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If you live where the weather gets chilly in the winter time then you know how miserable it can be to work in a cold garage workshop.  You fingers start to get numb and won’t pick up small screws and bolts well, every job seems to take twice as long as it should, and you just run out of steam because the cold zaps the energy out of you.  This problem can be alleviated by using a heater in your garage workshop on those cold, rainy or snowy afternoons.  But there are some choices you need to think about.

If you are in area of the country with cheap electrical rates, like the Northwest, then an electric wall heater might be the best.  The problem I see with electricity is that it takes a long time to heat a space and it just doesn’t feel “hot”.  If you have access to a natural gas line then this gives a really good heat and it is quick.  The problem is, very little of the country outside of the Northeast is piped for this energy source and even there it is mostly available in the areas with a high population concentration.  If you are in a rural setting then you are out of luck.

Your third choice, which is actually a very good one, is to use propane garage heaters to heat any space you need to work in.  This heat feels good and it is really quick which means you can turn the flame on and be comfortable in just a few minutes.  The only down side is the potential safety problems that can come with this method.

Most propane heaters are sold as being “ventless” which makes people think they can just bring it inside, turn it on, and forget it.  This is not true though.  While propane does burn clean and produces very little smoke it does use up oxygen in a room and produces carbon dioxide.  This means that if you are in an enclosed space, the heater can actually use up all your oxygen and potentially cause death.  And most people never see the problem coming.  They just get more tired, go to sleep, and never wake up.

The only time you should use one of these ventless models is if your work space is not sealed up against drafts.  They work great in old shops that have cracks in the walls and around doors as ways for air to move in and out.  If you have a modern garage or shop that is mostly sealed up then you want to get a heater that is vented.  This means the oxygen that is used for combustion is actually piped inside the room and then the exhaust gases are piped back out.  This allows a method of quick heat but also keeps the necessary oxygen levels at a good level for your health and your ability to work long hours on projects.

There’s somebody at the door! Thank goodness for that door knocker that you had installed last week. Gone are the days where you aren’t able to hear that someone is at the door over the noise of simmering potatoes or the brash Hoover.

The history of door knockers

Door knockers have been in use on and off during the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries but the time that they became most popular is during the Romanesque, the Gothic, and the Renaissance periods. Door knockers can be divided into three categories the styles very different but all with the same purpose. Ring based door knockers, by a ring, a hammer, and the third by human figures and animals’ heads. The door knockers during the medieval period were probably the most well made and during the renaissance period they proved to be more detailed and focused on intricacy.

Iron was the first metal to be used to make door knockers partly due to its low price. The finished article was beautiful though, even though it is an ugly metal. Brass took over as the more popular medium to use to take the place of the dowdy iron look. Brass door knockers once highly polished looked stunning and still remain the most popular material today. Brass door knockers, still to this day prove to be an attractive, aesthetic piece of door furniture as well as functional tools. The lion head style of door knocker was always more popular in England compared to anywhere else in the world. England still stands to be the traditionalist home of many types of door knocker and many are still used today. In fact London is home to the beautiful angel with long flowing hair outside the outer gate of the Duke of Devonshire’s house at Piccadilly.

 
A status symbol perhaps?

Interestingly enough, door knockers did not suffer from snobbery, actually during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, knockers were used on all classes of houses and in quite a few houses they were actually bigger than ones on the colonial houses.

Door knockers generally remained in fashion until the mid nineteenth century apart from a small window in the seventeenth century. During the middle of the nineteenth century a wave of modernism swept across and brought with it plain furnishing detailing rather than paneled. This was when the brass door knocker left the fashion runway. Many went to rubbish heaps but a few were saved and today are considered antiques.

What style shall I choose?

I don’t ever feel that here in England door knockers had ever gone out of fashion. They have become part of a door. The door would look empty without one. There are so many types to choose from; rings, heads or hammers, but the most common type of door knocker, the striker round or stirrup-shaped. This is either plain or ornamental looking with twisted details, with wreathing or masks, and the plate is formed of a rosette or lion’s head – the lion door knocker is a very popular choice. The hammer design of knocker – the striker is as the name suggests hammer-shaped, while the main plate and actual knob are plain. This is based on antique door knockers. It is to this type that the beautiful, original iron-chiselled knockers of Henry II and Louis XIV belong. The third style take on the appearance of masks, snakes, dragons, and human figures. These are often found made from brass or bronze. If you fancy something different and pesonal you could take a look at an engraved door knocker.

