All New Designs of Dog Houses Dogs are territorial animals that gives them comfort, confident and security. Giving your dogs a comfortable and spacious enough is great treat for dogs to live happier and more confident, and dog house is the best option. When choosing the best and innovative dog house around, consider your geographic location, the size of the house and the materials and design of the house. Your location and climate is important factor when choosing a dog house, right ventilation and protection from outside heat or cold weather so your dog won't be affected and besides there are specialized dog beds that can give soothing warm or comforting coolness for dogs. Measuring your dog's size is a matter, big enough is too much while small space is unnecessary so consider one that spacious enough for dogs to breathe, move freely, curl up or stretch out. Portable and strong with right ventilation of dog houses mainly affected by the materials and design of the house, so wooden, plastic, cedar, galvanized steel or PVC made, take close inspections. This PetStreetMall article will guide you to the latest and most innovative designs of dog beds today so you can get the perfect one for your dog. Cozy Cottage Dog Houses. The cozy cottage is the pinnacle of dog house comfort. A traditional dog house design combines with great looking colors to provide your dog with the happiest home available. Four different color schemes allows you to choose the dog house that is right for your pup. It has top or roof open feature which allows easy access to the interior making cleaning and breeze. Lectro-Kennel Heated Pad, Heat Temperature Control pad and even heated dog bowl is perfect match up with this house, which means this dog house is perfect for cold and snowy weather, even on outside dog under the cool nights. Room with a View Dog Houses. This beautiful dog house is perfect for both an indoor and outdoor pet, as it can easily be moved from the backyard to the den when the weather turns cooler. Rich finishing on the wood leaves it with a deep coloring, which works well with the green roof. A front door displays small detail work that adds to the already exquisite appearance of this pet house. The shuttered windows allow for ventilation while also keeping out the sun and rain. The front door opens outwards and comes equipped with a lock, which transforms this house into the perfect modern crate. The rooftop and raised floor bottom panels are removable for easy cleaning and keep the dog dry inside. The stable cellular structure of wood allows the pet house to withstand humidity and extreme temperatures. The natural insulating feature of wood keeps your pet warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The natural aroma of cedar creates a calming and pleasant atmosphere for your dog. Cedar is Kiln Dried and treated with natural color stains to enhance the appearance and durability of the pet house. The Retreat Dog Houses. This simple traditional "snoopy-style" dog house constructed of strong Asian Fir with excellent craftsmanship. The classic design is something that everyone remembers from their childhood. The Retreat relies on a tried and true design combined with excellent craftsmanship and high quality Asian Fir to give your dog the very best dog house. This rectangular shaped dog house is water resistant, nonskid and filled with Cedar to neutralize odors. The Mansion Dog Houses. This elegant looking dog house is built with ultimate durability and style. The wonderful aroma of cedar creates a calming atmosphere for your pet. From the sturdy craftsmanship to the stylish touch of a chimney, this large model doghouse is perfect for medium to large sized dogs. The amply sized The Mansion dog house comes complete with a spacious open-aired front porch surrounded by beautiful lattice work, to allow your dog both warmth and comfort. It offers a window covered by downward sloping horizontal shades to allow for ventilation, while keeping out the sun and rain. Both rooftop and bottom panels are removable for easy cleaning while the floor was raised too to keep pets dry. The stable and cellular structure of wood allows the doghouse to withstand humidity and extreme temperatures. Ice Cream Dog Houses. This fun and trendy looking house with burgundy wood trim offers your cat or smaller dog a sense of security while its large, open windows allow for maximum visibility to your pet's surroundings, satisfying its natural curiosity. This house bounds to make your pet sleep better as every moment of their dream comes true. The same removable top and bottom panel for easy access and cleaning and the floor is raised off the ground to keep pets dry and clean inside. Ice cream dog house has stable cellular structure of woods too that is perfect tow withstand extreme heat or humility. The cedar is kiln dried and treated with natural color stains to enhance the appearance and durability and the scent also creates a calming and pleasant atmosphere both for pets and human.

The Incredible Loire Valley And Its Gorgeus Gardens The Loire Valley is a wonderful delight for garden enthusiasts. Not only can you admire the spectacular chateaux and sample fine French cuisine and great Loire valley wine, tourists can also marvel at some fabulous gardens. The whole valley is now a world heritage site listed by UNESCO.

Chateau Villandry is a jewel and a must see for any one with a vegetable patch in need of some inspiration. Chateau Chaumont on the banks of the Loire River holds a spectacular international garden festival each summer. Rose and peony lovers should visit the botanical gardens at Orchaise west of Blois.

Chateau Villandry owes its fame to the exceptional terraced gardens which sit on three levels and include an ornamental garden, a water garden Eight gardeners work at Chateau Villandry full time, and plant about 60,000 vegetables and 45,000 plants in its gardens each year. Villandry is a dynamic place, the site of many activities such as 3special exhibits, the "Vegetable Garden Days" in September, the summer festival and workshops with the gardeners from the chateau.

The Chateau Villandry gardens are an imaginative twentieth century re-creation of a 16th century renaissance castle garden. The moated Chateau dates from 1536 and had a formal garden in the eighteenth century. The present garden dates from the years after 1906 when it was purchased by a Spaniard, Dr Joachim Carvallo.

