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by Donald B. MacGowan

Ai'iopio Fishtrap at Sunset, Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Whether you visit the Big Island for a few days, a couple weeks or a few months, you want to make the most of your time in Paradise. With such a wide variety of natural and commercial attractions, it is natural for the visitor to get a little overwhelmed in the “Option Overload” and not be able to make a balanced and informed decision on what they want to do and how best to spend their time.

Fishtrap at 'Ai'opio, Koloko Honokohau National Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Even choosing which beach you want to spend time on, or where you want to hike can be an exercise in confusion and conflicting advice.  Clearly, visitors to Hawaii could use help making quality decisions about how best to spend their time.

Aerial View of the South Entrance to Koloko Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii, Showing Ai'iopio Fshtrap: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the release of their new GPS/WiFi enabled App for iPhone and iPod that helps you navigate your trip to Hawaii with hours of informative, location-aware video and information. Although our video guide will lead you to dozens of unusual, untamed and unspoiled spots, let’s look at one of Hawaii’s most interesting, fabulous and significant historical parks, Koloko-Honorary National Historic Park, just north of Kailua Kona. This park is almost wholly unknown to visitors…and, strangely, many locals as well; characterized by lovely, deserted beaches, ruins of villages and temples, basking sea turtles and miles of hiking trails, the place is flat amazing.  We will highlight just a bit of the information you might not be able to find from maps and guidebooks about this gem of a park; this information is just a fraction of what is available on Tour Guide’s iPhone App. You see how easily you could miss a lot of great stuff, fun things to do and amazing sights if you did not have Tour Guide Hawaii’s new App.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Looking toward the far end of Ai'iopio Beach, across the Ai'iopio Fishtrap, at Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

A thriving Hawai’ian community out here in the middle of the desert? At Honokohau, ancient Hawai’ians took advantage of abundant freshwater springs to site a large community centered around fishing, fishponds and taro fields. The National Historic Park preserves a vast complex of important archeological sites, including several heiau, fishponds, fishtraps, house sites, burials, a holua (sledding track), a Queen’s Bath and abundant petroglyphs. An information center and bookshop is located between the two access roads off the highway and the best place to start any exploration of the National Park.

Pili Hale at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii; Kailua Kona and Hualalai Volcano are in the backgrond: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The archeological sites at both the north and south ends of the Park are worth the little hiking it requires to see them. When exploring these ancient villages, springs and ponds and temples, remember that they are sacred to the Hawaiian people.  Please treat them gently, and with respect…leave only footprints, take only photographs.

As a beach, Ai’iopio Beach is one of Kona’s finest, most protected and fun places to swim. Abundant shade along a long wide beach and a protected reach make this a perfect place to take children, though the water is a little murky for ideal snorkeling.

The shady Ala Hele Kahakai, or shore trail, winds between the north and south ends of the park and intersects with the Ala Hele Ike Hawai’i trail, coming makai (seaward) from the Visitor’s center.

The Ancient Seawal; at Koloko Fishpond is Getting Some Modern Repairs at Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The North Entrance of the Park is reached along a one-lane dirt road just south of the Hinalani St. intersection with the Highway, near mile marker 96. This road is open Thursday through Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and it is not a good idea to get locked behind the gate. Fortunately short and in generally good condition, the dirt road quickly leads to the coast and many archeological sites which are worth the quick drive and short hike. Reconstructed Kaloko Fishpond spotlights the enormous construction projects the Hawai’ians were capable of undertaking in their heyday. A kuapa, or rock wall, separates the fishpond from the ocean, with a gated opening which allows fresh tidal waters to pass in and out of the pond, but through which the growing fish cannot swim. Aquaculture of this magnitude could feed thousands of people; however, other foodstuffs besides fish were grown at Kaloko. Looking around the countryside from the Kaloko fishpond it is possible to see many elevated planter boxes made of the local basalt rocks, in which taro was gown. Taro, prepared as poi and baked as unleavened bread, was a staple food for the early Hawai’ians.

Looking South Along the Coast from the Koloko Fishpond at the North End of Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The North Entrance has facilities limited to composting pit toilets and picnic tables.

In the middle of the Park, the Information Center, Hale Ho’okipa, is situated in an obvious parking lot in the middle of an a’a lava flow just south of the intersection of the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and Hina Lani street on the ocean side of the road.

Hale Ho'okipa, the Visitor's Center at Koloko=Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo By Donald B. MacGowan

The Information Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and has full facilities including drinking water, restrooms and a small souvenir and bookshop. The Ala Hele Ike Hawai’i trail leaves the visitor centers a heads to the beach past numerous archaeological sites, both pre-contact and historic. The Old King’s Highway, a beautiful, narrow stone-paved path, passes through a’a and pahoehoe north and south from the Visitor’s Center to the other two Park entrances.

These enormous stone piles, as seen from near the intersection of the Ala Hele Kahakai and the Ala Hele Ike trails, lead to the Queen's Bath Golden Pond at Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Accessed by the Ala Hele Ike Hawai’i trail from the Visitor’s Center, and lying more toward the interior of the park, the Queen’s Bath, in particular, is quite unique. The natural pool was improved by the native Hawai’ians to provide smooth stones on which to sit and stand and to make it a pleasant place, even though it’s located in the middle of an inhospitable a’a field.

The Sacred Queen's Bath Golden Pond at Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii. When You Visit the Queen's Bath, Please "Malama Aina", Respect The Land. Do Not Wade or Swim in the Pond, Especially If You Are Wearing Sunscreen. Not Only is this Pond Sacred To the Native Hawaiians, But It Is a Delicate Micro-Environment Filled With Unique, Rare and Endangered Aquatic Life: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

You can also get there from the North Entrance by walking south beyond the north end of the beach to a large rock wall. Looking mauka (towards the mountain) along the wall, a series of enormous rock piles can be seen. Follow the trail along the border between the yellow grass and fresh lava, to and then between the first two rock piles; head for the only green shrubbery in the area and you’re at the pond!  When You Visit the Queen’s Bath, Please “Malama Aina”, Respect The Land. Do Not Wade or Swim in the Pond, Especially If You Are Wearing Sunscreen. Not Only is this Pond Sacred To the Native Hawaiians, But It Is a Delicate Micro-Environment Filled With Unique, Rare and Endangered Aquatic Life.

