Enjoy the wildlife and flora of nature right at their doorstep, patio and / or in the garden. If you want to start such a project, a garden pond, is the best way to begin. All kinds of wild animals need water to live. . . and will) thousands of species of wildlife (both plants and animals thrive in a well-designed garden and / or backyard pond habitat. You will be surprised if you can see how impressive your own garden and / or garden if youDesign a backyard habitat pond. Unwind and relax in the beautiful ambiance around your house, you will love it.

If you have a habitat to attract outside you will find birds, small animals, you can put fish in a pond in the open, or you may be able, for the natural aquatic life are also developing in a backyard habitat that will be waiting. Beautiful birds bathe and drink from your garden pond, and frogs, water snakes and some insects are all naturally attracted to a water source.The majority of water snakes that you can not build a house in your garden for poisonous. These water snakes are among those referred to the genus Natrix and are always harmless. The markings on many snakes are tempting, but can be misleading – in some occasions you or a water moccasin cottonmouth not trespassing on your catch-toxic garden habitat. If you are at all concerned about the snakes in the garden, find out what they are looking for. Get a book of photographs byall the different types of birds that you see in your garden, and a snake in a clear (and other reptiles) identification. It will be fun!

My pond is an ideal place for reptiles such as turtles, toads and salamanders, may be attracted to your garden pond. Toads and salamanders could find your garden habitat, that the best place for the reproduction. Especially if you live closer to a body of water, your pond can be a wonderful habitat. Grew up in the neighborhood, a family ofQuail, frogs and turtles can only move a little bit and set up their new home in your garden. If you are a biologist or a scientist, you may be interested in this fact: In addition to larger population, your garden and / or backyard habitat will certainly produce a variety of other, much smaller aquatic invertebrates and insects.

Be aware as well that the more colorful fish lure in your garden or backyard pond more, they become predators. However, if theyless colorful and are camouflaged, your last fish and last. And your backyard habitat will thrive with even more lives. There are different types of locations for different types of ponds, sun, shade, size, depth, and many other factors recommended your backyard habitat effect.

There are a few different types of pools to choose from. Preformed water table lakes, ponds, concrete ponds, lined ponds and much more, are all different kinds of ponds within reach for you. However, ifThem in time for the design and / or construction of your pond there are many things to note. The current landscaping of your home outdoors, especially the amount of space that you have to work, is something very important to note.

There are of course also affects the environment. For example, the humidity of the place you live ie: ie, how moist or dry air will affect the water in your garden or patio will be. Some ponds, especially shallow ones,can dry out easily if you're not careful. There are some very dry areas, the restrictions that will prohibit someone from the planning and / or with a pond in his backyard have indeed.

Water table ponds are popular with many people. If your water table is near the soil surface, then you may very well be a naturally occurring pond. Of course, because of ecological considerations above, the quantity of water in a water pond and to reduce the tableIncrease depending on the dryness of the air. A water-table pond completely dry in times of drought. There are many variables that will help you decide whether a water table pond, what you want.

If you live in a place where your pond is dry land for part of the year, of course, your pond will not attract as many wildlife species and habitats, it is only a temporary refuge for the animals. There are, as is often the naturally occurring water table ponds, evenmany types of pre-formed ponds for you to choose from for your garden. An outdoor biotope can be any size and depth, when the supply of a water source is your goal, you do not necessarily have a large pond. The dimensions are up to you and your specific goals for the outdoor habitat itself.

Everything from deep water ponds, in shallow water ponds, the reproduction of the pools to luxurious waterfalls and many other waters in the open air attractions are all very welcomingfor certain species of birds, plants and other animals. There are garden ponds that you can create, which will be an incredible habitat for your garden – perfect for you can to enjoy the flora and fauna of nature right outside your house. You can custom design a pond and cement is used, feed, and what kind of filtration is best for your specific situation landscaping.

