We all enjoy camping out under the stars and pale moon. Am I right or am I right? There’s not a human being alive that doesn’t adore a good bout with Mother Nature. Just lounging by the campfire, singing a tune and soaking up the peace and quiet. Alright, I admit that there may be a few folks that don’t enjoy the outdoors. As for the rest of us, we need that relaxing break from the “real world” chaos and stress. And with the right outdoor camping equipment, a trip up into the wilderness can be an utter blast. Everyone get your tents, sleeping bags and flashlights ready - we’re headed outdoors.

Less than a month ago I was camping in a nearby woods with my daughter. She was the only one of my family members I could get to go with me. Fortunately she loved the experience. We’re lucky to have a friend that owns a large portion of land and he lets us camp on it whenever we please. Now, you may be wondering why we ventured out into the bush during the winter season. Hey, no one ever said camping was forbidden in February. You simply have to go prepared with the right outdoor camping equipment. Pay attention and I’ll tell you what these consist of.

First you need to dress for the cold weather. Wear what you feel comfortable in outdoors. Heavy coats, stocking caps and gloves are generally essential this time of the year. And be certain you wear shoes that function well over outdoor terrain. Insulated hiking boots are perfect. Then there’s the tent. There are plenty of outstanding tents on the market that withstand strong winds and harsh weather. Choose one suitable to your number of campers. Down sleeping bags are great. These babies will definitely keep you warm and cozy all night long. A must when it comes to winter outdoor camping equipment. Don’t forget to pack plenty of suitable cuisine. And finally there are the flashlights and matches. Personally, I believe Surefire flashlights are the best in the business. Refer to their website for more information. And while “strike anywhere” matches are great and convenient, I do recommend a weather proof lighter such as one from Brunton or Windmill. These are phenomenal.

So there you have it. All the outdoor camping equipment you’ll need to survive the winter weather. A few other places you can search for these products are R.E.I. and Tadgear.com. Happy camping!

There are so many aspects to owning a home that it is hard to think through all of them when you are in the market to buy another one. My husband and I spent twelve years remodeling a five bedroom rambler on 20 acres. First we had water problems in the crawl space under the house. We raised the house and put in several more courses of blocks to make a complete basement.  This opened up many additional possibilities regarding what we could do with this additional space.

Initially we thought that we would just leave the space unfinished. We decided that we did need to have some source of heat in the area due to our harsh winters. We had a wood stove and electric base board heat on the main level. It was very expensive to heat the entire house with electricity and quite inconvenient to try to heat continually with wood. We decided that we would install an energy efficient gas furnace. As the man was installing the furnace he mentioned that he would include vents in the duct work that would accommodate central air conditioning, if we would decide to install this at a later date. He went on to tell us that we would save money having them both installed at the same time because we would not have to have them come back out and pay the labor cost. We had talked about having central air conditioning. We live in Minnesota, so we do not have that many days when we need the central air conditioning, but it is helpful to have it going to help remove the moisture from the air. We do get quite humid weather in the summer months.

Within six months of having our home exactly as we wanted it we found a lake house that was very appealing to both of us. We stumbled upon it be mistake. The house was over a hundred years old and needed some cosmetic work done to it. The couple had it listed with the understanding that they were going to replace the furnace because the existing one was not working properly. We offered them less money than they were asking for because we would buy our own furnace. We wanted to install central air conditioning at the same time. They accepted the lower offer. We placed our home up for sale and sold it within 72 hours. Everything fell into place so well.

We are glad that we had the central air conditioning installed at the lake.  Cool breezes do come off the lake, but the humidity by the water will warp the wood moldings. The air conditioned air is much more comfortable to be in. We are glad we had it installed and we are glad that we are now living on the lake.

As the world heats up, people are starting to rethink their priorities. I have worked air conditioning jobs for about ten years now, doing everything from selling air conditioner units to installing them, fixing them and designing them.  I have definitely seen a shift in the consumer attitude. Back in the day, central air conditioning used to be a must have for anyone with the money to afford it. It was a great luxury to be able to cool your house to 60 degrees during the hottest weeks of the summer.

On the other hand, portable air conditioners such as window air conditioner units were a tough sell. You could sell them to students and people who lived in one room apartments, but anyone with more space than that would probably want central air. It is funny, as the temperature starts to rise, people are starting to buy less and less powerful air conditioner units. Nowadays, most people simply buy a window air conditioner unit for any room they are likely to spend a lot of time in. They will cool off the living room while they are there, then turn on a little bit of ac in the bedroom at night.

