Archive for October, 2009
For many families, decorating for Christmas is one of the best bonding experiences to come around all year. Dressing the evergreen tree with elaborate ornaments – both store bought and homemade – is an activity that brings back happy memories from another place and time. In some neighborhoods, the competitive spirit of the season manifests itself through exterior decorations.
Electrical bills rise exponentially as rival households try to outdo each other by offering onlookers the most spectacular display of lights. Thanks to the advent of solar powered Christmas light, it’s no longer necessary to use dangerous extension cords or to place lights in close proximity to electrical outlets. Solar power cuts electrical costs and provides decorators with even more creative freedom than they thought possible.
When the domestic economy began to tank last year, my husband and I were right in the middle of a pricy landscaping project. We wanted to add some depth and dimension to the yard, and I used my garden design skills to supply a few ideas for the landscaping company. We barely managed to finish the project before fall temperatures plummeted so much as to make work outside unpleasant.
Now that the economy is back on track, we’re looking for ways to reward ourselves for demonstrating patience and saving our hard-earned money. My husband struck on a plan that should make our manicured lawn and intricate landscaping work the talk of the town. We set up a few solar spot lights around the property, each of them trained on a particular element of the garden or lawn.