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This scene greeted me at my doorstep early last week. Perhaps someone is trying to drop me a hint that I need to be more boisterous or energetic? Probably not.

Two sugar packets and a giant McDonald's soda

Umm…thanks?

Residents of Stourbridge, West Midlands (UK) and surrounding villages were having a pleasant surprise when they took their milk bottles. They would find pictures of animals, often cows or mice, carefully carved onto the glass in astonishing detail.

The artist, called by neighbors as ‘bottle Banksy’, would take the used milk bottles from doorsteps and then return them after having etched elaborate pictures. The identity of this artist was later known: Charlotte Hughes-Martin. The ex-lecturer, who works from a studio in a former glass factory, decorated the used bottles before randomly returning them to the doorsteps…

See More bottle art…

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie wants people to be wary of doorstep charity collections.

She has been contacted by a constituent from Whitecross about leaflets being put through the door for an “urgently needed clothing collection”.

“The leaflets contain no company name or contact information,” said Cathy, “but my constituent tracked them down before approaching me. Their company registration number revealed that they are W&W Help Ltd., who were wound up in March for failing to submit accounts. They have since been found leafletting in various locations, requesting donations of old and unwanted clothes to help people in developing or eastern European countries. I understand that that as a result of these activities, they are being investigated by police and Trading Standards.”

“People should be aware that collections like this can be charitable or commercial. Both are legitimate if they work within their respective rules, and you can check them out using their charity registration numbers or company details. Personally though, I would advise caution when approached by doorstep collections. If it’s a charity you don’t know, and you cannot tell or aren’t sure about the collection, it’s safer to recycle clothes or take them to a charity shop.”

pure sky—

on the doorstep

one white feather

~ for Angie

My website on this domain is one year old today, hence the picture above! My first post was about this hedgehog, so I thought he deserved pride of place today! Normally he lives on our doorstep in Leicester. It was a busy day at work, and we were reminded of an important lesson – a man who came off the street for help was once an all-round entertainer, and could play the piano beautifully! So never judge by appearance or first-impression!

Hollywood Vanja joins us for some prank calls to the UK. A drunk man is going to urinate on an inn keepers doorstep. Carlito doesnt like it when a mother disrespects her daughter at work. Ted joins us for some calls as well. We hold a conference call with several 7-11 stores and advise them to discontinue selling Coca Cola flavored Slurpees due to a product recall. A fat hooker calls us back and things just dont work out..

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Relocating from the UK and now living in Perth I sometimes forget how lucky I am to be here with two young children, the great outdoor life with the room to roam the parks and gardens of  WA, most with no entry fee. 

Living the outdoor life in Perth City we are lucky enough to have the recreational facilities on our doorstep. 

Kings Park is definately for me the daddy of all parks with the fantastic location and views which managed to bring a tear to my eye the first time I ever went.

There are other free entry parks to enjoy such as Whiteman Park where families can enjoy a day out with cycle paths, walking trails, bbq’s, paddling pool and childrens play areas.  There is a wildlife park there which does charge for entry, you can walk through the Kangaroos and see the Koalas.

Wanneroo has a great park called Rotary Park which has just been refurbished to a very high standard with a fantastic play area for the children, great park for birthday celebrations with bbq’s available.

Also in Wanneroo are the Botanical Gardens with older style gardens, leafy hideaways, waterlily filled ponds and waterfalls.  This has a charge of $4 entry for adults which includes a tea or coffee, free entry for the children.  Mini golf is there which is an extra cost.  It is also great place to listen to free live music on a Friday and Saturday nights.

With all the parks, gardens and beaches in  Perth WA  if you pack a picnic or make use of the barbecue facilities, you can have a great day out without a great deal of cost.

Now I’m off to pick the kids up from school,  grab a pizza from Eable Boys for $10,  go to our local park eat our pizza and the kids can play on a winters day !! 

How Lucky am I.