Ai'ipio Beach is a safe place to bring the family to enjoy the ocean. Generally uncroweded, sheltered from tides and currents, shallow and bath-water warm, it's a deflightful way to experience the ocean at Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

At the south end of the park, adjacent to Honokohau Harbor, is Ai’iopio Beach, Hale O Mono Heiau and the Ai’iopio Fishtrap.

Different in design from the rock wall and fishpond structure seen at the Kaloko Fishpond in the northern end of the Park, Ai’iopio Fishtrap is a unique and ingenious invention of the Hawai’ians. Comprised of a large spiral built of basalt stones piled up in the bay, fish enter the trap’s system of canals and walls over the top at high tide, but are trapped within by the receding water of the out-going tide. Hale O Mono Heiau, an ancient Hawai’ian temple still in use for religious ceremonies today, stands guard over the fishtrap at the entrance to Ai’iopio Beach.

The hike along the beach from the North Entrance to the South Entrance is one of the few, beautiful wilderness beach hikes left anywhere in the State of Hawaii. The trail passes through the remnants of a once vibrant fishing and farming community; many ruins, fish ponds and springs dot the area, which is also famous today for its populations of wildlife and birds. One is virtually assured of seeing basking green sea turtles along the beach. Dolphin and pilot whales are frequently seen offshore. During Humpback Whale season, (November through March), the whales are often seen frolicking off the coast here. Of course, the famous Kona sunsets are incomparable from the wild and beautiful beach.

Ai'iopio Beach, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, South Entrance, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Sacred Hale O MonoHeiau at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

To see Hale O Mono Heiau and Ai’iopio Beach, turn makai (toward the sea) from the Highway onto Kealakehe St and then right (north) into the harbor area, and continue to the end of the paving on the north side of the yacht basin. A few minutes walk brings you to public porta-a-potties, Hale O Mono Heiau and the south end of Ai’iopio Beach. A small ranger station and port-a-potties are the only amenities available at this end of the Park; however a store, restaurant and public restroom are available at the adjacent yacht basin.

This large, stone wall is some of the last remnants of the once thriving farming and fishing villages and sacred temples along this stretch of coastline, Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kona Haaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Few people realize that the Kona Coast in general, and in particular the region between Keauhou and Kailua, was the vibrant and populous social, political and religious center of the Hawai’ian Islands for nearly five hundred years. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park allows you see the some of the best ruins and reconstructions anywhere in the state, just as they sat after they were abandoned in the early 1800s. It would be a real shame for visitors to come all the way to the State of Hawaii and miss this important, spiritually refreshing and beautiful place.

Ala Mamalahoa, an ancient paved road that has been in use for over a milenium passes through the eastern side of Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park in Sunny Kona Hawaii--where all the fun is! Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

Paddling a Hawaiian outrigger canoe through the sunset, Kona Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

All media copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

trying to keep up with my best mate @ willow springs 11/29/2009

A BRAND NEW BROOKLYN-BASED BLOGGER has a crush on me.

Salvaged Grace: Reclaim Repurpose Redecorate kicked off this week with a series of posts about casaCARA, based on an e-mail interview I did with Erin Woody, account exec/design freak/amateur boxer/new blogger, some weeks back.

Read all about my pride and joy (the rustic hutch I bought at a yard sale) and the zero-dollars decorating approach I’ve adopted here at my Springs, N.Y. cottage, above.

You wouldn’t want to miss my yard sale tips, would you?

1 lap

Miata vs. Elise @ Streets of Willow Springs

photo by alex romo

>:3

~chean

The Intermountain west is comprised of the states Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Although all of these places are famous for their incredible beauty there are many aspects of this area that people do not often explore but are warrant attention. If you have the time and inclination then make a point of visiting at least one of these attractions on your next trip.

1. Visit the Thermal Springs- This geographic area has a great deal of thermal activity which has resulted in a a lot of mineral hot springs in this region. These springs vary enormously in how much they have been developed and there is a pool to fit all types of persuasions. For those that prefer the rustic then White Sulfur Springs Hotel is the best place for you. Those that like more of a resort feel, check out some of the hot springs that Colorado has to offer.

2. Hunt for Pictographs- The archaic Native Americans of the Mountain west were very artistic, and a great deal of there 4000 year old art can persists to this day, chipped into rock surfaces and overhanging cliffs across the area. For a quick tour, Fremont State Park in Utah has a interesting trail and museum, for those that don’t mind a hike Grand Gulch in Utah is a great place to spend time at.

3. Tour the Lesser Known National Monuments- If you have not visited Glacier, then by all means you should visit there first, but for people who have experienced the main circuit of parks in the west you should think about stopping by the less famous ones. All together, this region has over fifty National sites, and many of these states have excellentlocal park systems as well.

4. Drop by the Regional Museums (as well as the large ones)- Some of the best museums are those that are not on the map, like the town museum in Three Forks, Montana in which the local people gathered memorabilia from their area spanning a century and a half. Of course, some of the bigger museums are worth stopping by as well, such as the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wy. This museum covers many different aspects of the west such as Western Art or Natural History.

5. Go Skiing- Everyone knows that good weather activities abound in the Mountain West, but we also have some of the best powder around. For those of you that are not interested in trying snowboarding, you might try x-country skiing. Sun Valley, Idaho has groomed trails an addiotion top pick is the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana.

6. Visit anAlpine Lake this summer– The big mountain ranges of the intermountain west are full of beautiful alpine lakes. Most of these are well known but a number of the most most interesting are off the primary route of most travelers and often require a difficult trek to reach. One of our favorite picks is Lost Lake in the Wind Rivers. This secluded alpine lake is circled by tall cliffs and jagged mountain peaks that were sculpted by glaciers. The Wind River mountains are well known for fishing and backpacking opportunities. Another great destination in the Wind River Mountains is Lonsome lake located near the Cirque of the Towers in the southern part of the Wind Rivers.

