The Many Uses Of Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil is made by distillation of the flowering herb and is normally a pale yellow or greenish coloured liquid. When inhaled it can reduce a fever, relieve the feelings of nausea and vomiting, improve a person's digestion as well as soothe the respiratory system of the body.

The Many Uses Of Peppermint Essential Oil

The Many Uses Of Peppermint Essential Oil

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The Many Uses Of Peppermint Essential Oil

The Many Uses Of Peppermint Essential Oil

There have been various studies performed which show the oils ability to improve a person's sense of taste and smell as well improve concentration levels and Mental clarity in those that have inhaled the oil.

There are several ways in which peppermint essential oil can be used either by inhalation, rubbing on to the reflexology points on a person's feet, diffused into the Air (spray) or drops poured into a therapeutic bath.

Below are provided some ways in which peppermint essential oil can be used.

Inhaled as steam for congestion relief. What you need to do is put a few drops of the oil into a large bowl of hot water and then you should place a towel over your head, lean over the bowl and inhale the steam that is rising from it.

Motion Sickness. Just place a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a tissue and inhale.

Headache. Put a few drops on to a cool wet towel and use as a compress on the forehead or you could Massage it into the neck, back, temple and/or forehead (however do not forget to dilute with a carrier oil prior to placing on the skin).

Digestion. Place several drops of diluted oil (dilute with carrier oil) on to the stomach and Massage it in. Or else you could just rub some pure oil onto the bottoms of your feet.

Breath Freshener. Just place several drops on your tongue.

Therapeutic Bath. Put several drops of the diluted oil into a tepid bath and it will help to relieve stomach problems, nasal congestion, headaches or Menstrual cramps. However if you do not have any essential oil then get a Cloth bag and fill with several handfuls of dried or fresh peppermint leaves and put in the water while you bathe.

It should be me remembered that caution should be taken when using any essential oil and they should be diluted with a carrier oil when being used externally to prevent any adverse reactions. Certainly a skin reaction may occur if the dosage used is excessive and it should be kept away from eyes at all times.

However, below are some precautions which you must take when you are using peppermint essential oil.

Be careful when giving it to children under the age of 5 as the Menthol can cause them to react by choking.

Do not apply this oil to the faces of Infants or small children.

At no times should peppermint essential oil be ingested unless it is under professional supervision.

Women who have a history of miscarriage should use peppermint essential oil with caution.
Certainly large amounts of this essential oil may trigger a miscarriage and the same precautions should be taken by women who are breast feeding their babies.

There are a number of side effects associated with using peppermint essential oil and these are:-

If it is incorrectly used peppermint essential oil can cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions.
For some people taking enteric coated capsules may have a rare reaction to the product such as skin rash, heartburn, slow heart rate and muscle tremors (and therefore this product must be avoided).
Large ingested doses of peppermint essential oil may result in a person's kidney's becoming damaged.

It is advisable that at no time should you use peppermint essential oil in conjunction with any other homeopathic treatments.

The Many Uses Of Peppermint Essential Oil

Log Cabin Fever

Homesteaders settling in the territories of the American West traditionally built log cabins; durable, rainproof, and inexpensive. Today, eco-friendly and rustically charming, log cabins with their distinctive handcrafted appearance seem to be making a comeback, with luxurious features such as whirlpools, skylight windows and heated patios.

Log Cabin Fever

Log Cabin Fever

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Log Cabin Fever

Log Cabin Fever

Swedish colonists built the first log cabins in North America at the beginning of the 18th century. The design of the log cabins was influenced by typical North European farm-houses until the introduction of the Homestead Act. According to which, new colonists had to build their homes of a specific size with at least one window. These old log cabins had just one room, a spacious porch, and an elevated area for sleeping.

Building the frontier style log cabin was quite easy and required only a few days. First of all, the builder settled a solid foundation to keep logs above the damp soil. Most often, rock or stone were used for the log cabin foundation. Then the builder would square off each log and make round cuts on the top and bottom of each end. Then he assembled the logs so that round cuts would fit together. The logs were secured together with wood sticks. The remaining spaces were filled with insulation materials such as clay or mud. The windows and doors were simply cut out, and a Fireplace was built afterwards.

Thanks to new construction technologies and an increased attention to all things eco-wise and natural, log cabins are gaining in their popularity. Well-constructed, weather-proof log cabins today can be built and styled similar to conventional houses. Among the advanTAGes of log cabins and homes, experts list remarkable weather-proofing qualities with little insulation and low building costs. In addition to that log cabins require little maintenance.

