Tips For Growing Spider Plants

Spider plants make excellent houseplants because they are very easy to grow, require little maintenance in order to thrive, and adapt well to the conditions of most homes and other indoor spaces. They are also used frequently in schools because they are easy to propagate and require so little care. Particularly if you are a beginning gardener, spider plants are excellent starter plants to add some greenery to your home.

Spider plants are happiest when grown in containers or hanging baskets, which will provide plenty of room for their shoots. However, you should not grow them in containers that are too large for the size of the plant, because they enjoy being a little rootbound.

Grow Calendar 2011

At the end of their long stalks, spider plants will begin to grow new baby plants. If you wish to grow more spider plants from your original plant, just cut these small plants off the ends of the stalks, and place their roots in water. When the roots of these new plants have grown to be an inch long, transplant them into containers filled with potting soil.

When you are growing spider plants, keep in mind that they like well drained, rich potting soil, although they can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. You should water them at least once every week. Give them liquid fertilizer once or twice per month, but take care not to over water them or give them too much fertilizer. In fact, you may want to dilute the fertilizer to half its recommended strength, or skip fertilizer entirely if your plants are healthy and thriving without it. If you are over watering or over fertilizing, you will know it because the tips of your spider plant's leaves will turn brown. If this happens, remove the brown leaves, and adjust the amount of fertilizer and water. Your plant will soon grow new, green leaves to replace the brown ones. If this does not solve the issue, you may want to try distilled water, as some chemicals in tap water may be harmful for your spider plants.

Although your spider plants will do just fine in the low light conditions found in many areas of the typical home, they also enjoy some sunshine. You can place your plants in a sunny window once or twice per week, but you should not forget them there. If you leave them in direct sunlight for too long, the leaves may turn brown. Also be sure not to leave them near the window on cold nights, as they prefer warmer temperatures.

Caring for Spider plants are very rewarding to grow. If you take proper care of them and grow new plants by replanting the baby spider plants on the end of the shoots, you will soon have a whole house filled with beautiful spider plants. Keep in mind that plants can help improve air quality by cleaning the air. They also make wonderful gifts to help your friends and family begin their own spider plant gardens. Spider plants can be grown by beginning gardeners, and require only a little effort to help them thrive.

Tips For Growing Spider Plants

Grow Calendar 2011

Metal Storage Sheds - Organize Your Home

Due to the fact that long term renting storage is simply too expensive, the accumulated amount of money could have get a person his own storage shed. The sum of money you pay for the rented store will be equal to the amount of having your own storage house in your backyard.

People often need extra rooms to contain their belongings yet they are worried of the possibly damages if the items are not stored properly. Metal storage sheds are the best option for this purpose. They can be much elaborated or built as simple as you want it to be. The storage kits are easily available and you can erect your own shed easily. If you are equipped with few fundamental construction skills then you can have the shed built faster than an afternoon.

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You can place a layer of cement pad as the base of your storage shed to help protect your things. This can avoid the accumulation of moisture in the shed. For this, the concrete is definitely a more preferred idea as the wood is vulnerable to pests and they easily retain water.

You can place anything into your metal storage sheds. Certain items are only used once in a blue moon; for instance the decorations for Christmas, Easter or Halloween. You certainly do not want to compile them in any visible corners of your home collecting dust. Your storage shed can also be used to store your clothing, especially if you live in a four-season country. You do not need to have a huge wardrobe to accommodate all your clothes and you can replenish them with the right garments for the particular season.

The storage shed is also wonderful to hoard your unused belongings with sentimental values - perhaps some valuable gifts from family or friends, baby bed or bassinet for future use. Having a shed is the great solution to store items the most cost-effective way yet they are easily available if you need them.

Metal Storage Sheds - Organize Your Home

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Look For Plans to Build a Doghouse and Do it Yourself

Are you looking for Plans To Build a Doghouse?

As a Do It Yourself-er I was totally up for the challenge of building my dog a new comfortable house for her to stay in while outdoor. I have to admit visions of a little, almost dollhouse, type of structure for her was what came to mind but, I know that would almost be ridiculous so I decided to just look for some basic plans that I could dress up a bit.