As you can see, there are a wide variety of things that you can do in the mountain west, instead of the tiredgroup tour. Any of the above iteneraies will not only be exciting and fun but provide you with many happy memories for years to come.

WHEN I SAY I LIVE IN EAST HAMPTON, I wonder if people envision a fake chateau behind an impenetrable hedge, or a modernist cube in the dunes with an infinity pool and a five-car garage.

I’m pretty sure “the Hamptons” doesn’t conjure up the cottage at right (‘cottage’ is pushing it — it’s more like a shack). It’s not totally atypical of the Maidstone Park neighborhood of the unincorporated village of Springs, 5 miles north of the picture-postcard Village of EH, but very much in the Town of East Hampton, with an East Hampton ZIP.

I enjoy fantasizing the possibilities for fixing up these humble 1940s summer houses (some now occupied year-round), should they ever come on the market. They rarely do — they’ve been in families forever — and when they do, it’s with unrealistic price tags.

Some of them probably wouldn’t even need fixing.

There are a few that feel to me like Northern California.

THE COOLING EARTH

Nowadays it is fashionable to talk and write about global warming; so much so that it may sound like blasphemy if I say that the Earth is cooling. But it is a simple fact that all members of the solar system except the Sun are in fact cooling off continuously from the time of inception. Any hot body will shed its heat until its temperature corresponds to the temperature of its environment. If we consider the Earth as a whole, including its atmosphere, the temperature may be roughly 250 degree C more than the outer space. It’s inevitable that the earth must cool off, for a considerable time to come.

 Heat received by the Earth from the Sun is neglible, beyond 55 degree north and 55 degree south latitude. The slanting sunrays will not produce any worthwhile heat. Again, the heat received in the middle region up to 8 am and after 5 pm can be ignored. Whatever heat is absorbed between 8 am and 5 pm is lost during the night! All this is in summer. In winter sunlight has no effect at all.

 “But we have striking and sufficient evidence that the superficial shell of the globe is not only heated above that of the ambient air, by the action of its own deep-seated fires”  (Physical Geography by Thomas Milner)

 How does the earth remain warm? We must look inwards for an answer. The interior of the earth is very hot (The reasons have been explained in the article below on Gravity). The temperature may be thousands of degrees C. Slowly this heat seeps outwards. As we go down the earth it becomes extremely hot. Heat may be transferred from the interior to the surface of the earth by the process of conduction. Heat is also transferred by water molecules. If there is no water in the oceans, the ocean beds would be extremely hot. But actually the temperature of the water in ocean beds may be of the order of 3 degree C. This is because of convection currents caused by the ice caps in the Polar Regions and the hot cauldron of sea bed below. This can be proved by a simple experiment.

 A drum filled with water may be heated from below and cooled by a block of ice floating above. If you measure the temperature, you may find the water slightly warmer below the ice block than the water at the bottom of the drum. Water molecules, absorbing heat at the bottom, travel up and ice cooled water from the top comes down. In the same way hot water from the sea bed goes up and water (at 0 degree C) below the polar ice cap travels down towards the sea bed. This way heat from the interior of the earth is slowly transferred to the sea water. Eventually this heat is transmitted to outer space.

 There is another less known mechanism of heat transfer, from the interior of the earth. Water molecules are driven towards the ocean beds under tremendous pressure. We know how it is, if it rains continuously for a few days! What if it rains for 365 days? Or imagine a water tank constructed in a field (bottom being earth without water) the height of the tank being 6kms. Well, this is how the ocean bed is! The constant pounding of the ocean bed by the pressure of up to 1000 atmospheres, makes the earth pulpy and water infiltrates down. Marine geologists tell us that the terrain below the ocean is not much different from the terrain of the continents. When the surface temperature of the earth was higher than 100 degree C, there was no water in the seas. There was no difference between land and sea. It was all land. The sea bed was normal height of the plain. The continents are merely plains of greater height like Tibetan plateau we are familiar with. There are mountains and valleys in the ocean beds also. Tunnels and caves we find in the continent are there in the sea beds too. These will get filled with water; under high temperature, acquired from geo-thermal energy and high pressure, the water becomes super heated steam. Water goes down but steam presses up and ultimately finds its way to the ocean. There are about 30 thousand volcanoes and any number of hot springs in the ocean through which heat continuously comes out. This may, perhaps, be the source of hot currents in the ocean.

 The oceans can never be heated from above. The warm layer of water formed by sun rays cannot travel down and will become cool before the next day break. The ice cold water from the Polar region will sink to the ocean bed, never to rise up, unless heated by the earth. Ultimately, the whole ocean will become a block of ice if the earth is heated only from above by the Sun.

 Let us now look at a strange thing about the Earth. The Arctic Circle is comparatively well populated with Eskimo’s etc living permanently there. The corresponding region in the Antarctic Circle is extremely cold and inhospitable. Man makes his presence felt in this region only in the southern summer. The reasons are obvious. The Arctic region being land locked, there are any number of hot springs there, (see my article on Saraswati ) warming the atmosphere. On the other hand the Antarctica is surrounded by deep oceans : the Pacific ocean on one side and the Indian ocean on the opposite side. There must be hot springs in this region also; but being too deep the warm waters get cooled.\

From the above discussion one thing is clear – the earth is kept warm by geo thermal energy, and not by the heat from the Sun. Today life forms depend very much on sunlight; but the bottom of the sea too contains even developed life forms. Tomorrow if the sun suddenly disappears, I am sure mother Earth will continue to nurture her children, giving the warmth from her own bosom.

 If you look at the map of the world, you will find that the whole of the hemisphere on the Pacific side and 90 % of the southern hemisphere is water. Comparatively few points of the continent comprise of urban areas. Industrial activity in these urban centers can contribute but a miniscule percentage to global warming, which has been going on much before industrialization. (see para on CO₂)

 Therefore, all this hullabaloo about global warming may be unwarranted.

According to one theory, ‘Ice Age’ occurs every 18,000 years or so. The warming earth melts the polar ice cap, and the ice cold water comes down to northern Canada, Europe and northern Siberia. This will cause severe winter and the whole area will be covered with ice ushering in another ‘Ice Age’. The cycle repeats itself.