A hundred years ago a log builder lived in almost all rural neighborhoods, so learning to build a log cabin was easy - people simply followed the way he built. Today, log cabin enthusiasts have access to hundreds of log cabin building manuals and resources from all over the world.

Log cabin factory kits are a practical solution for the log cabin devotee. Log packages with complete instructions can be found online from as low as ,000, but the complete cost of the building can go twice as high. To the price of the log cabin kit you should add the costs of the assembly and the installation of plumbing, electricity, heating and other "luxuries". The happy owner of the log cabin can actually decrease the costs by participating in the construction, even though most log building companies can provide a team of contractors to raise the log cabin. In any case, the modern log cabin can be built from scratch in less than two weeks.

Once a popular vacation dwelling located in the scenic outback, log cabins are becoming popular residence choices for many families. More than 90 per cent of all log homes are currently used as a primary residence, and many of these log homes are built in metropolitan areas. Often, when people build the log cabin for vacation getaways places, they eventually move into their log homes because of their casual rugged charm and convenience.

Log Cabin Fever

Beautiful Fishing Women - Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Are Sure to See Them

Some people have a picture in their minds of the great outdoors only consisting of beer-bellied Men chugging back beers and sitting idly by a lake with a pole in hand. This stereotype has not been formed injudiciously, but there is always the exception of their female counterparts.

Beautiful Fishing Women - Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Are Sure to See Them

Beautiful Fishing Women - Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Are Sure to See Them

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Beautiful Fishing Women - Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Are Sure to See Them

Beautiful Fishing Women - Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Are Sure to See Them

Some days, when the sun is out and the little Fish are biting up a storm, one may look out on the banks of a pristine lake and see one of these ephemeral creatures. They will even some days choose to command a bass boat out into the midst of the waters for a better chance at their prey. Beautiful Fishing woMen never leave home without catching what they are after.

Some people have an idea of beauty that includes ribbons and bows, silk stockings, delicate perfume, and loads of painted on bright make-up colors. This is not a view of beauty shared by everyone it seems. There are a great number of Men (and their numbers are growing more every day) who appreciate the beauty of a woman in her natural state, taking command of the outdoors and living life free... just like Men.

It has been proven in the last few years that women are no longer satisfied to play second fiddle to men. Hillary Clinton is a prime example of a strong, confident, and powerful woman, not afraid to take the spotlight.

The women we are concerned with in this article are not afraid of the spotlight either, rather, they prefer the sunlight. Beautiful Fishing women are not scared to let their hAir down (or to put it up when the sun is beating down on them). They do not need loads of make-up to cover up their God given features. They are simply out in their gorgeous natural state as was intended from the moment of their creation.

Beautiful fishing women can go out in a little bikini if they want to soak up some rays while they are casting their lines. They may use oils or lotions to enhance their glowing tan while their male counterparts usually end up with a farmer's tan from their awful stained up t-shirts.

The less Clothing a fisher(woman) wears, the less she ruins! Anyone who has ever reeled in a big one knows the bleeders can stink up your Clothes forever. No amount of laundry detergent can clean out the odor of fishy death. These women are wise due to centuries of being stuck at home doing laundry while the men were out enjoying their fishing trips on the weekend.

Beautiful fishing women are to be found everywhere on the shores of beaches in the summer. You will know them by the pole on their hand and the bronze on their skin. Keep your eyes open and you are sure to see. They can throw back brews with the boys, or sip a sultry sangria while they spend their afternoon in the most pleasurable way they can imagine: fishing the seas.

Beautiful Fishing Women - Keep Your Eyes Open and Your Are Sure to See Them

Five Steps to Overcoming Commitment Phobia and Creating a Loving Life-Partner Relationship

While I define "commitMent phobia" as "an unrealistic fear of making a promise, pledge or a vow to be a faithful and loyal partner to another person," many singles may also fear that becoming a committed couple means giving up, or losing, their independence.