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While deciding which plans to purchase, I took a lot of factors into mind. The overall size, the color, the location. I wanted it to look like it went with our landscaping because I wanted it close to the house. I really didn't need any type of run because my dog, Cocoa, that is her name, just stays on the property and doesn't tend to run off.

The simple plans to build a doghouse I found were very easy to understand. Even for the most newest of DIY person, these instructions were very easy to follow. Included was a list of all the things I would need to build the frame and what lumber would be the best to use. A cut chart showing exactly the sizes to cut the wood. Whether you cut it yourself or have it cut for you, all the measurements are there. If you have a local big 'Depot' they will cut your wood and usually at no charge.

Insulation and a leak proof roof are some other things to consider. If your dog just uses the house during warm months to get out of the sun than you may not have to insulate. You will just want to use a lighter color for the roofing to reflect as much of the suns rays and heat as possible. Also some sort of cross ventilation is important. The only door I used is just a cut out area for her to go in and out as she wills. There is an overhang to help shade the doorway and keep the rain from going into the doghouse.

I also have to keep in mind that since I have little children, it will most surely become a little hiding place or fort, so making it free of protruding screws, nails or sharp edges was important.

The doghouse came out better than I had expected and with a lot of personal touches, it is very original considering it was constructed with a set of 'doghouse plans'.

I think I may just make a couple more and sell them to make some extra money. I have gotten a lot of compliments on the doghouse I built and even some offers. It really didn't take too much time and my oldest son enjoys building things so this is time we can spend together.

Look For Plans to Build a Doghouse and Do it Yourself

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Vegetable Gardening Calendar - The Importance of Knowing the Right Time to Plant Veggies

A vegetable gardening calendar is very important to determine what particular crops you are going to plant and when is the right time to harvest it. Vegetables need to be planted at the right time in order for them to become productive and to give you the expected benefits from gardening. That is why if you want to have your own garden you need first to know the appropriate time for planting a particular crop by having a gardening calendar.

Depending on the place you are living, your vegetable gardening calendar and crops to plant will vary. For example if you are living in a place where the climate is cold, particularly for those places located in Northern Hemisphere, then you need to plant your garden with crops that are suitable for such condition. Nevertheless, you need also to base the planting season accordingly.

Grow Calendar 2011

Here is an example of vegetable gardening calendar in a form of list that you can follow when you are living in a country such as Japan, Canada, and United Kingdom where the climate is cooler.

* Broccoli is best to plant between the month of May and June. Usually you can harvest it after four months from the time you planted it.

* Brussels sprouts can be planted between May and June. Similar with broccoli, after four of five months you can already harvest it.

* Between April and June is the best time to plant Beetroot. Right after three months it is ready for harvesting.

* Celery must be planted between the months of March and April. After five or six months celery has already reached its maturity stage where you can harvest it already.

* Dwarf peas are best to include in your vegetable gardening during the month February. You can harvest it after three or four months.

* The most ideal time to plant lettuce is during springtime in the month of April. However, this veggie can be grown whole year round. After two to three months, you can make harvest of it already.

For tropical countries near the Equator, naturally, this calendar will not be best suitable for your conditions.
So have some fun with it, but be sure to consult the gardening calendar specific to your region so that you get the most benefit.

Vegetable Gardening Calendar - The Importance of Knowing the Right Time to Plant Veggies

Grow Calendar 2011

How to Prosper in Saturated Niche Markets

There are some markets that are known money makers -- big money makers. And you can recognize most of those niches because of the mammoth companies already parked in those spaces, carving out huge chunks of the market for themselves.

Do you really want to compete in the weight loss market against Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or Nutrisystem?

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How are you going to make a dent in the home improvement market against Bob Vila, Lowes or Home Depot?

There are many people whose advice is to find different niches, that you shouldn't try to compete against those monster companies. And while that's one way to solve the problem, there's also another way that keeps you in the competitive space, but also puts you in a class by yourself.

Let me show you what I mean with a great example from the foreign languages market.

Go into any Barnes and Noble or spend a little time online and you'd bet there's not really any need or desire for yet another book on how to learn Spanish. After all, there's Spanish in a Flash, Spanish While Driving, Just Enough Spanish, etc. Most people would say to pick another niche, that the "learning Spanish" niche is saturated.