He purchased the property and poured an enormous amount of money, time and devotion into repairing the castle. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, he wished the garden to have a sixteenth century style. He created what many gardeners consider to be the most beautiful gardens anywhere in the world.

The gardens are split into several parts: a kitchen garden with aromatic herbs and vegetables, a water garden with a pond, a children's garden with a play area, a maze made from 1,200 beech trees, an ornamental flower garden near the castle and a greenhouse garden.

An arbour of grape vines leads to a great parterre, designed as a Garden of Music. The Garden of Love is o nthe other side of the canal. Symbolising the moods of love, it looks rectangular from the chateau but is actually trapezoid. The love garden has its heart-shaped box hedges laid out with square beds illustrating "Tragic Love", "Fickle love", "Tender Love" and "Insane Love" and its colourful flowers. There is also the beautiful water garden with its lawns and pool of water.

But the real treasure at Chateau Villandry is the ultimate vegetable garden. It is It is bordered by espaliered apple trees, drooping pear bushes and standard roses which symbolise the monks who once tended the first medieval vegetable gardens and laid out in nine squares. Villandry is a vegetal feast, with zigzags of crazy-growing leeks, big purple cabbages, blocks of autumn pumpkins, beds of yellow and green peppers and mounds of celery all replanted twice a year with a fastidious eye for the colours of the changing seasons.

In 1934, Chateau de Villandry was designated a monument historique. It is still owned by the Carvallo family, and open to the public. It is one of the most visited castles in France. In July the gardens are lit by over 2000 candles after dark and this delightful vision of the gardens is accompanied by baroque music played by musicians wandering throughout the grounds.

An international garden festival takes places every day during the entire summer, on the grounds of the Chateau de Chaumont. Gardeners from all over the world produce outstanding gardens around a central theme, using art and nature together to create the contemporary effects.

Lasting six months from late April to mid-October, some 25 gardens at Chateau de Chaumont take a different theme each year - from water, weeds and vegetables to more conceptual poetry. The Garden Festival at Chaumont drawing international teams of artists, architects and stage directors as well as landscape designers and gardeners.

The theme for the festival for 2007 is mobility. For 2006 it was play and most of the exhibits were highly interactive and a delight to the young and to the young at heart.

The botanic park at Orchaise boasts over 2,000 plant varieties from around the world ranging from blooming cherries to water lilies. It is especially well known for its beautiful array of peonies and roses.

The Loire Valley can not help to inspire gardeners. Even Mick Jagger gyrating lead singer of the Rolling Stones, is now an avid gardener at his preferred second residence near Amboise. He got Alvilde Lees-Milne to lay out a marvellous formal walled garden at his 15th century chateau and he has now become completely part of the garden, knowing every single thing about all the plants, the flowers, and the way the fruit trees are espaliered.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Is Good For Your Health
Pumpkin seed oil, as the name suggests, is obtained from pumpkin seeds, which can also be eaten roasted in the same way that people eat sunflower seeds. When roasted, they are coated in a sauce such as Worcester sauce and then heated in low oven for a long period of time. The secret of roasting them to maintain their nutritional value is to keep the temperature low and the cooking time high.

The seeds are regarded as a ‘superfood’ that is rich in vitamins A and E, the essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 and Omega 6, zinc, iron, magnesium and potassium. The seed is known as a pepita in North and South America.

The oil is reddish green and many people find it delicious. It is best when used raw, and can be drunk in the form of smoothies or shakes, or used as a salad dressing. Some also enjoy drinking it raw, and using it as a spread instead of butter or margarine. The benefits it provides to the human body are a healthy brain function, increased energy and it has a special use in maintaining a healthy prostate gland.

The vitamin E content is high, especially gamma-tocopherol, and it has a high antioxidant effect with consequent anti-inflammatory properties. Its effect on arthritis, and inflammatory disease, has been investigated and the inclusion of pumpkin seeds in the diet has been found to reduce the inflammatory symptoms of the condition with a consequent reduction in pain. In fact, in a comparison test with indomethacin, a common arthritis treatment, pumpkin seeds compared very well and in fact had a more positive effect on the damage to the fats in the joint linings than did indomethacin, which tends to increase the concentration of lipid peroxides rather than reduce them.

Its effect on the prostate gland is partially due to its high zinc content that is present in a higher concentration in the prostate than in any other gland in the body, and also to its effect on the hormones that cause the gland to grow and swell to the extent that it constricts or completely blocks the urethra, the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body. This is caused by an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the over-proliferation of the prostate cells.

The reason for the effect of pumpkin seed oil on DHT is still under discussion, but some believe that it is connected with the zinc content and others with the high level of delta-7-sterine in the seed. The sterine appears to neutralize the effect of the DHt on the growth of prostate cells.

In addition to prostate enlargement, Osteoporosis is another problem associated with aging in men. It has been estimated that men over 50 have a 12.5% chance of suffering a fracture due to brittle bones, and it is though that this is connected with a deficiency of zinc. In fact a clear correlation has been established between osteoporosis in older men and low levels of zinc and the diet and in the blood. Pumpkins seeds, as already mentioned, are rich in zinc, and the benefits of their use as a supplement to avoid an enlarged prostate is reinforced by their effect in protecting against osteoporosis.