Five Steps to Overcoming Commitment Phobia and Creating a Loving Life-Partner Relationship

Five Steps to Overcoming Commitment Phobia and Creating a Loving Life-Partner Relationship

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Five Steps to Overcoming Commitment Phobia and Creating a Loving Life-Partner Relationship

Five Steps to Overcoming Commitment Phobia and Creating a Loving Life-Partner Relationship

It's not uncommon for singles to fear that committing to be a life-long relationship challenges the safety and comfort they perceive as benefits of being single. Remaining single does have its advanTAGes. You can come and go as you please, leave your dirty Clothes or dirty dishes alone for as long as you want, and spend your time and money independently. And, you can choose to reveal to the world whatever parts of yourself you want to reveal, and keep your weaknesses and vulnerabilities hidden.

In most contexts,our fears are designed to keep us away from dangerous situations. It's healthy and normal to fear snakes, loud noises and bad smells, and we protect ourselves by running away from them. But in order to create a trusting and intimate relationship with a partner, one has to confront fears and take emotional risks.

Accomplishing this goal requires confronting the fears of what you're "losing," and instead focusing on what you're gaining--trust, intimacy, facilite parking-the rewards of a loyal and loving partnership. So, how might this be accomplished?

The first step is to acknowledge that you actually do want to share your life with someone. I've worked with many singles who don't succeed in finding a relationship because they are ambivalent about really wanting one. Gettingclarity on your life goals is part of the first step to attaining them. So start by identifyng what you truly want.

The second step is to acknowledge your fears, recognizing that they have kept you from achieving your goals all along. Knowing that you fear rejection, change, or loss of independence is important so that you can develop strategies to overcome them. This kind of strategizing can be done with a trusted friend or Mentor, or even a coach. This person can help keep you honest, and focused, as you pursue your relationship goals.

The third step is to learn how to pace the development of a relationship. Many singles get caught up in passion and lust during a relationship's early sTAGes, only to back away when the time comes to making decisions about the future. Othersingles are so hesitant to open up that they become "stingy" with their time and attention. Figure out what's best for you, as long as you keep things moving forward.

The fourth step is to "make a commitment to see if we should make a commitment." Agreeing to be in an exclusive relationship is a good way of practicing your commitment skills. Focus on discussing your life goals and dreams together, as well as revealing aspects of your inner selves to one another. Doing so will provide ample opportunities to experience, trust and intimacy facilite parking.

I'd like to say that there is a definitive final step. But if you've gotten this far, then the last step is one you should've been taking all along--recognizing that being in a committed partnership offers you the mostopportunities to be all that you can be in this world. Couples in healthy relationships are devoted to mutually empower one another to be high-functioning contributing members of society. Successful people frequently give their partners credit for their achievements.

Seeing commitment phobia as the loss of one's individuality and independence is therefore unrealistic. There is so much to be gained in a life with a partner that supercedes the alleged "loss of independence. It admittedly takes risk, but by following the steps outlined above, perhaps you'll finally experience how the benefits outweigh the "loss" in the end ".

© Copyright 2006 Janice d. Bennett, Ph.d.

Five Steps to Overcoming Commitment Phobia and Creating a Loving Life-Partner Relationship

Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

It's conTAGious, and regardless of whether you live in the Land of the Midnight Sun, amid blizzards or where football season is drawing to a close, the ravages of nature's extremes lurk in the darkness. Yes, it is called Cabin Fever and how to reason with this phenoMenon takes planning, foresight and fortitude. So before you slip from motivation into hibernation, bring out the Ouija Board, polish your cowboy boots and stock up on videos, chocolate and playdough.

Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

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Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

Around the world people are plotting and planning their strategy to thwart this insidious annual winter-time fever that brings on claustrophobia, depression, and boredom. In FAirbanks, when temperatures dip to fifty below, children are gleeful when Snow sledding and freeze-TAG are followedby snorkeling in the swimming pool and blizzards are so powerful that Grandma's stove blows sideways.

Around the Chesapeake Bay watershed where the temperatures are more mild, these Alaskan experiences make memories of the area's 2003 blizzard seem as soothing as the fluffy marshmallow foam oozing over a steamy cup of hot chocolate. Now there's a savory tip on how to reason with Cabin Fever season.

The "fever" is inevitable, and so are the house-bound blues. Before you become edgy and irritable, make a Cabin Fever Remedy Plan with your significant other, your kids, grandkids and neighbors. Try something new, like writing a 60-day remedy list. Does comfort Food come to mind? With mindfulness, eating when stressed or bored can be ahealthy activity. A daily pot of simmering soup or stew on the stove, homemade bread topped with peach jam from the church fAir and Aunt Cac's gingerbread pudding stack right up there with meatloaf, mashers and stewed tomatoes on my list.