Ah Thursday, the middle child. Not quite the end of the week, but close enough to incite that rush of weekend anticipation. Don’t worry, the mydeco team are here to ease your restlessness with today’s selection of the best design news.

mydeco’s pick of the top three stories:

1. Design Boom: Real Design Exhibition at Serpentine Gallery London

Image credit: Design Boom

We love a good exhibition at the mydeco office (even more so when they are accompanied by free wine). However, there is no alcoholic incentive needed for Design Real: the first show at the Serpentine Gallery devoted to contemporary design. Curated by Konstantin Grcic and designed in collaboration with Alex Rich and Jürg Lehni, the exhibition examines items which have a function in everyday life. And yes, before you ask the above image does fit into this category – it is simply a textile wall constructed from interconnected foam tiles. Nothing unusual about that at all.

2. Inhabitat: Dallas Hill-filled design wins Re:Vision Dallas competition

Image credit: Inhabitat

Hard to believe, but the television show Dallas was not always an accurate reflection of reality. The real city is not all high-glamour, sex and murder; in fact some areas of this gigantic metropolis might even be described as ‘run-down’. Not for long however, as the winner of Re:Vision Dallas – a competition to create a completely sustainable community in the downtown area of the city – was announced yesterday. The hillside design runs entirely on renewable energy, has vertical gardens and can grow its own food. Construction is due to begin in 2011.

3. Moco Loco: Springtime chair

Image credit: Moco Loco

This design is the brainchild of Frank Winnubust, who researched various types of springs (Frank is single) in order to create a chair that would provide optimum comfort. Notice the knitted covers on the top layer, which were added to stop the chair from looking quite so much like a torture device. Cosy.

The best of the rest:

dornob: 10 eccentric eco homes of the far east

Design milk: Klein bottle house by Mcbride Charles Ryan

Inhabitat: Eden-falls skyscraper

The Telegraph: Ski property: Buy into the high life

The Independent: Art websites: DIY designer furniture

The Independent: House hunting goes high-tech

The Independent: House doctor: ‘We’re self-employed – will we find a lender?’

Daily Mail: Mel B’s California dreamin’ as she moves her family to L.A.

That’s all from us today, but make sure you check in again tomorrow for your last fix of daily news before the weekend.

The local church

This ‘city’ has a grand total population of around 13,000. It’s actually more of a large plot of land surrounded by mountains and desert, filled up with boxey cement-wall stucco houses painted in various shades of white, yellow, blue, and other bright colours. And, as with every Mexican town we’ve seen so far, there’s a beautiful big church smack bang in the middle.

We stopped at Cuatro Ciénegas for two nights and one day, so we could visit the pools and the desert dunes. It was amazing. A worker at a local hotel overheard us asking the receptionist how we could get to the springs and dunes (which are about 15km out of town, into the desert), and she phoned her husband to pick us up in his truck.

View from the back of the truck - Cal doing great job of gatekeeper

The pools are a strange phenomena because they just spring up out of the ground in the middle of a desert. The first pool we came to was simply the bluest, most crystalline water you’ve ever seen. It was so blue, in a real aqua kind of way – you could see straight down to the bottom.

Anne on the dune formations

The dunes were so white you could hardly keep your eyes open without sunglasses on. The only plants were cactus (cactii?) in various varieties, and some mean looking die-hard shrubs, jutting out of the sand like stubborn little maniacs. I don’t know how the sand formations formed, but they’re mighty impressive. It’s just sand, sand, shrub, sand, cactus, sand, sand, sand, massive sand formations, sand, sand, cactus, sand, etc.

Lastly we got to swim in the pools, which was awesome because we were dusty from sitting in the truck all day, and we’d bought snorkels and wanted to use them – not to mention we’d been looking forward to a dip for days. There were meant to be hundreds of tropical fish, but really there were only a few small schools of fish – and they didn’t look that tropical. But how would I know? Perhaps they were tropical. It is also winter, so they might be hiding out or something.

Leslie and Cal going for a snorkel at the spring pool

Nevertheless it was great to see the fish and to swim in the beautiful still spring water. The bottom of the pool was like really fine sediment. If you put your foot down, it would sink like silk into the mud, and heaps of mud would rise up, causing a cloud underneath the water. It was really cool. I tried to stand on rocks where possible, so as not to disturb the quasi-tropical fish.

When we got back to town, the wife invited us into her home, which had some rooms for guests. Unfortunately we’d already booked accommodation, and were leaving early the next morning. But the house was just stunning. It was, like most of the other houses, a little stucco square-ish casa, but with really authentic decor, and lots of Catholic paraphernalia (crucifixes, Mary statues, etc).

At the blue pool - the photo does absolutely no justice

The garden was particularly amazing. There were all sorts of fruit and nut trees. The lime tree, or limon arbol, bore the biggest limes I’ve ever seen – they were the size of giant oranges! Maybe bigger! But the lady said they were a tad bitter. She gave us a handful of shelled nuts, which we cracked to find walnuts inside. I accidentally ate a bit of the shell and it was intensely bitter and left a strange taste in my mouth.

They were a beautiful older couple, and I wished we could have stayed in their little casa. Cuatro Ciénegas is a must-see city, even if just for one day.

Mountains in 360 degree view, vast, ancient and beautiful against the blue sky

We then caught a bus to Torreon (where we sat at McDonalds for 6 hours), connected on an overnight bus to Chihuahua, then hopped straight onto another bus to Creel – our new town for at least 3 or 4 days, maybe a week.

More on Creel soon!

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder returns to the Mitsubishi lineup after a one-year hiatus as a 2009 model, with a full-power, convertible top that folds completely into a fully covered, self-closing bin. All with the driver doing nothing more than releasing a couple of latches and pushing a button.

The Spyder comes with a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines, each available with manual or automatic.

The Spyder offers all the pleasures of open-air motoring with few of the displeasures. The top, especially, is a quality structure. It’s finished inside, with all the struts, pivots and bows hidden behind sound-deadening fabric. With it up, the interior feels and sounds much like the coupe, although perhaps a little claustrophobic. With it down, the steeply raked windshield pushes most of the air up and over the open cockpit, allowing almost-normal conversation; hats are just as essential for avoiding sunburn as for controlling wind-blown tresses.