It seems like there are a couple reasons for this change. A lot of people see it as evidence that people are starting to understand how much damage our energy over use is starting to do and they have a point. Cooling the whole house when you are only using a small part of it is quite wasteful. Beyond that, people are trying to save money. The economy is in bad shape, and fuel prices are going up and up. This has made a lot of people nervous about rising electric costs. They buy smaller air conditioner units so that, when the big spike in electricity costs hits, they will still be able to afford to cool their houses.

This change in the industry has not been drastic or universal, but it is definitely a trend that has people interested. It seems like some of the central air heating and cooling shops are getting nervous and offering lower rates than ever so.  If you want to set up your house, this is a better time than ever to do it. Still, you might want to rethink your priorities too. The world is changing quickly.

It is amazing to me how much weather can affect some people. I live in Minnesota. Our weather is a topic of conversation daily. In the winter we have severe snow storms and sub-zero temperatures. The road conditions and bitter cold is life threatening. Often times the weather portion of the news, is the news for a particular day. In the summer the high temperatures along with the humidity creates heat indexes in the triple digits. Most people are used to our extremes and realize that no matter what you plan or when you plan it you had better have a back up in case of bad weather.

This winter I started a job working with disabled individuals in an apartment complex. The week I started the temperatures reached a day time high of 20 degrees below zero. I went to meet several of the residents that day. When one woman told me to come in I felt like I had just walked back outside. She had two air conditioner units running on high speed. She told me she had been having hot flashes, so she borrowed her neighbor’s air conditioner units out of storage. She said the landlord took hers because she turned it up too high in the fall. The heat was pouring out of the registers because she kept the thermostat set at 80. She said the higher heat made the air conditioner units run more.

We discussed her hot flashes and some natural and herbal remedies that she could try. I explained that her utility bill would be extremely high if she kept running the heat and the air conditioner units on high. She agreed to return the units to storage and to turn the thermostat down.  The next week I went to see her and again it was freezing in the apartment. She had followed through in getting rid of the air conditioner units, but this time she had the windows opened wide to the sub zero temperatures. She was sitting wrapped in a blanket and in her underwear. She said when she got hot she threw off the blanket. She shared that she has always enjoyed wrapping up in a blanket and the only way she could do this is if it was freezing cold in the room.

I have a feeling that I am going to have a very interesting summer with this client. I cannot imagine how she is going to handle the heat and humidity of July and August. She would be a great person to send to the North Pole to do research.

The Adidas track jacket the perfect addition to any work out wardrobe. Whether you are an avid runner or you just like to take the occasional stroll, this jacket helps you work out in comfort. There are more than a handful of options when it comes to this kind of product and you can find an Adidas track jacket right from the comfort of your personal computer.

Awhile ago, I was on the hunt for the perfect fleece hooded jacket for my workout. The days begin chilly around here and I initially figured that a sweat suit jacket would be the best bet. After purchasing a cheap fleece number I decided that I had better look to the pros for a better option. I stumbled on the Adidas track jacket.

The main problem I had with the sweat shirt material was that I got very hot very quickly. Fleece is designed to keep body heat close to the skin. While working up a good sweat is ideal, I really don’t want to do it all within the first five minutes of my warm up. The fleece wound up working against me in the long run.

The first time I tried on the Adidas track jacket, I knew I had a winner. The material is light weight and works to keep me warm enough to brave the chilly morning air, but it is light enough to help me maintain a natural body temperature during my workout.  Comfort isn’t the only reason that I opted to replace my old fleece number for an Adidas track jacket. Looks are important, too. I wanted something that was colorful and fun to lift my mood before my workout. I also wanted an item that could be worn to the store or to a casual lunch with a friend.

The Adidas track jacket is lovely. I chose a buttery yellow color that works well with my complexion. The bright yellow color is the perfect pick-me-up in the morning. I also chose the yellow Adidas track jacket because it is easily spotted by others even during the darkest dawns.

I feel that I have gotten two jackets in one. I can wear the Adidas track jacket during any outdoor workout activity, during a stroll or even out to the store. Cleaning the item is a breeze and no matter what, I feel comfortable and confident. This is one of my all time favorite pieces of workout clothing that I have ever owned.

Are you thinking of buying an oil heater for the winter season? Here are some reminders in what you should look for.  Size is an important consideration. Will your oil heater be big enough to heat an entire room? While a smaller unit could heat up a bedroom, a lounge or wider area would need more powerful watt model.  Think about performance. Since oil heaters work by convection, purchasing a model with a built in fan will better mix the air and provide a stable temperature.

