How To Repair a Leaky Pipe

There is going to be one time in your life that you will need to either call a plumber to fix that leaky pipe or repair the leaking plumbing pipe yourself but before you do there is some information you should know before you attempt that plumbing repair.

Depending on what type of pipe is leaking will depend on what types of tools and fittings you will need to do the plumbing repair. Another thing to consider is the place that the pipe is in, the harder it is to reach or access the harder it will be to repair the pipe.

Most common types of plumbing found in households are pvc, steel, cast iron, and copper. Usually copper pipe and pvc pipe can be repaired by the home owner of the leak is small enough, and most hardware stores or home improvement stores will have what you need to get the job done.

If the pipe that is leaking id steel, lead ( Lead bend ) or cast iron you will want to call your local plumber because there types of repairs will require expensive plumbing tools and expert professional knowledge to do the job properly. 

in Gardening

Installing Hardwood Flooring - Tips To Make Your Job Go Smoother

Installing hardwood flooring can take place in several ways depending on the type of hardwood flooring that you have. If you have solid hardwood, you have to look at the type of wood you have. You can have parquet flooring, which usually comes in tiles of 6 inches by 6 inches or strips or planks that can be as much as 3 inches wide. If you have laminate wood flooring then you have to look at a different method of installing hardwood flooring.

Whether you choose laminate flooring or solid hardwood flooring, the directions for installing both of them are printed on the inside of the packaging. If you have previously installed hardwood floors and now you want to install glueless laminate flooring, you do need to read the directions for installing laminate flooring. When you are installing hardwood flooring made of solid wood, you have to open the packages and let the wood become acclimatized to the humidity and temperature of your home. With laminate flooring, you have to do the exact opposite. You should not take this flooring out of the package until you are ready to start installing.

Successful installation of hardwood or laminate flooring depends upon careful planning. Even if you are installing hardwood flooring over an existing concrete or vinyl floor, you do have to sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all the dust and dirt. If you are not sure of exactly how much laminate flooring you will need, the directions for installing laminate flooring also include directions for measuring the room to calculate the amount of flooring that you need. When you intend to install glueless laminate flooring, you can also bring your measurements into your local flooring store and have the experts do the calculations for you. 

If you are wondering how to install glueless laminate flooring and be able to keep it on the floor, each of the planks lock together with the tongue and groove design. When installing hardwood flooring like this, you cannot glue, nail or staple it in any way. When you start installing always consider the way the light shines into the room. Begin laying the planks toward the light and in a hallway always install glueless laminate flooring lengthwise.

The directions for installing laminate flooring will tell you that you lay the first plank with the grooves against the wall. Place spacers where they are needed when installing hardwood flooring between the wall and the plank to maintain ½ inch extension gap. You will have to mark and cut the planks as you are installing the flooring because they are of random lengths. Always begin in a corner when installing hardwood flooring and the first board in the row should be a full plank.  

in Home Improvement

Patio Umbrellas and Beach Umbrellas. Practical and Appealing.

The warmer months of spring and summer are well on their way and the cry of the outdoors is calling. There are many ways to enjoy seating outdoors. No matter the setting, a patio umbrella is a perfect choice and an essential element. A quality patio umbrella improves enjoyment and safety in a patio or beach setting.

Home Patio. For a home patio or outdoor seating area, a patio umbrella is an excellent addition to the overall design of the patio. When a patio umbrella is added to a patio furniture set, such as an aluminum cushion patio furniture set, it creates an intimate ambiance. Most patio furniture tables are equipped with an umbrella hole ready for the addition of a complimentary patio umbrella.

Beach Patio. An umbrella is a necessity for beach goers. Beach umbrellas are designed with beach safety and durability in mind. Beach umbrellas are manufactured with UV repelling fibers in the fabric to protect from the suns rays. Beach umbrellas are also constructed with aerodynamic engineering technology to provide ultimate wind resistance. A quality beach umbrella can resist the strongest of wind gusts that come off the coast. Beach umbrella fabric is also resistant to fading and harsh salt water air. These resistance qualities keep the beach umbrella for ripping or tattering and keep the umbrella looking beautiful.