Other ways to mitigate the long, grim hours are to sharpen your ice skates with anticipation of a weekly round at the rink, browse catalogues and take a trip to purchase knitting patterns and yarn. Not your cup of tea? Then rev up your horsepower with a Basic Motorcycle Safety course and attend a rally. Hankering to write a poem? Get pen in hand and submit your work for the yearly Cowboy Poetry Gathering. For you readers chomping at the bit to enliven your environMent with color in all things, head to the U.S. locations of Natchez andVicksburg for their annual "shop 'til you drop" events. Other fever remedies around the planet includes Chain Saw Carving Competitions, birdfeeder and bat house construction, and Polar Bear crawls, lunges and plunges. It's scary, but the Indie tongue-in-cheek horror film "Cabin Fever" may shock you into sending Cabin Fever Greeting cards to friends and loved ones.

To conquer some of the dis-ease of Cabin Fever, take stock of the clutter in your cabin. Stacks of yellowed magazines, dust-coated collectibles and dated Clothes in your wardrobe may be undermining your positive thoughts and emotions, thus contributing to your "fever." Clearing your clutter can help bring about harmony and balance in your> cabin.

Feng Shui's # 1 rule is easier said than done. Getting started is key. Here's a tip. Make two lists. One list contains tasks that can be accomplished in 15 minutes, such as organizing the holiday decorations before you return them to storage and alphabetizing your spices, if you must. A list is filled with projects that require an hour or two of your time and energy. Bigger chores include organizing the baseMent or garage, and sorting through your child's unused toys and deciding together how to put them back in service by giving them away or donating them. Supporting charity is a great way to reason with the season.

Even though the best Cabin Fever cure is to stay busy, if "activity stuff" adds to your "fever," you can kickback, listen to the river and Watch the deer amble by. Or more to the point, close your eyes and envision your body basking in sunlight, your hAir fluttering in a warm breeze and your toes nestled in the white sand of the Caribbean. If all else fails, build a cabin--you are guaranteed to break a sweat at ten below. Or, crank up some Buffett, wiggle into your flipflops and margarita mix--a sure way to cure Cabin Fever Daze. Most of all, remember to celebrate, love and laugh. Your fling with spring is just around the corner.

Yarrow is a public Speaker and contributing author to The Spirit of WoMen Entrepreneurs-Real-life Stories of Determination, Growth & Prosperity. Buy the book at http://www.FengShuiAtTheBay.com to learn about your "ThreeFeminine Trump Cards "and receive free tips to stay on track with your journey.

She delivers inspirational, motivational and humorous workshops, lectures and seminars to young women, "women of an age" and people seeking more out of life. Topics include: Three Feminine Trump Cards Already in Your Deck; Manage Your Personal Energy; and a Corporate Wellness Program "Chi Flow Grows Cash Flow ©." She is also co-author of The American Bed & BreakFast Cookbook.

To book Yarrow as a keynote Speaker for your conference, retreat or event, contact her at http://www.FengShuiAtTheBay.com or 410.271.1377.

Yarrow is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner and lives in Annapolis, Maryland in a 50s cottage within spitting distance of the Chesapeake Bay. Her winter-time activitiesincludes "fighting the fever" by making Snow angels and Eskimo ice cream. For more information, Yarrow can be reached at 410.271.1377.

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Healthy Ways To Reason With Cabin Fever Season-" Get-a-Grip " Tips to Keep Your Spirits High

Top 5 Pigeon Forge Log Cabins Rentals

Pigeon Forge has become one of the largest attractions in the Southeast on the United States. Many of the visitors come to enjoy the beauty of the area, relax and take a break from the hustle and the Fast life of the city. More visitors (especially large groups) prefer to rent a log cabin. It just makes sense financially and it provides far more aMenities than a hotel or a motel.

Top 5 Pigeon Forge Log Cabins Rentals

Top 5 Pigeon Forge Log Cabins Rentals

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Top 5 Pigeon Forge Log Cabins Rentals

Top 5 Pigeon Forge Log Cabins Rentals

There are hundreds of cabin rentals that cater to the tourists, but not all rental companies are equal in terms of their service and quality of cabins.

This is a list of the top 5 rental companies that operate in Pigeon Forge:

1. Timber tops: Timber tops features very luxury cabin rentals. Their service is great. Timber tops has a very strict criteria as far asthe quality of the their cabins that they take into their program. customer satisfaction is very high among its guests.

