Archive for December 2008
Managing a Tight Holiday Budget: Homespun Projects that Build Tradition
December 31, 2008, 4:24 amA festive Yuletide spirit can still fill your home or apartment, even if it seems all of your spare cash is being pumped into your car’s gas tank or your home heating bill this year!
Old socks … pieces of fabric … home-made baker’s clay … felt and old buttons … torn and tattered table linens … stored Christmas cards and wrap … bits of ribbon and lace and bias tape … with a little imagination and time, you can turn a ton of ordinary household items into enduring Christmas treasures. Here are three family-style projects to get you started — two easy garlands, and an quick and lovely quilt!
* Garlands galore
If you think that crumpled but still-shiny foil gift-wrap is just too pretty to toss away, you’re right! Cut it into strips about an inch wide and three inches long. Use any colors you have handy, and mix in other less-than-perfect wrap as well. When you’ve got a bagful of foil strips, glue the ends together to form a glitzy new garland for your tree!
For homey appeal, trace your hand, mitten-shaped, on a piece of cardboard and cut out the pattern. Transfer the pattern to pieces of red, green, brown and burgundy felt, then cut out. Decorate the felt with snowmen … button figures … glitter-and-glue designs … gingerbread people … angels and stars. Do a primitive straight stitch in a contrasting color, all around the outer border of your felt “mitten.” Turn your creations into a sweet and simple hanging garland by securing the felt designs with old clothespins to a length of raffia or twine … the effect is charming in the kitchen or laundry room!
* Make a Faux Christmas Quilt for Hanging
This is a great family activity and can even be framed for seasonal display!
Gather up all the bits and pieces of fabric in your sewing basket, or the old clothes in the closets … the more colorful, the better. Cut out color-based fabric squares about six inches square and set the stack aside, sorted into solids and patterns. Make a separate stack of pieces from solid whites, yellows, pastels and other light colored materials and trim them to about five inches square.
Keep any smaller or odd-shaped remnants separate.
Use pieces of cardboard to draw and cut out a variety of simple holiday shapes about three inches high — trees, angels, candy canes, hearts, stars, whatever says “Christmas” to you. Trace the patterns on the backside of the smaller or odd-shaped pieces, and cut out. Stitch the Christmas shapes onto the five-inch white or pastel squares, then center that piece on a complementing color panel and stitch.
When you’ve completed a dozen of these panels, line them up three across and four down, approximately 18 inches wide by 24 inches long. Stitch them to a piece of plain unbleached muslin, leaving three inches of space at the top. When your panels are sewn onto the muslin, fold the top over and stitch across to form a pocket, through which you’ll slide a plain wooden dowel or even a sturdy hickory stick.
Hang and enjoy!
Kate Sheridan is a Michigan freelance writer, photographer and homesteader whose writings on the fun and foibles of country living may be found at http://www.gardenandhearth.com/RuralLiving.htm.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Thanksgiving: How Do You Spell Thanks?
December 30, 2008, 9:27 pmWe’re approaching that wonderful once-a-year “Turkey Day”!
For me, Turkey Day memories revolve around going to the football game between The University of Texas Longhorns (yea!) and the Texas A &M Aggies (boo!).
Because that game was traditionally on Thanksgiving Day, my family wouldn’t have the turkey and dressing meal but would opt for roast beef sandwiches and potato chips eaten out of the trunk of the car in our version of a tail-gater. I love those memories! And I still love watching my Longhorns beat up on those Aggies! (Hook’em Horns!)
However, I now realize that there is something more important about this holiday than turkey and football. It is, after all, called THANKSgiving! Let’s look at “thanks” a little more closely this year.
I believe that living with a thankful heart is the first step towards living a truly joyful life. It isn’t always easy to be thankful. Sometimes real life presents challenges, hard times, trials, and circumstances for which an average person would never consider being thankful! However, since you are NOT average, I believe you will appreciate this view of “thanks.”
T – “THINK”
Renew your mind. Be intentional about what direction you allow your thoughts to take. Don’t drift into sin. Think like God. Ask God to transform your thinking. Plug good things into your thinking: scripture, inspirational reading, devotional books and stories about people who have triumphed in all manner of circumstances.