But just yesterday I was in a boating store and spotted a book on learning Spanish that speaks directly to a certain group of people: Spanish for Cruisers: Boat Repairs and Maintenance Phrase Book. It's aimed perfectly at people who are taking their boats down to Mexico!

Sure, any of those other Spanish books would be good to have, but if you're heading south on your sailboat and see a stack of Spanish books, which one are you probably going to grab? The one that's written just for you!

And that's the secret to competing in a niche that others might think is saturated -- don't play chicken with Rosetta Stone or Berlitz, they won't blink and will steamroll right over the top of you. Instead, go for a segment of the market they'll never target.

No, the potential market isn't as big, but you don't have to stay in the sub-niche. Get good and solid there and then start spreading out with a base of satisfied customers to build on.

Look at the broader niche in which you'd like to market and the start brainstorming sub-niches that aren't being served. Even if there are products that would be fine for the sub-niche, one that's laser-focused is going to appear to the target market as if it's better.

If there's a big-money niche you've had your eye on but didn't know how to compete with the Big Boys, now you know the secret -- don't compete straight on, make an end-run around them into a sub-niche they're not exploiting and start serving those people.

How to Prosper in Saturated Niche Markets

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How to Make a Windmill

Did you know it is actually possible to build a windmill at home today? This was made possible due to new discoveries in the alternative energy movement. It is a pretty simple job and you could start generating your own power today from the power of wind! The usual methods of electricity generation are gas, nuclear, and dirty coal. They are outdated and non-renewable, plus you cannot simply install one of these systems at your own home.

In this article I explain the basic principles behind the power generating windmill and the steps to follow if you want to start your new project.

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To start off, you need to obtain plans (which can be obtained for a very low cost) and purchase a few materials at your local DIY center. Once installed, the system will start generating on it's own. How much electricity it can generate all depends on the wind flow. Many windmill systems are designed to generate electricity even at the lowest wind speeds. If your windmill is generating too much power, you can actually sell it back to your local power company! Ultimately it should reduce your electricity bill by about 70%.

Here are the basic steps to make a windmill:

Purchase the proper plans and diagrams. These can be a real time saver because all of the measurements and dimensions are already laid out for you. Look for the link at the end of the article for a good set of plans. Go to your local DIY store such as Home Depot or Lowes and purchase the materials. The plans will detail how much and what kind of material you will need. The plans I have mentioned earlier are pretty easy to follow. The basic idea is to put together the windmill and place it in a high place to capture the wind.

The windmill itself, when installed, consists of multiple rotor blades. Once the wind picks up, these blades start to rotate and this transfer of energy goes straight to the generator and made into electricity. From the generator there is an electrical line that hooks up to your fuse box and a special meter for releasing electricity back into the public power grid. The whole kit for this can cost as little as 0. The best part about considering this kind of alternative energy is that it will start paying for itself immediately while bigger manufactured systems can take more than 20 years to pay off. It's a very low risk investment and well worth it.

In the current economic crisis, it would be a shame to pass an opportunity to install your own system. I installed one of these systems myself and let me tell you... I use a ton of electricity between my wife, 5 kids, and myself. My windmill is currently generating so much power that my local power company sends me a check each month! Build your own windmill

How to Make a Windmill

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Steps on How to Create a Shoe Rack on Your Cabinet

You like shoes; so, you have lots of it. You're interested in making a simple, yet useful shoe rack for your cabinet. Below are simple steps teaching you how to create a simple, functional shoe rack for your cabinet. Two examples of racks are illustrated how an individual making use of the step by step instructions could design a rack that's appropriate for the space available in his/closet.

Things that you'll need:

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3 precut boards Rods Tape measure Securing pin Drill bits Jig Saw Step #1

Buy 3 precut boards from hardware stores, such as Lowes or Home Depot. One board will go in the middle for support and 2 of the boards are used for the sides. You should buy rods to place your shoes into the rods. Take note, the rods must be different in sizes.

Step #2

Utilize a tape measure in order to see where you like to place the holes. Ensure all of the holes are equal for both sides.

Step #3

Drill holes for the rods to go over the holes.

Step #4

Put the rods in the drilled holes.

