the puppy files: what to look for in a breeder

December 7th, 2011 by Liam Sowden

Hint: They drill you as much as you drill them!

After deciding that we were ready for a puppy and that we wanted to get a Labradoodle, we began researching dog breeders. I heard lots of cautionary tales — and horror stories — about puppy mills and unsafe breeding practices. I followed my gut on a lot of things. I was not about to order a puppy online. I wouldn’t get a dog from a breeder who wouldn’t let us visit. And, though I know lots of people do this, I couldn’t imagine picking a dog up from an airport. I want to

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BluRay Players For Christmas – Remember The BluRay HDMI Cables

December 3rd, 2011 by Spencer Beor

BluRay (also spelt Blu-Ray or Blue Ray or Blu Ray) players are one of the popular family gifts this Christmas.

And why not? Prices have come tumbling down to ridiculously low levels. You can get a quality BluRay player with a lot of bells and whistles for around $200 like this one I bought during the summer from Sony.

A friend of mine is thinking that this would make a great Christmas gift for the kids this year (but I cant tell you who the friend is in case the kids stumble on to this article about BluRay players for Christmas ).

Yet, even with the low prices, if you forget one accessory you will be wasting your money.

Necessary Accessory for BluRay Player.

If you are considering buying a BluRay player for someone this holiday season, for yourself as a Christmas gift from you to you (why not?

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GHS Guide to Soil Testing and Soil, Part 3

December 2nd, 2011 by Jasmine Mashman

GHS Guide to Soil Testing and Soil, Part 3

Soil is such a deep subject that it can seem like you’ll never get to the bottom of it. But you eventually do: it’s called bedrock. All levity aside, in this, our third and final newsletter about soil, we’re going to talk about mulching, a very important practice for keeping your soil healthy, and one that is perfect to do right now.

The Magic of Mulching

Mulching is almost as important as adding compost when it comes to fostering healthy soil. As B. Dean

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Pattern and Print

November 29th, 2011 by Liam Sowden

Mixing it up with patterns and prints is something I love to do. I’ve even reupholstered chairs in multiple patterns. It’s not surprising, then, that I found Pattern and Print alluring. They sell everything from scarves (beautiful!) and paper accessories to items for the home. Since this is a home decor blog, I’ll focus on those, but if you’re a scarfie (and I am for sure!), check them out — with your credit card far away so you’re not tempted.

Here are a few of the home goods that caught my eye. Which ones

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Ikea Table Leg Hardware Hacked Into Desk Accessories

November 25th, 2011 by Jasmine Mashman

Terence on Ikea Hacker used spare parts from his Utby table legs to make an uber-industrial tape dispenser and paperclip holder.

The two hacks here are a tape dispenser and a paper clip dispenser. With the spare parts from the Utby stainless steel legs I made the tape dispenser with nuts, bolts, and a roll of tape. The paper clip dispenser just has a magnet glued on the inside of the square tube.

How to Avoid House Painting Nightmares

November 23rd, 2011 by Spencer Beor

  • Preparation is essential to get a quality paint job.
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