2. Cabin Fever: also this rental company is very selective as far as what types of properties they will allow into their program. they also offer a very good customer service and their repeat business is very high in the overnight rental industry.

3. Sugar Maple Cabins: The sugar maple cabins that rents are all newer cabins. They are mostly on resorts and they provide gorgeous views of The Smoky Mountains. They customer service is excellent and they get great ratings from guests all the time.

4. Auntie Belham: This rental company has a very wide variety of rental cabins for very discounted prices in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. AuntieBelham's log cabins offer great views of the Smoky Mountains. Most of their cabins are conveniently located close to The Smoky Mountains.

5. Twin Mountain Log Cabins: This cabin rental company specializes in log rental cabins. All their selection is strictly rustic log cabins. Their cabins truly offer a true mountain experience.

This is a short list that I handpicked of really quality cabin rentals that have log cabins in Pigeon Forge. Make sure to check my other articles about tips and questions to ask the rental cabin before booking your reservation. Always do your homework, call on the phone read the description and aMenities on the website. In case you are not sure always call the rental company and ask for clarifiation.

Top 5 Pigeon Forge Log Cabins Rentals

The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

This Beautiful Golden Eagle eagle is named for its golden brown plumage, with head and nape feathers are a little slightly lighter, golden color. The golden eagle is between 26-33 inches in height, the eagle has a wingspan of 78 inches (over 7 feet long) and weighs 3.2 to 6.4 kg. Adults have a bill which is a bit smaller and darker than that of other eagle, which include the bald eagle. The immature golden eagle's flight can be recognised from the immature bald eagle by the presence of distinct white patches on the under-wing and by a large white tail with dark bands. The most notable field mark at any age distinguishing these two eagles, should you be in a position to see it, is the presence of feathers on the legs of golden eagles all the way down to the toes while the baldeagle has a considerable amount of the leg showing. Its favored prey Food includes rodents, rabbits, birds, and reptiles, as well as carrion. They have also been known to take small sheep and other small farm animals.

Life and the History of these eagle's

The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

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The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

The golden eagle is a long-lived bird, with a life span believed to be around 30 years or even more. It is also known that a pAir of eagle's mate for life and defends a large selected territory against other golden eagles to protect there young from starving. Both the male and female help in building the nest in a tree, but occasionally more often on a cliff ledge, commonly with the protection of an overhanging tree or rock so they have shelter. The nest is made of large sticks and branches and often contains aromatic leaveswhich may serve to deter insects and other small pests. Since the same nest may be used and added to almost every year, So as you can imagine theses nests can become very large due to the birds adding to them.

The birds nest usually of 1 or 2 sometimes but rarely 3 eggs which hatch after an incubation period of 34-45 days. Eaglets fledge in 65-75 days. The male provides some help with incubation, but he is the major Food provider during incubation and chick rearing. Young reach sexual maturity and obtain adult coloration in most cases at around 5 years of age.

Habitat is very Important

The golden eagle is seen worldwide throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Golden eagles are typically associated with the large plains of the western United States, and are fAirly common inour western states, Alaska and western Canada. Never abundant in the eastern u. s., this species is now virtually extirpated as a breeding bird east of the Mississippi River. Golden eagles once nested at no more than a few or so sites in the Adirondacks of New York, in Maine and in New Hampshire. They are believed to still nest in large numbers in eastern Canada and they are also protected here, as evidenced by hundreds of golden eagles appearing during the fall and spring migrations in the eastern u. s. Preferred habitats include generally open areas, mountains, grasslands, and deserts. The golden eagle feeds primarily on live mammals such as ground squirrels and rabbits, and other small animals found in their preferred upland habitats. In winter they will feed on carrion and waterfowlin the east.

Status

Golden eagles have been protected in the United States since 1963. During the 1950 's, an estimated 20.000 eagles were destroyed by ranchers and farmers, particularly sheep farmers who perceived them to be a major threat to there livestock. In the north eastern states, remnant populations declined drastically to almost distinction. Although sightings occur every year in New York, most are during migration. A nest was built in the winter of 1992-93 by a pAir wintering in southeastern New York, but has never been used as the pAir departs every spring to return the next fall. The reasons for the decline of this species in the east are not clear. Various factors seem to be involved, including shooting, accidental trapping, human disturbance at nest sites,posishing, loss of essential open hunting habitat due to succession and fire control, and possibly pesticide contamination (especially by DDT). and also construction and building works.