Step #5

Utilize securing pins to prevent the rods from slipping.

Step #6

2nd Design: Utilize the same idea as above, but you could utilize a jig saw to cut the design. See that this shoe rack is shorter and has only 3 shelves to place shoes. Take note, the key to any kind of shoe rack is personalizing it to match your space.

Steps on How to Create a Shoe Rack on Your Cabinet

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Path Of Construction - House in a Box

Need a new summer home or home for your in-laws? A Katrina Cottage might be just the thing. Developed in response to one of the worst natural disasters this country has ever seen, these sturdy little go-anywhere homes are now available at the retail level and are providing a range of unexpected alternative housing solutions as far from the Gulf Coast as Minnesota. The good design of these adaptable cottages make them attractive to people looking to develop vacant land, build a modest home or add value to an existing property. Uses include:

- lake front house or mountain home

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- place to shack up while building a larger residence or building on undeveloped land

- income generating guest house or rental

- practical in-law house or house for returning children

- student housing

- they also make fabulous green homes for people looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

The concept of buying your home in box isn't new. In 1908, you could buy a house kit out of the Sears cataloge for as little as 7. It's estimated that 100,000 DIY homes were picked out of the cataloge, delivered by train and assembled by eager families between 1908 and 1940 all across America.

All the plans and materials for a Katrina cottage can be had for as little as K, but the house requires its own foundation and in most cases - a professional builder. Still, the average cottage can be up in less than two months and some can be up in less than a week. Though some of the award winning designs take up a scant 400 square feet, they're designed for expansion. Over time, the small homes can be added on to.

HEY LITTLE HOUSE - HOW COME YOU LOOK SO GOOD?

Created in response to the need for emergency housing after hurricane Katrina hit the southern United States and the gulf coast, the cottages were meant to supplant the ugly and impermanent FEMA trailers that filled ravaged cities and outlying areas after the storm. More than 200,000 homes suffered major damage and 50,000 homes were obliterated by the storm. Because the devastation was so widespread and the need for housing so great - proponents of the Katrina Cottage movement realized that if speed in rebuilding were the main priority, "revitalizing" the devastated historic communities of the south would leave behind a landscape that lacked style to say the least.

Sparked by discussions at the Mississippi Renewal Forum in 2005, designers quickly got to work on the problem: designing a house that:

- could be built for as little as it costs to provide a FEMA trailer

- could be built quickly

- could stand up to hurricane force winds, earthquakes and other natural disasters

- met all international building codes

- could be delivered as a manufactured house, modular house, kit house, panelized house or as a site built house

- and above all - it had to look good.

The first designs emerged just months after the storm in 2005. In sync with the architectural traditions of Louisiana and Mississippi - the classic details, nine foot ceilings and quaint front porches elevate these mini-homes far above the tin-can ambiance of the FEMA trailers. They can be produced, transported and erected in a timely manner. Easy and cheap to heat, steel framed and concrete lined, they can also withstand almost anything you can throw at them including 140 mph winds and a ton of snow. Combine these qualities with their recent availability online through Lowes stores in the US, and we may be seeing a lot more of these mini-homes in years to come.

Path Of Construction - House in a Box

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Advantages of Growing Hemp

There are numerous advantages to growing industrial hemp on a widespread scale. These advantages come from both the physical act of growing the plant, as well as utilizing the yield for business and consumer products. Let's start off with how growing helps the environment.

The hemp plant is unique in that it grows in an incredible abundance. You can get over ten tons of hemp from only one acre of farmland, and since farmland is measured in the thousands of acres, you can imagine how much total hemp you can ultimately grow. When a plant is growing, it requires carbon dioxide to power photosynthesis; therefore, with a lot of plants, you take out a lot of carbon dioxide from the air. Growing large amounts of hemp will thus, over time, significantly affect CO2 levels and help fight global warming. Since climate change is one of the most dangerous issues we face in this time, this is certainly an important benefit.

Grow Calendar 2011

When most plants grow, they deplete the soil of vital nutrients and leave it with less vitality for the next crop. Hemp actually revitalizes the soil it grows in, both by aerating the soil and through the deposit of carbon dioxide in to it. This makes hemp ideal for crop rotation, and the crop that follows in the soil hemp grew in will develop better than if hemp had not been used.