Pumpkin seeds contain a high concentration of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These are specifically useful in protecting the cardiovascular system and prevent atherosclerosis. They also contain plant sterols known as phytosterols that are believed to help reduce the blood concentration of cholesterol. This types of sterols are the basis of the ‘cholesterol busting’ drinks that are sold in supermarkets. They also help to strengthen the immune system and are believe to help reduce the risk of contracting some types of cancer.

Pumpkin seed oil is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, an important unsaturated fatty acid that some studies have indicated can be used to prevent metastaes (the spread of the disease) development in patients with breast cancer. The most prized type of oil is that from Syrian oil, from the province of Steiermark in Austria. Such pumpkins are also grown in parts of North America, and the best oil is said to come from the first pressing, the so-called ‘virgin’ oil. If used in cooking, the temperature must be kept low, since many of the nutrients are destroyed much over 100 Celsius.

A little known use for pumpkin seed oil is in eradicating intestinal parasites. Many people are embarrassed at requesting professional help for worms, and pumpkin seeds are the ideal home remedy. The act almost immediately, and two or three hours after taking them, or the oil, then you should take a laxative. You should the parasites being removed with the bowel motions.

The worms are not actually killed, but are paralyzed, and cannot prevent themselves being removed with the bowel movement. If a laxative is not taken, however, they will recover and there will be no effect. As with any remedy for a health condition, therefore, it is necessary to understand how the seeds or oil work to help to remove the horrible parasites from your body. They are very common, and any self-help or natural remedy that actually works will undoubtedly be very popular, but if it is not understood that these creatures must be expelled from your body while paralyzed, then pumpkin seeds or oil will not work.

Those that failed to understand the process would then complain that the treatment does not work. In fact, it does work, and if the worms are expelled when they are unable to remain in your intestines then they will be removed. You must “read the instructions on the bottle” for the contents to work.

Pumpkin seed oil is a very potent mixture of chemicals that can cure or control a large number of conditions, and it is essential that you understand why you are using them. They can be used as a supplement to your diet, though it is easy to wonder why you should take this antioxidant rather than another.

Find out what pumpkin seed oil can do for you, and if it applies to you then use it. There are stronger antioxidants, and better foods to take in an attempt to protect from certain conditions. However, there are certain circumstances when pumpkin seeds will do the job better than most other supplements, and if you can fit them into your regular diet then they will not only do you ‘no harm’, as they say, but will do you a great deal of good. Look for organic pumpkin seeds or pumpkin seed oil at your local health food store.

How To Become Self Sufficient On One Acre Of Ground Factors to Consider:
.Food and money requirements
The income you receive will depend on what you choose to grow, on how well you follow through in the growing process, and on how well you handle the financial and marketing aspects of the job.

Consider carefully a) your family size, b) the standard of living expected, and c) the debt load you expect the garden to carry. A home mortgage plus car and credit card payments of ,000 per month requires a much greater effort to cover than if you're debt-free.
.Location
Warm climates may require lots of water and even a little shade at the hottest times, while cold climates often require more greenhouse seedling production and the covering of garden crops in spring and fall to extend the growing season.

You will improve your garden's production in any location or climate using the Mittleider method.
.Commitment
You must understand the commitment involved with market gardening, and be willing to do it right. Our grandparents grew gardens, and often owned animals. They had to work every day to feed, water, and care for their animals and plants.

There is very little time available for vacations, etc. during the growing season. A successful market garden requires your attention on a daily basis!
.Technology

A hundred years ago, most growers used manure, and it was a fairly level playing field between the family gardener and the market farmer. Not so today! Your competition includes hydroponic growers with over ,000,000 per acre in buildings and equipment, and paid employees doing the work. And by feeding and watering their plants many times a day they're growing 330 tons of tomatoes per acre each year!

Tips for Getting Started

1.Start small! Don't plant more than you can care for properly, and sell or use.
2.Determine the market or markets you will sell to: a) Wholesalers, b) small grocery stores, c) restaurants, d) farmers' market, e) roadside stand, or f) home delivery.
3.Learn what vegetables you should grow by determining those that: a) you can grow readily, b) sell well, and c) at a good price.
4.Build proper facilities including a) a seedling greenhouse with tables, b) T-Frames for growing vertically, and c) a good watering system. These all are essential for success at this level.
5.Set up a formal accounting system, including account names and numbers for every category of asset, liability, equity, income, and expense. Get help from your CPA or other competent accountant.
6.Stock up on tools, seeds, fertilizers, and provide for pest and disease control.
7.And be sure to include all those costs, as well as your labor, in figuring your market prices and your expected net return.

You may have to beat the competition to sell your produce at the beginning. However, by growing more, bigger, fresher, tastier, and healthier produce than others, you will develop a loyal customer base, and then you can adjust your prices as needed.
Choosing What to Grow

In choosing what to grow, consider a) the ease of growing, b) the cost and risk of loss, and c) the value of the crop. Let's look at some scenarios of what could be grown and sold from one acre of ground with good care and decent weather, with minimal losses from bugs and diseases that are achievable by strictly following the Mittleider Method:

Estimated Yields and Income at wholesale of a single crop from a One Acre Mittleider Market Garden of 250 30-foot-long by 18 inch-wide soil beds

Pole Beans:
150 plants/bed, 1.5#/plant, $.60/# = ,750

Cabbage:
61 plants/bed, 2#/plant, 2 crops, $.20/# = ,200

Corn:
92 plants/bed, 1.5 ear/plant, $.20/ear = ,900

Cucumbers:
46 plants/bed, 8 lb/plant, $.35/lb = ,200

Potatoes:
92 plants/bed, 2.5 lb /plant, $.20/lb = ,500

Tomatoes:
41 plants/bed, 10 lb/plant, $.50/lb = ,250

The above examples are estimates only, and actual results have been much higher or lower, depending on many factors including experience, weather, direct retail marketing vs. wholesale sales, etc.