Whatever design you choose to add to the beauty of your front door, remember that it is the entrance to your home and should not be over-looked. If it is a black wrought iron affect you would like or a highly polished brass option, there are so many different choices on the market. Combine your knocker with a latch and go for the whole look! I still believe that door knockers have a place in our exterior design world and what a way to make a statement to passers by. They were always popular and I can see why and they are also beautifully crafted. – It would be a shame to see tradition disappear completely so take the time and find the right style for you home.

Do you look outside and look at the birds and wonder how is best to entice your feathered friends to your window so that you can enjoy nature at its best? Wild Birds are fairly easy to entice into your space at home, really all they need is consistency and the constant supply of food especially during the winter months. At first it will take a short time for them to discover their newly supplied source of food but it really won’t take long from word of mouth (!) for other species to join them for a feast at the table or bird window feeder.

What and when to feed your feathered friends
 

The best way to ensure that birds get what they need is to keep them fed and watered really at all times of the year, as food shortages can happen at any time. You can supply the birds with peanuts and mixed seed really at any time of the year, but they will require something more high energy during the colder months such as fat balls. It is best that you avoid fat balls during the summer as they tend to go soft and rancid in the warmer weather though.

Winter

This is really the time that birds tend to loose their natural supply of worms as the ground gets quite hard for tits and chaffinches and caterpillars for blackbirds and song thrush. Fat balls at this time, are a really nice feast for them and if you hang them up in various positions around your garden this will also encourage more to come and visit at any one time. It is also imperative to keep your feeding source clean and hygienic at all times, and be sure to discard any left over food after 3 weeks to help maintain the health of your birds. Dry food gets wet and rots in damper conditions so do keep an eye on the supply and make sure that it is fresh.

Window bird feeders are great if you want to lure your birds a little closer. We would suggest that you begin by feeding a little farther away from the house at first as they will then gain confidence to venture a bit closer to civilization. A window bird feeder can be great for seed and particularly peanuts, as peanuts should really never be put on to a bird table or in a feeder whole, as they act as a choking hazard. A window mounted bird feeder with a built-in mesh is great if you choose to supply peanuts on a regular basis, as the birds can then peck smaller pieces so that they can digest them properly.

It is also worth mentioning, that during the colder months water freezes so be sure to check that your birds have a constant supply of fresh water and perhaps get yourself into the habit of topping up the bird bath after your morning coffee with the warm water from your kettle. Solar bird baths are a great idea too; check out our article on choosing a solar bird bath for more info.

It is also a really good idea to think about your plant choice in the garden. In terms of bird friendly plants; try to plant some Pyracantha in your garden. The birds will love to shelter in these dense bushes and also have a really nice supply of juicy berries to eat.

Spring and summer

Even though shortages can occur at any time during the year, spring and summer are the least worrying time in terms of life threatening supplies. Although if you really want to keep up the regular pattern of visitors all year round, try not to slack at these times and perhaps just keep an eye on your supply and perhaps put out a little less if it is not required so readily.
The most important thing to do at this time is to create a haven of activity in your garden with shrubs and flowers; which will bring insects in to your garden. Creating a natural hiding place for all types of wildlife in your garden will make it more appealing to visitors. Bearing this in mind, if you can allow an area to grow naturally and wild then it is a really good idea to do so. Gold finches love teasels and will feed off of this type of plant which inherently grows wild.

Spring and early summer brings with it new life so there will be plenty of little fledglings around needing food. Try halving a pear or a banana and placing it on your bird feeder table, as this is a really nice treat and good for the digestion of smaller birds. If you are lucky enough to have a nest near by, you will no doubt see their first flying lessons and the discovery of the bird baths and window mount bird feeders. This time of year really is a joy, so you must keep an eye on their progress and always check on that they have access to fresh food and water at all times!

Kids holidays mean only one thing – Racking your creative brain cells for new and exciting things for the children to entertain themselves with. You may have already made the great decision to purchase an inflatable swimming pool, if so; you will find this is going to be one of your better ideas especially during the children’s summer holidays. Kids love water, even in the rain they love to go and splash around in the pool with their friends. In order to keep them a little more entertained you may want to consider getting a few choice swimming pool toys so that the fun that they have is really quite endless! LiveIn|LiveOut have compiled a few of the most popular swimming pool toys and games so that you are able to jazz up the splash around time for your kids this summer.

Baby swimming gear  

It is so very important to build up confidence in the water from a very early age with children. This will help them develop strong and athletic limbs and helps to keep their overactive developing minds entertained. Swimming helps co-ordination development which comes in handy for a lot of activities later on in life – such as walking! Swimming will help to build up strength ready for a sound foundation when your child wishes to venture out on his or her own pair of legs. Bearing all of this in mind, it is imperative that you keep the whole swimming experience fun and not at all daunting for your little one, so by purchasing the correct and suitable gear will help to keep it a pleasant experience for both you and your baby. Simple rubber rings and armbands are the most popular gear for a baby and relatively cheap to buy. Inflatable swim seats are available now so that your baby can feel as though they are swimming alone which will again boost their confidence all round!