These have been just the benefits from growing the plant, but there are even more for applying it. When hemp is used in the production of paper, fuel, and plastic substitutes, the resulting products are much cleaner and greener. For example, tree made paper requires the use of many harmful chemicals, both for the production and as preservatives. Hemp paper does not need these chemicals, and hemp fuel burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel.

With all of these uses for hemp, it is terrible that it is suppressed in this society. America is one of the leading nations of the world, and because it denounces hemp, many other countries follow suit, although they do grow it to some extent. If hemp were fully utilized, we could save this world and ensure an everlasting, sustainable future, and that is surely something to fight for.

Advantages of Growing Hemp

Grow Calendar 2011

An Astrological Forecast for October, 2011 Including a Look Into Scorpio Astrology

Fear is in the air and revolution in the streets! The stock market is melting down again and there is growing unrest in this country which is played down by the media. We have demonstrations on Wall Street and a revolution is brewing. We are all connected and we all have at least friends and family who have fallen on hard times, lost their houses or their jobs. We feel strongly what is happening because of that deeper inner connection of oneness or you could call it the morphogenetic field. It is easy to get caught up in anxiety and fear.

The question is how can we balance ourselves? How can we find our place in all this? How can we step up with courage into the unknown and the new horizon of consciousness? And how can we be of help for each other? Astrology is holding some answers for you because it gives you the conscious awareness for higher or lower choices based on the energetic, archetypal fields involved.

Grow Calendar 2011

Pluto, Uranus and Neptune

Wherever the big players are in your chart; Pluto in Capricorn squaring Uranus in Aries and Neptune in Pisces, you are called to active integration and contribution to the whole. Lately I have been looking almost exclusively at charts for people who have been part of that "call for evolution". We are living in exciting times. I believe we all have signed up to be part of this enormous revolution of consciousness.

But then some of us play a very active role in this process as leaders, healers or teachers. Depending on how Pluto, Uranus and Neptune touch your planets and houses it shows you where your expertise and soul commitment resides. It shows you how you personally can ride this enormous wave of tremendous changes breaking.

Mayan Calendar and New Moon

This month coincides with the end of the Mayan calendar Oct 11- 26 which is thought of as the emergence of a dimensional shift into higher consciousness. It is the completion of one cycle and the beginning of another. The Full Moon in Aries coincides with that final phase emphasizing the new beginning and sheds light and asks for emotional courage.

Libra Planets

We are relational beings! Families, relationships and social structures make us into who we take ourselves to be. We feel reflected, inspired, educated, loved or rejected by others. The sign of Libra indicates the whole mystery of close, intimate relationships as well as friends or meeting the "other" in general. With Libra we learn about love, harmony, peace and discrimination of our true needs and desires.

Earlier in October with 4 planets in Libra we will learn about compromise and balance in relationships which will be deepened with the Saturn Sun conjunction in Libra. Saturn brings to the fore issues of integrity, accountability, what works and the ability to set healthy boundaries.

The New Moon in Libra Sept 27, three days apart from the Equinox, started our journey into deeper wisdom and willingness to consider and attune to the others.

Five Planets in Scorpio Coming Up

The last week of this month we will have five planets in Scorpio, which will be dominating the heavens and our inner experience. There is the sense of urgency and time is running out. The New Moon in Scorpio makes us emotionally moody, intense and focused inwards. The Jupiter opposition and the trine to Neptune are adding another layer to the situation. Jupiter always wants to look at the big picture and Neptune can contribute higher awareness as well as misguidance, lies and betrayal.

Scorpios are known for being very intense, emotional, willing to go deep for the truth and maybe uncomfortably honest about it. Looking at the hidden structures, the deep inner psychology of the moment Scorpios are good at unraveling dark secrets.

With five planets in Scorpio we will have to look at uncomfortable truth and the strategies of misinformation and lies in the media might blow wide open.There will be more intensity on the streets with Mars still in fiery Leo till November 11.

What is pressing on all of us is the meltdown of our economy, the abuse through politicians, banks and corporate world dynamics for profit and greed.

