Home, Garden Videos Can Meet Your Needs
When it comes to home- and garden-related videos, the choices seem nearly overwhelming. It might make shopping easier to narrow the videos into categories such as how-to, inspiration, or a mix of the two styles, and choose one which fits your criteria.
We previewed a couple of videos available by mail and were impressed with a couple: “The Great Gardens of England” and “English Cottage and Country Gardens.” They’re thick with inspiration and serve up a bit of how-to. Both are $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping.
For ordering information or a list of other offerings, call Larkspur Videos, (800) 772-4884.
Last-minute gift ideas
Frame some small piece of your child’s memorabilia: a Cub Scout badge, a recital program, or even a report card with exceptionally high marks. For the sports fan in your family, frame ticket stubs from the big game.
Instead of a family portrait, create a collage of photos from a family vacation last summer and frame it.
A little trivia
Need help filling those dead spots in holiday conversation? Offer up these tidbits:
Burning a bayberry candle on Christmas will ensure a healthy and prosperous New Year.
The Puritans laced their Christmas candles with gunpowder so when lighted, the candles ushered in the holidays with a bang.
In Ireland, the Christmas Eve custom is that the youngest child or the one named Mary light the candles.
U.S. consumers buy nearly $2 billion worth of candles annually and the industry has been growing at a rate of 25 percent a year. About 35 percent of the candles are sold at Christmas time.
Ninety-six percent of all candles are bought by women.
And a safety reminder: Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Bears for a cause
The proceeds from the sale of Ursula Minor bears at Ethan Allen stores will be donated to Habitat for Humanity International through the holiday season.
The bears retail for $19.95 and will be available through Jan. 4. For information about the location of Ethan Allen stores, call (800) 228-9229.
Make ‘em comfy
Having guests for the holidays? Here are a couple of tips from Ethan Allen for making their stay at your home more comfortable:
After a long day of travel or shopping, guests may welcome an afternoon nap or a few hours of relaxation alone. Encourage such a reprieve with a cozy blanket tossed across the guest room bed or chair.
Guests appreciate a bowl of fresh fruit as a healthy alternative to rich holiday fare.
And the friendly folks at Roto-Rooter Plumbers offer this advice for a pleasant holiday season: Plan ahead and spread showers throughout the day; wait at least 10 minutes between showers rather than taking one right after another.
Be diligent about using a strainer in the drain of each bathtub and clean the strainer regularly.
Only use toilet paper in the toilet; facial tissue and paper towels are made with stronger fibers that don’t dissolve well and lead to clogged pipes.
Avoid pouring fats and cooking oils down the drain. They solidify and create clogs.
Never put stringy fibrous waste into the garbage disposal (poultry skins, carrots, celery or banana peels).
Run cold water for about 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposal.
, DataTimes