History of antique clocks

There are number of people or association who are enthusiastic about collecting of antique clocks. The history of antique clocks would be informative and useful for them.
These are the events that started the history of antique clocks.
The majority of clocks that were made from the 15th to the middle of the17th century are now mostly in museums and a small percentage in different individuals' private collection. Most people love the look of an old antique clock but don't necessarily know an awful lot about them.

Those antique clocks that were made during the 1800's through the early 1900's are more in number since the periods mentioned were the time when clocks and watches were produced in mass quantities. Antique clocks from the mid 1600s still exist. Some of these are worth well over $70,000. Some extremely rare models are worth over $100,000


History of antique clocks:

The history of antique clocks that are mechanical can be traced back to the medieval period. People at that time heard the sound of the mechanical tower clocks that told them it was time for them to say their prayers. Because of this, the movements of the people in the city became more organized and synchronized. And they soon realized that clocks are an integral part of a civilization.

European monks invented the first mechanical clocks back in the late 13th century. These clocks did not have pendulums, or even hands. They only make a sound every hour. It was only after a century did the clock with hands and dials were invented. The scientist Galileo also contributed to the history of antique clocks. He discovered the pendulum. He created a clock design with a swinging pendulum but he died before making the clock. It was only in 1645 when the pendulum was added to the clock. And this was done by Christian Huygens. Today, these clocks are considered as antiques and many antique clock collectors would pay for a high price just to get one of these ancient clocks.

Related: 'antiqueroyale.com'

Artistic cars around the world

Art means diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities. Common view of art refers to painting, film, photography, sculpture, and other visual media. Music, theatre, dance, literature, and interactive media are popular forms of art.
What about artistic cars or vehicles with artistic approach? This article is about cars with different designs and color combinations which will amuse you.

Why people art cars? Simple answer is that art plays an integral part in our lives and thus public can see this art form on the road every day.

Let's have fun watching few artistic cars:

Now search more at sites or links related to art on cars.
'Art Car' is hosted by Costas Schuler aka 'The Pen Guy' creator of the Mercedes Pens Art Car covered in over 10,000 pens. Art Car Central is a blog about art cars, art bicycles, art motorcycles, mutant vehicles, videos and any other artistically altered vehicles.

 'Art Car Fest' is a festival for Art Cars, which are registered and insured vehicles that an artist has permanently altered in an artistic fashion.  The purpose of this art festival is to bring art into the world everyday as these cars are driven to work, and on the highways.
'Art Car Fest' is the only festival in the world of its kind.

Read more:20 of the World’s Most Awesome Art Cars: From Cupcake Scooters to Cat Cruisers
* 'Air Brush.com' is Australia's professional airbrush production shop. They also air brush the vehicles.

* BMW Art Cars

* Driven by Design A professional designers site. http://weburbanist.com/2008/08/03/20-of-the-worlds-most-awesome-art-cars/?ref=search http://www.burningman.com/art_of_burningman/art_cars_on_the_playa.html http://www.orangeshow.org/art-car/

Indoor plants for urban homes

There are many species of plants that can be grown indoors. To select best species you need to determine what kind of plants you prefer to decorate your house. In urban environment, living plants have become part of the interior decoration. Among many species there are large leaves or small leaves plants, flowering plants or ferns, vines etc to select. 

Best Species of indoor plants for interior decoration:

Large-leaved species such as rubber plants (Ficus elastica), Monstera deliciosa, dumb-cane (Dieffenbachia amoena), and Philodendron are especially suited to commercial building interiors. They provide the size required to make them focal points in interior landscaping.

These large leaved-plants, as well as flowering house plants, tropical house plants , and smaller specimens such as ferns , vines, and ivies can serve a similar purpose in the home or apartment. 

Ficus elastica or Rubber Plant is popular as a house plant, however, because of its large, leathery, glossy leaves that can grow to 8 in (20 cm) long or more -- and because it is so easy to grow. 

Thanksgiving Cactus :Thanksgiving Cactus is a member of the Cactaceae family.

Flat stem segments are long and narrow and connected by a mid-rib. Its deeply indented stems look like crab claws, giving it a second common name, Crab Cactus. In late fall, it bears big, beautiful flowers, which may be red, pink, peach, orange, white, or bicolored.

Fuchsia: Fuchsia plant  is vibrant, eye-catching indoor plan which you can hang near a window, where it'll get filtered sunlight. If you hang it outdoors, keep it in a shady location. 

Chenille Plant: Fuzzy, tassel-like blooms spill over the sides of the container, making this captivating plant an ideal hanging basket plant -- and a sure conversation starter. Hang chenille plant in a bright window and you'll have a show of blooms from spring through fall.