If you are growing for the retail market using a roadside stand or farmers' market booth, you will probably want a fairly wide variety of produce in order to attract customers.

While corn has a low yield for the space required, it is very popular with customers when it's fresh, so you may decide to treat it as a Loss Leader and have it available.

A Word of Caution
Don't try to plant too many vegetable varieties. Ten or twelve are far easier to handle than twenty to thirty. And three varieties of tomatoes are usually enough. I like Big Beef, Italia Mia, and Grape tomatoes. One planting of Blue Lake pole beans will allow you to sell beans all season long, but bush beans will give you an earlier single crop.

If you sell to restaurants, you'll need to grow the specific things they use, such as specialty lettuces, tomatoes, Ichiban eggplant, small red potatoes, etc. And you may need to plant a few beds of single-crop varieties every week, to have them maturing throughout the season.

If your primary market is large grocery stores or wholesale suppliers, they will usually want a large steady supply of a few things, so you may be able to plant everything to the money crops of beans, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes, or multiple plantings of lettuces and other quick-growing crops.

Remember: You have a big advantage over others!
By following the Mittleider Method accurately and consistently you can produce much more in less space than other small market growers are doing, and be successful!

The books, CD's and videos available from the Food for Everyone Foundation will teach you the gardening principles, procedures, and techniques you need to grow your own successful market garden. In studying these things, remember that this unique gardening method has been proven highly effective in thousands of situations, in dozens of countries all around the world. It's a recipe! It WILL work to give you a great garden in any soil and in virtually any climate but you MUST follow the recipe.

Happy Gardening!

Thai Wives and Girlfriends: a Few Stories
Anyone who lives in Thailand for a while hears stories about western men (or farang as we are known here) and the bizarre behaviour of their Thai wives and girlfriends. To those looking from the outside it is often a source of amusement. Sometimes it is just strange behaviour. Other times it is a shocking willingness to totally screw over their farang partners.

Some of the things these women do just make you laugh but there are other times they take your breath away with the sheer audacity of their actions; their ability to put aside any semblance of morals and just scheme away to their own ends. There are other times when it is just their plain stupidity that takes the breath away.

The following four stories all happened around my own little housing estate in Phuket where there are quite a few farang-Thai couples. These stories are just a small sample of the things Thai women can get up to.

Unreasonable Behaviour

A young European guy and his Thai girlfriend have lived in the house opposite me for the last three months. They are both very sociable and quickly introduced themselves. We sometimes share a few drinks in the garden He seems like an easy-going guy. She is very chatty and usually happy. She doesn't drink, smoke, gamble or take drugs which is a promising start for Thai girlfriend material.

The problem is she regularly goes completely off the rails. Every two or three days they have a huge argument. I say argument, but in fact it is usually only her voice you can hear screaming abuse. She throws things, windows get broken and then there are tears and drama in the street.

The upshot is usually that she packs her bags and declares she is leaving for good. A big show is made of this. She comes to say goodbye to us because she is never going to see us again. She calls a taxi and then stands outside her house shouting to her boyfriend that she is leaving for good.

He quietly stays inside and ignores the whole charade. The thing is we all know she isn't leaving. She may be back the same day. If not, she will return the next day somehow looking triumphant. In fact, this pretence of leaving has become so shallow that instead of taking her packed bags, she now makes a habit of hiding them in our house so she doesn't have the hassle of carrying them.

What are the arguments about? Some of them are the usual accusation that he is playing around with other women. Often, it is that he has spent money on something she thinks is wasteful. But it is HIS money! He pays her a generous allowance. When Thai women do this routine of trying to stop their farang boyfriends spending their money, it is not because they want to save him money. There is a simpler motive. The more the boyfriend spends, the less there is leftover for her to squeeze out of him.

This girl has already told my wife she has three other farang boyfriends. This is one of the things us westerners just don't get. It is not only that they play these games and deceive their boyfriends. They think it is something to boast about and if they can boast about it right under their boyfriend's nose, all the better. Why she thought my wife wouldn't tell me, I don't know. She probably assumes all Thai women deceive their farang partners and that my wife would be impressed at her cunning.

I wouldn't get involved in other people's relationships so I will not be telling this guy about the other boyfriends. Anyway, I don't think he is such a fool. He is returning to Europe this week and I doubt if he will be continuing his relationship with this particular Thai girl - but you never know.

Gambling

The previous occupants of this same house were a European guy and his Thai wife. He worked in Europe for six months a year and lived in Phuket for the other six months. He had been doing this for years and when he was in Phuket, they always seemed to have a good relationship. The problem was that for the six months he was away, his wife had to entertain herself and her vice was gambling.