H – “HORIZON”
Take the long term view. Remember there is always a bigger picture than what you’re experiencing right now. Ask God to help you have that long term perspective – to see things from His vantage point. I love the description of life being like a parade. We are on the street watching the parade go by and can only see what is immediately in front of us. God, however, is up high and can see the entire parade in one instant – beginning, middle and end – so He has the big picture, the 50,000 foot view!
A – “APPRECIATE”
Appreciate what you have. Train your mind to focus on the positives in your life – the things you have that are treasures to you. Too many times we allow ourselves to focus on what everyone else has that we don’t have. We can easily have a pity party, looking only at the things that are missing from our lives. That serves no purpose other than to drain our energy and our joy and turn us into crotchety, grumpy, negative people. How much better to CHOOSE to focus on the things we do have that are positive, those undeserved gifts and blessings.
N – “NOW”
Be where you are NOW in life. Enjoy it NOW. Be what God wants you to be today. By continually looking for “what’s next”, we overlook opportunities for today. If you don’t live “now here” – you’ll be “nowhere”.
K – “KNOW”
Know what is important. If you imagine yourself on your death bed, what is that you would most wish for? I guarantee it would be your spouse, your kids, your grandkids, your loved ones. By knowing what is most important each and every day, all those other things that want to vie for your attention will be shoved aside.
S – “SHARE”
We expect our kids to “be nice and share”. How about us? By sharing what God gives us (both tangible and intangible), our grip loosens and we are set free.
Think. Horizon. Appreciate. Now. Know. Share. THANKS!
This applies all year ’round, not just at Thanksgiving. Let’s use this Thanksgiving as an opportunity to turn over a “new leaf” of being thankful all year long.
Visit LifeHouse Coaching to sign up for “Blueprints for a Dream Life” and receive Edi Sowers’ f*r*e*e* weekly articles, coaching tips, and special offers. Edi works with women business owners who work at home and face the arduous challenge of balancing their personal and professional priorities in order to build their dream life.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
A Lesson on Halloween
December 30, 2008, 6:13 pmHalloween never has been my favorite holiday. As a kid, growing up on the farm, trick-or-treating meant getting in and out of the car (often on very cold nights) and wearing coats over our costumes. I certainly liked the candy, but it never made much sense to me.
As a father, I must admit I have warmed to the holiday, but I still have a problem with all the focus on witches and ghouls and such. A holiday that focuses on scary things still bothers me just a little bit. I’ve been pleased that my children have typically chosen more wholesome images to emulate through their costumes.
This year was different though. I’ve actually been looking forward to Halloween since the middle of June. I planned. I prepared. I thought and strategized about it. But, it didn’t go quite the way I expected. . .
The Garage Sale
Our community has a neighborhood garage sale each June. By planning everyone’s sale on the same day more people attend and the event is more successful for everyone. For several years my son Parker has had a stand selling lemonade, coffee, muffins and cookies, taking advantage of all of the shoppers who came to our cul-de-sac. Last year, my neighbor Jim and I added hot dogs and other grilled food to the menu. People could shop and get a meal too! We had so much fun; we did it again this year.
Only this year, we secretly decided to give the proceeds to our neighbors who have a son with autism. At our annual party, after the sale, we presented them with about $120 (a lot of money when you aren’t selling anything for more than a dollar!) to give to the autism group of their choice.
Trying Again
The mix of the fun we had and the response we received from our neighbors led to another idea – let’s do this at Halloween. Halloween would be perfect we speculated; lots of traffic (since we always have more than 100 trick or treaters), easy to market (through flyers in the neighborhood), and this year Halloween would be on a Friday. It seemed perfect!
Every few weeks the subject came up. We talked about what to serve and how to market it. Jim, who works in the food brokerage business, got sponsors to provide all the meat. As the calendar turned to October we got more serious and the menu was set: hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and homemade chili.
As I worked on the marketing flyer, all the foods became holiday-themed: Halloweenies, Beastie Brats, Haunted Hamburgers and Chilling Chili. We decided to sell soda and chips. We added a place for kids to bob for apples. We would have the candy from five houses for one stop trick-or-treating. We distributed more than 140 flyers. We were raising money for a great cause. In the final week we even realized we were going to have perfect weather – upper 60’s by “game time.” We had the perfect setup for a successful event.