Patio umbrellas are available for any type of outdoor setting at any level of design. Whether it is casual patio or a luxury resort, there are patio umbrellas and beach umbrellas for any budget. Patio umbrellas can be purchased in either aluminum, fiberglass or wooden components. They can be free standing or be added to an existing patio furniture set. Most patio and beach umbrellas come with replaceable parts so they are easy to maintain with prolonged outdoor use. Umbrella fabrics can always be ordered to coordinate with any decor.

Patio Umbrellas are a beautiful and elegant way to enhance a patio or beach setting. They are also especially practical to protect from any outdoor elements which might otherwise ruin a patio gathering. If you want your guests to enjoy their visit outdoors, a patio umbrella is an accessory that should be included in any patio furniture collection. 

in Landscaping

History of the Barber Dime

In 1887, Mint Director James P. Kimball noted in his annual report the "inferiority of our coinage" compared to other advanced nations and that in his opinion, the coinage of the U.S. was out of date and should be changed. At the request of Kimball, Senator Justin S. Morill introduced a bill authorizing the Treasury Department to redesign coins without first obtaining the permission of Congress, as long as the current design had been in use for at least 25 years. The bill passed on September 26, 1890 and the dime, quarter and half dollar were targeted for change. The decision of who should redesign the coins eventually fell to his successor, Edward O. Leech.

Ironically, new designs were submitted by Mint engravers throughout the early 1880's but the only change that occurred was a new nickel designed by Charles E. Barber in 1883. In 1891, when there was discussion of a public competition for new designs. Barber reported to Mint director Kimball that there was no one in the country capable in assisting him in preparing original designs. Augustus Saint-Gaudens confided to Kimball there were only four men in the world competent do to such a redesign: three were in France and he was the fourth. It did not matter. Kimball insisted that rather than going abroad to find the best design talent available, it would be possible to find able designers in America. Against the advice of Barber, the Treasury Department organized a competition to produce new designs. A panel of 10 of the leading artist and sculptors of the day were commissioned to judge which would be the best designs for new coinage. The panel met and instead of discussing the competition, they instead rejected the terms of the competition as proposed by Mint officials on the ground that the preparation time was too short and the compensation woeful. The Mint director rejected the panels' suggestions and threw the competition out to the public. The results were disastrous. Of the more than 300 drawings submitted, only two received an honorable mention by a smaller judging panel. It is interesting to note that two of the judges were Barber and Saint-Gaudens.

When Leech took over as Mint director, he was well aware of the problems his predecessor had experienced. In order to get new designs into production and avoid another disaster of a competition, he simply directed Barber to draw up new designs. This is what Barber had wanted all along has he felt as Chief Engraver, he, and he alone was responsible for coin design.
The result was not much in the way of originality. That would have to wait for more than another 25 years. What Barber did was to modify the large head used on the Morgan dollar by adding a Liberty cap and cropping Liberty's hair shorter in back. He then placed his initial B on the truncation of the neck. This was the design used not only on the dime, but the new quarter and the new half dollar as well.

The reverse did not go through much of an overhaul either as it uses almost the exact same reverse of its predecessor, the Seated Liberty Dime. While many do not credit Barber with much artistic ability, what he lacked in design capabilities he made up for in knowledge in regards to designing a coin that would withstand a modern high-speed coin press. On January 2, 1892, the first of over half a billion Barber dimes were struck.

Collectibility
General

The Barber dime series consists of 74 regular issues, plus the super-rare 1894-S. While half a billion dimes for an entire series pales in comparison to today's coin production, it was big numbers back in the 1800's. With a low relief, Barber dimes faired well and although there are a few semi-key issues (not including 1894-s), an entire set in circulated condition can be assembled for under $1500.00 in G4 or so condition. As is common with many series of this time period, Philadelphia was the main producer of coinage. The San Francisco and New Orleans mint typically produced far few examples in almost all years of production making earlier years more difficult to obtain. Denver did not begin producing Barber dimes until 1906.