Gambling really does seem to be a major problem for some Thai women. I know several of the Thai wives on our estate play a regular card game. They all say the same thing. It is just a bit of fun for small money. I have seen them play and it is not for fun. They get very intense, there is little conversation and although the stakes start small, they quickly grow. I have heard of women winning or losing as much as 30,000 baht in these 'fun' games.
There seems to be something in the Thai mentality that leaves them very open to gambling addiction. Perhaps it is their belief in lucky numbers and fate. Whatever it is, there is good reason why gambling is illegal in Thailand. It is an endless source of problems, especially for Thai women with money and time on their hands such as wives of farang.

So every morning this Thai woman set off for her local card game. Sometimes she would be gone for two or three days - they really can play that long. She had been doing this for years and I guess she wasn't losing too much. But then the problems started.

The first sign was when she started asking to borrow money. At first, it was only small sums that we were happy to give her. But then she wanted 10,000 baht. I knew this was a sign of a serious problem. She was chasing her losses. The only way she could repay the money was if she got lucky at cards so I refused her the loan.

Of course, there are other ways to borrow money in Thailand. Once one of these girls is on the slope she will keep sliding. Soon there were rough looking Thai men appearing on her doorstep demanding repayment. She sold her motorbike and started renting one instead. She sold jewelry and furniture but used the money to chase her losses and the loan sharks kept appearing. She started disappearing for a week at a time. It was obvious her situation was out of control. Then she was gone.

I don't think the loan sharks got her. She packed her bags in the middle of the night and ran. There were rumours about how much she owed and for those sorts of sums she would have to do a good job of disappearing. There were calls from her husband asking why he could not contact his wife. When he returned to Phuket, there was no sign of her. She had not returned to her family, or at least not that they would admit. She just ran away from it all, the debts and the marriage.

Pretend Pregnancies

A good friend of mine was very pleased that his wife was expecting their first child. His wife's sister was also pleased but for slightly different reasons. She wanted copies of the ultrasound scans of the foetus. She had an Australian boyfriend who she was siphoning like an old banger. She had already twice convinced him she was pregnant and needed medical expenses. Then of course, she had two miscarriages and so needed more medical expenses.

Now she was trying the same routine for a third time but he was proving a little harder to convince. He wanted to see the ultrasound scans. So what good fortune that her sister just happened to be pregnant.

My friend absolutely put his foot down. No way would he let his child be used as a tool in a Thai bargirl scam. It is one thing to stand back and watch these girls rip off their farang boyfriends. It is a totally different thing to play an active role in the deception.

Without a copy of an ultrasound scan, her bluff was called and she was caught out. The Aussie boyfriend dumped her. All kinds of drama followed. She had a Thai boyfriend and together they were living the high life. Without her benefactor, she quickly ran up huge debts. The Thai boyfriend left her. She got her mother to take out a loan. She defaulted on the loan and her mother spent two days in prison until my friend paid her bail - after all, she is also the mother of his wife.

So much drama and heartache that you think she might actually learn her lesson. And then would you believe it - the Aussie boyfriend decided to give her another chance. Now she is spending his money like water again and convinced that everything she did has worked out for the best.

Oh yeah, one other thing she hasn't told the Aussie boyfriend. He is very keen to start a family but she cannot have children. She is infertile.

Totally Screwed

All these previous stories fade in significance compared to what happened to this guy. I don't know him personally but I know his neighbours. He worked in Bangkok and came to Phuket at weekends to see his wife. Their relationship was already rocky and they were working towards agreeing an amicable split. They owned the house but there was still an outstanding mortgage.

One weekend he returned home to find it deserted. Everything of value was gone. He was confused and started looking for an explanation. He was soon given one by a bank representative who arrived shortly afterwards. The bank has repossessed the house.
"That cannot be," said this guy. "I pay the mortgage every month." The
bank guy explained - "that mortgage is with a different bank. Your wife took a second mortgage on the property and she has not paid."

The farang guy realised he was totally screwed. He started looking for a way out but there was none. Can I take over the payments? It is too late. I will get a lawyer! It is too late. We have been taking action for months. It is finished now.

In a blind fury, this farang guy started smashing up the house. The bank called the police and they arrested him. The house was no longer his property so he would have to pay for the damages.

Over the next few days, the full extent of his wife's treachery became apparent. She had not only taken a second mortgage on the property but also she had used it as collateral for a loan from the local mafia. She had taken the money and disappeared. There were now two banks and the local mafia arguing over who had claim to his house.

I had met his wife only once a few weeks before. She came around our house asking for a 100,000-baht loan. She said she would write up a contract and pay back 110,000 baht the very next week. Naturally, we refused this generous offer. She must have known even then that she had no intention of paying. She carried on doing the rounds until she found a sucker willing to give the loan. It was actually a local Thai guy she fleeced.

It is a small world. Another friend of mine recently met this farang guy working offshore. He was working all the hours he could get to pay off his debts. The bank with the original mortgage has insisted he must pay it off or they will have him blacklisted from Thailand. He still loves Thailand and his life here and does not want to be blacklisted.

Conclusion

I certainly don't want to generalise and say all Thai women are scheming or crazy. All four of these women had one thing in common; they had all worked in the sex industry. That is not to say that all Thai girls from the sex industry are bad. It is not even that all Thai girls who have never worked in the sex industry are good. However, on the whole this sort of behaviour is much more likely to come from women who have worked in the sex industry.

