Construction and Industrial Articles
posted on 27 October 2011
I get a great deal of joy out of taking care of my blackberry patch, but it is not without its ups and downs. I don my ppe clothing and get to work on this rather prickly zone in my garden. When I first planted my canes (which is what you call the blackberry plants), I wondered if they would survive, especially when my gardener unceremoniously ran over all the canes I had planted with his lawn mower. However, the canes survived and I was able to add to them so that within two years I had so many blackberries it almost got to be like work to go out and pick them all (that's when you know that you have had good success with your blackberries). This year, however, I picked no more than twenty berries, primarily because the berries were plagued with unseasonably cold weather early, extreme winds that blew the blossoms off the canes, and extremely hot weather just when the canes were bearing their fruit. I am hoping that next year will be a more normal year weather-wise around here, so I can have a more normal, even abundant year when blackberry harvest comes around. |
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posted on 2 August 2011
I've done a lot of difficult jobs in my time - from oil tank installation to house building. However, this one I remember in particular.
We were having the attic expanded and the roof was off the house. The contractor had put tarps over everything to protect from rain but they leaked and flooded most of the 2nd floor. The first thing we had to do was to capture as much water as we could since it was still raining and there was no end in sight. We got plastic sheets and stapled them to the ceiling so that they would collect water in one place and into a bucket. We had to empty the buckets every 15 minutes or so but at least it was not dripping on our furniture, books, and carpets. Once that was stabilized we had to start drying things that had gotten wet. We used some car shammies to do that drying as they seemed to work better than towels. I got one of the special fans used for construction to start moving air to dry things faster. I used a wet / dry vacuum to pick up as much water from the floors and carpets. This helped keep water from migrating to the first floor and helped reduce the drying time. Its important to dry things as fast as you can to prevent secondary damage from mold and mildew. After things were drying we used cleansers to remove as many stains as we could. Some was too far damaged or stained and had to be repaired and repainted. All in all it was a huge mess that took a few days to clean up and weeks to repair. |
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posted on 17 May 2011
While it would seem like a fairly simple task to put litter in a trash can or a recycle bin, this concept seems to elude many. Many people, especially among the urban dwellers seem to care little for proper garbage disposal, depositing litter everywhere as they go. This has led to accumulation of litter in the street. The other contributor to this menace is poor handling of garbage by contracted garbage collectors and a complete lack of power cleaner equipment like petrol pressure washers. Some of them spill garbage as they transfer it from trash cans or as they transport it. This further aggravates an already desperate situation. This has caused many city streets to become real eyesores and has robed them of the potential beauty and splendor that urban centers can bear. Unless this problem is addressed quickly, it has the potential of spiraling to catastrophic proportions. The people need to acknowledge the value of preserving cleanliness and beauty in our streets, not just for themselves but for their children as well. This also reduces health risks that arise from wanton disposal of litter. It's time we took responsibility for the mess we have made and did something about it. It's time we cleaned up our act. |
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posted on 11 February 2011
Working for a historical restoration company, I am used to the physical aspects of DIY and enjoy working on personal projects involving my own house, and want to talk briefly about my future DIY plans.
My bedroom is nice the way it is right now. I decorated it with my husband when we moved in five years ago. But with life being so hectic and fast paced nowadays, I find that I just want a place to get away and relax. I don’t want to have to worry about the outside world anymore. This is why I want to turn my bedroom into a vacation getaway. I would love to redecorate the furniture and bedding into a more island feel. Paint the walls a tropical color and hang some exotic paintings on the wall. The part I want to change the most is the bathroom. This is where the DIY project would get tricky. I want a spa tub with jets that are big enough for my husband and I. That way, we can enjoy a nice bath together after work. I would love to have his and hers sinks along with tons of candles and spa-like items like fluffier towels and cute matching bathrobes for my husband and I. Our bedroom DIY project would be amazing. |
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posted on 8 February 2011
If time, money and motivation were in abundance I would create my ultimate dream backyard. I certainly have the tools - I have all kinds of DIY tools in my garage: from a bench saw to a series of concrete drills.
I would start by creating a sweet pack porch complete with an outdoor kitchen featuring a grill, sink and outdoor refrigerator. I would have screens to enclose the porch and block out sun. I would have a huge table to entertain guests and comfortable cushioned chairs for relaxing. There would be ambient lighting rivaling that of luxury resorts so that I could soak up the night sky from my very own home. The backyard would have water features such as fountains and a meditating pond, a gazebo and swing as well as a pool with spa tub. Upon exiting the back door of my house the porch and backyard would be a botanical treat. I would have exotic flowers climbing the fences and porch railing as well as a vegetable garden so that I could grow and pick my own fresh produce during the summer and fall months. I could vacation without even leaving my house. |
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posted on 8 February 2011
My favorite season is summer. While others believe wintertime, a time of festivities and holiday cheer, is the best season out of the four, in my opinion, summer takes that top spot. It is the perfect time to spend outdoors, doing what you love. In my case, doing what I love is playing a nice, friendly game of tennis with my friend.
I first got into the sport when my dad bought be one of those velcro bats - the ones where you throw the ball onto and it sticks to it. From such innocent beginnings, I took up the sport and now play when I can.
Walking out onto the tennis court with my bag over my shoulder and a clear, blue sky over my head, the only thing I can think of is I can't wait to do this tomorrow, and the next day after that. I say this to myself before the game!. I cannot help it. Such a splendid day, with a cool breeze to counteract the sun's hot rays. Our match gets underway with my racket in my hands and a tennis ball whizzing through the air at forty miles per hour, bouncing off of both of our rackets as we try our best to outmaneuver the other. What starts out as a friendly game of tennis turns into a heated battle as my friend and I swing our rackets, whacking the fuzzy yellow ball over the net. Beads of sweat drop down my face as I play the game I love. The sets pass and I reach match point. I take a deep breath and bounce the ball. I take in a breath of the clean, sweet air and I look up to the cloudless sky where birds are flying freely. I have no doubt that my friend on the other side of the net is getting impatient but he could wait a moment as I take in the picturesque scene before me. I serve the ball and we rally for a bit before I finish the point and game with an overhead. As we give each other commendations on a good game, I ask him whether he is up for another match I could stay out here all day. |
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