The doorbell rings but you’re in the shower, it rings again, you’re first thought is that your not expecting anyone so its probably a sales man; you ignore it. Then you hear a voice, ‘Hello, anyone  home, its me’ you think you recognise the voice but your not sure so you finish your shower, get dressed and head down the stairs. You head  to the door to find that the person who was calling has given up  and gone home; the card they’d come to deliver is lying on the floor, its an invitation you pick it up read it and write the date in your diary. Making a mental note to return the RSVP slip in the morning.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t make himself more obvious to you if He’s really there? Why He doesn’t just light up the night sky with a neon sign saying ‘I’m God I’m here Worship me!’?

Have you ever thought that maybe God’s just standing at your door with an invitation in His hand? Now I’m not talking about your literal front door but the door to your heart.

He knocks, you wake up one morning to see a clear blue sky with the sun shining and the birds flying, you’re due to go for a picnic with some friends and it looked like it was going to be a wash out, you smile – its going to be a nice day.

He knocks again, you lie outside on a beautifully clear night and watch a meteor storm it was forcast to be cloudy and this is the only shower of it’s size forcast during your lifetime, you smile – its an amazing sight.

He calls through the letterbox, and your sprained ankle clears up in half the time expected leaving you able to perform in the show you’ve speant months rehearsing for, you smile – rest and relaxation obviously payed off.

Anyone else by now will probably have given up, posted the invitation through the letter box and gone home to wait for the RSVP to arrive on their door mat. But not Him, He waits the only way he’s giving you this invitation is personally, face to face, all you have to do is open the door.

Now if you’re like me opening the door was the easy bit accepting the invite was harder, I took it and ran; hid away in my bedroom if you like leaving Him stood in the porch. I searched for the RSVP slip for ages hoping I could send my reply from a distance, but there wasn’t one, I kept searching turning the envelope inside out, looking at the invite from every angle, nope nothing, not an RSVP in sight. Because just as the only way to get the invitation is face to face the only way to respond to it is face to face.

And what was God doing all the time I was enjoying the signs He gave me? All the time I was looking for the RSVP?

He was still knocking on the door,  talking through the letter box, calling up the stairs.

It took me a while to realise that I couldn’t RSVP from afar, that now He’d come to me I had to give Him my answer face-to-face, but He was still there waiting for it.

I used to think I found You, but now I’ve realised I’m the fool
Because really You found me, You were on standby for my call
You laid down Your own life, and traded it for me
With blood You bought freedom, and gave it me for free

I’d like to talk for a minute about what I like to call “the wait”, even though it’s not solely a Brazilian thing. Be it on the weekend, during the holiday, or in the evenings…Brazilians love to do “the wait”.

Now, you might be thinking it’s some sort of new dance craze that has struck the country, but no…in fact, it’s the lack of steps involved that give it its name.

“The wait” is to sit on the sidewalk, preferably in a chair, more preferably with others or at least in ear-shot of others. Two other popular places to do this include leaning out the window facing the street and sitting on the doorstep. It’s not entirely clear what they are waiting for or why but maybe it’s a way to get back at all the long lines, the bureaucracy, the red tape, etc…perhaps to be able to say “See? I can wait because I want to, because I feel like it and most importantly, because I’m free.” Or perhaps I’m wrong and Brazilians simply like to wait…

Some examples…

Here, here and here.

Heeding the Call

One morning several years ago, during a particularly competitive period in my workplace, I realized that if I didn’t take action that required me to stand up for myself in a major way, I would be ridden over roughshod. I had a history of feeling that I was the victim of circumstances, but I had never before felt moved to accept my part and fight to claim what was truly due to me. I came to the decision to act one day while working at my desk. While I was writing I distinctly heard a voice telling me to make some charts so that I could prove what I wanted to show my superiors. At that time I wasn’t used to receiving information in this non-physical auditory fashion. For me, guidance generally came as a clear sense of knowing. I wasn’t freaked out, and I listened even though standing up for myself was truly threatening to my sense of survival. But I did it. I listened to the voice and as a result I broke a pattern of discrimination and victimization that had followed me all my life. It was a hugely liberating experience. Standing up for myself was really empowering. I wasn’t ‘killed’ for righting a wrong, and I was able to recognize where I fell into blaming, and where I was to blame. I could see myself more clearly, and in doing so make the decision to act in a different way. I have never fallen back into that old pattern again – it is gone. I have listened and followed the guidance I receive many times since….but not always.

