardy olive trees from European hybridizers. Many European immigrants to the United States grow their own olive trees in large pots, that can be moved in and out of the house during seasonal changes.

Christmas On Cape Cod

The vivid colors of autumn have now faded, the first big shopping day of the season is past, winter has already started to show her hand, and this year that we seemed to just ring in sees her days dwindling away. Yes, it's December on Cape Cod and it comes with a special feel in the air. Beginning with the weekend after Thanksgiving, there are many delightful activities all over the Cape that people of all ages can enjoy. You will see a different side of the Cape other than sunny beaches, whale watching and seafood, but it might just start a new Christmas tradition in your family for years to come.

Towns all over Cape Cod celebrate the coming of Christmas with various activities that have become traditions. Christmas strolls, caroling, festive harbor lights, and holiday fairs bring residents and visitors together to celebrate. Concerts and shows abound, helping build the excitement of the season. Many Bed & Breakfasts show off their warm and cozy accommodations with open houses, homemade refreshments and their best holiday finery.

You could start the festivities off by joining a holiday wreath making workshop on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Pastiche of Cape Cod in West Barnstable. Or how about joining the Chatham-By-The-Sea celebration starting in mid-November and stretching through December. There are arts and crafts fairs, candy cane making, holiday plays, and a dinner dance at the Chatham Bars Inn. The Chatham celebration all culminates in a First Night Celebration on New Year's Eve.

In Sandwich, the Heritage Museum and Gardens are decked out with a million lights on over 100 acres of gardens from November 24th through the 31st. They also have indoor Victorian displays, a holiday boutique, holiday treats and free rides on an antique carousel, along with other special programs. The classic and timeless holiday tale, A Christmas Story, is being performed at the Harwich Junior Theater from December 8th to the 30th. Other performance treats include the Cape Cod Symphony, the Vienna Choir Boys, renditions of Vivaldi's Gloria and Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, as well as readings of Charles Dickens' favorite Christmas Carol.

Christmas strolls have become a popular Cape Cod tradition in many of the towns. Barnstable, Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, Harwich, Hyannis, Osterville, Sandwich and Yarmouthport tie in these holiday strolls with other events such as caroling on town greens or at lighthouses, tree lighting, the arrival of Santa (sometimes even by boat!), festive shopping, open houses, holiday treats, special museum events and Christmas parades.

Only a few of the holiday activities awaiting you have been listed here, but if you have never experienced the Christmas season on Cape Cod, you might want to consider spending a few days exploring what the Cape has to offer. So break out your warm clothes, the hot chocolate and your Christmas spirit and start a new tradition for you and yours here on Cape Cod.

In Need of Great Education About Artificial Interior Design?

Wreath Storage

Wreaths are a beautiful and welcoming way to decorate your house, especially for holidays. However, once you have enough wreaths to match all the seasons and decorations you want, you may feel that there is no place to put your wreaths when you are done with them. There are several efficient, organized ways to keep your wreaths stored until you need them. In fact, one of the best ways to store your wreaths is to simply reuse them. You can do so by having only one wreath and changing or rotating the decorations you display on it. When creating a reusable wreath, you will want a strong foundation. We recommend a solid wreath base to which you adhere the flowers with either tape or light application of glue. Now you do not have to ever worry about storing the large, bulky, often awkwardly shaped wreath ring. You can keep several varieties and colors of flowers in one box instead of having 12 or 14 different boxes of wreaths in your garage. There are storage containers built specifically for wreaths and hanging shelves that store your wreaths nicely if you'd rather use multiple wreaths.

Coupling Home Decorations with Good Cleaning Strategies

When people venture into the world of interior decorating, it is usually with just one goal in life: to make their home look more attractive. Time, however, is usually not on anyone's side when it comes to having a pretty and fresh-looking home. If you are like me, half the battle in your home is just keeping it tidy and organized, let alone getting around to the next interior design project. We can improve the look of our home by creating a schedule of all the periodic tasks one needs to do to keep the house clean (such as cleaning blinds, washing bedding, or dusting picture frames). This way, you can spend just a little time each month doing some of these jobs rather than being stuck several times a year doing them all day long. Second, get the family involved: having a neat home is everyone's responsibility, not just yours, and giving out specific assignments lets everyone finish faster. Finally, when you organize a container or closet, use labels: that way, you never have to waste time wondering where something has been or should be put.