Halloween is Here
Friday morning Lori and I made the chili. After lunch we finished shopping for the final items. I couldn’t wait to set up! We got everything out – ran extension cords to the street, set up lights, tables and chairs, blocked off the cul-de-sac and fired up the grill.
Two other neighbors were manning the candy – to help the trick-or-treaters get it and to tell them which houses were empty. Parker, age 11, decided to help with the event rather than trick or treat. He would take money and answer questions. Jim would take and fill orders, and I was grill man. We fed the families around us, ourselves and our kids to get the grill going, and they took off to collect candy and good wishes. We were ready.
It got dark, and we had very few trick-or-treaters, and even fewer customers. One mother said she and her son would be back after they were done. We rubbed our hands and prepared for the onslaught.
The onslaught never came.
The Results
By the end of the evening we probably had half our typical number of trick-or-treaters. We sold a little water and soda. We sold a few grilled items. We made $32 (before expenses).
It was a tough night for me. In retrospect, I was as discouraged and disappointed as I can remember being in a long time. It was Sunday before I was really back to normal.
The Lessons
I shook myself out of my self-imposed funk by thinking back on what we did – and what we accomplished. $32. I didn’t even count it until Monday. Truth be told, it was more than I expected at that point. My reflection helped me realize that several positive things happened:
• We had fun both planning and doing the event.
• We strengthened neighborhood relationships.
• We taught our children a lesson about caring and doing things for others – through our actions, not our checkbooks.
• We made a memory we will talk about for years.
• We learned what might have to change if we do this again on Halloween!
• I got the subject for this essay.
• A neighborhood shelter got lots of hamburger and hot dog buns.
• And we did add $32 to the Riley Children’s Hospital Autism Unit to help them do their work.
However, the best result for me was the lesson of reflection. All the value created by the event was overshadowed in my mind when we didn’t reach our goal. My personal goal had been $300. So, in reality, we did about 11% of that goal. I lost sight of all the good by focusing only on the desired outcome.
If you had asked me Saturday morning if the event was a success, I would have grimaced and quickly said no. If you ask me now, I will say that we didn’t raise much money, but it was fun, and we learned a lot. Anytime you can have fun while learning is a good experience in my book.
We all suffer defeats, challenges and disappointments. Sometimes they are large; sometimes they aren’t. Big or small, I believe there is value and learning in every one of them. Our goal has to be to find those lessons. We only find them by reflecting on the experience and expecting to find them.
Maybe you find yourself reeling from a setback as you read this. If so, please take the message to heart. Maybe the message is more theoretical for you at the moment, that’s OK too. Use this as a reminder for the next time you are discouraged. Lift your head up, reflect on what happened, learn from it, smile and go on!
I don’t know what next Halloween holds, but we already are talking about the garage sale. We may expand to breakfast. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Kevin Eikenberry is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (KevinEikenberry.com) and author of Vantagepoints on Learning and Life. To read more stories like the one above or order your copy of the book visit www.vantagepoints.net or contact Kevin at (317) 387-1424 or toll free 888.LEARNER.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Embracing Change at Oil Giant
December 29, 2008, 6:49 pmThe oil giant has to face the future without Peter Sutherland , its Irish chairman, but what is next for the CV of the man who’s already run the World Trade Organisation?
Peter Sutherland was in a grim mood on Monday morning: the day preceeding his native country’s loss to Argentina in the Rugby World Cup, he could scarcely withhold his obvious frustration. He’d been present at the game at Parc des Princes with his children and words such as “suicidal” and “bejesus” poured from his lips.
Yesterday, he was on the Eurostar, travelling back to Paris, for a meeting that was a mixture of both politics and business. Such are the contrasting worlds of Sutherland: Dubliner, father of three, huge rugby enthusiast, chairman of BP, chairman of Goldman Sachs International, new chairman of the London School of Economics, diplomatic fixer and afterdinner speaker extraordinaire.
If when we reach the gates of heaven we are presented with a choice I’d opt to come back as a smart Irishman. Previously, I might have said an English aristocrat but it’s the Irish who are the masters now. They seem to be in charge of everything. The epitome of this is Sutherland, an integral figure in two business powerhouses and a millionaire many times over, thanks to his partnership at Goldman. But he’s served 10 years at BP and has initiated the search for someone to take the reins. Suddenly, the oil giant needs to accept the reality of life without him .