 Zebra Plant has outrageously bold striped foliage and, for 6 weeks in autumn, vibrant yellow flowers emerge from golden bracts for a scene-stealing performance. In the wild it thrives in the regular downpours of the Brazilian rain forest. It will also do well indoors if the humidity is high.

More hanging basket plants.

African Violet

African violets, obviously native to Africa, were introduced to Europe in the late nineteenth century. These fuzzy favorites come in hundreds of varieties and grow well in bathrooms and kitchens as they love humidity.

Bromeliad

Bromeliads thrive on neglect as they can endure a wide range of indoor conditions with minimal care. They bloom only once in their lifetime and the flower lasts for about three months. Once it flowers, the plant stops producing leaves and grows other baby plants that grow and flower in two to three years.

Lady Slipper Orchids: Lady Slipper Orchids are among the few terrestrial orchids commonly grown indoors. Its unusual blossoms have a slipper-shaped pouch that is often in a contrasting color to the rest of the flower. It has long, flaring side petals and a showy dorsal sepal (that's the top part of the bloom). Bloom time varies with the species. Flowers last for several weeks and range in color from soft pastels to any exotic combination of rich, earthy tones.

Jelly Bean Plant (Sedum rubrotinctum) are often grown as Houseplants. These are called succulents or water-retaining plants. 

Moth Orchid: Thrives in high humidity, lots of light (but not hot, mid-day sun) and thorough waterings with, unlike many types of houseplants, almost complete drying out between.

Peace Lily: It's also said to remove mold spores in the air, making it great for bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms; purifying the air of trichloroethylene, a chemical found in cleaners and solvents; and removing alcohols, acetone, and formaldehyde. It prefers lots of water, less often and bright, indirect light.

Boston Fern is a classic. This is the most popular of the fern species that originated in Central America and became a fast favorite in parlors and porches in North America during the Victorian era.

Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant: It's tall, sword-shaped leaves make stunning vertical accents among a group of leafy, bushy plants. And, because of its ability to tolerate low light levels and low humidity, sansevieria is an extremely adaptable house plant.

These plants brighten up the home-space and create a healthy home environment. They purify and renew the indoor stale air by filtering out toxins, pollutants and the carbon dioxide we exhale and replace the air with life-sustaining oxygen. Home plants also filter pollutants generated by computer equipment, furniture, paint and air conditioners.

Flowering house plants keep us smiling and cheery; green house plants ease our minds and provide comfort, while tropical house plants make us feel composed and sophisticated.

You may check more indoor plants at following sites. I have selected only few which are pretty and add decoration element for homes.

Reference: http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/

* Common House Plants

* Decorative indoor house plants from 'Home interior design'

Feng shui tips for home decoration

The main goal of feng shui is to organize your home in such a manner to enhance your feelings of comfort and safety. Feng shui home decorating maximizes the positive influences while minimizing the negative ones.


Feng shui tips for home decoration:


Recently, people around the world have begun to see the benefits of using feng shui techniques in their homes. To design for optimum results, you need to learn the basic feng shui areas, and what each symbolizes, and decorate accordingly in your home, office, room or garden.

• Fresh flowers at home can also add vitality and energy, and plants are different, they are a particularly active form brought to the room with colorful colors. If careful cultivation and care, flowers have a strong effect of feng shui, the color and shape will be affected, therefore, life at home must be diligent in the water every day and cutting plants to a lasting effectiveness. At the same time, we must note that the layout at home feng shui, the best do not use dried flowers, die forgotten because of its symbolic and decline. 
• It is good luck to place an aquarium or a fountain inside your home. Good Chi is attracted to water. A good place to place your aquarium is facing your front door inside the house to invite good Chi to come in. Other good places to put an aquarium or fountain: On the south-east element of your home for wealth, south-west for marriage, east for health, west for friends, north for career and north-east for education.
• Plants which has thorns or spikes like the cactus is inauspicious, leave it outside your home. Instead of the cactus, use round leafed plants, wind chimes and crystals. All these are auspicious and will bring good chi inside your home.

Door Placement                                                 
Your front door and back door will not line up with each other. If they do, according to the principles of Feng Shui, the chi (energy) will slip right through the house, without bringing benefits to the residents. If the doors do line up, you can help ease the problem by placing a large plant or other obstacle beside one of the doors, with an angled throw rug to encourage a path in a sideways direction.

Use red color carefully: The rules of feng shui say to be careful with your use of the color red, which represents the element of fire. Do not use a red living room set. A red sofa and chair could bring undue work pressures and obstacles into your life. Likewise, don't use red in the wealth area.