Hacking, a technique used successfully in New York to restore the bald eagle, has been considered for golden eagle 's, but has not been pursued due to the uncertainty of why golden eagles disappeared from New York and whether these conditions still remain. Tracking of golden eagle's is being conducted in a few south eastern states during the 1990 's and latter and at least three pair's has nested in there in recent years.

The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

How to Tell Fools Gold From Real Gold

Pyrites or Iron Pyrites, also known as "Fool's Gold", is a mineral that has historically been confused with gold because of its similar color and shape. But despite the similarities in appearance to real gold, it can be easily distinguished from it if you know what to look for.

How to Tell Fools Gold From Real Gold

How to Tell Fools Gold From Real Gold

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How to Tell Fools Gold From Real Gold

How to Tell Fools Gold From Real Gold

First of all, the streak of the two minerals is different. "Streak" refers to the color of a mineral's powder. The color of a mineral's powder can be tested by rubbing the mineral on a surface of hard white porcelain. The color of the residual streak indicates the contents of the minerals. Real gold has a yellow streak, while Fool's Gold has a black streak.

In addition to the color of the minerals ' streaks, fool's gold and real gold also differ in hardness. Gold has a low hardness of 2 1/2 to 3on Moh's hardness scale related (roughly the same as in finger nail), while fool's gold has a hardness of 6 to 6 1/2 (a typical knife blade measures at approximately 5.5). A relative hardness of zero signifies a liquid, while a relative hardness of 10 is equivalent to a diamond.

A mineral's hardness can be tested for by scratching. A mineral can only be scratched by a harder mineral, not by a softer one. Therefore, to test the mystery mineral speciMen you can use a different mineral with a hardness between that of related fool's gold and that of real gold. For instance, copper penny with a relative hardness of 3.5 will suffice. Use he mystery mineral speciMen to attempt to scratch the copper penny. If you can scratch the copper penny, then the mineral can not possibly bereal gold because it's softer than copper. The mystery mineral can therefore be assumed to be fool's gold (or another mineral with a relative hardness that is higher than that of copper).

In the days of the Gold Rush pyrites and gold were often confused, resulting in much confusion and disappointMent. This sometimes leads to the worry in this day and age that fool's gold and real gold are difficult to distinguish. But fear not, because through the above testing methods, fools gold identification is relatively simple.

How to Tell Fools Gold From Real Gold

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

"How Much Does a Log Home Cost?" is the single most asked question in the industry, and also the most difficult one to answer. The customers aren't the only ones who are frustrated; dealers and manufacturers are fully aware that not giving an easy answer could lose a sale. However, in reality the answer is "That Depends", and the sooner the homeowners accept this stateMent the sooner they can start looking in the right place.

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

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How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THE RIGHT PLACE? Like everyone else, my husband and I started our oohing and aahing search by at the majestic, multi-faceted homes with numerous peaks in the roof trusses, giant, huge windows, and big logs. What we didn't realize right away is that every one of our favorite log homes were hand-crafted, and so far out of our pricerange that we might as well have been shopping for a castle.

The first thing you need to do is distinguish between a handcrafted log home and a milled log home. Handcrafted log homes will cost anywhere from 2-4 times as much per square foot as a milled log home, when you take into consideration the size of the logs and the intense labor required from the first day the logs are selected. If the logs are not evenly sized, you know right away you are looking at a handcrafted home.

MILLED LOG HOMES: If you select a handcrafted log home, you don't need to be reading this article! For the rest of us, there are other basic factors to consider if you are looking at price: diaMeter log, log, log corners, and species. The first two factors speak for themselves. The corner systemhowever, can make a big difference. For instance, think about how the logs are stacked. If you remember your Lincoln Log toy, you had to find the half-log to start the first course. This is the way to Saddle-Notched corner system is constructed. The courses are sTAGgered and logs are notched to fit snugly together, and when you look at the corner you will see each log end lying on top of the one below it, creating a continuous unbroken stretch from top to bottom. The notches require another run through the mill, and will add to the eventual cost.

When you look at a Butt-and-Pass log home you will see a gap between each log past the corner. This is because all the logs are laid on the same plane; the first course is started with a full log and it butts up against the other walllog which runs past it. The next course reverses the process. There is no notch to hold them together, hence in less time in the mill. If you compare to butt-and-pass house to a saddle-notched house Dollar for Dollar, the butt-and-pass house should be less expensive. This is where aesthetics kicks in.

