Stimulate Your Sensebuds...and wave goodbye to writers cramp! by Linda Gray

Stimulate Your Sensebuds...and wave goodbye to writers cramp! by Linda Gray

When you get stuck for ideas, and the words wont flow, invariably its because one, more or all of your senses arent being stimulated.

Staring at a blank screen or sheet of paper really doesnt help. The best way to stimulate all your senses in one hit is to provide an inspirational space you can work with.

Lots of Feng Shui arrangements appear in western homes these days, and theyre great, but outside those four walls of your writing space, there is another world bursting with enlightenment and inspiration.
Of course you may have to work at it a little, but hey, we all need some exercise sometimes!

Whether you have a balcony or a backyard, you can very simply build a natural living world to plunge into whenever you choose. If you have neither, consider renting a small patch of land or sharing a garden with someone.

Gardening conjures up all sorts of hard work images; tools, backache, blisters etc;. but its only as hard as you make it. Start small and design your garden on paper first. Decide where you want herbs, flowers - and even vegetables, if you have the space and inclination!

A tiny balcony or back yard can be bordered with herbs and flowers. If youre staring at several square metres of concrete, dont despair. Plant your sensory stimulators in pots. Paint the pots different colours if you like.

Choose strong smelling, long lasting flowers, such as wallflowers ( Cheiranthus ). They will grow in some shade and do well against walls, fences and hedgerows. Climbing roses will only need a few hooks screwed into the fence, and they will happily cover your fence in blooms. Both these flowers are colourful, smell beautiful and are velvet to the touch.

Many herbs will grow in pots. Grow chives for something to nibble as you wander round the garden. Mint varieties are many , from spearmint through to the newer varieties such as pineapple or melon mint . Try them! They really do smell of pineapple and melon.

Some herbs are perennial and, once established, will need very little care. But remember to pick them to encourage growth.

The acoustics in your outside space will change dramatically when you have flowers growing. Those bees and bugs wont be able to resist.
Rub the leaves of your mint plants or other herbs and fill the air with the scent.

Now relax in a chair, listen to the humming of the insects and nibble on your chives. Within ten minutes youll either be dozing and gaining some well needed rest, or youll be running back to your keyboard with more words in your head than ever before!
About the Author
Linda Gray is a freelance writer and, with her partner, has spent ten years renovating an acre of neglected woodland. Drop in at http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com for pots of gardening inspiration!

Simple steps to build a Tabletop Water Fountain by Rachel Paul

Simple steps to build a Tabletop Water Fountain by Rachel Paul

Water is the essence of life. Creating your own table top fountains is a wonderful way to bring out your creativity and self-expression while simultaneously relieving stress and enhancing your interior dcor.
There are many unique benefits to having a fountain at home or work:

# The gentle soothing sound of flowing water can help you relax and meditate in your bedroom after a hard days work;
# Start the day listening to the music of the splashing water and enjoy the invigorating effect it has on your mood.
# Fountains humidify the indoor air, especially if your home or workplace is dry due to continual air-conditioning. This is extremely helpful in preventing your skin from drying out.
# Fountains release negative ions, said to promote better moods and concentration.
Building a water fountain can be as simple as putting some stones and a small pump into a container with water. It does not have to be expensive or fancy. Nothing can compare to the feeling of accomplishment from creating your own fountain.

Materials Needed:

1 A waterproof container or bowl of proper depth.
Choose a container between 8-16 inches across in diameter and depth of at least 4-6 inches. The water has to cover the pump; otherwise, the pump will burn out. You can use ceramic bowls, plastic flower pots, glass, or wood boxes. The easiest and least expensive containers are plastic pots or ceramic bowls. Some plastic pots tend to vibrate when you put everything together. Ceramic bowls are more solid, lessening the vibration
Look in your cupboard for a casserole, serving dish, punch bowl, or fruit bowl if you're in a hurry to make a fountain.

2. A small water pump (less than 100 gallons per hour) and clear plastic tubing (1/2" inner dimension or 5/8" outer dimension).
Fish tank pumps are fine. The smallest ones work well for the typical size containers. Some shops supply suction cups with water pumps. Both the pump and tubing can be found at an aquarium, hardware, or garden supply store. To straighten the hose, boil it in water for a while.

3.Rocks; pebbles; slate; crystals; semi-precious stones; drift wood pieces; shells, anything that goes in water can be used.
Each item can have a special meaning, thus adding to the individuality of your fountain
If you select rocks from your garden make sure you clean them well in a water-bleach bath. You can substitute polyethylene spray foam for bigger rocks thus reducing the need for heavy rocks.

4. Plants add greenery to your fountain. A small clipping will do nicely. You could also use a small pot or glass bottle [baby food jar], fill it with water, put the plant inside and place it inside the fountain bowl.



Steps:
1. Place the decorative slate or tile on the table. Place the bowl on the slate or tile.

2. Place the pump at the bottom of the bowl, taking care to see the cord is draped to the back of the container. Use suction cups to make the pump stick to the bottom of the container.
Add tap water to more than cover the intake value [2 minimum]. Plug the pump into the electric outlet. (It is advisable to test out the pump in a bucket or sink before placing it in the container.) Unplug the pump to adjust the water flow, if needed.

3. Cut the tubing length to fit your container and design. Fit one end of the tubing to the pump spout. Place larger rocks to cover the pump and fill the bottom of the container.

4. Arrange the smaller rocks and tiles /slate /driftwood by stacking them so as to create a diverse and irregular path for the water flow. You can reduce the water flow from a geyser to a gurgle by covering the open end of the tube with tumbled glass.

5. Plug in the pump, adjust the water volume and stones as needed to produce the sound that appeals most to your ears.

6. Suction excess water from the container with a turkey baster.

7. Place figurines, plant cuttings, ivy, moss, shells or tiles to hide the tubing and electric cord.

8. Place a candle in a candleholder beside the fountain, the light from the candle will glisten on the water and reflect its light onto the fountain arrangement.

Maintenance tips:

Check water level daily for the first week, adding fresh water as needed to keep the pump completely covered.
Add a small amount of bleach or petri oil to the water to cleanse the fountain and keep the water shimmering.
Clean the fountain components every month to remove slime and algae.
Every three months, take fountain apart and clean the pump. Pull off the front cover, remove debris from propeller and screen, and wipe the bottom.
Reassemble your fountain, experimenting with a different bowl and accents.

More Resources:

Tabletop Fountain: "Mountain Seep"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/knowhow/pp/tabletopfountain/

Simple Rock Fountain:
http://www.ivillage.com/home/howtoguide/garden/articles/0,,170784_209022,00.html?arrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=2

Under $30 fountain:
http://www.stylewiz.com/articles/index.cfm?fuseaction=article_page&id=115

Feng Shui Table-Top fountain:
http://bellaonline.com/Article.asp?id=1033

Copper Frame Fountain:
http://www.rebeccasgarden.com/howto/items/19foun01.html

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About the Author
Rachel Paul, 2004-
Rachel Paul is a busy at-home mom and an avid interior decorator who loves to find genuinely innovative ways to perk up her home in the few free moments she finds between caring for her family and pursuing home study writing courses as well. She can be contacted at: rpaul197@yahoo.com .