Talk to almost anyone at the top of BP, these past few years to realise what a powerhouse Peter Sutherland has been in the background. While the company has had a variety of issues in America, they have been operational. On personnel matters, notably the attempt by Lord Browne and his friends to get the chief executive’s term extended, and then Browne’s departure following his lying under oath, Sutherland has played a pivotal role. His contribution in bringing BP forward is something which few can dispute.
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(posted in the Commerce category)
Earth, This is Houston!
December 28, 2008, 2:02 amHouston is not for the faint of heart. It is a big city. No, it’s not New York or even LA, but it can be just as hot and hectic as either of those cities, in its own Texas kind of way. I lived in Houston for about 9 months when I was 20 years old. I was not prepared for the humidity and the heat. Sure, I was a Fort Worth girl, but Houston is bigger and hotter and more humid.
However, if you are a city person and can handle the heat or avoid the summer months, Houston has a lot to offer. Go look at HoustonGuide.com for some information on the city. It’s got everything you need for conventions and meetings. It’s something different for most people. The Texas hospitality is good. Texas isn’t quite the South and it isn’t quite the West. It’s a unique blend.
Of course, you have Six Flags, Astro World, and tons of sporting events. You’ve got museums, art exhibits, an aquarium and the Houston zoo. But I think the most unique attraction in Houston is the Space Center. There’s something you can’t see in every city! That’s Spacecenter.org. Even their web site is high tech.
The web site can give you a feel for the Space Center, but it’s nothing compared to actually going there and seeing it for yourself. Tickets are under $20. Right now, there’s a coupon for $2 off that you can print and take with you. The Space Center has attractions for kids, educational programs, historical information about astronauts and space ships, just about everything you can think of!
I can hardly wait to see their new Blastoff! It’s been described as “IMAX in 10D.” Sounds like that’s the way to see what space travel is all about. So, enjoy Houston, and be sure to see the Space Center while you’re there!
About this writer:
Alaura Mettarod loves to travel, even if it’s just a weekend trip to another Texas city. She reads science fiction and regularly takes her 2 boys to visit Houston’s Space Center. You can read more about Houston at Houston Info Guide
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Using Forums in South-East Asian Disasters
December 27, 2008, 9:53 pmWhen the Internet was invented, it was looked upon as a way to find information in online encyclopaedia, or to advertise marketing material, or to find basic information. In other words, everyone expected it to be a glorified, easily accessible encyclopaedia, with maybe a few experts easily accessible online.
What few people dreamed was that the Internet would rapidly transform the way we look at all communication.
By using forums and wikis online, we can transcend communications limitations. Instead of asking one person at a time a question, we can post it and wait for one of hundreds of people at the forum to answer. Instead of looking up different bits of information in hundreds of places, we’re finding it gathered together and easily accessible at wikis and forums.
This has been made dramatically clear by recent events. Instead of searching for a loved one in a major disaster through hundreds of different aid databases, worried relatives and friends can find them by posting a query online, or by checking online postings made by some of the lost themselves.
Forums have been a real blessing recently in disasters in Southeast Asia and on the Gulf Coast in North America. They may prove to be beneficial to the earthquake victims in Kashmir as well.
What Are Forums?
A forum is a site where anyone can post a message or question, and anyone else can read that message. In order to know who’s posting, forums require users to register with their site, but that’s a simple and straightforward process.
In exchange for your registration, you have access to news, information, personal messages, advice, ways to help, and ways to get help. In the Gulf Coast hurricane disasters, dozens of people located their family, children, or friends by using forums online.
Forums are generally moderated by human beings, so abusive messages (called “posts”) are eliminated and good information is encouraged. It also enables simple sorting and organization of information, so that users are able to easily find the information they need.
The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Forum
At the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Forum, you can access a great, well-developed forum with all kinds of information on the Southeast Asian tsunami and its victims, and the Kashmir earthquake. You can find data about tsunami and how they form, problems facing those delivering aid to Kashmir, and ways that you can help by donating your skills or cash to tsunami and earthquake aid agencies.
Some of the forum features offered include the following.
Resources For Tsunami and Earthquake Aid
If you really want to be able to donate your time, goods, or cash to tsunami relief, but you wanted more control over how the money was spent, this can be a great source of information for you. Because the tsunami affected so many different countries, including several with very little aid infrastructure, it can be a nightmare finding out where you can do the most good with your help.