Despite weighing about 200 pounds more than the coupe, due to bracing added in the conversion to a convertible, the Spyder gives up only one mile per gallon to the coupe in fuel economy in all but the top-level V6 with automatic, and that drops only two mpg and only in the highway estimate.

In pricing, the ‘07 Spyder actually costs less than its predecessor. The base GS model lists at $355 below the ‘05, the GT more than $2000 below the top ‘05 model, and both with more content.

Measured fun per dollar, the Eclipse Spyder is well worth a look for anyone shopping for a sporty convertible.

Model Lineup

The 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a two-door, four-seat roadster based on the latest Eclipse coupe.

The GS ($25,389) comes with a 162-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission ($900). Standard features include cloth upholstery; air conditioning; cruise control; the usual power accessories and fitments; tilt steering column; a premium, Rockford Fosgate, 650-watt stereo with AM/FM/MP3 capability connected to nine speakers and subwoofer; and 17-inch, flat-flanged, five-spoke, alloy wheels wearing all-season tires. The Leather Package ($980) adds leather-surfaced, heated front seats; heated outside mirrors; and a center-top dash display with ambient temperature and compass.

The GT ($28,269) comes with a 260-hp V6 with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic ($900). Standard upgrades on the GT are confined to the center-top dash display, an oversized exhaust tip and a red rocker cover on the engine. A Premium Package ($1730) adds leather-trimmed, heated front seats, automatic climate control, heated mirrors, six-way power driver’s seat, rubber-nibbed, aluminum pedals, and flat-flanged, 18-inch, seven-spoke, alloy wheels with all-season tires. A wind deflector is also available.

Also offered on both GS and GT are two premium paint colors, Satin Mesei (visualize metallic green) and Sunset Pearlescent ($130), over and above the more traditional red, white, silver and black (blue is slated for late availability). Mitsubishi has signed off on three dealer-installed equipment packages (i.e., installation not included), as well. These are an aero kit, with front corner airdams, sport side sills and rear wake modifier ($1820); an accessory package, with alloy fuel door, wheel locks and floor mats ($179); and an appearance package comprising the aero kit and appearance package ($1999).

Safety features standard on both models include dual-stage front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, child safety seat anchors (LATCH) and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution.

Originally Reported By: Tom Lankard

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We could name a number of midsize, import-badge sedans that ride comfortably and quietly, handle responsively, and offer an optional V6 that provides ample power for passing. All feature roomy, nicely appointed cabin space, and all represent good value in the family-car market. Mitsubishi Galant does all that, but offers sharp styling, the kind that turns heads in traffic. Not everyone will like what they see, but none of them will accuse the Galant of being a wallflower. The current-generation Galant was launched as an all-new model for 2004, and Mitsubishi has improved and refined it every year since then. New for 2009: The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant brings a freshened look outside, improved materials inside, and revised suspension settings designed to provide greater comfort and a more engaging driving experience. The 2009 Galant GTS gets a new five-speed automatic transmission. Also new for 2009 is a high-performance model called the Ralliart, with more horsepower, tighter handling, and sporty styling. Ralliart is Mitsubishi’s motorsports arm and has been a dominant force in the World Rally Championship, which includes the Monte Carlo and other famous events, and cross country endurance raids, such as the Paris-Dakar Rally. Mitsubishi hopes the Galant Ralliart will challenge the Acura TSX and TL, as well as the MazdaSpeed6. The Galant Ralliart seems a long way from the Galant VR4 rally cars so successful in the early 1990s, but so what? The more we drove the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart, the more we liked it. It struck us as a comfortable, big midsize sedan with some sports appeal. It isn’t as agile as a MazdaSpeed6, but it’s roomier and more comfortable. It certainly isn’t as upscale or refined as an Acura, but it costs less. It’s an easy car to live with that does not give up comfort or convenience for its added performance. At times, it reminded us of a Chevy Monte Carlo (yes, we know it’s a two-door) and it seems nicer than a Pontiac G6. In any case, the Galant Ralliart was an enjoyable car that never annoyed us. And we’re easily annoyed. Galant has achieved across-the-board five-star ratings in the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offset-frontal and side-impact crash tests. The insurance industry’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded Galant its highest ranking (“Good overall”) in its frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests. Model Lineup The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant comes in four trim levels, but they are not the same four as last year. The upper-middle LS has been discontinued, the GTS slightly demoted, and the new Ralliart added at the top of the range. Galant DE ($19,899) and ES ($20,999) are powered by a 160-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and come standard with a four-speed automatic transmission. Mitsubishi’s Sportronic system, which allows a semi-manual shifting when desired, is now standard on all Galants. The DE comes with air conditioning; height-adjustable driver’s seat; height-adjustable steering wheel; power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote keyless entry; 140-watt, four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo; rear-seat heater ducts; carpeted floor mats; and an engine immobilizer. Standard tires are P215/60R16 all-season radials on steel wheels. ES adds ABS with EBD, six-speaker stereo with MP3 playback, cruise control, and a more deluxe cloth interior with a driver’s seatback pocket and sun visor extenders. Appearance upgrades include color-keyed exterior door handles, titanium interior accents, and ice-blue LED illumination for climate and stereo controls. ES options include the Sport Package ($1,000) with 16-inch alloy wheels, dark-bezel halogen headlamps, crystal ellipsoid rear lamps, a color-keyed rear spoiler, and the Ralliart’s Rockford Acoustic Design audio with Sirius satellite radio. The ES Premium Package ($2,000) adds leather seating surfaces, faux leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power glass sunroof, auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, and additional minor goodies. GTS ($24,999) features a 230-hp, 3.8-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission with a Sportronic feature. GTS adds leather seating, faux leather and audio controls on the steering wheel, heated front seats with eight-way power for the driver, dark-bezel headlamps, fog lamps, and a tire-pressure monitor. The instrument panel features white-faced gauges and woodgrain accents. Front brakes are larger, while wheels and tires upgrade to 215/55R17s on 17-inch rims. GTS options include the Sun and Sound package ($1,000), which combines the power glass sunroof and Rockford Acoustic Design audio with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Homelink transmitter, a security alarm, and more. Ralliart ($26,999) is powered by a 258-hp, 3.8-liter V6, with a sports suspension, upgraded brakes, and larger wheels and tires. It comes with the five-speed Sportronic automatic. Ralliart has a unique look inside and out. Upholstery is perforated leather, and the pedals are aluminum. All of the GTS luxuries are standard, plus automatic climate control, a power glass sunroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, and a unique Rockford Acoustic Design audio system that includes the hardware for Sirius satellite radio plus a six-month subscription. Optional on Ralliart is a DVD navigation system with a seven-inch touch screen ($1,850). Safety features include dual-stage front airbags, side curtain air bags, and front seat-mounted side-impact air bags, and four-wheel disc brakes. All-wheel drive is not available. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution start with the ES model. A tire-pressure monitor comes on GTS and Ralliart models.