Dining Room:
Round dining room tables are best because circles symbolize heavenly blessings. Dining room chairs should be of an even number and comfortable to sit in. Dining room décor should be simple, so it doesn't distract from the food.
Watch Out for Exposed Beams: Other elements to watch for are exposed beams, which can create oppressive downward energetic flows that can cause problems regarding your health, well-being, and other areas of your life. Watch out especially for beams over the bed, stove, desk, dining table or front door. To cure the problem, you can hang two Feng Shui flutes at 45-degree angles on the beam, one at each end. Or, paint the beams to match the ceiling or hide them with a false ceiling or in some other way.

Bedroom:
Bedrooms and other rest facilities should be housed in the upper part of a house according to Feng Shui. 

Don't have your bed situated so you are directly facing the door to your bedroom. Also, be careful where you place mirrors in your bedroom. A mirror opposite your bed or at the side of the bed could attract a third party into the relationship.
Stacking unused or finished bottles of shampoos and creams invites Sha energy. Keep bathroom clean, use candles, bamboo luck pots, and aroma oils to keep the ambience inviting. Keep the toilet seat closed, bins shut and drains covered when not in use.

Living room: 
The living room furniture should not have sharp bends or corners. Its desirable not have too many knick knacks of tiny decorating items, as eventually they will form clutter and stop Chi from moving freely; also keeping paintings that denote loneliness, violence fear or solitude.
Don’t have too many metal appliances, remotes, wires all in visible area; keep them in a cabinet hidden from view. A warm fireplace, a warm earthly shade rug on the floor, beautiful votive candles, few good books, and a water arrangement be in fountain, aquarium or float is very harmonious to any guest.

Kitchen: It is believed in ancient Chinese beliefs that if you can cook and feed well that means you are wealthy and successful. In kitchen the burners should be so placed that the kitchen door is visible when you are cooking. If that is not possible place a mirror at the back of the burner that reflects the door.

Keep the kitchen clutter free and ingredients nicely stacked and shut. Do not keep any sharp elements like knife or scissors in public view. Its unwanted to have too many left over’s, unused items or cans and bottles on kitchen tops.
More 'Feng shui kitchen tips'

Dining Room: The dining room can be nicely decorated with a painting of food or people eating like the last supper! Table tops are preferably made of wood; if at all it’s made of metal or glass them make sure to put a nice warn table top cover. Chairs should be comfortable with enough leg space, and too many things should not be kept on the table top that deviate attention away from food.

Useful links:

* Feng shui home

* Feng Shui cures to encourage positive bedroom Feng shui

* Feng shui perfect bedroom

* Feng shui decorating tips

Why Feng shui for home decoration?

Feng shui decorating is basically a way to decorate your home so as to create a vibrant feeling of joy and harmony. Home decorating or interior decorating is extremely important for an inviting and relaxing place called 'home'.
There are many aspects of feng shui home decorating, all which can be crucial for create better movement of the ‘qi’ or energy in your home. This energy which is often known as a ‘life force’ can easily become stagnant within a house and have a negative impact on the residents. An easy way to solve this problem is to redecorate the home in a way that can tackle the bad energy and promote the ‘qi’ to flow freely. There are many effective ways of decorating that will have a positive influence, finding the correct combination is key.


Feng shui beneftis for home decoration:

• Feng Shui is all about the balance energy and enhancing the environment. For thousands of years, the Chinese have utilized Feng Shui to enhance harmony, peace and prosperity.
• You саn bring out аll thе positive energies іn a room tο mаkе you rich, рlеаѕеd аnd healthy by  incorporating Feng Shui іn interior design. An interior design using Feng Shui саn аlѕο gеt rid οf tеrrіblе spirits thаt bring іn negative atmosphere іn аn abode.
• Through harmonious design of the residential areas according to the rules of Feng Shui, an oasis to relax and recharge to be created. Furthermore, the classical feng shui is used to activate and permanently improve all areas of life.                      
• Feng Shui reflects the house or apartment nine life themes. This will include things such as relationships, creativity, career or wealth. They can all be positively influenced by the setting up of Feng Shui.
• The main entrance of the house should be kept cluster free, and clean all times, an inviting fountain or some small plants along the path to the house is ideal, pathways nicely lit at night reflecting safety and warmth. Keeping Chinese vases, crystals, chimes, fountains, inspirational paintings, lamps are all units of decoration whose placement alone can bring positive change.
• Try decorating your home with more light, music, water, air, plants, mirrors, windchimes, bright colors, houseplants and flowers. Open the drapes, curtains or miniblinds all the way to let the sun shine in. This will activate the yang chi of joy and happiness.  