How come that the people who caused the last meltdown in 2008 were the ones getting bonuses from the money we had to buy them out with? You really wonder how long that strategy will work for them.

With so much Scorpio energy this might be a month of facing the truth, gaining real insight into what needs to be done and acted upon. For real transformation and change to happen facing the truth of the moment is the first step.

Highlights of the Month and their Highest Possibilities

Mars squares Jupiter Oct 2

The energy is there to deal with financial matters and be successful with it.

Venus steps into Scorpio Oct 9

Deeper truth might be revealed in your relationships.

Full Moon in Aries Oct 11

Emotions are running high and in warrior mode. Courage and right action should be guiding you.

Mercury in Scorpio Oct 13

The ability to find a new vision based in ruthless examination of the facts.

Sun conjunction with Saturn Oct 13

Clarity, commitment or separation in relationships might happen.

Venus opposition to Jupiter Oct 14

Opportunities around your finances and resources are arising.

Mercury opposition Jupiter Oct 17

Study and learn to enhance your ability to process details into the bigger picture.

Sun into Scorpio Oct 23

Act on revelations and insights to help integrate the new.

New Moon in Scorpio Oct 26

Be truthful to yourself first!

Jupiter trine to Pluto Oct 28

We all agree on the fact that we need change in our society and transformation is needed desperately. The key factor is our consciousness and the decisions and choices we make.

Venus square Neptune Oct 31

Sensitivity for others, compassion and willingness to help is a possibility.

Remember astrology can be of tremendous help in navigating the rocky waters. Expand your knowledge, study astrology and get the support and insight of your personal situation with a professional astrologer of your choice. Your chart reveals the "itinerary of your soul" and the evolutionary intentions you have brought with you this life time. It can give deep meaning in times of choppy waters and help you to navigate the currents.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

An Astrological Forecast for October, 2011 Including a Look Into Scorpio Astrology

Grow Calendar 2011

Should Adult Harry Potter Fans Grow Up?

A few years ago, a journalist wrote a short article about his observation of three adults on a train on the London underground. They were all sitting in the same carriage and were all reading Harry Potter books. He mentioned the fact that as they read, two of them moved their lips and the third rather sheepishly looked around, as if to see if anyone had noticed what they were reading. The journalist, telling a friend about this was met with "Yes, isn't it utterly shameful?" The suggestion being that these adults had the reading age of a child, or should jokingly be labelled as 'liking children's books'.

Carefully reading that article, it occurred to me that it hadn't been written in order to demonstrate any symptoms of a 'dumbing down' in society, or to suggest that adults that enjoy Harry Potter books really do have a child's reading age. The debate about whether Harry Potter books constitute adult literature in any sense, or should be considered as great literary works, has been going on since the first book in the series was published in 1997. As each successive episode hit the bookstores, this debate has been renewed and the article was no more than another attempt to keep that debate alive and to prompt discussion.

Grow Calendar 2011

Some adults don't enjoy the Harry Potter books at all, finding them to be averagely written, rather mechanical, lacking flow and a little unconvincing. Even some intelligent and well-read children have also described them as boring. Personally, I'm with the millions of people (adults and children) who find them highly entertaining and enjoyable. Does it really matter what the target audience is, if they are written in such a way that all ages find something to like about them? In any case, many 'classics' of English literature would seem to be aimed at an adult audience, for example Peter Pan, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Wind in the Willows. As to whether the Harry Potter stories will last as long, who can tell? But they begin, as all great children's stories do, with the need to escape from the present, out the window to Neverland, down the rabbit hole or spirited away from the pace of city life.

Should Adult Harry Potter Fans Grow Up?

Grow Calendar 2011

Upcoming Events in 2012

You might be wondering what the upcoming events will be in 2012. There are going to be some wonderful events happening in 2012. The annual solar eclipse of 2012 would fall on May, 20. In that year the center of the Galaxy is at 0 degree of the Western zodiacal sign Capricorn. According the 2012 calendar, the Sun will be at the center of the Galaxy during the December solstice on December 21. Many researchers might have endorsed the view that the current creation cycle ends on December 21, 2012. The calendar of the Maya might have kindled this thought.