Key/Semi Key Dates

While most Barber Dimes are obtainable, one of the rarest of all coins came from this series. The 1894-S dime had a total mintage of 24 and only 10 can now be accounted for which presents one of the great numismatic mysteries of the time. Allegedly, 24 pieces were struck at the order of San Francisco Mint Superintendent J. Daggett. Of the ten known, all were struck from the same set of dies. The best known story is that Daggett gave three to his daughter Hallie and told her to keep them until she was as old as he was, when they would be worth a lot of money. On her way home from the mint, her newfound riches got the best of her and she spent one of the dimes on a dish of ice cream. Today that coin is known as the ice cream specimen. Although there is no to prove it was the one that a young Hallie spent, one of the known specimens is heavily circulated. It has been graded as a G4 while all other coins are MS/PR60+ condition. Robert Freidberg bought this coin over the counter for $2.40 (24 times face value) at Gimbels Department Store, NY, in 1957. If it is the "Ice Cream Specimen", it certainly got around 

Why did the mint only produce 24 dimes that year? There are two stories. The first is that the coins were struck to provide a balance of forty cents needed to close a bullion account at the San Francisco Mint by June 30, 1894 - the end of the fiscal year. Since any even numbered (2, 4, 6, 8) dollar amount ending in forty cents was acceptable, the employees were said to have struck 24 pieces, or $2.40. The expectation was that the Mint would receive orders for more dimes before the end of the calendar year. December 31 passed without a request for further production. According to the story, two or three pieces were obtained by Mint employees "just to have a new dime," and when they realized the coins were now rare, they sold them to collectors for $25 or more apiece. The remaining 1894-S dimes went into a bag with other dimes and into circulation. The more widely accept story is that the dimes were minted as a special request for some visiting bankers. According to an account from California dealer Earl Parker, who bought the two remaining dimes that Hallie Daggett had, Hallie told Parker that her father minted the coins and presented 3 to each of the 7 visitors and gave the remaining three to her which has previously mentioned, she spent one dime on ice cream.

Most experts believe the "visiting bankers" theory as the likely reason. Of the known high grade coins, they all seem to be proof strikes. It is unlikely that such care would have taken place to produce a few dimes to even out the books but it quite likely for coins made for presentation.
Putting the 1894-S aside, most, if not all dimes are readily available in low grades. Collecting the series in higher grades is still achievable but certainly more challenging. Recall that this coin was heavily circulated. Assembling a collecting of all MS65 or better, while no doubt out of the financial reach of most collectors, is possible, as there is at least 1 coin graded in MS65 by PCGS for each mint and year. For the rest of us, collecting this series in average circulated grades is without a doubt doable. Back during the days of this coin, a dime was real money and as such, this series is heavily circulated. While many dates had mintages in the millions, there are a few dates where the total mintage is around 500,000 thereby making the acquisition of these a little more challenging and painful to the wallet/purse. For example, the 1895-O had a mintage of 440,000. Obtaining this coin in a grade of G to VG could cost you between $400-$600. It only gets worse from there as an XF-40 will cost you over $2000. The 1901-S had a mintage of 593,022 and is not quite as expensive and can be had for less than $100 in G condition and for around $500 in XF-40 condition. The 1903-S had a mintage of 613,300 and is similar priced on lower grades but is higher priced than the 1901-S in higher grades suggesting the 1903-S did not fair as well in circulation. The second lowest mintage dime was the 1913-S with a mintage of 510,000. While having the second lowest mintage, it is not in the top 10 as far as price and can be had for around $20 in G4 and $35 for VG8. Earlier coins, even those with mintages over a million pieces, will cost you more than the 1913-S suggesting that earlier dates, even those with high mintages may be tough to acquire.

If the cost of an entire set is too much, a year set could prove to be a much more frugal approach. As mentioned earlier, the Philadelphia mint generally produced the majority of Barber dimes. The only year that a branch-mint exceeded production of Philadelphia was in 1895 when Philadelphia produced only 690,880 pieces while San Francisco produced 1,120,000. With the expectation of a few earlier dates, most Philadelphia examples can be obtained for a few dollars in G4 and for less than $10.00 per coin in F to VF condition.

If you are into collecting Barber type coins, the Barber dime may be just the ticket for the budget conscience collector.

Errors
The Barber dime series consists two major varieties (1893/2-P and 1905-O micro-O).

Proofs
There are 24 coins in the proof Barber dime series, not counting the branch mint proof 1894-S. The mintages range from 425 for the 1914 to 1,245 for the first-year-of-issue 1892. A grand total of 17,353 proof coins were produced for the whole series. While extremely low, the rarest of proofs in MS-65 is the 1908 with 12 pieces certified at PCGS.