How often do you hear a voice or have a direct sense of knowing that you must take a particular action, however inconsequential it might be?  Our inner voices are there to assist us in our lives.  To heed it can result in life changing awarenesses, or experiences.  To ignore it can bring another type of life changing lesson thudding onto your doorstep.  That is where I presently stand.  I ignored two clear warnings not to move into the apartment that I currently live in.  The opportunities to back out were unusual and both would have allowed me to break my contract without being penalized.  I ignored them.  I recognized that I was receiving guidance, but didn’t act.  I thought, if I get a third warning I’ll definitely do something! Why was I deaf to the call? Without doubt it was because I had other ideas about what was important for me at the time.  I thought I knew better! Top of my list was that I wanted a home of my own after over three years of global travel. I overrode both my own intuitive sense and the guidance that was being laid out for me.  I let my impatience, fear of missing the boat, and frustration cloud the bigger picture which, of course, I couldn’t see because I was so preoccupied!

Or…maybe where I am now – in a place of insecurity, in the unknown – is part of the bigger picture, the new life lesson.  I don’t yet know what the full teaching is from this one, but I am getting it on one level, and I was given the opportunity to sidestep this completely…if only I’d heeded the call.  My advice to you – Always listen to the voice within and the signs without, and ACT, even though it may seem counter-intuitive to your personal vision in that moment in your life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      ©2009 Sarah Lidsey

Isn't it marvellous

I intend to explode the myth that triangles taste better than rectangles when it comes to sandwiches and I implore you to help.

How can triangles taste better? They might look a bit fancy-dan and their two neat pointy corners might make them easier to tackle. But what about when you need filling up and it’s a man sandwich that you need? How then can a triangle satisfy the urges of a hungry hound? Never, say I.

There’s several Facebook groups and other forums promoting the virtues of the triangle sarnie. How quickly their so called members have forgotten their loyalty.

The new debate that rages pits the humble rectangular sandwich against the triangle and I for one, want to pledge my support and undying passion to the true nobility of the sandwich arena.

A chunky doorstep of a sandwich can only ever be rectangular – only the French would have real doorsteps in a triangle shape. A really good doorstep does not benefit from pointy corners. It needs right angles, it needs mustard and it needs three sides of crust.

I urge you to join with me and kick these triangles while they are down and to champion proper sandwiches, only ever in their rectangular form.

My favourite fillings:
Chicken salad, mayo + white pepper and salt (granary bread)
Green back bacon and Dijon mustard (white bread)
Cheese, hoummos, coleslaw (granary)
Banana, Nutella(white bread)
Marmite – just marmite and maybe some butter, nowt else. (white or wholemeal)

A doorstep in the city,
Where my footprints are owed.
A conversation in busy streets
Should have long ago completed.

With flurry, discontinued
Then stuttered in fluster.
Words betrayed themselves,
Inverting their aim.

Granted, few questions unanswered
But remain essentials:
What of Love? Of Hope? (and faith?)
How long insincerity?

In a butterfly’s breath she was truth
And in truth, beautiful.
But a car horn honked
And her truth evaporated.

Pilate, I wash my hands,
Await return unconcerned.
Yet on crisp nights I doubt,
Perhaps, I’ve yet responsibility?

But never do I stop upon the doorstep;
For what vanity, the thought!
Better I let her to her fictions
And conclude the story at her advent.