Steps to Building a Wreath

Wreaths are one of the easiest ways to add some flair to your porch. Wreaths vary in many ways: the materials used, the shape chosen, the style emulated. You just need a foam ring and some silk flowers to get started. Most likely, the stems of your flowers will be too long; trim them so that there is about 1 inch of stem remaining. Insert the flowers one at a time into the foam ring. Strategically place them so that they are close enough to cover up the foam, but not so close that they look bunched or crushed. Your wreath will last a very long time if you use a hot glue gun to add small amounts of glue where the base of the flower touches the ring. Vines or other standard greenery can be used to add a festive flare. You can choose to create wreaths using one kind of flower in many colors, or one color using many flowers-or a combination. Once the wreath is completed, hammer in a small nail to the top of the door and string up the wreath.

Thoughts on Rearranging My Home

Every time I find myself in a craft store poring over the new selections, I begin again to think that if only I had this item or that decorative craft, then my house would look perfect. However, the item I buy does not always have the desired effect-with my décor and with my bank account. All too often that purchase ends up leaving my home at the next yard sale. Instead of the constant looking and searching for new items, I have found that rearranging what I already have is a great solution for home décor. Some simple rearranging of my furniture, pictures, and knickknacks spruces up my life at home and gives me that fresh home decor feel. Not does this expand my talents, but it helps to keep my wallet fat!

Fiat's Brand History

The history of a company's logo not only reflects the changes of the company, but most of all that of time. Particular in Fiat's history is the change of color.

Brown.

The first logo of Fiat still marks the time in which the automotive company introduced the first "horseless carriages." The logo of 1899 looks like a leather parch where the company details were written on. The brown leather-like logo is a reflection of the time.

Blue.

Only two years later, the first real logo appeared. In 1901 Fiat decided to apply a proper logo on its cars: "a small enameled brass plate in the centre of which the name Fiat appeared." (1) The characteristic A, remained practically unchanged (expect of the Logo of 1968 in which the A is common again) up to the present day. With some help, the form of the logo resembles the front of a car. Three years later the form is changed to oval.

Red.

In 1925, the circular form got introduced with the Fiat name in red on a white background. "The stylized laurel wreath around the outside was intended to celebrate Fiat's victorious participation in the first competitive motor races."

In 1932 the logo is transformed into a rectangular shape formed like a shield resembling the "radiator grilles" on the new models.

Blue.

In 1968 the logo featured four blue "rhombuses." The idea was to identify the main element of the entire Fiat group.

The brand's 100th anniversary in 1999 saw a return to the style of the logo from the 1920s. The version chosen had a blue background, a chrome-plated logo, with the characteristic A, and again a (more) stylized laurel wreath.

Red.

Eight awards as Car-of-the-Year later the Fiat logo has been changed again in 2007. "... the new logo retains the ... shield shape typical of Fiat cars up until the Sixties, and ... it features formal, three-dimensional characteristics, in terms of form and color, that suggest advanced technology, Italian design, dynamism and individualism." (1)

Right, Red is the color of Dynamism... The brown is explained, but what about the more rational blue contrasting with the emotive and dynamic red? Did it mean something in the history of the carmaker, or was the change of color accidental. Both colors blue and red dominate on the current website. The emphasis on eco (environment and economy) may influence the future logo, perhaps it will be green.

(1) - http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/news/news.jsp?contentOID=1074093165

Herb Gardening For Beginners

Herb gardening is easy even for beginners since most herbs are relatively easy to grow. I started out with just one artimesia herb plant twenty years ago and now have over an acre of herbs that I use mainly for crafting wreaths and making dried floral arrangements. I have learned a lot about growing herbs in those years and have five tips listed below that will help any beginner herb gardener get off to a great start. These tips might also teach the pros a thing or two. Lets start with the basics.