Is it easy to work? The controls on an oil heater should be fairly easy to find, to access and to use. Are the control markings easy to read? How many settings does it have? The more the better, as that means you will have more control over the temperature.  A timer feature available in some models is very handy, as you can program the oil heater in advance to warm up a certain area. Coming home or waking up to an already warm room is a very convenient feature and might be worth the extra cost. Also, some timers have the ability to turn the heater off after a given time thus preventing the room become too hot.

Is the oil heater easily movable from one place to another? Some oil heaters are heavier than others, while some have castors or wheels for easier transportation.  Some oil heaters come with a detachable drying rack in which you can put clothes on top of the rack, nearby the oil heater to dry them. This is a special feature worth entertaining if it’s something you could use. Remember, it is unsafe to drape clothes on top of an oil heater itself without a special detachment, as the unit could overheat.

Safety is another important factor to weigh. Although an oil heater is usually safe because of the low temperature, you can never be too careful. Look for wide flat fins, fins with casing or protective heat shields. One with narrow exposed fins can become quite hot, even unsafe if not constantly monitored.  Be extra careful if you have small children in the house. Narrow fins should be avoided altogether, and shorter designs suggested; a tall and narrow finned oil heater falling on a child would be disastrous.

Try and find an oil heater with a tilt switch as well as a thermal cutout option. Though more expensive, these features do promote safety. A tilt switch will ensure that the oil heater will be turned off if it gets overturned thus preventing possible fires, burnings or injuries. A thermal cutout will automatically turn the heater off it overheats.  When choosing an oil heater, make sure it’s safe and effectively warms the room using the latest technology. It is a nice, cozy and warm investment for the winter season.

My neighbor and I were looking for projects that we could do that would occupy the long winter months as well as provide a service to the community. We both enjoy sewing and beading so we were hoping that we could find projects that would incorporate one or both of these activities. We contacted the local nursing home and asked if they were in need of anything that we could make. We were told that many of the residents have poor circulation so they are often cold. This is especially true for the residents that are confined to wheelchairs. Many of them are covered with lap blankets throughout the day. The staff suggested that we could make lap quilts for the residents. The staff gave us the size for the lap quilts so that they would not get caught in the wheels of the chairs.

The lap quilts were a perfect project. They were small enough that they could be completed rather quickly and were also portable so we could get together at each other homes and bring our lap quilts along. I had several pieces of fabric from past quilting projects, so I decided to make a crazy quilt pattern for the tops of the first two lap quilts. I pieced together the fabric pieces in random patterns. I then bought a complementary fabric for the back of the quilt and a soft batting to place in the middle. After I had the top completed I pieced the top, batting and bottom together and traced a simple quilting design on the top of the quilt. I then used an embroidery hoop to keep the fabrics together and began hand quilting along the traced design. The lap quilts are a great size to work with because they are compact to have on your lap as you are sewing.

When I had my lap quilts together I called my neighbor to see how she was doing with her project. She said that she did not have supplies at home and that she would be going to the fabric store the next day to make her purchases. When we woke up the next morning there was a foot of snow on the ground and the wind was causing white out conditions. There was a no travel advisory out for the area. During a lull in the storm our door bell rang. The neighbors had walked over to get some fresh air. I had been hand sewing one of the lap quilts and had the other basted and ready to go. My neighbor asked if she could start working on this quilt to have something to do on the long winter afternoon. It was a great way to spend a snowy day. My husband built a fire in the fireplace and the guys played cribbage as we worked on the lap quilts. Once the hand sewing is completed I will place a solid color binding along the edge to complete the projects for the nursing home.

The common cold is something that we all have to deal with at least a few times a year. If you are lucky, you will only get one or two per year, or perhaps the ones you get will be very mild. I know that I am lucky in that respect, but there are occasions when a cold gets the best of me. My daughter has been very fortunate as well, as her colds are often very quick and they aren’t very nasty. I know we are the exception and I also know that once in a while a cold comes along that knocks just about everyone from their feet.

A common cold is far from common. Each time you get one you are getting a different one. The same cold cannot be passed back to you. If you were sick, and then your family got sick, and then you got sick again, you are not getting the same cold back. Once your body gets rid of a cold, you are immune to that particular strain. If you come down with the common cold again, it is not the same one you had the first time. Sadly, there seems to be no end to the colds going around and getting one right after getting over another can easily happen.

There is nothing you can do to get rid of the common cold, but you can help with the symptoms. There are many medications out there that deal with the symptoms. When you have the common cold, you are dealing with any number of symptoms that are truly dreadful. You can buy medications to get rid of all of them or just the few that seem to be bothering you the most. Some refuse to take medications because they think they are stopping the cold from running it’s course. I don’t know if that is true, but I do know that when you can’t breath, you have to take something.