The Kashmir earthquake presents a different set of problems that are just as intimidating. While the earthquake’s area was more limited and it has been pretty clear who was killed or lost in the disaster, it’s much more difficult to deliver aid to those suffering the after-effects due to the inaccessible areas, political problems, and the arrival of winter
A forum offering information on places where tsunami aid is still needed, or that tells you who you can contact in order to give them assistance, is a perfect way for you to target your assistance and ensure it gets to those who still need it.
Information About Tsunamis
If you don’t really understand tsunamis, you can post questions and get answers from people who have become reluctant experts on what tsunamis really do, as well as the natural mechanics of what drives them. You may also be able to find statistics on the damage and loss of life caused by the 2004 tsunami.
You can also ask questions about the situation in Kashmir about everything from maps to help you see why it’s so hard to get aid in to detailed information about those who still need help, or who haven’t even been reached yet by rescuers and aid agencies.
Finding Loved Ones
Whether you’re a missing person or you’re missing a loved one in the tsunami’s aftermath, a site where you can post messages to find everyone can be invaluable. If you’re halfway across the world, that goes double; it’s almost impossible to drop your whole life to look for your loved one at the site of a disaster.
The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami forum has an area where you can search out the ones you lost, and get information on other places you can look for them as well.
Donation Information
Last, and most importantly, the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami forum helps you find the most convenient and simple method for donating to your chosen cause. It also gives you a variety of different ways you can donate without even noticing, from taking advantage of the Donate while You Sleep program where a portion of the cash you pay to stay at a hotel is donated to charity, to information about how you can take advantage of new tax rules to donate even more.
Register Today
You can register at the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami forum for free so that you, too, can post to this forum. Your registration will make you part of this worldwide information sharing network. You’ll have access to the latest and most personal information possible on the Asian disasters, and you’ll be able to find ways to help that you can afford.
In addition, you can join a vibrant community of users who are all dedicated to one thing: the easing of suffering for those who have suffered so much.
If your free registration helped a single child, would you register? If your tiny little titbit of information helped someone on the other side of the world, would it be worth it?
There’s no guarantee that your registration will do anything. But there’s always the chance, and it costs you nothing.
Danny Wirken owns and runs www.tsunami.ws which is part of the 1000 strong online Community of www.444.net that critically reviews and rates millions of products in 11 countries and services for the benefit of other consumers. Available free of charge to consumers in local-language versions in major western European markets, more than 1.5 million consumers visit the 444 Network every month, making it one of the largest Blog Portals in Europe. The 444 Network also has far reaching charitable outlets from educating underprivileged children in South America to Disaster Relief in South East Asia.
Tsunami.ws is an example of an online company doing its best in making the world a slightly better place.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Kids Halloween Costumes! Your Pint-sized Witches And Goblins Can Look Their Spookiest & Cutest Ever
December 26, 2008, 9:23 pmIt’s not only the candy that puts smiles on kids’ faces on October 31st! It’s the fact that they love getting dressed up and scaring everyone along the way! Kids look cute in any sort of costume, but now that you can purchase their costume online, you’ll be able to find the best selection of kids Halloween costumes ever!
We can definitely say that Halloween is likely a kid’s favorite time of year, and why wouldn’t it be! They get to dress up as one of their favorite characters like Scooby Doo, or Pooh Bear, and go out and get the motherload of candy. Now just imagine how much happier they’ll be if the family can go online and look at halloween costume ideas together! With the click of a mouse, you can find classics like that cowboy costume, ninja, Batman, black cat, as well as the adorable Disney costumes, and don’t forget Bob the Builder! It’s that easy! Halloween shopping has never been so fun and stress free!
Find great costume accessories as easy as 1-2-3!
Not only will you find great costume ideas, but you’ll also see unique childrens costume accessories to accentuate that adorable Barbie doll dress, or that precious Princess gown. You’ll find a large variety of costume accessories from witches hats, ghoulish masks, pirates beards, and Mickey Mouse gloves, to all the standard items like wigs, shoes, and capes. You can obtain all these from our listed Halloween suppliers at outstanding online discounts!