Vital Statistics Summary
Key Coin Info
Designed by: Charles E. Barber
Issue dates: 1892-1916
Composition: 0.900 part silver, 0.100 part copper
Diameter: 17.9 mm.
Weight: 38.58 grains
Edge: Reeded
Business strike mintage: 504,317,075
Proof mintage: 17,353
  

in Hobbies

Preparing The Garden For Winter

Are you like me? Sad to see the summer end but at the same time relieved that there is one less task to tend to. Weeding, watering, pruning, and more weeding is over for this year and with a few more chores the outdoor gardening year draws to a close. Most of what needs to be completed is a matter of cleaning up and covering up. Practical steps to preparing your outdoor garden for winter involve:
1. Protecting plants. There are different opinions concerning whether to cut down or leave plants standing through the winter. Here on the prairies most people leave their perennials standing for a variety of reasons. In particular, trapping the snow cover is important for protection of plants and retaining moisture. Snow cover acts the same as good mulch by insulating the soil. Many perennial stems and seed heads are also very attractive for winter interest and provide food for the birds. After the ground freezes, mulch perennials and shrub beds with pine needles, compost, peat moss, or chopped leaves. This protects the soil and plant roots and moderates the effects of extreme temperature changes during winter periods of freezes and thaws.
2. Cleaning-up the garden. Harvest warm-season crops such as tomatoes even though they are still green. Lie out on windowsills; or layer in boxes with newspapers between the layers of tomatoes. They will slowly ripen or you can use green tomatoes for fried green tomatoes or various green tomato recipes. Pull out any remaining crops or spent annuals; clean up remaining debris and weeds to decrease the possibility of disease problems in the spring.
3. Evaluating your garden design. Before you start winterizing your garden, take a few minutes to review what worked and what didn't and make note of any areas that you would like to change in the spring.
4. Prepare the soil for early spring seeding. Turn over the garden soil late in the season while amending with organic matter such as leaves, compost, or well-rotted manure. In the spring, a light raking is all that is needed.
5. Caring for trees and lawns. Protect the tender bark of young trees from rabbits and gnawing critters by wrapping stems or trunks with chicken wire or commercial tree-guard products. To prevent rodents from nesting near buildings and trees, trim tall grass, and remove weeds. Deeply water trees and shrubs so that they go into winter well hydrated. Don't prune shrubs and trees as it may stimulate new growth just before the harsh weather. Cut lawns and fertilise if you wish with a low nitrogen 'winter' blend. Use grass clippings for mulch or compost. Never send them to the landfill, as they are excellent fertiliser left on the lawn (if they are not too long) and/or make terrific compost/mulch dug straight into the garden or used for pathways. Once rotted on garden pathways, dig into the garden and replace with new grass clippings. 

6. Planting before winter. Now is the time to plant bulbs. Garden centres carry many varieties suitable for the prairies. Remember: buy good quality as cheap is not better – the larger the bulb – the larger the bloom. Look for plumpness, firmness, clean skin, and surface. Directions for planting are included with the package.
7. Composting. Compost dead plant debris including leaves. Leaves are a valuable natural resource. Rather than a nuisance, they are the best soil amendment as well as terrific mulches. Leaves take very little effort to recycle into a wonderful soil conditioner – leaf mould – for the yard and garden. You can make leaf mould by the same process nature does. Pile up moist leaves and wait for them to decompose or shred the leaves into smaller pieces before piling them up. If you wish, you can enclose the pile with chicken wire, snow fencing, or something similar. In the spring, I rake up dry leaves and dig them straight into the vegetable garden.
8. Cleaning your tools. Clean the soil from all your gardening tools, oil any wooden handles and moving parts, sharpen any blades, and then store them in a dry place for the winter.
9. Water Gardening. Bring in pumps, drain, clean, refill (if necessary) and store tender water plants prior to freezing.
10. Bringing in your indoor plants. Before bringing in any houseplants that have spent the summer outdoors, examine them for critters, wash them, and spray with soapy water or insecticidal soap. Use sterilised potting soil purchased from garden centres or shopping malls if re-potting your plants. Don't use garden soil as it may harbour insects, weed seeds, disease, and fungi.  

in Gardening

Is Your Child Ready For Preschool?