Originally Reported By: New Car Test Drive

(888) 498-0660 – 1133 Motor City Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80905

Contact Us

Click Here for Videos

Your trailer should be unloaded when measuring. Match the shape and type of the existing spring. It will be a double eye, slipper to open eye end, slipper to hook end, slipper to flat end or slipper to radius end). Measure the length of the spring (see diagram) when the spring is not under load, this is the length of the spring. Count the number of leaves, each layer of spring metal is considered a leaf.

Be sure to measure from the center of the attaching eye in a straight line to the middle of the other eye or contact point, except radius end which is measured from eye to end of spring.  The inside diameter of the bushing in the attaching eye of the spring, I. D. Bushing, needs to match the shackle bolts used to mount spring to hanger. 9/16″ is the most common size, but some trailers use 1/2″ bolts. 

Also note that spring capacity is given per each spring-thus a 4,000 lb. rated axle should be matched with two 2,000 lb. or higher capacity springs.

Along with our great selection of springs, we also stock all the hardware parts for most  axles. Hangers, , Equalizers, Shackles, Trailer Bolts, Bearings, Seals & Bushings.   We also carry Idler Hubs, Electric Brake Assemblies, Hub-Drums and can order in anything that we don’t have at very competitive prices.   We want to be your trailer parts “one-stop” shop!

Our experienced trailer mechanics can also do the work at our shops in Naples, Bonita Springs or Fort Myers, Florida if you don’t want to do it yourself or don’t have a place to do the job.  Please call us today on 1-800-966-5905  for a free estimate.  http://www.ecustomhitch.com/store/

To make things clear, as some of the material you’ll find here is very light-hearted, this is an actual news report. All quotes are original. I welcome comments below.

Gay Christians Criticise ‘Hate’ Bill

Dan Bloom

Senior gay and transgender Christians have attacked a pro-discrimination law which was defeated four times in the House of Commons and criticised by the European commission.

The clause, which allows “criticism of sexual conduct” on religious grounds, was kept in the Coroners and Justice Bill in the dying hours of the last parliamentary session despite being defeated in the House of Commons. Justice minister Jack Straw retreated after lords voted to keep it for the fourth time on 11 November.

But the comments from within the UK’s gay Christian community put pressure on the mainstream church, after the European commission wrote to the government last week to say its discrimination laws were “broader than permitted”, effectively forcing churches to end bans on homosexual staff.

Pastor Kieren Bourne of the Living Springs church, Bath, had a sex change operation in 1999 and is part of a small minority of gay or transgender Christians in the UK. He said: “I think it’s appalling. It seems to me that the church is being allowed to get away with discrimination when every other section of society is not.”

Brought up in New Zealand, Rev Bourne, 51, moved to Bath 14 years ago but was surprised by what he perceived as a less liberal atmosphere in the mainstream church. He joined Living Springs, a branch of the 95 per cent gay Metropolitan Community Church (MCC).

“Having the opportunity to question the appropriateness of [gay sex] should be open to people, but without being critical of the individuals concerned.”

-Patrick Whitworth, rural dean of Bath

Now living with a woman in Bathford, Avon, he said the pressure put on gay Christians by employment bans and discrimination leaves many feeling forced out of the mainstream church, and into organisations like the MCC.

And although the minority church, which was founded in 1968, holds tri-annual conferences – the next is in Acapulco, Mexico next year – it does not have the same political weight as other organisations. It has fewer than 15 churches in the UK and the Bath branch has only 13 full-time members.

One of these, Bill Fraser, has been a full-time churchwarden in Bath for five years. He first contacted the MCC last year after announcing his sexuality at an annual parish meeting. But he stayed in the mainstream church to “fight from the inside”, following the example of controversial gay American bishop Gene Robinson.

Another, 64-year-old lay delegate Jenny Bailey, was a long-time member of the Church of England when she began attending the MCC. She revealed her sexuality to her vicar in 1997, and said his hostile reception made her feel pressured to leave.

She said: “I did not feel my personal preferences were relevant inside the church. He said they were. He seemed to think I was going to walk in holding hands with another woman.

“Just a few weeks after that I had a serious accident and broke my ankle into about seven or eight pieces. Nobody phoned to check up and see how I was. I thought, ‘Why am I kidding myself?’. They didn’t want me.”

“I did not feel my personal preferences were relevant inside the church. My vicar said they were.”

-Jenny Bailey, lay delegate, Metropolitan Community Church

But Ms Bailey, who was married for more than 22 years before realising she was gay in her 40s, also issued words of caution about restricting free speech. She said: “I want it for myself, so why should I not want it for other people? It’s up to them, and it’s their personal opinion. But they should not be able to impose it on me.”

While the MCC argues anti-homosexual readings of the bible do not reflect its meaning, the mainstream church in Bath is more traditional.

The Church of England rural dean of Bath, Patrick Whitworth, said: “From the church’s point of view it is not God’s view. So having the opportunity to question the appropriateness of it should be open to people, but without being critical of the individuals concerned.”