Few tips for a feng shui decoration:

• If you have your front door or front window open directly to a window or door at the back of your house, place a big screen or furniture to block the alignment to prevent good Chi from entering and leaving your house straight away.
• Find a way to brighten long and dark corridors. They trap bad chi inside your home and prevents the good chi from entering and circulating inside.
• Feng Shui in the modern concept of a home with sufficient sunlight, the flow of air and comfortable line of home hygiene activities that have the best feng shui. 
• Directly opposite windows are bad, yet the Chi flows come in on the one hand, and without a stop, very quickly, on the other side back out of the apartment. Because we need this energy, however, it should be kept in the room and can be distributed evenly.
• Skylights should be placed opposite each other by design lying, it can prevent a mobile center of the room flow through the Chi. Moreover, from Feng Shui experts advise freiliegendenden of beams, especially in the bedroom.
• An important and very simple tip is order, particularly in the entrance hall or area. Top bedroom furniture or corners should not be addressed directly to places where we are staying longer if possible. The bed or the desk should not be placed between the door and windows.
• Don't place your kitchen directly below a bathroom, nor place your kitchen in front or the centre of your house. Ideally, the kitchen should be located at the back of your home. And if you cook by open flame, it is best to cook outside the house. 
• Inside your kitchen, do not place your cooking stove directly in front of the sink, water dispenser, refrigerator or washing machine, this creates conflicts between household members. Water and fire elements don't mix. 

These are few tips which can help you decorate your home using knowledge of feng shui. You can search online for more tips and ideas.

Related: www.philippineinteriordesign.com

Related posts: Feng shui tips to get relief from stress

- Feng shui tips to make your home the best it can be

- *Feng shui tips-To make your bedroom the best it can be

Useful links:


* Color And Feng Shui Home Decorating! 

* Feng shui home

* Feng Shui cures to encourage positive bedroom Feng shui

* Feng shui perfect bedroom

* Feng shui decorating tips

What is Decoupage and How to Learn it?

Both collage and decoupage involve cutting (or tearing) out images or shapes and sticking them down.
A collage is a form of artwork, intended to be displayed as other pieces of fine art would be, usually hung on a wall. Decoupage is a crafts technique used to decorate an object which is used, such as a box or table top, not to create an artwork that stands alone. The word collage comes from a rather literal French term meaning ‘gluing’ and the tactile sensation of gluing pieces of media is certainly present in this work.


Decoupage as an artistic practice, and a particular method of creating visual juxtapositions, provides us a similar and yet distinct mode for thinking about compositing. As with collage, Decoupage is a world of French origin and stems directly from the term meaning to ‘cut out’. In traditional practice decoupage involved the cutting up of elements (usually paper images, photos, drawings, patterns and textures) and then pasting these down on a surface (most often furniture) and sealing them in place with layers of lacquer or vanish. By the nature of this process of cutting-up and pasting-down, decoupage invokes a kind of decorative aesthetic; an act of decorating something by juxtaposing layers of other visual elements on to and over it. 
A collage is a form of artwork, intended to be displayed as other pieces of fine art would be, usually hung on a wall. Decoupage is a crafts technique used to decorate an object which is used, such as a box or table top, not to create an artwork that stands alone. Decoupage is a very popular craft form which came from French term meaning "cutting up." It is a similar craft form like collage . It is the creative art of assembling, pasting and varnishing paper cutouts for decorating objects. This article helps you get some basic techniques and ideas to create crafts with decoupage. I personally like decoupage as it is a form of recycling. You can easily use materials such as old magazines, pictures, used wishing cards, or packing stuff from used gift boxes to create new beautiful work of art.

Decoupage is a simple process of cutting and pasting in one layer or many layers. Basically, you cut out pictures; you glue the pictures onto an object; and then cover the object and pictures with a few coats of glue to protect it. You may use other materials like picture cut outs from magazine, your old pictures, postcards, seed packets, greeting cards, wallpaper and old childrens story books,  fancy buttons, ribbons, glitter or whatever material you choose.


Variety and creativity go side by side in this creative crafts form.

This form of handicrafts is quite old, and even today is still done by many people. It is an old Japanese technique of decorating using thirty layers. It was the Europeans' way of inexpensively decorating furniture. But, decoupage became a popular pastime during the Victorian era. Victorians saved Valentine cards, magazines, and books of printed motifs. Favorite subjects for decoupage crafters have traditionally been flowers and fruits, birds and butterflies, and angels and fairies.

other paper was designed specifically for this medium. Today, we don't use so many layers and decoupage designs usually come from magazine pages or paper cut. Decoupage can be very simple or very intricate, and you can create decoupage crafts or homemade gifts easily. Traditionally, wooden objects are used in decoupage. Furniture is commonly decoupaged. Any surface that is relatively smooth can be decoupaged, such as metal, plastic, or glass. 

The best way to learn and start creating crafts with decoupage is by starting on simple projects.