Nothing is worse than running around town with your kids, and getting totally stressed out trying to find the perfect outfits! Also imagine all your time and gas you would be wasting in your journey’s, so by doing a quick search, you can find all your costume needs with fantastic online specials right here in one convenient location, you can put money back into your pocket, and stop paying for costumes at department store prices!
Tell your children to put their thinking caps on, because it’s time to expand their imagination of costume ideas for their next creation! Halloween is a special time that not only children will enjoy, but you will too! Buying kids costumes online is exciting, convenient, and so easy that you’ll wonder how you ever did without us!
About the author: Maria is the the author of “1st In Halloween Costumes” available at http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com. A great source for Kids Halloween Costumes online! Find fun kids costumes from pirate costumes, star wars costumes, and the harry potter costume, plus toddler costume ideas in one convenient location.
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Guilty!
December 26, 2008, 3:06 pmYou are Heading for the Slammer!
A colorful aspect of the Old Wests lore is the desperados who, between their stealing and pillaging, spent a good amount of time in town jails and territorial prisons. Locking up the bad guys (and gals) was a part of the frontier justice system and, as history tells, the confines of prison had a far more ominous story than what has been depicted in old-west films about jail-bird legends.
Many western prisons and jails were built in the mid- and late- 1800s, long before electricity, air conditioning and inmate rights. Some of these institutions still stand and are reminders of the hardships of living and surviving the punishment meted out to lawbreakers during frontier times. Many of the buildings are now historic landmarks and visitor attractions, while others are home to museums displaying a town or region’s history. One aspect of many of these historic structures is their architectural design, which often reflects the popular building styles of the era.
Yuma Arizona Territorial Prison State Historic Park
This facility opened on July 1, 1876 with seven inmates who were locked into rock and adobe cells. During its 33-year history Yuma housed 3,069 inmates, including 29 women. The crimes causing this incarceration ranged from murder to polygamy, with grand larceny being the most common offense.
Despite its infamous reputation, this facility was a model institution and offered prisoners many privileges that were unheard of in other penal institutions of the time. The most severe punishment extended was sentencing to a dark cell and only those who attempted escape were bound in ball and chains. Inmates had free time during which many made hand-crafted items which were sold at a public bazaar held at the prison following Sunday church services. Inmates also received regular medical attention, had access to good hospital facilities and they learned to read and write in the prison school. This facility housed one of the first public libraries in the territory. By 1907 the prison had exceeded its capacity and within two years all inmates had been transferred to a new facility in Florence.
The Yuma Territorial Prison is one of Arizonas most visited historic parks and operates as a living history museum. Group Travelers see the cells, main gate and guard tower. Interpretive guides offer insights into the history and lore of the prison and territory. Contact: 928-783-4771, www.desertusa.com/yuma/du_yumatp or (Yuma CVB) 800-293-0071, www.visityuma.com
Museum of Colorado Prisons
It is not surprising that you will find this states prison museum located in Canon City adjacent to Colorados oldest prison, which opened in 1871. It became a Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in 1874 and is still in operation as a minimum security facility. The original prison was known as the Hell Holes and incarcerated the regions most hardened criminals of the time. It was witness to 77 executions and home to notorious inmates like Alfred Parker, the only man convicted of cannibalism in the United States; and the 11-year-old murderer, Anton Woode. The Prison Museum is housed in the first Colorado Womens Correctional Facility, which was built in 1935. Adding to the drama of learning about prison life, past and present, museum galleries are located in 32 prison cells. Some of the more dramatic artifacts displayed include the hangmans noose used at the last execution by this method and an early version of the gas chamber. There is a collection of weapons confiscated from inmates, disciplinary p raphernalia used from 1871 to present times and many rare historic photographs depicting prison life. The museum has a gift shop which features inmate-created arts and crafts. Contact: 719-269-3015, www.prisonmuseum.org or (Canon City Chamber) 800-876-7922,www.canoncity.com/visitors. Old Idaho Penitentiary
The Idaho Territory was less than ten years old when its territorial prison was built in 1870 east of Boise. The penitentiary grew from a single cell house into a complex of several distinctive buildings surrounded by a high sandstone wall. Convicts quarried the stone from the nearby ridges and completed all construction as it expanded throughout its history. During its century of operation, the penitentiary received more than 13,000 convicts, including 215 women. And, it had its share of personalities, including Butch Cassidy.