The tourist sector of the sex industry is all about extracting as much money as possible from the customers. The girls learn to lie, scheme and play their customers like a fiddle. They can take the same mentality into their long-term relationships. They are still playing the game and unfortunately, the basis of their relationship is how much money they can squeeze from their farang.

I do know plenty of guys who have great Thai wives. I would go as far as to say that the sort of stories above are the minority and most men who settle in Thailand find a great woman. The cultural differences will always cause a few difficulties and Thai women certainly do a few things we find strange. As long as both sides are willing to compromise then it can all work out fine.

This is not a purely Thai phenomenon. I know men who have been fleeced by women in their own countries. And the divorce rates in the west are so high that there is really no point in harping on about the number of failed farang-Thai relationships. This devious side of the Thai female is not a universal truth. However, these stories do seem to be more common here than elsewhere. I think it is mostly a by-product of the way many of these relationships started.

Vintage Fruit and Vegetable Crate and Can Labels Now Appreciated As Art and Home Decor
Beautiful, funny and sometimes racy, fruit and vegetable labels were created to catch the eye of American consumers in the produce department. Beginning in the late 1800's farmers and merchants used artwork of colorful fruits and exotic vegetables to entice customers into buying their product. Before becoming available as framed art, some cooks framed their favorite labels and hung them in kitchens and restaurants. Today labels are collected for their beauty and are exhibited at museums around the Untied States.

Some early can labels even had gold foil and used expensive embossed papers. Larger labels, known as crate labels were glued to the ends of produce crates as they were shipped out of the fields to market. Artist created sun drenched landscapes and used bright colors to make their produce stand out. Drawing on the romance of the Old West, some brands had names like Bronco, Western Queen and Majestic.

Gods and royalty are represented in vintage stone lithograph labels against dramatic landscapes. On one advertising label, Triton the sea god sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean in Washington state. In other art, glowing oranges are set against romantic sunsets and bright red strawberries tumble over a serene California farmland. Giant artichokes floating over choppy seas and tomato ranches grace other labels. Visit http://www.MomsRetro.com to see examples of more retro crate label art.

Today, vintage crate label artwork is still found in modern kitchens except it is kept on the wall. This early form of advertising art is perfect for the kitchen and adds a retro touch of home to offices. And it just might help us to remember to eat our apple a day.

How To Make Your Garden Patio Look Good Without Spending Much Trend of outdoor living is growing rapidly and need of garden patio follows. Have a look at any magazine and you would notice patio garden at one place or other. You just need to use your imagination to make your garden absolutely beautiful and unique. Everyone would like to have best garden in their backyard but budget may be a constraint for some as garden may get really expensive. Get thrifty and use containers around your house for decorating your garden.

If space is limited and you want to have lots of plants, place all of them in different containers. Grow anything (flowers/ dwarf citrus-trees/ conifers) in containers and arrange the containers in unused corners of your garden patio as that allows you 5/6 dissimilar plants in different containers. You can also use small tables for placing containers as that would bring colour as well as fragrance in your patio. It would also give you some place where you can place your drink glasses.

Another great idea that saves lot of space in small patio is building an arbour. Use climbers to hang plants and that would reserve complete space on floor for the furniture. You can also attach shelves for small containers.

Lot of people prefer building raised beds in their garden patio using a matching material (like brick/ stone). Build raised beds all around patio and entire garden can be planted in them. Taller plants in centre with smaller plants on sides can be a delightful view from patio/ yard. If you have lot of space, you can use container plants outside raised beds and that would further dress up your patio.

Garden Patio is a superb place to have your personal vegetable/ herb gardens. You can grow in raised beds/ containers or anywhere. These would not only look beautiful but would also make a great addition to your daily meals. Picnic table can also be used for containers/ barrels for creating corner garden. After vegetables have been harvested, you can plant fall flowers/ foliage in containers as that would extend the growing season.

You can either plan for a formal garden patio to entertain your guests. It would also be outdoor retreat for you and your family. Formal gardens can use space around patio to include sculptures/ water features. Raised beds/ cascading plants/ stairways/ tree, shrub planted in ground around your patio can make your garden look absolutely wonderful. You can also apply themes by planting many plants from same family. Bonsai as well as bamboo are quite popular but are time-consuming.

People who have lot of time/ money to hire a gardener can go for lush garden patio. Hundreds of plants look awesome but you must not forget that each and every plant has some specific needs that you must take care of regularly, or your garden may turn looking like a jungle. You must group plants as per their water/ soil requirements. It requires lot of work, but it is very rewarding. You can also add water features to make it better.

Building A Barn With Living Quarters And Other Barn Plans- The Essentials
Barn buildings have a certain instantly recognisable charm and character. Barn type buildings have a multitude of potential uses such as for agricultural uses, storage of extra stuff from your house and as a nice get away building away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the home providing a nice retreat/study or even a home office. But they can also provide commercial opportunities for warehouse type units which you can rent out.

Some people have even chosen to take the basic design aesthetics of a barn building and convert it into their home with the added benefits of high ceilings and aesthetically pleasing appearance. You could also build a barn for your horses or go for a barn style structure and design for your new home.

Barn Plans With Living Quarters

There are many barn plans available with living quarters designed into the building and some of the choices you will need to look at if you decide to build a barn type building, whether for residential ro storage use, will include decisions about the type of roof you prefer.

A popular style choice for a barn is a gambrel type roof but another popular choice is a Napa style roo f which has a lower profile and is suitable for lower profile buildings and garages.