Meanwhile a group hosted by the MP Clare Short will meet at the Commons this Tuesday to campaign against similar clauses in the Equality Bill drawn up by Harriet Harman, Labour’s deputy leader.

The bill is designed to ensure greater equality between people of different gender, race, religion and social class. But the group argues religious ‘opt-out’ clauses could be added as the bill progresses to the House of Lords.

In northwest Colorado lies a small mountain town with big opportunities for outdoor adventure. Steamboat Springs was originally a ranching community, and it maintains that old-west feel. Locals are friendly and the snow is light and abundant. In the 07/08 ski season, almost 500 inches of snow fell on the mountains of Steamboat. Steamboat Ski Resort is known for its plentiful tree-skiing through its endless Aspen glades. There is 3,000 acres of terrain for skiers of all ability levels.

Steamboat has been appropriately nicknamed “Ski town U.S.A”, but if you find yourself here for a week in the winter, don’t stick to the slopes. Steamboat has many other outdoor adventure opportunities. Travelers are able to try new sports and take advantage of this winter playground. Activities include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, horseback riding, sleigh rides, tubing and snowcat skiing in the backcountry. After participating in one of these adventures, visitors can utilize another of Steamboat’s delightful attributes…its secluded mountain hot springs.

Snowmobiling has become a favorite pastime in Steamboat Springs. Riders come from far and wide to play in this area. A handful of local outfitters offer guided snowmobile tours, some of them operate in Routt National Forest and the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. Thousands of acres are open to motorized sports, with incredibly diverse topography. The terrain varies from mellow groomed trails to steep, jagged pitches. This provides fun for everyone, no matter how much they have or have not ridden in the past.

Horseback Riding over the hills and through sunlit aspen glades is a peaceful endeavor. For those who seek to enjoy the mountain wilderness in a non-motorized fashion, a horseback ride is ideal. Other options for a quiet excursion in the backcountry include snowshoeing or nordic (cross-country) skiing. These activities combine post-card perfect scenery and a little bit of exercise. Also, because hikers and skiers make a limited amount of noise, there is a great chance of spotting wildlife! Break up the excursion by stopping at a secluded igloo for a snack and a hot drink.

Snowcat skiing offers an adrenaline-filled day for skiers and riders who are ready for powder. A snowcat is an enclosed-cab, truck sized, fully tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. They are also know as “trail groomers” because of their use for grooming on the slopes. Few other towns have a backcountry ski service that employs heated snowcats to transport guests, avoiding long hikes that take time away from skiing. These machines can drive guests up to high elevations to find abundant untracked powder. Each group is separated by ability level and accompanied by a professional guide. Even intermediate or “blue run” skiers can experience powder skiing in the backcountry. Experts are taken to different areas with steeps, deeps, lots of trees and rocks to launch off. Only one outfitter is permitted to run tours in the Buffalo Pass area which boasts 10,000 acres of accessable terrain. Enthusiastic snowboarders and skiers are sure to find more powder than they can handle.

The tubing hills are gaining popularity each year, especially with the younger crowds. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill sledding hill. The rolling hills are fast enough to get adrenaline pumping, even for adults. The tubing hill is groomed and equipped with a state of the art tube-tow lift system that attaches itself to the tube to transport users back to the top with minimal effort. This saves the time spent on hiking up the hill and leaves more for flying down.

For evening entertainment, try a dinner sleigh ride. This outdoor experience is great for families or couples and includes a hearty, home-cooked meal. The sleigh is comfortable with a large wool blanket to cuddle beneath as powerful draft horses with jingling harnesses pull you through the snow. Enjoy spectacular views from your cozy seat as the starry night swallows up the haze of the alpen-glow. Upon arriving to the warm lodge, the smell of delicious food is pleasing, as is the taste of hot chocolate or warm apple cider.

One of the best secrets about Steamboat is the natural hot springs for which the town was named. Early settlers stumbled upon a steaming and bubbling source that lies in the middle of the present-day town. To the settlers, the spring made a sound similar to that of a Steamboat. Much of the area sits atop geo-thermal activity. There are two different commercial locations for locals and travelers to take advantage of this gift from mother nature. The minerals in the water have been said to have a healing effect and there is no denying how immensely relaxing the pools are. Each of the springs that are open to the public have been strategically diverted in order to create a variety of pools, from ice cold to steaming hot. The Strawberry Park Hot Springs allows guests to soak away their aching muscle while taking in views of the surrounding wilderness. Its the perfect end to an active day spent outdoors in the mountains.

The mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colorado can certainly keep you busy. Next time you plan a ski vacation, be sure to incorporate more than just skiing or snowboarding. There is so much to gain from interacting with the outdoors and so many ways to do it. Steamboat is a unique town with unparalled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Spending time with your friends and loved ones outdoors in the mountains is sure to create memories that will last forever.

Here are our additional photos taken during our Coron Island hopping. Enjoy!

]]> http://casacara.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/most-intriguing-hamptons-houses-600k/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:24:12 +0000 cara http://casacara.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/most-intriguing-hamptons-houses-600k/

PRIME HOUSE-HUNTING SEASON is almost upon us. With cold weather, the dilettantes and Sunday shoppers disappear. Most won’t think about country real estate again until April. Meanwhile, the serious players remain in the game, knowing that winter is the best time to look, find, and negotiate.

I combed the listings and turned up three properties I would check out, were I in the market right now with half a million to spend.

Click on the live links below for more pics and info on each property.

• This early 19th century house in Springs, above and below, is owned by a young couple in the landscaping business. They bought the house 6 years ago and renovated it, even jacking up the house so its old foundation of locust posts could be replaced with a modern steel one. 2 BR, 1 bath, 1,100 square feet, 1/2 acre, wood stove, separate studio, 595K.

• This cedar-shingled 1959 cottage in Noyack, near Sag Harbor, below, was featured in a recent issue of Ty Pennington at Home magazine (amazing that it’s still publishing!) 1,500 square feet, 3 BR, 1.5 baths, 1/2 acre, water view, mooring rights, 595K. Taxes: $3,739/year.