Pencil boxes, used gift boxes and inexpensive picture frames are a great way to learn the basics of the craft. If you make a mistake you can simply start over or recycle it and start again until it looks the way you envisioned.

Once you have mastered decorating little things, you can go for big things like coffee tables or decorative lamp shades.

Basic techniques to start decoupage:

Collect the tools needed to start it.

Basic tools are scissors, utility knives, straight edge paper cutter, crafts glue (or pva which is an excellent medium) and varnish.  

Supplied needed to create decoupage:

- decorative paper cutouts 

- item to decoupage(trays, frames,furniture, etc)- scissors, manicure scissors, x-acto knife

- white glue or Mod Podge

- tweezers

- 3 paintbrushes for applying paint, glue, and varnish

- sandpaper 

Before you begin, be sure the surface of the item is clean, free of dust or flaking paint. If the piece is unfinished wood, it must be painted, stained, or sealed before decoupaging. If the item needs to bepainted, use the appropriate paint for the item. Let dry 24 hours. It will also need to be lightly sanded so the glue will adhere better. Use a very fine grit sandpaper.         

Useful links:


* Decoupage Ideas for Furniture
* 'Art and home studios' offers many easy tutorials to create decoupage projects.
* There are many projects at 'Zimbio'

* There are many online sites which offer more ideas and tips. Like 'Fave Crafts' offers '33 fabulous decoupage ideas and tutorials.'


* The art of collage

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History of yo-yo

For new generation yo-yo may seem a newly discovered toy but history of this fun toy says that it is one of the oldest toys of the world. Yo-yo have been a favorite toy of children since the days of ancient Greece. During the 1800s, it was used as a weapon in the Philippines for more than 400 years.
There are ancient Greek yo-yos made of terra cotta in museums in Athens and yo-yos are pictured on the walls of Egyptian temples. The Yo-Yo is known to have been popular with such important warriors as Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington. First patented in 1866 by James L. Haven and Charles Hettrich, the Yo-Yo has enjoyed periods of popularity for generations with kids from 1 - 100.

Original Duncan Yo-Yo "
O-Boy Yo-Yo Toy" circa 1930 

 The modern story of the yo-yo starts with a young gentleman from the Philippines, named Pedro Flores. In the 1920s, he moved to the USA, and worked as a bellhop at a Santa Monica hotel. Carving and playing with wooden yo-yos was a traditional pastime in the Philippines, but Pedro found that his lunch break yo-yo playing drew a crowd was the first appearance of the name "yo-yo," which means "come-come" in the at the hotel.
He started a company to make the toys, calling it the Flores Yo-Yo Company.

The first modern yo-yos were introduced in the United States by Donald F. Duncan in the late 1920s.  In 1929, Donald F. Duncan bought the company from Flores, acquiring not only a unique toy, but also the magic name "yo-yo." About this time, Duncan introduced the looped slip-string, which allows the yo-yo to sleep - a necessity for advanced tricks. He is credited with popularizing (though probably not inventing) the slip-string yo-yo, which enables a yo-yo to "sleep."

The yo-yo first became popular in the 1930s, when Duncan sent out teams of traveling yo-yo men (not women, mind you) who would spend three, four, and five weeks in cities and towns across America, teaching tricks, selling yo-yos, and running contests.                          

The 1970s and 1980s saw a number of innovations in yo-yo technology, primarily dealing with the connection between the string and the axle.

In 1978, dentist and yo-yo celebrity Tom Kuhn patented the “No Jive 3-in-1” yo-yo, creating the world's first "take-apart" yo-yo, which enabled yo-yo players to change the axle.
Swedish bearing company SKF briefly manufactured novelty yo-yos with ball bearings in 1984.
Tom Kuhn introduced the SB-2 yo-yo that had an aluminum transaxle, making it the first successful ball-bearing yo-yo. In all transaxle yo-yos, ball bearings significantly reduce friction when the yo-yo is spinning, enabling longer and more complex tricks. Subsequent yo-yoers used this ability to their advantage, creating new tricks that had not been possible with fixed-axle designs.


Useful links:
* Fascinating facts about the invention of the Yo-Yo

* Lucky's History of the Yo-Yo

Grandmaster of origami

I was just amazed to see today's google's home page as it was showing origami shapes and butterflies on it. I am a lover of origami from my childhood. Now as an educator I teach origami to my students and believe that it helps enhance skill development among kids.

Anything relating to origami inspires me. Today's image which is a tribute to master of origami Yoshizawa.

Today, Google is celebrating the 101st anniversary of the late Yoshizawa’s birth with a pleated “Doodle” adorned with ready-to-flutter butterflies so associated with the artist.