Basically, herbs may be divided into two groups. They are either annuals or perennials. Annual herbs need to be planted each year since they only grow for one season. Perennial herbs come back each year. One definition of a perennial that I love is: "A perennial is a plant that comes back year after year... if it lives!" Now, lets take a closer look at these two categories of herbs.

First, lets talk about annual herbs. The cheapest way to have a lot of these types of herbs is to start them from seed. Sowing either directly outside after the last frost date, or inside four to six weeks before the last frost date is recommended on the packets. The other options are to buy your herbs as small plants each year at garden center, or you may find more unusual varieties online. If you are really blessed, you may even be able to get a free plant from a fellow herb gardener who is dividing some of their herbs. Some of the easiest annuals to grow are sweet basil, anise, borage, chervil, coriander, dill, fennel, and summer savory.

Next, lets talk about perennial herbs. Herbs like mint, rosemary, lemon balm, chives and oregano are a good choice for your first herb garden. Other perennials herbs that do well are lovage, hyssop, lavender, sage, sweet marjoram, sweet woodruff, tarragon, and thyme. One of my absolute favorite perennial herbs to grow and dry for crafting is yarrow.

Now that you know the basics, following the tips below will make you a real pro in no time.

Herb Gardening For Beginners - Five Tips To Success
Choose a site with at least six hours of sunlight.
Choose an area with good drainage and moderate temperatures.
Avoid sites where the soil is too wet or too dry which indicates too much clay or sand.
Amend soils with organic matter after having your soil tested.
Use only hand-picking and insecticidal soaps to control occasional insect problems. Herb gardening for beginners is easy with these tips. Go ahead and give it a try and you might just find yourself on a wonderful life long journey into the world of herbs.

Copyright: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact."

Top Christmas Fundraisers

As the holiday season draws near, smart groups will take advantage of the many opportunities available to raise money and raise holiday cheer at the same time. Below are a few of our top picks for holiday season fundraising and how to make them profitable this year.

Christmas Wreath Fundraising

Taking orders for beautiful, real, evergreen wreaths is easy and a great way to get your family, friends and neighbors in the holiday spirit. Great decoration for the door, these can be sold to businesses for their offices or to individuals for their home holiday décor.

Christmas Tree Fundraiser

There are many companies that you can work with to organize a Christmas tree fundraiser. Make sure you let people in your neighborhood know early that your group will be doing a Christmas tree fundraiser so they make sure they order their tree from you so your group can make money from something they already planned on buying!

Wrapping Paper Fundraiser

Most people need wrapping paper throughout the year, and especially around the holidays. Whether celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas or something else, many people need wrapping for holiday gift exchanges. Coming to them early in the season before they've bought their paper is important. One successful group swears by sending out emails and 'save the paper buying date' notes in their neighborhood in advance so neighbors and friends are reminded to buy wrapping paper from the group member. Also, make sure you time your fundraiser so that people will get their wrapping paper with ample time to wrap gifts for the holidays.

Don't miss great opportunities to earn money for your group with these holiday fundraising tips; it's easy!

Redecorating Your Home on a Tight Budget

Anybody that has attended summer camp, university, or received a cheap budget when they purchased their primary condo or home, would probably be familiar with the typical cheap budget steps to redecorating your residence. These may range from making use of sheets as table cloths to drapes or measured sheets. Budget redecorating doesn't need to be that inexpensive when you are seeking a true redecorating remedy for a long-term residence. There are various choices for retaining your residence decoration looking the best using a minimal price tag.

Fabrics present you with an example of the most flexible redecorating alternatives. What is more, it is possible to discover several fantastic materials at surprisingly reduced rates. For those who have a couch that needs updating, you shouldn't need to replace the entire couch since it will set you back a great deal to replace. You'll be able to basically reupholster the couch or loveseat in order to keep it, but have it fixed to looking like new. There are various shops that provide reduced priced materials which can be used for re-upholstering home pieces of furniture. Look for fabric that is not too busy so it is possible to use the same fabric to reupholster any other furniture you think needs to be exchanged, from kitchen seats to pouffes without it seeming over the top.