Toys for toddlers

As your child grows in confidence and in age, they will want to feel as though they are doing it by themselves, so a great way of supporting them is to invest in something that is relatively new to the market – an inflatable vest or swim jacket. These come in a range of sizes and you will feel peace of mind knowing that they will be safe even if you are unable to constantly be around in the water with them. This is a practical idea but here are a few ideas for some fun.

On the fun front you can get swimming pool noodles which are long foam poles which prove to be extremely popular with any age! These come in a range of colours and are really cheap to buy. Other ideas would be to get a set of dive rings, plastic ducks and squirty toys. Swimming pools toys that squirt water are almost certainly the most popular toys on the market. Water pistols and water bombs lend themselves to more fun in the sun and less time to get under your feet! ; ) Diving games are a great way to keep your children focused and practicing descending into the water safely. There are a vast array of games based on this principle just have a look around to see what takes your fancy.

Inflatable swimming pool toys

Everyone loves an inflatable crocodile or a blown up dolphin or two in the pool! You can buy inflatable swimming pool toys almost anywhere and they come in at a vey reasonable cost too. It really shows you that you don’t have to spend an awful lot of money on toys and games for the pool you just need to be creative and realize that all games have some sort of benefit to the development of your child. Learning to negotiate an inflatable crocodile gives a child a challenge and a focus.

Fins, masks and snorkels

If you are looking for more of a simple and traditional swimming pool toy which will bring with it endless hours of fun, then you may want to consider a pair of fins or flippers together with a mask or snorkel. These toys are great for boosting your child’s confidence in the water and they can practice with underwater swimming with the added bonus of being able to see more clearly. A mask is also a particularly good idea if your child does suffer from a chlorine allergy. This is really common, but you must be careful to not put them off the water if it is only for this reason. By investing in a pair of goggles or a mask will help to keep the unpleasant eye irritations to a minimum. Fins are great to generally practice swimming with, as it gives a little bit more interest and acts as a challenge for your child to master the tools of a professional diver!
Summer fun in the sun is this years essential. Everyone knows that soaking up the sun is good for the soul and helps us all to feel more upbeat and radiant so get yourself outside and go and splash around in that fabulous inflatable swimming pool in your back garden.

Well it is finally summer and it’s time to have some fun in the garden with some nice cooling water! If you have children, you may be wondering what to do with them over the next few months whilst they are on holiday… Why not get them involved with setting up an inflatable swimming pool in the garden so that they can enjoy the great outdoors rather than remaining inside sat in front of the television?

Kids and adults alike love access to water on a beautiful hot summer’s day. During the day you could perhaps invite a group of your children’s friends over for an afternoon splash around the adults could just sit and have a chat whilst enjoying the sight of the children having a nice time. It is so important to keep children motivated and active nowadays and unfortunately they are more often than not shoved in front of the television to entertain themselves so that mum can get on with whatever she has to do. The summer holidays can be a stressful time for mums especially, as she constantly needs to think of new, fun and different activities to keep the kids involved and entertained.

 Inflateable swimming pools are such a great idea to get the kids involved in – the actual setting up of it, which will teach them a great deal of practical skills and the social aspect of inviting friends over to play will help them to interact with their peers during their holidays. These are the sensible reasons why inflatable swimming pools are a good idea, not to mention the great deal of fun and enjoyment that you all will get as a family!

Adults love a swimming pool too and an inflatable swimming pool will give you that luxury without all the excessive costs in getting a more permanent one built in. Adlts just love to bathe in the pool late afternoon accompanied with a nice cold beer and great company and conversation. If you get a beautiful sunny day, you will not need to go on holiday; you will simply just need to step outside in your garden! 

Where to place your inflatable swimming pool

You may be short of space in your garden, so you may not have the room to accommodate such a full sized maximum inflatable pool, but this does not need to be a problem. Inflatable pools can come in all shapes and sizes dependant on your requirements. If you take a look at some of the Intex inflatable swimming pools they have a great selection of different types and you will be sure to find one suitable for your space.

After ascertaining as to where you wish to place your pool, we at LiveIn|LiveOut have thought of a few things that you may want to bear in mind when placing and setting up your pool.