Yoshizawa is credited with turning origami from a children's pastime into a serious art form and was known for his innovative folding techniques. His achievements have been recognised in the Google logo with each letter being turned into a paper folding design to mimic the famous traditional art form.

Akira Yoshizawa (14 March 1911 – 14 March 2005) was an origamist, considered to be the grandmaster of origami. He is credited with raising origami from a craft to a living art. According to his own estimation made in 1989, he created more than 50,000 models, of which only a few hundred designs were presented as diagrams in his 18 books. Yoshizawa acted as an international cultural ambassador for Japan throughout his career.
His work has since been exhibited around the world and he has published more than a dozen books on the art form.
He folded graceful peacocks with lush fanned tails. He folded lumbering gorillas with protruding jaws and sunken eyes. He folded huge flying dragons, and an elephant so small it could stand atop a thimble. His origami was not so much folded paper as sculptural art, usually made from a single sheet of paper, always without glue, scissors or extraneous embellishment.

Akira's work

Two of Yoshizawa’s key contributions to modern origami were the technique of “wet-folding,” by which thicker moistened paper can add a soft sculptural feel to a figure; and his notational diagrams that explained how to fold a model in the universal language of arrows and dotted lines. Yoshizawa said he created tens of thousands of origami models, only a fraction of which were diagrammed.

“Instead of trying to be as lifelike as possible, he tried to make it as 'living' as possible,” Origami USA member June Sakamoto, speaking of Yoshizawa’s art, told the New York Times upon the grandmaster’s death in 2005. “If he was going to make a rooster, you really felt it was crowing, but you didn't have to see every detail of the feathers.”
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Interesting places around us - Giraffe Manor

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. It is one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Africa. Nairobi is the destination of an interesting place which is called 'Giraffe Manor'

What is unique about his place?
Giraffe Manor offers guests the chance to interact with the rare Rothschild Giraffe. It is the place where giraffes can and do literally poke their head into open windows in the morning.
You can feed them, pet them, even give them a "kiss."

Giraffe Manor offers you a unique experience of the giraffes, with them vying for your attention at the breakfast table, the front door and even your bedroom window. 
Built in 1932 and modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge, Giraffe Manor offers a pleasing mixture of traditional and modern elegance. There are six double bedrooms with large four poster beds, antique furnishing, striking art decor and spacious bathrooms. The Karen Blixen suite is ideal for families and has direct access to the courtyard which opens onto the giraffe sanctuary .

Manor House is also home to many characters including warthogs, bushbuck, dik dik and more than 180 species of birds and has a striking view of the Ngong hills.

Built in the 1930, the property turned into a giraffe sanctuary after it was purchased by Betty Leslie-Melvilles in 1974 and she learned that the last remaining Rothschild giraffes in Kenya were in danger; the manor was transformed into a boutique hotel by her family in 1983.

Benefits of playing yo-yo

There are many benefits of play for children as well as adults, although the category of play is different according to age level. As we are talking about benefits of playing yo-yo, it is one of those toys which is favorite among all age groups. It remains a popular pastime of many generations and cultures.

Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.
A yo-yo is a perfect toy for learning skills that involve coordination, balance, eye-hand coordination, and dexterity.
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Benefits of yo-yo play:                                                                   

1. Development of fine motor skills
2. Improved hand-eye coordination
3. Enhance physics learning as they learn about gravity, inertia, rotational energy & centrifugal force
4. Develops acute spatial awareness
5. Relieves mental stress
6. Yo-yos are perfect for taking along on a trip.
7. It is a cheap toy as compare to other toys for kids or youth

Yo-yo playing is also beneficial for children having learning disabilities, such as ADHD. Children or teens gain self-confidence and self-esteem as they learn to do tricks with their yo-yos. 

Useful links:  


'Yoyologist' is a resource site offering information about his unique play.

* Importance of play and humor in our lives

* Interesting yo-yo designs and shapes

Feng shui and house cleaning

House cleaning starts with removal of dust, trash and clutter.

Do you know that physical clutter leads to visual clutter and that causes a person a great deal of stress?
Using Feng Shui to organize or clean our homes also sweeps and scrubs the confusion from our minds. Offices and houses filled with clutter, dirty carpet, finger printed mirrors, dirty dishes and gummy appliances amplify distraction, depression and hopelessness.

Feng shui can help you in maximizing the flow of positive energy through your house and at the same time you can manage to keep your house clean and clutter free.
You are not only cleaning the house, but clearing your space for maximum creative energy focus.


