The months of November and December can be an awkward time for many rosarians. While the growing season is coming to and end, the winter hibernation season has not yet begun. Some of us just don’t know what to do with ourselves or our rose bushes during this period of time.

Because your bushes are not yet in hibernation they still require some attention from you. Water continues to be a prime need, so make sure that the soil around their roots continues to remain moist. Give them a good soaking as need be, but, as always, don’t over-water.

Water is an important part of your roses’ winter survival requirements and properly hydrated roots will help them stay protected when the cold weather arrives.

Stop all pruning and deadheading activity so you do not encourage new growth. You should have stopped applying organics last month, and you don’t want to apply any more fertilizer now either. Your goal is to keep your roses healthy while, at the same time, encouraging them to begin the process of going into dormancy.

Continue spraying at least once each month to combat black spot. Spider mites are still active during late autumn so keep your eye out for them. Spritz your blooms and foliage with water whenever you see signs of infestation. Aphids are also active now, so have a bottle of soapy water ready to send them packing.

So, it’s time to paint the exterior of your house. This, of course, is one of the many expensive pains to owning a home and one that homeowners have to endure every 6-8 years, depending on your house and siding.

Here are a few helpful hints to help you through the process.

First, determine if there is any prep work that needs to be done prior to painting. Do you have any rotted siding, window sills, hand railing, or window and door trim? Make sure you take this opportunity to correct this issue prior to painting. Often times paint companies have experience in this field and can provide a quote that includes replacing your siding and trim. However, if your project involves replacing a significant amount of siding you may want to call a siding pro. Make sure the painter or carpenter replacing your siding is using the same style and size you currently have.

Second, decide if you want to take this opportunity to change the color of your house. Updating the color can add new spice to your house. When determining what colors to use make sure that they fit into your neighborhood as well as colors that already exist. For instance you already have a roof, plants, landscaping, a foundation, and a driveway present. These all have colors that need to be taken into consideration when trying to compliment your house to its surroundings. Also note that if you are changing your house’s color your price for painting will go up. You may not be able to get away with just 1 or 2 coats to cover your old color. Each coat will cost more money.

Curio cabinets are the best way to display your curios and create focal points in a room. They are showcases to hold art objects, memorabilia, collectibles and items that share a common theme. Any curio cabinet, however, just will not do. It is advisable that the right showcase cabinet should be chosen carefully or even custom-made in order for it to be able to highlight the contents in the best possible way.

1. The Size

Curio cabinets can be small wall-mounted showcases and are recommendable to use if you have limited floor space and they can be also as large as 7 ft. x 7 ft. which are good to have if you have enough space and a lot of items to display.

2. Design

You can choose a curio cabinet made of teakwood, white cedar, rosewood or even plywood depending on your budget, taste and your living room’s theme and ambience. For example, if your living room has antique furniture, then it is better to opt for curio cabinets that are made of hardwood and are intricately carved with brass inlay and other elaborate embellishments. Consider also the number of shelves you will need for the cabinet and the material it has to be made of. These can either be made from clear glass or wood. As a style option, you can alternate glass shelves with wooden shelves to break the monotony. You can also use smoked glass.

3. Display Tips

Curio cabinets can have a single glass door, a double glass door or no doors, at all. It is recommended, however, that you choose those with doors to prevent dust from setting to your displays. If you have children or pets in your home, consider fastening the glass sides of your curio cabinet with a lock to prevent items from falling and breaking. Aside from these design considerations, you can also consider getting a curio cabinet with a mirrored back for visual expanse feeling especially if your living room is not spacious. The mirror does not only reflect the light in the room but also helps give an all-around view of the items displayed in the cabinet. To make cleaning easier such as vacuuming and dusting, consider installing casters underneath the cabinet.

Few people realize that the energy used in a home causes more greenhouse emissions than a car.

Most of the electricity used in a home is produced by burning coal, oil and natural gas, which release carbon dioxide – the world’s largest contributor to global climate change – into the atmosphere. As a result, it is the energy choices people make at home that may have the greatest effect on the environment.

The typical household spends $1,400 a year on energy bills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. By following simple energy saving tips and purchasing products that are Energy Star-qualified, a typical household can save up to 30 percent or more than $400 per year on utility expenses and accompanying pollution.

Following are seven simple tips that will help keep the environment on the up, and energy bills on the down:

* Dirty air filters in a home’s heating and cooling system can lead to higher costs and early equipment failure. Clean or change these filters monthly.

* Energy Star-qualified windows and doors can help reduce home energy bills up to 15 percent. Many manufacturers, such as Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors, offer a variety of attractive Energy Star-qualified products for significant energy cost savings.

Have you installed a swimming pool safety fence or are you going to employ full time lifeguards to supervise your children in the pool this summer?  Think of how many kids converge on your home when the weather heats up and how easy it is to court danger and consider the level of peace of mind you want for yourself and your family.  A swimming pool safety fence is the only answer.

What could possibly go wrong?

Without a swimming pool safety fence, you leave yourself wide open for a list of realities that you could face.  Drowning is the second highest cause of accidental injury-related deaths in children aged fourteen or younger.  In the few seconds it takes to turn hamburgers on the barbecue or dash inside for more cold drinks, a child can die.  You may or may not hear a splash, but even if you do, it could possibly be too late.

All water activities should be placed behind your swimming pool safety fence.  Spas, Jacuzzis, wading pools and buckets are best kept out of harm’s way.

To dispel the monotony of your daily work in the kitchen, it is best to refurbish it. To start refurbishing your kitchen, you must first judge if the kitchen needs a dash of paint or just simple cleaning. Kitchen remodeling can be a very expensive activity requiring new cabinets, appliances, and other kitchen items. It is economical to refurbish the existing cabinets, countertops, and flooring.

To brighten up the kitchen, you can refurbish the kitchen cabinet by painting them with a color that suits your taste and the style of the room. You can even create complimentary colors or textures on opposite surfaces of the cabinet. This helps to give the cabinet a fashionable new look. If your cabinet is placed in a dark area of the kitchen, select soft colors. If the kitchen cabinet door has worn out, select a light wood cabinet made from ash, beech, birch, oak, maple, and chestnut. For placing a cabinet in a dark kitchen, select a wood that has a little color to it.