Life was very hard at this prison which had sparse facilities, heavy-handed authority and was void of most modern conveniences. One of the better inmate work duties was to be assigned to the 50-plus acre prison farm and nursery which produced most of the food for the institution. These grounds were located just outside the prison walls and are now part of the Idaho Botanical Gardens. Another positive aspect, and in contrast to the stark and barren prison atmosphere, was its nursery stock rose gardens which were planted for a commercial grower who was testing new varietals.
The conditions under which the inmates lived sparked a general riot in 1971 and an even more severe riot in 1973. The result of these conflicts was the closure of the old prison and the move of the entire population to a new facility located south of Boise. The Old Idaho Penitentiary is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and tours of the grounds and its rose gardens are available to the public. Various buildings are open, including some cell houses, the solitary confinement building, death row and the gallows. There are displays on the history of the prison as well as Idaho Transportation and the History of Electricity in Idaho. Group Travel Blog
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(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas For Your Mom
December 25, 2008, 8:59 amThe job is motherhood.
We all have a mother. With our lives as busy as they are we can forget to tell our mom how great she is. Luckily, one day a year is reserved as a special tribute to our teacher, our biggest fan and maybe even our best friend. So is there a gift special enough for that special lady? What could you possibly send her to convey your appreciation for her years of kissing boo-boos, finding lost shoes and letting you live through your teen years?
For the answer, let’s look at your mom. What are the other loves of her life? When she’s not completely engrossed in you, what does she like to do? Is it reading, gardening, art, or shopping? The answer to the perfect gift lies within her.
Does her perfect day involve digging through dirt and talking to insects? If she loves to garden a gardening basket will be a sure hit. It celebrates the coming spring as well as her years of selfless dedication. How about a basket filled with seed packets, gardening gloves, a garden tool or two and some sweet treats. She’ll think about you with every newly opened bloom.
Does your mom have a sweet tooth? Is she the one with a secret stash of her favorite chocolates? A basket stuffed with all the sweet favorites she craves should make her smile. If you really want to spoil her you can give her some of those gourmet chocolates she’s always dropping hints about. Add some tissue paper for filling and a nice bow to make it pretty and she’ll be completely impressed.
Every mom enjoys a night out of the kitchen. What’s her favorite restaurant? A gift certificate or even better, a date for dinner with you is sure to be a special gift. If your mom is more of a homebody, surprise her with take out from that restaurant. Either way her cravings are satisfied, the kitchen stays clean, and she gets to spend time with you.
The gift of relaxation is one that every mom deserves. Make it easy for her to find peace with a nice spa basket. Fill it with luxurious bath beads, bath salt, a real sponge and a big fluffy towel. Add some candles and a CD of mood music and relaxation is hers.
To some tea is an art. If that describes your mom’s feelings about tea, give her a gift she’ll love. Make her a tea basket. Gather some of her favorites; add a special teacup and a maybe a sentimental book dedicated to motherhood. The soothing scents and flavors will give her a moment of bliss in a busy day.
If you want to get your mom the best gift of all you don’t have to search far. Most moms just want to be with their kids. Spend some time with her on this special day. Make your gift to her a day spent with you. Have lunch, take in a movie, go shopping or something else she likes to do. Give her your time. It’s the most precious gift any of us has to give.
Sharon Lauer is a free lance writer and the marketing director for http://www.everyoccasiongiftshop.com and http://www.simplythebestbaskets.com She regularly writes articles on various aspects of gifts and gift giving.
—admin | Comments Off
(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
Packing Tips
December 24, 2008, 9:36 pmPacking is an art form in itself. Experienced travelers have perfected this art over the years so they can carry just a small bag and still have all that they need on vacation. Here are ten tips to help you pack for your next vacation.
1. Prepare a packing list in advance. One packing list for each traveler and a list of common things. Each list should be separated to a list of things you are going to check in, and a list of things you will carry on the plane with you. Mark on each list the things you can only put in the bag in the last minute, such as a toothbrush you intend to use at home before the flight. Make another list of things you need to take out of your wallet or bag before the flight, such as knives, tear gas or any other object that is not allowed on the flight.
2. Make a list of the bags you will take, and make sure well in advance that you can find them and that they are in good condition. Maybe since you last used them you lent a bag to someone and forgot. A bag could have been damaged by moisture or insects in storage. It could also be damaged since your last trip, but you didn’t notice or forgot.