The common cold is not common in the sense that it can lead to more. Those who do not take care of themselves when they have a cold can end up with pneumonia or bronchitis. The cold may even be the beginnings of one of those two things. You may have what you think is a common cold, but you do not seem to be getting better after a week or two, you should go in to see your doctor to make sure something more serious is not going on. If you have something more, you want to take care of it as soon as you can.

There is nothing that reminds me of fall like chocolate apples. My parents were very strict about candy. They would never let us eat it. They said that it caused tooth rot. During Halloween, I was only allowed to have three pieces of chocolate candy a day. Anymore, my parents said, and all my teeth would fall out.  Chocolate apples were the exception. We did not get to have them all the time, but nonetheless we would eat them every year. We would go to the fair where they would have caramel apples and chocolate apples. It was great. The air was crisp, there were rides and games and each kid got to have one treat. My sister would always have cotton candy, but I would not waste my treat on such trivialities. I would always get a chocolate apple. One time I got a caramel apple instead, but it just did not compare. Nothing tastes like chocolate apples taste!

We lived in that same town until I was an adult. I remember taking one of my girlfriends to get chocolate apples at the fair. She was from a bigger city. The county fair was something totally new to her. The only chocolate apples that she ever had growing up were bought from the store. They were prepackaged, cold and often stale. She had not known the joy of freshly dipped chocolate apples.

Chocolate apples, must be done in the right way or there is no point. Unlike normal chocolate candies, chocolate apples cannot just sit there on the shelf. You need to start with a big, juicy, gourmet apple. Then you dip it straight into the chocolate. You give it just enough time to start to cool and then you eat it. If I wait around for even a day, it is no good. The apple starts to get mealy and mushy, and the chocolate starts to get brittle. Only freshly dipped chocolate apples will do. If you can’t get them fresh at the fair, there is no point in getting them at all.  I have had many chocolate fruits my life, but the chocolate apple is my favorite. Chocolate covered strawberries can be good and chocolate cherries can be divine, but none of them can compare. It has to be chocolate covered apples or nothing, and you have to get them in a little town like the one I grew up in.

Many of us remember the trusty humidifier from childhood, sitting humbly near the bedside during the cold and flu season. Dry and scratchy throats often benefited from a humidifier filled with water and vapor medication. Although they are commonly designed to regulate the air moisture content for medical reasons, humidifiers are also used for much more then yearly colds. Found in museums, greenhouse gardens and homes with dry conditions.  These devices, also known as evaporators and vaporizers, protect delicate objects from the damaging effects of heat.

Antique or expensive furniture may eventually suffer from splintering, cracking, warping and paint chipping if the air around it is too dry. When placed in an appropriate location, a humidifier can extend the life of your furniture for many years, preserving it to be passed down to the next generation.  While indoor home use is most common, gardeners also use humidifiers in their greenhouses to keep certain varieties of plants moist and healthy. Many types of foliage need some condensation on them in order to grow strong and a humidifier is the perfect tool to achieve beautiful robust plants.

With the diversity of uses for the humidifier, you may think that it’s a complicated and difficult machine to operate. Surprisingly, there are only three components to be taken into consideration - a reservoir, wick and fan. Each part plays a crucial role in successfully operating the humidifier and should therefore be completely understood.

Starting at the base of the machine, you will first find a reservoir. Either square or round, the reservoir is a large bowl made from a durable plastic. This piece of equipment holds the water intended to be converted to soothing water droplets. Sore throats or stuffed up noses can be nursed with the addition of a medicated vapor substance.  Water sitting in the reservoir is likely to have unhealthy bacteria living in it, so a filter is needed.  This is where the wick comes in. “Wick” simply means filter. It siphons out all the dirt and debris so that you don’t inhale them.  Standing water and a filter alone won’t do much, which is why you need a fan. Usually located at the top of the machine, the fan pushes the evaporating droplets through the air.

There are other parts to the humidifier, such as the heating unit.  You needn’t worry about that, since you’ll probably never find cause to go that deeply into the device.  To operate, simply unclip the fan wick component and fill with water to the designated “full” mark. Replace the top and turn the dial to the desired humidity level.  Convenient and easy to use, the humidifier has a variety of purposes, such as furniture preserver, greenhouse accessory and medical instrument.  You may even find that the humidifier you purchased for a cold will also come in handy for growing plants or keeping Grandma’s old rocking chair intact. Best of all, the three components are easily understood and make your use of the device easy.