Many parents enroll their children in preschool programs without considering whether or not their child is really ready for preschool. Many parents are eager to give their child a head start in the race to educational success so children are starting preschool at younger ages. However, enrolling your child too early in preschool can cause long-term problems with your child's education rather than giving the head start you intended.

How can you judge whether or not your child is ready for preschool? Take a look at three key areas: physical development, social development, and emotional development.

You should also look at the program itself. For example, some programs are specifically geared to a young age group and are less about formal education and more about play and social experience. Some programs have very limited time periods (only a few hours a week) and are intended to introduce young children very gently to the educational experience. However, the standard preschool program is generally geared toward children ages 3 and 4 in preparation for kindergarten. Just because your child falls within the correct age group does not mean your child is ready for preschool. Forcing a child who is not ready physically, socially, or emotionally into a formal school setting could set the child up for failure, which could then result in a life-long problem with school.

Physically your child should be able to attend to most personal hygiene issues independently or under supervision. This means the child should be potty trained as well as able to clean up afterward (including unfastening and fastening clothing). Your child should also be able to feed herself with little or no supervision.

The child should also be able to focus on a task, such as coloring, as well as listen attentively, to a story or conversation, for longer than a few minutes.

Another important physical development issue is whether or not your child is able to maintain the school schedule. Will the snack and meal breaks meet your child's nutritional needs? Will he be able to stay awake until it is time to leave or take a nap?

Preschool is often a time and place when children learn a great deal about friendship and social interactions, but if a child isn't ready for this level of social activity it can be tough on the child, class, and family. Children should have some experience playing with their peers, learning to share and take turns, and working out their differences before attending preschool. Children should also have some experience taking direction from adults who are not their primary caregivers. For example, a child who has only been in the care of a select few relatives may have difficulty adjusting to the care of a strange new adult.

Emotional development is another key consideration when determining if a child is ready for preschool. Is your child ready for the separation from home and parent or previous day care provider? How does your child adjust to new places and people?

If you think your child is not ready in one or more of these important areas then you should put off starting preschool. It may be that in a few months time your child will have leaped past those hurdles and be ready to start. You can also work with your child on the areas you feel need work, such as personal care or social interaction. Many programs also allow you to ease your child into the program with only a few hours a week gradually stepping up to full participation.

Remember, young children grow and develop at a tremendous pace so simply giving your child some time to grow into a program is much better than forcing the issue. In later years your child won't feel the impact of those "missed" months on their education but a positive preschool experience will have a lasting effect on self esteem and learning.

Starting your child's preschool experience when they are ready, willing, and able is the best way to set your child on the road to educational success.
  

in Parenting

A Look at Discount Dog Beds

Many people want to make sure their family pet has just the right bed, but might not be willing to pay the (often quite hefty) price. It's actually more difficult to find designer and luxury dog beds especially for oversized pets than it is to find discount dog beds for average sized animals. If you're not too fussy about the design of the fabrics being used in the bed; if your dog is of average size and weight; and if her sleeping habits are not too extreme in the curling up or stretching out situations; you can probably save a lot of money when you purchase a dog bed that's right for her.

To begin with, a lot of the more expensive bed-makers change their designs just like clothing designers do for people, if not quite as often. The changes do result in closeouts and discontinued items being drastically marked down at pet shops across the country and on the Internet. Then there are the many pet supermarkets and discount retailers who carry a variety of comfortable beds, in a variety of colors at prices much reduced from the luxury beds available at upscale pet shops.

Then there is always the option to go ahead and make your own dog bed. If you've got any sewing ability at all, (and for the most part, a dog bed is more about being comfortable and durable than about looking great) you can produce an average-sized, comfortable, washable dog bed for just a few dollars worth of fabric and filler material. Cut a couple of pieces of fabric – it can be from an old sheet, a shower curtain, or a nice comfy old bathrobe – and sew them together to make a pillow of the right size. Stuff it with filler material and you have a comfy, simple dog bed. You may also create a fancier dog bed with an upper ring by cutting a long rectangle of fabric and creating a tubular pillow to go around the edge. Then fasten the upper ring to the original base with hand stitching. 