At home with logs that are flat inside-and-out will probably be joined with a dovetail system, where the logs are notched at an angle and fit together snugly. Think of the corner of your kitchen drawer. These also require more precision equipMent and are a little more expensive to build.

There are other corner systems, but these three are the most common. Just bear in mind that the corner creates one of the big differences between one milled manufacturer's product andanother 's.

LOG PACKAGES. After you have decided on the corner, you'll find that every company quotes their logs differently. To get a real apples-to-apples comparison, you must ask for a quote on the logs ONLY. And remember that the logs 1/4 to constitute 1/5 the cost of the eventual house. I think you're going to find that within the same size, species and corner system, the basic costs will not vary all that much from one manufacturer to another ... not including shipping, of course.

Many companies quote on a Weathered-in Shell, which means all the components for a weather tight house: logs, windows, doors, roof sheathing. It's tempting to get this kind of quotas, but remember that you may be paying thousands of extra Dollars to ship generic lumber across thecountry. And when the extra stuff is delivered, it's up to you to store it all safe and dry on site. If your contractor buys the lumber locally, you can get it delivered when you need it, rather than months ahead of time.

IT'S A CUSTOM HOME. Once you get past erection of the log walls, you're going to discover that your log home is not a whole lot different from any other custom home. The roof materials are the same, the heating systems are the same, the windows are basically the same. Most of your decisions are on the inside of the house: stock kitchen vs. custom cabinets, granite vs. Formica, wood floors vs. moquette tachée, dommage, tongue-and-groove vs. sheetrock, antler chandelier vs. wagon wheel ... here's where the wild differences in price can add up. It's a custom home, remember,and the choices are up to you. In the mid-Atlantic states, the square foot price of a custom framed house and a custom log home will be pretty equivalent. When looked at from that point of view, the whole pricing equation starts to make more sense.

BOTTOM LINE: This is where we all get into trouble. There's no agreeMent as to price, because local budgeting costs vary so much. Four years ago, when I started designing my home, the magazines said to budget $ 150 per square foot. I thought this was outrageous, but in the end, we spent about $ 157 per square foot for a saddle-notched home with 8 "pine logs and some upgrades, so I'm glad I paid attention. If you start there, you'll at least be in the ballpark.

How Much Does A Log Home Cost?

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of illness or pain in their dogs, will not only relieve their loved one's suffering but may also be able to save themselves an expensive trip to the veterinarian. Not only is it important to recognize these signs early to relieve pain and suffering, but it is much more effective to treat an illness when it is detected early.

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

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Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

The dog owner should keep an accurate and detailed account of their dog's symptoms to help the veterinarian correctly diagnose and effectively treat the dog's illness or condition. Most canine illnesses are detected through a combination of various signs and symptoms:

Temperature, Respiratory Rate and Heart Rate

A newborn puppy will have a temperature of 94-97° f. which willeventually reach the normal adult body temperature of 101.5° f. at the age of 4 weeks old. Take care when trying to take your dog or puppies temperatures as the thermoMeter can easily be broken off into the dog's rectum. Also any form of exciteMent can cause the temperature to rise by 2-3° when the dog is actually in normal health. If your dog's temperature reaches 105º or above OR 96º or below please take him/her to the emergency vet immediately!

An adult dog will have a respiratory rate of 15-20 breaths per minute (depending on such variables as size and weight) and a heart rate of 80-120 beats per minute. You can feel for your dog's heartbeat by placing your hand on his/her lower ribcage just behind the elbow. Don't be alarmed if the heartbeat seems irregularcompared to a human's heartbeat, it is irregular in many dogs. Have your vet check it out and get used to how it feels when it is normal.

Behavior Changes

Any behavior changes that are not associated with a change in the household, such as jealousy over a new pet or child may be an indication of an illness. Signs of behavioral changes may be:

or Depression

or Anxiety

or Fatigue

or Sleepiness

or Trembling

or Falling/Stumbling

If your dog shows any of these signs, he/she needs to be kept under close Watch for a few hours, or even a few days, until positive signs develop or he/she has returned to normal. Do not try to exercise the dog or put him/her in any situation that may cause stress. Most veterinarians will want for youto keep track of when the symptoms first appeared, whether they are getting better or worse, and also whether the symptoms are intermittent, continuous, or increasing in frequency.