The end of the Mayan calendar is expected after December 21, 2012. A comet is believed to enter into the Solar system near the Earth in December. During the month the moon will come close in the sky to a brighter comet. Solar experts have observed that the Sun will be in a bit of strife in 2012. The Sun storms would cause havoc according to those experts. They would reach a deadly pinnacle, though they would occasionally appear according to the 2011 calendar.

Grow Calendar 2011

The pressure under the Yellowstone in the Yellowstone National Park in the United States is building steadily and the date 2012 has been set by the geologists as the likely date for the annihilation. Physicists at the Berkeley University have predicted that the Earth would meet with the worst ever catastrophe in the year 2012. Scientists have also noted that the magnetic poles in the Earth are shifting places very fast. When they shift their places, they would cause the Sun's radiation to go unchecked. The fierce radiation has the ability to burn everything it touches. Thus the prediction goes out that the Sun will burn out in the year 2012. Solar eruptions could disrupt power grids too.

Upcoming Events in 2012

Grow Calendar 2011

The LEGO Advent Calendar - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

One of the most popular gifts for Christmas (or, more precisely - pre-Christmas) is the LEGO Advent Calendar. This great gift idea consists of twenty-four different LEGO gifts to be opened, one per day, starting on December 1st and continuing to December 24th - the day before Christmas. This year LEGO has produced two different versions of their Advent Calendar: one based on the Star Wars theme, and the other based on the LEGO City series of building sets. This is the first year for the appearance of a Star Wars themed calendar; in the past, other calendars have been based on a variety of themes including Kingdoms, Castles, and Pirates. The City theme has been the most consistent thread in the last several years.

The Advent Calendar is an idea that goes back to the early days of the 19th Century. It had its beginnings among the German Lutherans when they began the tradition of counting down the days to Christmas starting on December 1st. In some cases, the calendar consisted of nothing more than a mark on a door or wall. In other cases it was more elaborate, perhaps a series of lighted candles.

Grow Calendar 2011

Later, the idea evolved into a printed calendar with each day marked in some special way. That then became a multi-part calendar consisting of 24 little doors that covered each day on the calendar, each with a religious picture or other token behind it, such as a piece of candy or a bible verse. As time passed, the idea spread and became a secular tradition as well as a religious one, and today there are many different varieties of Advent Calendars available.

The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, which is designated as LEGO 7958, has quickly become one of the top 100 toys in the Amazon toy catalog this year. It consists of a plastic tray formed into twenty-four individual compartments. Each compartment is filled with a LEGO toy based on the Star Wars theme, either a small set of bricks that can be assembled, or a mini-figure, or some other special LEGO part to go with the theme.

The Star Wars Calendar toys are all extremely well designed, and very detailed. Among the nine minifigs included in the calendar are Chewbacca, a TIE Pilot, a Clone Pilot, Nute Gunray, and Yoda in a Santa Suit! The calendar also includes a veritable fleet of eleven different star cruisers, fighters, and ships, including the Millennium Falcon, a TIE Fighter, an Imperial Shuttle, and a Y-Wing fighter.

The City version of the LEGO Advent Calendar, designated LEGO 7553, continues a well-established theme for the LEGO Advent Calendar, going back as far as 2005. The twenty-four compartments in this year's calendar contain a total of 232 elements, as LEGO calls them (or more simply, "pieces"). With this calendar, some of the toys are assembled from pieces that are revealed over a period of several days. For example, the pieces for the Police Station come over four different days - days 4, 5, 11, and 12. The Police Car arrives in three parts, on days 15, 16, and 17.

The City Advent Calendar also contains a variety of mini-figures - eight in all - including a crook, several policemen, and a Police Dog with a bone. In addition to the minifigs and structures, there are several vehicles, including a Police Car, and a Snowmobile. Like the Star Wars version, this set is recommended for children over the age of 5, because of the presence of small pieces.

If you have one or more children on your Christmas gift list, a LEGO Advent Calendar is bound to be a huge hit. Not only is it a great gift in itself, but by stretching out over the first twenty-four days of December, it helps to pass the time leading up to the Big Day. Whether your child is a hard-core Star Wars fan, or just enjoys building with the LEGO City theme sets, this gift is bound to be received with great delight on December first!

The LEGO Advent Calendar - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Grow Calendar 2011