Candles are usually a fantastic house decor addition without being a great deal of dollars. Employing a selection of diverse coloured candles in various shapes and sizes can build a homely and naturalistic look. There are also different everyday items all around the home it is possible to use for house decor accessories, for example old cans. A little touchup here and a paint job there and you can enhance the home and build a impressive mood without having to pay anything at all. Do not just stop within the home. Take a walk outdoors and continue to keep a critical eye on the things you discover on an outing. Wild blossoms can provide a splash of coloring to the room and dehydrated twigs can be used to make a enchanting, whimsical wreath for any season.

When designing a child's room, old toys they no longer use might be incorporated into the furnishings. The usage of spray paint will go quite a distance in modifying an outgrown and dumped item into an eye catching design. Hammocks are wonderful for children's rooms as well, offering a fantastic haven for virtually any stuffed friends they might want to keep yet need a unique space for. This creates a room which is entertaining and appealing for kids.

A lesson you ought to know in household design early is that paint is your best friend. You may well own ancient floral vases or periodic items you wish to incorporate into your everyday residence decor. Painting these items to match your home's style or design can create far more accessories at the lowest price ever, the only cost being paint to customize the objects. Integrating this process into every single room is usually your secret to modifying your uninspiring residence into a space which is vibrant, fascinating as well as filled with color in every single corner.

Outdoor Wreaths - How to Select the Perfect Outdoor Wreath Part 2

The previous installment of this article dealt with the keys to successfully using outdoor wreaths and what questions you need to ask yourself about things like lighting, colors, and season before making your purchase. In part two we will focus on hanging your outdoor wreath, wreath storage, and accessorizing your outdoor wreath for holidays or special occasions. We will also cover credit card fraud and how to ensure that your online transactions are safe and secure.

Now that you've purchased your outdoor wreath, you're left to simply hang it in the desired location. Wreath hangers are available at most craft stores and where wreaths are sold for under $15. The most common wreath hanger is an over the door holder. One part of the wreath hanger fits snugly over the top of the door while the hook part hangs down for the wreath to be hung from. Another popular display method is a wreath stand. While obviously not a good choice for a front door, it can work nicely in a corner of the porch arranged next to a wicker rocker. There are also various weighted ledge hangers that work by placing the weighted base on a ledge and fixing the wreath into place on the hanger that comes down from the base.

Wreath storage boxes are available in cardboard and in durable, air-tight plastic. Their circular-shape will help maintain your outdoor wreath's shape while stored, far better than plastic wrap and tape. Stacking wreath-storage boxes helps when organizing your home. They make for quick access and great space utilization. Just pull out the storage box, open them to see 'like- new' sets of wreaths.

Accessorizing your outdoor wreath for different holidays is a great way to get maximum enjoyment out of your investment. Carefully wrap your outdoor wreath in a red velvet ribbon and add a sprig of holly berries and perhaps a string of white Christmas lights to bring an evergreen wreath to life for the Christmas holiday. Attach a tied cluster of variegated grass and straw stalks with a rust colored bow for autumn flair. In spring and summer, add in-season silk flowers to a simple grapevine wreath. If this method isn't preferred, many people have several different outdoor wreaths that they rotate each season.

Finally, be kind to yourself and be spared some time, aggravation, and gasoline by facilitating the use of the internet to shop for those perfect outdoor wreaths. Cyberspace offers a huge selection to choose from, but exercise some caution before entering your personal information and be sure that the site offers excellent guarantees and security policies.

The sites you will most want to shop from will offer money-back guarantees, satisfaction guarantees, excellent return and exchange policies, and free shipping. Be sure to shop on sites that use secure encryption for every credit card transaction and display one or more of the major trust icons like Hacker Safe, Geo Trust, Authorize.net or others. These services ensure that the websites they protect are 100% safe and secure and that there are no loopholes by which fraud can occur and credit card information can be stolen. It is truly shocking how many retail sites offer no such protection at all to their consumers.

Giving Handmade Christmas Gift

With Christmas season fast approaching, most people are already thinking of an appropriate gift that can be given to their loved ones. One of the sweetest and most meaningful gifts that one can receive this Holiday season is one that is personally made by the gift giver.