Barn Plans
There are a huge range of barn plans available on the market which range from barn plans with living quarters, 28 foot by 40 foot plans which will accommodate four large horse stalls and many other options. Make sure when purchasing barn plans to check that you are getting properly scaled and diagrammed plans which are easy to follow and preferable with step by step instructions and a detailed materials list.

Horse barn building plans should for example include the layout of the horse stalls, tack room and wash area. Quality barn plans should also include elevations of your barn from every side, particularly if you are going for a barn type residential dwelling.

Pole Barn Plans
Pole barn plans for residential use are incredibly popular and there is also the possibility of using such plans to build commercial buildings such as warehouses from which you can earn a nice rent.You will need to ensure that the doors are sufficiently wide and tall to accommodate larger vehicles and deliveries.
In conclusion it is clear that barn type buildings offer endless possibilities from the smallest garden shed to a large commercial building. For this reason you need to do your due diligence and ensure the barn plans that you intend working from are adequate for the job

12 Small Deck Design Ideas
A small deck does not necessarily have to remain a small deck. There are a number of techniques to make that less than large area increase in size and become more comfortable. The key to small deck design is simplicity.

1. Create the illusion of one big area from 2 smaller spaces. If your deck is bordered by the backyard lawn then allow this outdoor living area to spill out into that open space and it will create the illusion of being larger.

2. Create colorful flower or garden beds on 1 or more sides of the deck so that it does not seem to float like an island in the grassed area of your backyard. Instead the multicolored flowers and greenery will work together to seamlessly blend with the deck and become an integral part of the backyard landscape.

3. Emphasize the deck and not the property line. Instead of letting the lawn end at the property line create perimeter planting beds that will turn any attention inward toward the deck. The careful placement of trees, shrubs and plants in these perimeter garden areas will lead the eye back to the deck which should be the focal point of the yard.

4. Use plants with interesting textures in containers on the deck or in flower beds that border the deck. This will focus attention onto the deck and not the surrounding landscape. If there are stairs or steps that link the deck with the yard, use container plants on the sides of the steps to further direct attention toward the deck surface.
5. Concentrate color in a specific area rather than scatter flowers throughout the backyard. Groups of flowers in containers on the deck or in flower beds adjoining the deck create more impact than scattered blooms. If color is used in more than 1 location, repeat 2 or 3 colors to link the areas together.

6. When possible, emphasize views adjacent to the deck. If there is a water feature, a lovely grove of trees or garden area nearby make sure to leave that view open and accessible from the deck. Move or rearrange furniture and other objects on the deck in order to facilitate this.

7. Place any type of screening strategically to enhance privacy and block only those sights that are distracting. Movable screening provides a great deal more flexibility than fixed types in enabling this to occur.

8. Install a water feature or hang wind chimes close to the deck. The soothing sounds that they create will mask other noises that come from the street or neighbouring yards. A trellis or vertical sections of latticework can provide support for dense greenery which is not only attractive to look at but can also filter out sound and prying eyes.

9. Install built-in seating on the outside edges of the deck since it takes up less room than furniture that stands alone. Also use a round table since it takes up less room than rectangular types and allows the seating of additional people for dining or entertaining.

10.Keep decking patterns simple. Small patterns and contrasting textures created a feeling of being hemmed in and add very little to the appeal of the overal deck design.

11.Move furnishings to the side of the deck to open up the central space and create the illusion of size while also allowing for much easier access and traffic flow on and off the deck.

12.Add a patio off the edge of the deck to enlarge the amount of usable space. Link these 2 areas by using:

a) a similar material such as wood, brick or stone in some way

b) by the use of container plants or planter boxes

c) by using a similar color in some way (flower, decorative art piece, etc.)

d) by installing an arbor or pergola to provide shade protection for all or parts of both

Careful use of a variety of simple deck design techniques can enhance the look of any small deck and create the illusion that it is larger than its actual size.

Tired, Headaches, Irritable, Aches And Pains? It Could Be Candida!
Many people suffer from a host of symptoms but are told by Drs. that they can’t find anything wrong with them or are misdiagnosed and put on treatments that are not working for them. The difficulty is that the medical profession denies the existence of candida and therefore cannot treat it. You may find the odd healthcare professional that knows about it and will prescribe something for it.

For those of you that are not familiar with Candida, this is what it is and it may be what’s bothering you.

Candida albicans is a natural inhabitant, yeast that lives in your colon. It is a small group of parasites that that co-exists with other microbes and friendly bacteria. It thrives in that toxic putrid, damp waste land. For a normally functioning colon candida is not a problem but if you are chronically constipated and backed up or if your immune system is compromised due to bad diet or over use of antibiotics, then Candida can become over abundant and change into its fungal form that can then escape through the intestinal wall and wreak absolute havoc in other parts of your body and you can experience a whole host of symptoms. It is especially insidious because it can change its form to survive much like certain bacteria can change form and become resistant to antibiotics, Candida can be resistant to antifungal. When Candida begins to proliferate it grows like a weed and sprouts long tendrils that burrow deep into the intestinal walls. This is the beginning of infection and disease. If for some reason Candida gets into your blood stream then the spores get carried along and deposited in another warm moist organ where it takes on a fungal shape and resumes its attack on the host. It can be a formidable enemy that can make your life miserable and it makes it all the more miserable when your doctor has taken a whole battery of tests and tells you there is nothing wrong with you. But you know better! You know how you feel and it is not normal!