Feng shui for a organized and clean house:
1- Physically clean the house. Begin a thorough house cleaning – vacuuming, sweeping, washing the floors, cleaning the windows etc. You should keep your house clean by taking all the clutter out for positive energy flow into your house. If you have trashy lying around or clothes that need to go to get rid of, do it now. When chi energy in our home or workplace doesn't flow properly, and becomes stagnant, it can cause problems such as feelings of depression, lots of arguments, ill health, financial loss, unseen tension between people and family, feelings of frustration and lack of motivation.

2- Remove clutter: If there is clutter around, such as things that are broken, are no longer of any use to anyone, or there are old newspapers and magazines lying around, this would be a great time to find a new home for them or take them to the recyclers.
                        
3- Space clearing: Look at the way that people move through your home. Can they move in straight lines or do they need to take detours around poorly placed furniture? This is something that can make a huge difference in the way that you clean your home, and at the end of the day, you will find that simply  rearranging your furniture so that you can access the room more comfortably can make a big difference.

4- You can also set up a special area to attract harmonious energy. On a table top or some suitable place, collect together items that represent peace, goodwill and harmony to you. For example, you can lay down a beautiful cloth as the foundation. You might place photographs of your family where everyone is happy. Or if none exist, find a picture in a magazine of a family that looks like they are enjoying each other's company and use that to represent how you would like your family to be. You can also use crystals, plants and flowers, incense, candles, etc. – anything that reminds you of peace, harmony and loving family connections. Once you set all this up, remember to keep it fresh and clean so that it will continue to attract harmonious energy.

One fairly common Feng Shui trick that you can use involves using wind chimes to bring positive energy into your home.

Plants are a great way to freshen up the air and you can bet that they will help open up the look of your home.

Decluttering your kitchen:

To improve your health, get rid of all the items that are cluttering and blocking the energy flow in your kitchen, your cupboards and the freezer. The state of your kitchen is the state of your health, so thoroughly clean the kitchen. De-clutter the refrigerator; clean the stove and all the pots and pans. Clean out all the drawers, surfaces, light fixtures, etc - create a fresh pathway for strong vibrant Chi to flow and nourish your energy

Useful links:

* Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist

Interesting places around us -Waterfall restaurant

We prefer to have food at restaurants with nice environment or decoration. Having meal at open air restaurant (with natural scenery) is also a good experience.
How about having traditional meal under or next to a waterfall?

At Villa Escudero resort you can eat a traditional Filipino meal in a river next to a waterfall, with your feet cooling off in the water. The restaurant is actually designed in such a way that the water flows across the floor of the restaurant and over the feet of diners.                                                              


Restaurant at the Foot of a Waterfall

Located in the Quezon province of the Philippines, Villa Escudero is a resort with cozy rooms and an exotic atmosphere. But what brought its international fame is the waterfall restaurant that allows tourists to enjoy a nice meal at the foot of a small waterfall.

At Villa Escudero restaurant, tables are situated below the spillway of the hydroelectric dam (or the 'Labasin waterfalls') where diners enjoy their lunch dipped in the flowing calf-deep water.

People are encouraged to take off their shoes and get as close to the falls as possible. Set right at the foot of Labasin Falls, this special place invites customers to taste popular Filipino dishes, while fresh spring water from the falls flows under and over their feet, making this an unforgettable experience.

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Interesting places around the world -the shoe house

The Shoe House at Lincoln Highway Pennsylvania: 
The design of the house is really extraordinary! It looks like a real shoe! High-topped design of the shoe looks really cool and fashionable.
The Shoe House was built in 1948 (and completed in 1949) by Colonel Mahlon M. Haines, a colorful "Shoe Wizard," to help market his business. Although it does not advertise for a shoe business anymore, you can buy ice cream here and take a tour.

The width of the shoe house is 17 feet and the height is 25 feet. There are 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen located on 5 various levels.

This giant structural advertisement was originally used as a guest house. In the first year after its completion, elderly couples were invited to stay for a weekend and live like "kings and queens" at Haines' expense.
In the spring of 1987 the Shoe House returned to the Haines family when a granddaughter of the "Shoe Wizard" (Ruth Miller) purchased the building.

Shoe house, Branddraai Mpumalanga , South-Africa 

More shoe houses around the world:


The ‘shoe house’ of South Africa is the work of artist and hotelier Ron Van Zyl, who built it for his wife Yvonne in 1990. The shoe houses a little museum of sorts, showcasing Van Zyl’s wood carvings. The shoe is part of a complex that includes an eight-chalet guest house, camp site, restaurant, pool and bar.

Shoe house at Mumbai, India:

Shoe house , Mumbai , India

This shoe house is built in Kamla Nehru Park, opposite of Hanging Garden, Marine drive, Mumbai. Children like to go up & stand in the balcony to have fun. The Shoe House is supposedly inspired by the nursery rhyme “The Old Woman who Lived in the Shoe”.