Making your own gift can be time consuming but if you have the time to spare, why not do it especially if making your own gift can win you brownie points. Below are some Christmas gifts that you can do handmade. Check them out. You may find something that you are willing to do.

1. Crocheted items
One of the popular items that you can actually do as a Christmas gift is a crochet item. Depending on your skill and the amount of time that you are willing to sacrifice for the task , you can make lots of things. You can do placemats and pot holders for the kitchen for mom or a mobile phone holder for your kid sister.

You can crochet a scarf or a bonnet for your dad or a sweater for your brother. You can even crochet the family a large blanket that they can use in the living room when they gather together by the fireplace.

2. Boxes
Although you can actually make your own boxes, this will be really time-consuming and it really needs a great degree of skill to be able to construct a box that is sturdy enough to hold most of your things.

To make the job easier for you, you can actually purchase boxes in crafts stores. What you can do about it is to design it yourself. Use handmade papers, ribbons and glossy materials, which you can wrap on the box. Placing wreaths and flowers will make a great finish for the box.

3. Christmas Balls
Another great gift idea that you can do yourself is a Christmas ball. There are Styrofoam balls that you can buy in craft stores in the city. Use these Styrofoam balls as base and then put some designs on it. You can use glitters to surround the balls or use ribbons to wrap them up. Some people even put photographs on the Christmas balls to make it even more personalized.

4. Jewelry
It may seem hard to make beaded jewelry upon first glance but the truth is, it is relatively easy. In fact, the steps in making beaded jewelry can be easily followed if you have all the materials and the tools.

Just buy a craft magazine or better yet a magazine that is solely devoted to beaded jewelry. These magazines have projects that you can follow.

How to Sell Star Wars Action Figures

There are tens of thousands of collectors of Star Wars figures around the world. Star Wars figures have been a hot commodity for 30 years. The tremendous success of the original three Star Wars movies created a great market for Star Wars figures from the subsequent six movies. Read on to learn how to sell Star Wars action figures.

First off, when you start selling Star Wars figures, you need to determine the exact age and series identification information of the figures. Because there have been a lots of different series of Star Wars figures and needless to say that the initial series are the most difficult to find in mint condition or even still new in box (NIB), if you can get hold of one, you are in luck! You can locate the series number on the box itself or you can also find the identifying information on the actual character itself if the figure does not come with a box.

When assessing and comparing the value or prices of the Star Wars Figures, you can make a judgment by going to several commercial websites and auction sites to take a look at the prices. Do take note that if the star wars figure had any defects on it, it will decrease its value.

This is one of the most effective and classic way of selling or getting attention to your star wars action figures. You can either attend a star wars collectibles convention or science-fiction convention. Do remember to bring along a few photographs of the most valuable Star Wars figures in your collections and also an updated collection list. Try your best to network with the convention attendees and vendors. One thing to note is that only gives your email address to interested potential buyers to avoid someone spamming your email. If you bought along some of your collections you must always keep it locked in the hotel room unless the cost of a vendor's table is low. One warning is that, do not accept personal checks.

Selling your Star Wars collectibles through an on line auction site can gives you're a lots of exposures in a short period of time. Having great photographs, knowing the right category and setting a reasonable starting price are essential to making sales through on line auctions, always remember that, it's a rule of thumb.

Another way is to contact an on line store that specializes in buying and selling vintage Star Wars figures. All these merchants, be it on line or offline, they can offer quite a fair share of market value. Do not expect to get the highest possible price but you can sell good quality figures at a fair price.

Floral Tapestry - The Fine Art of Flowers Decorates Your Home in Elegance

For hundreds of years, people have used floral art in decorating their homes and surroundings. Floral tapestry allows you to add an element of elegance to your home. Color, texture and design make a world of difference! Wreaths, floral still life, garlands and flower bouquets make your walls come to life. Floral tapestry adds a rich, bold touch to your walls, and creates an exquisite focal point. Roses, Tulips, Dahlia, Daisies and other single flowers make a stunning addition to your decor.