If you have candida, you may experience some or all of these symptoms depending on the severity of this parasitic invasion:

-constant fatigue
-sinus problems and lots of mucus
-interrupted sleep
-flu like symptoms
-aches and pains in the joints
-especially tight neck and shoulder and increased headaches
-dental problems
-dark circles under the eyes
-low grade fever
-constipation and or diarrhea
-gas and abdominal bloating
-mouth and your eyes feel dry
-unexplained rashes
-dry brittle hair and nails
-feeling foggy
-restless leg syndrome
-irregular heart beat
-numbness or tingling in the extremities
-feeling faint or light headed
-lack of concentration and short term memory loss
-shortness of breath
-sexual dysfunction
-sugar cravings
-white coating on the tongue
-intolerance to smells such as perfume, chemicals and insecticides
-digestive disorders
-depression
-irritable or easily angered
-intolerance to alcohol or gluten
-asthma
-hay fever
-ear infections

These are the most common symptoms reported but there may be others. These symptoms can be moderate to severe. To find out if you have candida you can do a simple home test that has been fairly reliable to determine if candida is a problem for you.

In the morning when you wake up, before you do anything else, work up some saliva in your mouth and then spit it into a glass of clean water. Wait for about 30 minutes then check the water. One of four things may happen. If there are strings coming down from the spit floating in the water or if the water is cloudy or speckled then you may have Candida. If you don’t have candida the saliva should just float on top and the water should stay clear.

There are several reasons why candida can become such a problem. One is over use of antibiotics. This kills the friendly flora and allows the rapid growth of candida as does Steroid abuse.

Another major factor is our environment and the changes in the food industry. Exposure to a toxic environment weakens our immune system. Living on the golf course is all nice and pretty but the reality is that you get exposed to the constant spraying of chemicals that you cannot escape from. The industry smoke stacks are built high up but you would be a fool to think it does not affect you. Cars and trucks have been a huge source of pollution for the last 60 to 70 years and we have been lulled to a non thinkingness about it. We just don’t have a thought about it when we walk down the street and get bombarded with toxic petro.

It is the same with the food industry. We used to eat wholesome meat, fruit, vegetables and grains that were not tampered with. Now, the major players are finding ways to make food last longer with preservatives, dyes and chemical sprays. Processed food should be a no no for anyone who wants to stay healthy let alone someone who has candida or other related health problems.

What should you do to treat candida?

-Stop eating processed foods. Other than non perishables, just go to the meat and produce department for all your food. Unless you are stocking up for a hurricane or some emergency, I don’t suggest you eat anything that is not in its natural form. Organic, raw fruits and vegetables are best but, be careful not to eat too many fruits; they contain a lot of sugar. The fruits that are very high in fiber are blueberries, plums, raspberries and strawberries. ½ cup of theses fruits have more fiber than several bran muffins.

-Stay away from meat that has been fed hormones. If you are going to partake of dairy foods, also get it hormone free.

-SUGAR! Yeast thrives on sugar. It loves sugar and will grow more prolific with sugar products. You will not get rid of candida unless you stop eating those cookies, desserts and chocolates. We rarely ate sugar 80 to 100 years ago, we don’t need them now.

-Drink a lot of water. This ensures that toxic material can get removed from the body. Just like a toilet will not be able to remove fecal matter without water, so is it also with the human body. Drink lots of pure water.

-Exercise on a regular basis. This also helps to keep the intestines working correctly, not to mention all the other benefits you get by working out.

-You can jump start your treatments by doing a coffee enema daily for a week possibly two and then once a month for maintenance. Full caffeine organic coffee works best and you should only use filtered water. Coffee enemas help remove impacted fecal matter fairly quickly and may remove the yeast and parasites. There are two herbs that you can add to the coffee solution that make it more effective. Aloe Vera and slippery elm. You can purchase these herbs in capsule form. Take two of each, break open the capsules and pour them into the coffee. They are soothing and help with inflammation.

-Psyllium seed and Bentonite are also good natural sources for cleaning out the colon. Psyllium seed is used as a laxative but make sure that you drink a full glass of water or it can have the opposite effect and constipate you. Bentonite is a volcanic ash that draws toxins to it. The bentonite does not get absorbed into the system so it will be disposed of along with what ever toxins it has attached to it. The problem with these herbs is that although they do work, it can take a long time before it is effective with Candida. It can take up to a year before it is completely handled.

-There is a new product that works much faster and is very effective for a lot of people. This is the Threelac system. Threelac products are very effective based on testimonials and has shown relief in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. There is also Threelac for children. If your child has thrush or diaper rash that does not go away, it is a yeast problem. Results vary from person to person and the degree of severity will also make a difference in how long it takes for recovery. Your body needs the friendly flora to maintain its normal ph balance. Threelacs advanced formulas work to restore your ph balance to help your body recover naturally and quickly.

-Remember, Candida feeds off sugar! Americans eat enormous amounts of sugar and is the biggest single factor in Candida over growth. Candida’s appetite for sugar is insatiable. You can reduce (but not completely handle) Candida by cutting out sugar in your diet. Natural fruit and vegetable sugars should be all your body needs.

I hope this helps!