Pain

Dogs that are in pain will likely indicate that they are suffering by giving you clues as to where the area of discomfort. For instance, a dog that has abdominal pain will continually glance toward their belly, bite or lick the area, and will not want to leave his/her bed. The dog may stand hunched over, or take the ' prayer position ' which is when a dog gets down on it's forelegs with the hind legs still standing because of the pain in her abdoMen area.

Dogs can not tell you that they are hurting or cry real tears but a dog may vocalize their pain in a different way. A dog thatis hurt suddenly (such as being stepped on) will cry out in pain or clue Club. This also happens when an external injury or internal injury (such as an organ) is touched. Whining or vocalization that is unprovoked may be caused from an internal injury as well. Some breeds of dogs (such as the American Pit Bull Terrier) have a higher pain threshold and need to be Watched more closely for signs of pain. Breeds with a high pain tolerance are more likely to endure the pain without vocalization.

Another clue to pain is a change in temperaMent. A dog that is in pain may show signs of aggression. Please take note of this before concluding that a dog has become vicious and let your veterinarian know so that the correct treatment can be administered. Also females in general (even humans!) havedays when they are just in a bad mood for no obvious reason. Take note of days of times that these mood swings occur as well as any events that might have triggered them.

Other signs that your dog may be sick:

or Ears: discharge, odor, debris, crusted, scratching, twitching or shaking tips.

or Eyes, swelling or redness: discharge.

Nose: runny, or thickened, crusty or colored discharge.

or Coughing, sneezing, vomiting or gagging.

or Shortness of breath, irregular breathing or prolonged heavy panting

or Evidence of parasites in the dog's stool, strange color, blood in the stool, or lack of a bowel movement (constipation).

or Loss of appetite or not drinking as much water as normally would.

or Weight Loss.

or Strange color of urinesmall amount of urine, straining, dribbling, or not going as frequently as normal.

or Bad odor coming from mouth, ears, or skin.

or HAir loss, wounds, tumors, dander or change of the skin's color.

or Biting of the skin parasites, scratching or licking the skin frequently.

The preceding article was meant to help educate you to the signs and symptoms of probable pain or sickness in your dog. If any of these symptoms occur over a prolonged period of time, please seek the help of a veterinarian. I hope that this article will help stress the importance of keeping watch over your dog's health patterns and the importance of keeping an accurate, detailed health record for your veterinarian's convenience.

Symptoms of Pain and Illness in Dogs

Piroplasmosis: Protect Your Dog Well

Piroplasmosis is one of the diseases, sometimes fatal, most frequently seen in dogs. This disease, which destroys the red cells, is due to a parasite of the blood, transmitted by a tick bite. The treatMent is effective on condition it is set up in time, but the complications can be serious.

Which are the symptoms which one can observe?

The dog is laid low, it refuses to take nourishMent, vomits and has a strong fever. Its urine takes on an abnormal colouring. The symptoms are not always easy to detect and it is advisable to consult a veterinary surgeon in case of doubts.

How is piroplasmosis transmitted?

Only ticks can transmit this disease. In order to be able to drink the blood of the dog, the tick injects an anticoagulant saliva, which contains the parasites of piroplasmosis. Once in the blood these penetrate in the red cells, multiply there, and make them burst. A dog affected by piroplasmosis is not conTAGious, to other dogs, to other animals, or to man.

What is the treatMent for piroplasmosis?

The treatment is very effective assuming it beings rather quickly.

It is advisable to monitor the appearance of the symptoms well.

According to the sTAGe of evolution of the disease, the veterinary surgeon will set up a treatment program in the form of injections which make it possible to destroy the parasite and of infusion, intended to rehydrate the animal and to fight against the hepatic and renal complications.

The animal will be also transfused to compensate for the lack of red globules.

How to prevent piroplasmosis?

wo techniques exist. First there are pesticides, which is the surest way to etablish real prevention. The product must destroy the tick before it has time to puncture the skin. It is thus necessary that it is poisoned in contact with the dogs coat, in a few minutes. The pesticides are in the shape of collars, pulverizers or pipettes.

The other method is that of vaccination. There is a vaccine which protects from piroplasmosis, but it is not 100% effective and appears very expensive.

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Piroplasmosis: Protect Your Dog Well

Piroplasmosis: Protect Your Dog Well

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Piroplasmosis: Protect Your Dog Well