Imagine a 38" x 53" Cherry Chase tapestry hanging on your living room or dining room wall! Made of the highest quality cotton and chenille and hand finished, this Jacquard woven, fully lined floral tapestry makes an otherwise plain, boring wall come to life. Deep olive greens, bright cherry red and muted golds add a richness that is hard to ignore. These wall hangings add an element of texture not found in any other art form.

Another interesting fact is the unique combination of colors, weaves and threads create a showpiece that often changes from different viewing angles. These beautiful additions for your home last a lifetime, and make exquisite family heirlooms. Historically, floral tapestry was usually owned exclusively by the very wealthy and royalty, and was considered a luxury item.

There is no better way to bring simple beauty in to your home. Imagine bringing the atmosphere of the gardens, nature and spring indoors! Your home looks fresh, vibrant and ready to bloom. Floral tapestry is also excellent for creating a romantic atmosphere. Bring any room in your home to life, and be amazed by the beauty that is captured in rich, colorful texture.

A floral tapestry on its own is absolutely beautiful, but when accented with light becomes vibrant with exquisite details and will seize the attention of anyone who enters the room. The Love Birds Asian tapestry is a gorgeous addition to any home decorated in oriental style, and adds bold shades of burgundy, gold, red and black. No matter what style of home you have, you can add pizazz, color and texture to make your rooms stand out!

Whether you decorate in country, contemporary, Asian or modern style, a floral tapestry will instantly transform the look and atmosphere of the room. Your visitors will find it an amazing conversation piece as well!

Thoughtful and Easy Christmas Gift Ideas

Celebrated on the 25th of December, Christmas is notable around the world and is without a doubt the one of the most festive seasons! It's a time when family and friends come together to share precious time together. Christmas trees adorned with decorations and houses twinkling with fairy lights and candles, it's hard not to share in the joyful atmosphere.

Christmas Flowers

A beautiful and vibrant bouquet of flowers or floral table arrangement can really light up the room, and since Christmas is a time of giving, the gift of flowers is as welcome as any other. The best thing about flowers is that they suitable for all ages.

It is also a rather useful gift, considering that many decorations include flowers in one way or another. Christmas lunch or dinner, depending on the family's own tradition, sees the table laid out with only the family-best and a beautiful fresh flower table arrangement usually acts as the centrepiece. Christmas wreaths and poinsettias are firm Christmas favourites, and make a traditional statement. Red and green are the colours most often associated with Christmas.

Blooms in general make the perfect gift, but especially during the Christmas season their scent and vibrancy bodes well with the delightfulness of the season. Other flowers that are a good choice at Christmas include red roses, white lilies and carnations.

If you are in the undesirable position of not being able to be with your family and close friends during this festive season, buying flowers online and having them delivered could be an easy and beautiful way of sending that message of care and thoughtfulness. Most online florists offer a card or message service to add a personal touch to their beautifully designed Christmas flowers - perfect when they deliver your flowers right to your loved ones' doorstep in time for Christmas Day!

Christmas Gift Hampers

Another easy and thoughtful gift is a delicious gourmet hamper. The great thing about a hamper is that it can be creatively designed for any occasion and like flowers, suits all ages. A Christmas gift hamper would do the trick! It can be filled with sparkling wine and other delectable products that will be a welcome addition to the Christmas cheer.

A Christmas gift hamper can be personalised to make sure that the hamper contains an assortment of some of the recipient's favourite products.

It can also be given as a gift to an entire family, with something for everyone, young and old.

The combination of a gift hamper and flowers can be given, making a visually splendid gift with added thoughtfulness. Reputable online florists can assist you with delicious gourmet hampers and colourful fresh flowers.

If you are using the services of an online flower and gift delivery specialist, it would be wise to confirm well in advanced what Christmas specials they have on offer. Since this is quite a busy time of the year, confirm whether they will be doing deliveries on or around Christmas Day. Most deliveries are made the day before Christmas.

If you know beforehand that you will, for whatever reason, not be able to spend Christmas with your loved ones, make sure you contact your flower and gift experts as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. So even if you can't share in the festivities, you can still have the message delivered that your family and friends are in your thoughts.