A small hole can get worse when handled by the airport staff, and it’s not a pleasant experience to see your bag’s content spill on the floor. Make any repairs necessary before going.
Make sure the size of the bags complies with the airline regulations. I checked regulations on Swiss and on American airlines. Each company has slightly different rules, and these change from time to time. Read the following as a general guide. After you book your ticket check the website of the company you fly with.
The regulations at this moment are: For flights within Europe:
Carry on baggage – 20×40x55 cm, 8Kg maximum
Checked baggage – dimensions up to 203cm (sum of length, height and width), 20Kg per person, max 32 Kg per piece
For trans-Atlantic flights:
The weight per passenger checked luggage is 23Kg, but dimensions are maximum 158cm for the first piece and 273cm for the two pieces together.
Carry on up to 18Kg (40lbs).
For internal US flights:
Each passenger is allowed two checked bags and one carry on.
Two checked bags at 62 in/157 cm each
One carry-on bag at 45 in/114 cm
3. Take clothes that are easy to wash and dry, as little ironing as possible. If you must carry a business suite, use a special bag, or put it above all the other clothes and take it out of the bag the moment you arrive in the hotel.
Don’t take clothes that you don’t wear at home. You will probably not wear them on your trip either.
4. If you intend to spend much time at the beach or by the swimming pool, consider taking more than one bathing suite with you. A bathing suite doesn’t weigh much, and if one bathing suite is damp, you can use the other one. It is also good to have backup in case of any damage to your bathing suite.
On the other hand – I know someone who deliberately “forgets” her bathing suite at home, so she just has to buy a new one…
5. It is very important to take the right shoes with you on a trip. Good walking shoes can make all the difference. You need one pair of good walking shoes, preferably not new shoes. When you start planning a trip, ask yourself what shoes you’re going to take. If you have a pair in mind, wear them and walk in them for 2-3 hours at least. If your feet and your back feel good, and you like the way the shoes look – these are your travel shoes. If not, try another pair or buy new shoes and walk in them until you get used to them. People suffering from back problems or foot problems should consider insoles for foot support.
If you are going to hike – you need hiking boots. For the evening you would want nicer looking evening shoes. For a trip, I would sacrifice some elegance for comfort. At home you may drive to the door of the restaurant and not walk more that a few feet to the table. On a trip you may want to take a stroll before or after dinner, and you don’t want your high heels to get stuck in the cobble stones.
Other shoes you could want to take with you are slippers or sandals for the shower or the beach. If you jog or exercise, you may want shoes for that too.
Your walking shoes or hiking boots will be on your feet during the flight. Take the most comfortable shoes to the flight. Make sure it is easy to take these shoes off, in case you are required to do so at the airport. If your luggage is very heavy, consider wearing the heaviest shoes, so the luggage is not overweight.
6. Pack your socks rolled up inside your shoes. This way they are not taking up space, and they also help maintain the shape of the shoes.
7. There are two approaches to packing clothes. One approach is to spread them flat one on top of the other. Take all the shirts, spread them, and then fold the sleeves of the bottom shirt over the others to get a stack of shirts the size of your bag. Pants also go one over another, and than the whole stack folded together. This way you have minimum folding creases. It’s good if you hang your clothes. If you keep your clothes folded on shelves you will need to refold them anytime you unpack.
The other approach is to fold everything as square as possible, fitting the size of the bag, so the bag is filled.
8. Take what you need for the first day in your carry on bag. Lost luggage is not common these days, but it still can happen. If it happens to you, don’t let it ruin the first day of your trip. Take your tooth brush, shaving utensils, basic cosmetics, a change of clothes and anything you may need on your first day with you.
If you have a printed page with directions to your hotel or important telephone numbers, take them with you.
9. Insure your luggage. If the luggage is stolen or damaged, it’s good to be able to replace it. Even so, don’t check in expensive or sensitive items. Take your new camera with you – it’s the safest.
10. Don’t take big bottles of shampoo, hair conditioner etc. There are small travel size bottles, or you can take some of the bottles content with you in a smaller bottle. Overweight will cost you more than buying a new bottle of shampoo at the destination.
—admin | Comments Off
(posted in the Hall Of Travel category)
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