More links:

* Shoe house from different places

* Top five shoe statues

Yo-yo buying tips

With all the different types of yo-yos, it is often hard to decide which one is best for you. Beside the price of yo-yo you need to learn which yo-yo is best for you or your child according to skill level. Before searching the market to purchase a yo-yo these yo-yo buying tips can help you.

Tips on buying a yo-yo

• Pick a model based on the skill level of the player.
• Select a beginner design: A standard axle yo-yo is a good start but one with an auto-return mechanism speeds the learning curve. 
• Check also for models that can be taken apart which is a necessity for dealing with frustrating string tangles.
• Once you know the basics move to a transaxle. Longer spin times make learning tricks easier. When you know you’ve got the skills, check out the high-end ball bearing transaxle models.
• Buy spare strings when you purchase the yo-yo. String length should be between the belt line and the navel with the yo-yo resting on the floor.

Tips source: "YoBoy.com"

Useful links:

* 'Yo-yo buyer's guide' is a complete guide about yo-yo shapes, material, string,

* To know more about the site: buying a yo-yo for the first time

* 'Yo-yo buying tips at 'Jigglingstore.com'

Interesting places around the world -library hotel

If you are a book lover and don't  mind spending your holiday in a hotel where you can have unlimited access to books belonging to all literary genres then 'Library Hotel' should be your favorite place at Manhattan.

What is unique or unusual about this hotel?

Luxury library hotel in Manhattan is different. This hotel  is designed like a library with luxury boutique hotel concept.
This hotel is like any other hotel on the inside, having nice interiors, the only difference being the presence of books all over the place. There are lots of fine bookcases in the rooms, in the hallways, even in the lobby and the restaurants. They are very in perfect condition and belong strictly to the category in the decimal system.

The hotel is a ten story boutique hotel with 60 rooms. But its most interesting feature is the fact that the floors are organized after a unique principle: the Dewey Decimal System, meaning the system that organizes the literary genres. For example the fourth floor is the correspondent for the fourth Dewey category – Language, and each room deals with a different sub-category , for example Ancient language, Germanic language , etc.                


It has more than 6,000 books, which is the largest collection of rare book in New York City.
Each of the Library Hotel's richly appointed luxury rooms are individually adorned with art and a collection of books that relate to the room's unique theme.

The Library Hotel New York is regarded as one of the top rated luxury boutique hotels in New York City.

Source: 'Library Hotel'

Interesting places around the world- Kansas City Public Library

The Kansas City Public Library is considered one of the most unusual buildings in America and in the world.
What is the specialty of this place?
It has an exterior that replicates your bookshelf at home on a much larger scale.
This is not the front view of the building, but it is actually the front of the parking lot area. It looks like as the building exterior was created to remind and attract people towards 'books'. These “books ” show only the cover where you can clearly see the title and the author, all being famous books.

 

Kansas city public library is located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

The people of Kansas City were asked to help pick highly influential books that represent Kansas City. Those titles were included as ‘bookbindings’ in the innovative design of the parking garage exterior, to inspire people to utilize the downtown Central Library.

Interesting places around us - Iglu Dorf

People are excited about adventure travel as it is not only visiting some place, have fun at luxury destinations and come back, rather it is spending time at unusual or adventurous places. Adventure lovers prefer to visit the places which are exciting and interesting. The idea of living in ice houses or igloo houses is for adventure lover travelers. These igloos/ice hotels or villages are rebuilt every year.


Eskimo living in a Luxury Igloo Village
It is about a concept hotel that offers igloo villages in seven locations in Andorra, Switzerland and Austria. These igloos are rebuilt every year, using 3,000 tons of snow from the Pyrenees and the Alps.

The history of Iglu-Dorf:
It began with one extreme skateboarder’s crazy idea to spend the night in an igloo so he could be the first on the slopes the next day. Apparently being first is a matter of great pride for skateboarders, so he decided to build himself an igloo to make sure no one beat him to that first ride down the mountain. The next day he looked like the happiest person alive, and when someone asked him why he had a big smile on his face, he just pointed at the mountain and said “You see that line over there? That was me.” More and more people followed his example and asked to sleep in his igloo. The next season he built two igloos, then three, and that’s how the Iglu-Dorf igloo villages were born. Now the company builds 12 of them every year, in different locations around Europe.

Although Iglu-Dorf does offer heated rooms with a stove, most of the snow igloos are only equipped with sleeping bags to keep you warm, so you better pack some winter clothes. Temperatures during the night don’t fall too far below 0 degrees Celsius, but if you feel chilly, you can try the nice cheese fondue fountain, or jump into the incredible hot-tub built right in the snow, and count the stars.

Source: 'Odity Central'
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