• Got farm animals? The 100-year-old Amagansett cottage, below, is on almost an acre and has been twice reduced. 1,000 square feet, 2 BR, 1 bath, wood stove, detached garage, 570K. Near the RR tracks, but there are only a couple of trains a day. Anyway, whaddya want for half a million plus? This is Amagansett! (Also only a mile from the ocean.) Taxes are $1,008/year – can’t beat that.

I love getting under stuff!

Winter time in Florida is right around the corner. Is your garage door ready?

Coral Springs, Parkland and Boca Raton in South Florida are not as cold as up north, but that does not mean the cold will not affect your garage door. As soon as the first cold front comes through, springs start breaking left and right. It is better to be proactive rather than reactive.

Replace Old Springs. Your garage door’s springs are arguably the most important and most dangerous part of your door. Springs wear out. When they break, injury can result. If you have an older garage door, have your springs inspected by a professional technician and replaced if needed. If your door has two springs, replace both, even if one is not broken. This will not only prevent any damage caused by the breaking of the second spring, but also keep your door working efficiently. No one wants to be stuck when there is so much to do here in Broward and Palm Beach County. Have your springs changed so you can enjoy what our area has to offer.

Our fleet of radio-dispatched trucks is ready to meet your garage door & opener needs.

24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE ON ALL MAKES & MODELS

LIFETIME WARRANTY ON ALL RESIDENTIAL MECHANICAL PARTS

954-946-5555 or 1-800-683-2768

Phone: 954 603 8772.
Please leave a message and you will be contacted ASAP.

A/C not fixed = $20 (diagnosis/service)
If your air conditioning (A/C) is not fixed, the charge $20 to diagnose the problem.

A/C fixed + No parts = $50
(If your A/C is fixed and no parts are needed, the charge is $50 total.You will not pay more than $50 unless parts need to be purchased.)

A/C fixed + Parts = $50 + Cost of parts.
If your A/C is fixed and parts are needed, the charge is $50 + the cost of the parts.

Please note: Freon/refrigerant is a part and is not included in the service fee.

This is not an hourly fee – the labor fee is $50 no matter how long the repair takes. The charge is $20 if the A/C is not fixed.

Please note that the following services are not currently being offered: 1) coil change-outs, 2) compressor change-outs and 3) installations.

Here is a list of cities currently being serviced:

Boca Raton
Coconut Creek
Coral Springs
Deerfield Beach
Fort Lauderdale
Hillsboro Beach
Lauderdale Lakes
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Lauderhill
Lighthouse Point
Margate
North Lauderdale
Oakland Park
Parkland
Pompano Beach
Tamarac
Wilton Manors

South Broward, West Broward and Miami-Dade County are not currently serviced.

Here is a list of some of the units that may be repaired…
- Commercial A/C units
- Residential A/C units
- Split A/C units
- Package A/C units
- Wall A/C units
- Window A/C units

Please note: Personal Checks and Business Checks are not accepted as payment at this time.

If you can’t call, feel free to email your phone number to the email address at the top of this listing and you will be contacted ASAP.

Any and all air conditioners have a possibility of repair.

Here are some (but not all) brands that repairs are possible for..
Goodman, Trane, Carrier, York, Rheem, Ruud, Fujistsu, American Standard, Lennox, Mitsubishi, Bryant, Payne, Duchane, Fedders, Heil, Janitrol, Armstrong, GE, General Electric, Honeywell, Amana, Comfortmaker, Tempstar, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Guardian, Generac.

License # CAC014666

With an increasing number of holiday festivities being held in the home this year, we’re all looking for creative and cost effective ways to spruce up our table settings and create a look that will impress our guests. When it comes to setting your Thanksgiving table, options for the adventurous host are limitless. What are the hottest trends for you to bring to your table this year? Here are a few ideas that will take your Thanksgiving table from ordinary to extraordinary:
Color, Texture and Mix – Match:

In table linens and accessories, this year we are seeing rich, saturated colours. We are also seeing a lot of texture and the mixing and matching of patterns with solids. There are a lot of options out there to do something warm and inviting.

Color Trends

Warm tones have always been popular for Fall and that continues with some of the biggest trends in colour combinations this year. Some of those include:
- Deep Spice and Aubergine with muted Gold accents – Dark Chocolate with Blues and Gray accents – Olive Green, Aubergine and softer greens as accents – Dark Chocolate, Taupe and Natural

Tabletop Decor

- Use things that you already have in your home – pull out your 3 or 4 of your favourite vases of different heights. Use complementary colors of fresh flowers for a simple and stunning arrangement. Fill three or four vases and/or glass bowls with different colors and sizes of ornaments, fruits, leaves – anything with color and texture that will create visual excitement.

- Your guests are all unique – why not celebrate their individuality? Use different patterns and/or colors of napkin rings that match their unique personalities. Are they simple or sophisticated? Fun or formal? Unpredictable or conservative? Show them you care with a little customization to complement your table linens.

- Candles are always a dramatic and cost effective way to make a statement – use votives at each place setting with a name card and emphasize beautiful table linens for a classy and simple look. Or go more dramatic and cluster your favourite candle sticks of varying heights and looks as a centerpiece. Use colors that complement or match your dishes, glasses and table linens.

- Nothing brings subtle sophistication to your table like a well-selected runner. Use one the length of the table plus 12 inches to hang over the edge (usually a 90″ or longer) as the perfect centerpiece. If you are using a solid tablecloth or placemats, make sure to jazz it up with a festive pattern. If you have a patterned look already, use a vibrant solid runner that picks up on one of the colors in your runner.

- Use 2 napkins instead of one with a napkin ring. With a solid napkin inside, and a more decorative napkin on the outside.

When setting your table, just remember: do what feels right for the mood. A casual gathering calls for a relaxed setting. A formal meal should feel that way at the table. Either way, it doesn’t take much to elevate your in-home dining experience. Replacing an old tablecloth with something fresh an exciting, and adding a few simple table accessories can go a long way to impressing your guests. It’s that time of year when family gatherings abound and everyone spends countless hours congregating around the dinner table. With the hours spent preparing the perfect meal, make sure you don’t forget to finish it off with the perfect setting..