• If children are using it be sure that there are no potential hazards around for them to bump into. Children tend to get quite excited so ensuring that there is some grass and safe ladder to climb down is advisable.
• Be vigilant and take a good look around the area where you are going to place your base, as any sharp objects will potentially damage the underside of your inflatable swimming pool and will slowly abrase an area and cause it to split. Splitting only means one thing….leakages! Bearing this in mind do not place your inflatable on hardcore material like chippings and remove any spikey bits under your pool first.
• If the children are going to be using the pool most, then you may want to place the pool where you can easily see it, so that if there are any problems then you can just keep your eye on it.

Types of inflatable swimming pools

As with everything you get many competitors with any type of product so it is advisable to shop around although some of the worlds leading manufacturers of outdoor recreational products have been able to bring the great enjoyment of backyard bathing to families around the world and has made it cost effective and more accessible. Intex is one of these companies and sells a great deal of different product so that you are able to find something suitable for you and your family. Intex provide high quality, easy to assemble, reliable pools and are backed by working with strong array of quality materials.
 

Swimming pool inflatables and added extras

Once you have purchased your pool you will need to maintain it and there are a range of chemicals to do just this. Solar covers are available and for the kids there are a huge range of inflatable toys for your swimming pool. Owing your own pool, not only helps your child feel more confident in the water but gives you the flexibility to use it whenever and however often you want to. Check out our other article on swimming pool toys which will give you some more ideas!

Enjoy!

Here at LiveIn|LiveOut we like to keep up to date with new and innovative trends both in design and functionality. The latest item we have discovered is quickly becoming extremely popular and very effective in many ways. This item is a solar bird bath. When we initially discovered this very different item on the market, we were a little confused as to what it actually did, so we have done a bit of research and discovered that this new product is fascinating and beautiful. Read on for more…

Solar Power

Solar power is becoming the most efficient means of environmentally friendly power sources and you can see why. Solar power is the conversion of sunlight to electricity and has been doubling its usage every two years. If this rate continues we could be looking at solar power becoming a dominant energy source within just a few decades. This amazing discovery means that power can be converted into a visual light outputs or indeed for heating or powered products like a fountain for instance. This has been a major discovery as it uses the earth’s natural resources rather than creating this power from other means, making it a kinder power source.

Solar bird baths

Bearing the above in mind, solar bird baths could be heated, powered or lit using solar power. The options on the market at the present time are predominantly solar powered bird baths using the sunlight to power a fountain. The sunlight will be absorbed using a solar panel which is transported to a pump which then powers and circulates the water around resulting in a cascade of water.

Relaxation

A solar bird bath fountain looks beautiful positioned in your garden, adding movement and the tranquil sound of gently trickling water. There is nothing more relaxing than listening to the gentle trickle of water whilst you are sat in your garden and a solar powered bird bath will not only give your feathered friends a treat by the added extra of a fountain, but will also give you the cheaper option of a fountain without all the excess cost of a ‘proper’ set up.

Simple to install & amazing value for money

A solar bird bath fountain is easy to install and will instantly give you an amazing feature in your garden. The reviews of this product have been really very positive saying that there is no plumbing or electricity hook up needed which makes it so very easy to install. You will not need a specialist to install this bird bath as it does not require any wiring or cable management.

It’s also really good value, as you are not only getting a bird bath but also a water feature. The use of a solar panel is really handy and low maintenance as the sunshine looks after when it goes on and off. You will find that the pump will drop in power slightly when the sun goes behind a cloud but all the same, customers have been really impressed with this product.

Wildlife in your garden

Bringing more wildlife into your garden is one of the simple and natural joys in life. You really get a sense of well being when you know that you are catering for your wild friends. During the winter months it is imperative that you put out food in your window bird feeder for birds in particular, as food becomes less accessible at this time of year. Water is also an issue and many people forget that this can be a problem too. Water is prone to freezing at these times and should be provided for the birds so that they can access it. Using a solar powered bird bath will ensure that the water will keep moving around the pump making the time it takes to freeze longer. Try and get into a habit of just topping up your bird bath in the winter with your kettle after you have had your morning coffee. This will defrost the water and ensure that your feathered visitors have a more comfortable winter.

A water feature in your garden will also attract not only more birds, but insects too. Honey Bees and butterflies like to stop by and perch on the side of a bird bath and have a drink ready to go on their way.

Styles of solar powered bird bath

There are so many different styles available to you on the market and dependant on your style you may opt for a stone variety. Stone is hard wearing and will last a lifetime if you look after it. Other options are metal or even plastic and will vary in price dependant on what you choose. Whatever style you go for any bird bath in your garden is a bonus, you will quickly learn that the birds will love this addition and will reward you with consistent regular visits as long as you keep it topped up!