You have just created a comfortable, washable bed for your dog made with love by your own two hands using a piece of fabric you'd probably throw away, some kind of filler material and a little bit of your precious time. What better way to save money and take care of your loving pet at the same time? You'll enjoy the process of making the bed just as much as your pet will enjoy sleeping in it.
 

in Pets

Christmas Gift Ideas - Give Joy In A Simple Idea

What is a simple small act of giving during Christmas that does not cost much can leave behind memories that can last a lifetime to a loved one.

I remembered many years back, when I was a small kid of 10 years, one of my aunt who was a devout christian and who celebrated Christmas gave me a christmas present. It was a big sized book that I could read, on the story of a pirate on the high seas. It gave tremendous joy to me, a small kid at that time. It wouldn't have cost her more than $10 for it, but her act that day gave me tremendous joy that lasted until this day - a simple act of giving that touched my heart, and which remains cherished. Though this aunt is now living in another foreign land, thousands of miles apart, and there has not been any communication between us for over twenty over years, yet there is this unwavering bond of love that somewhere in this world, there is someone who cared many, many years back, and whom I would desire to want to look her up and visit if there is an opportunity. Indeed, time and distance has not diminished the very memories of her beautiful act of giving that day.

I used to wonder why it is said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I always felt that receiving something from someone else and keeping it in my pockets was more blessed than to give away.

But then when I think of this little piece of history and personal experience, and recalled the tremendous amount of joy in my heart when I received that story book as a gift, I could remember how my aunt's face also lit up, and glowed, and she seemed to be to be almost like the wonderful fairy who takes care of everyone on earth, and I am sure she felt blessed, and happy.

Indeed, it is when we give away from ourselves and give to others, such as our loved ones and those in need that we can be blessed in return. A gift is a gift..because we give without expectation of anything in return, but the laws of nature and of this universe dictate that when we give out of love, this love is translated into an energy that cannot be explained, and which will touch lives, and change perceptions, and make the world a better place to live in.

So this Christmas season, pause and think of how we can sow love and give gifts and presents of love to others. Our gifts may not be expensive, but yet they can touch a life when we give off our hearts, and away from ourselves and when we give out of goodwill and love.

Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
  

in Holidays

Common Sense is Your Best Anti-Theft Device

Just like other crimes, a burglary can be a totally random event. However, when it's planned, there are certain things a burglar will look for when staking out a possible break-in, and there are steps the homeowner can take to minimize this risk.

This is a good checklist before leaving your home empty or for beefing up your protection against theft:

Study your house from the street, and look for any valuables that may be visible from the street. Don't give thieves a reason to show up.

Before leaving for any length of time, ensure that all windows and doors are locked, including the door to your garage. Many home invasion robberies come through garage doors and inner doors to the houses. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate.

Place a piece of wood or metal in the track of any sliding doors to prevent opening.

Don't leave your house in darkness when you're away, create a sense of activity by using timers on lights, radios and televisions.

Install low-voltage lighting outdoors to keep your surrounding yard well lit. Install motion detectors in dark areas along the sides and back of house to alert you of any intruders.

Suspend your newspaper delivery while you're away and ask your neighbor to collect your mail. You may even ask them to park in your driveway while you're away. 

Never leave a message on your answering machine that says you're on vacation.

Keep any shrubbery near your walkway or entrance trimmed; removing any possible hiding places. Think about planting cactus or rosebushes under windows that may be especially vulnerable.

Advise your neighborhood watch that you'll be away.

Ensure your security system is activated when you leave.

Etch your name on all electronic equipment to serve as a deterrent as well as assisting police in the recovery your property. It's more difficult to sell stolen property that has the owners name on it. Make a video tape of your possessions and record the serial numbers.

Get a safe, not just for your jewels, but for important paperwork as well. Identity theft is a crime that's on the rise and you want to minimize any availability to your personal records.



The more you can do to deter an intruder, the better your chances are that your home will not be chosen as a target. Studies have shown that if it takes a burglar more than four or five minutes to break into a home, they'll move on. If you increase their vulnerability by adding a well-lit area or a barking dog, that minimizes your risk again.  

in Home Security