05 Oct

Posted at 14:22h in General Interest by
0 Likes

Fire & Water Features

From Landscaping Network

7 ways to add drama to your landscape with fire and water elements

You've probably seen the fabulous pictures across the internet and in design and home magazines featuring firebowls, firepits, and fire strips around swimming pools.  Fire attracts attention, and creates amazing action and drama in any outdoor living design, but especially when combined with water.  Two of the most ancient elements that are associated with mystery, life, and spirituality come together in these amazing swimming pool designs that combine these two elements amazingly.  This post from Landscaping Network showcases these combination features which represent the latest innovation in the ever-changing swimming pool design and outdoor living design arena.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

02 Oct

Posted at 14:05h in General Interest by
0 Likes

Talk with your Aging Parents About Senior Citizens Swimming to
Develop Aging Fitness

From Talk Early...talk often...

As we age, our bone density decreases, we lose stamina, and it becomes harder and harder to keep up an excercise regimen to stay in shape.  This is especially the case for senior citizens, as the rate at which the decline in these situations increases with seniors.  Water exercise is a great way for senior citizens to exercise, as the water provides resistance, and is low impact on bones and joints.  This post from talk early...talk often... presents some great workouts in the swimming pool for senior citizens, and explains the benefits.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

29 Sep

Posted at 14:58h in General Interest by
0 Likes

POOL MYTH BUSTERS!

From SwimmingPool.com

If you have ever used a swimming pool and had that familiar urge to go to the bathroom, you've probably heard the myth about a chemical that turns red, blue, or green when contacting urine.  You've also probably heard that swimming immediately after eating is a no-no.  Are these long-standing opinions surrounding swimming pools based on fact, or just wives tales that have been passed down through the generations to discourage certain behaviors?  This post from Swimmingpool.com addresses the most common myths and apocryphal stories surrounding the swimming pool, and tells you once and for all if the myths are based in fact.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

24 Sep

Posted at 13:35h in General Interest by
0 Likes

8 Outdoor Holiday Lighting Ideas That Dazzle

from HGTV.com

This week saw the last official day of Summer and the first day of Fall come and go, and for some this is a depressing realization.  Thoughts of many turn back to the long, sunny, Summer days by the swimming pool and lounging in the hammock in the backyard to a cooling breeze.  For others, the thoughts of leaves falling, Halloween trick-or-treaters, and pulling out the Christmas tree gives them an understated joy of the holiday season.  For those people that are inclined to decorate their houses for the holiday season with lights, garland, and scary witches, this post is very timely.  HGTV gives a great design guide for outdoor holiday lighting that will set your home apart from the rest of the neighborhood, and make the long, cold winter seem shorter than it actually is.  It's only a few short months until we enter swim season again, so why not make the most of the holiday season by embracing it?

Here is an excerpt from the post:

23 Sep

Posted at 14:36h in General Interest by
0 Likes

How to Teach Autistic Children to Swim

From Wikihow

Swimming and being in and around water can be extremely theraputic for people with all kinds of disabilites.  This is especially the case with children that are stricken with disabilities, as they have a lifetime to attempt to navigate the world with their disability as well as to ameliorate their symptoms whenever possible.  As this post from Wikihow points out, children with autism may have a fear or dislike of water, but they can learn to swim nevertheless.  These children can reap the same theraputic benefits from swimming as anyone else, as long as the teacher understands the disability and is able to work with these children to overcome their natural aversion.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

22 Sep

Posted at 14:12h in General Interest by
0 Likes

Winterize Your Landscape

From Landscaping Network

If you are one of the fortunate souls who live in the sunbelt, you aren't thinking about the harsh effects of winter.  The freezing temperatures, harsh winds, snow and thaw cycles can literally destroy landscape elements if not planned for.  This post from Landscaping Network tells the homeowner how to properly protect plants, paving, decks, arbors, lighting, furniture, and lawns from the harsh winter conditions.  Proper planning will help the transition back to Spring be much easier and damage-free.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

21 Sep

Posted at 15:09h in General Interest by
0 Likes

Water Chemistry

From 1 Stop Pool Pros

It's easy to assume that a swimming pool is "set it and forget it", but that really is not the case.  Anyone familiar with swimming pool water chemistry understands that to achieve balanced, healthy water, one needs to understand the differing measurable components of the water saturation index.  The important levels of pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Temperature and Free Available Chlorine are all integral to achieving a safe, sanitary swimming pool environment.  This post from 1 Stop Pool Pros gives a good primer on the different chemicals that are utilized to achieve balanced water in these important areas.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

16 Sep

Posted at 16:00h in General Interest by
0 Likes

Backyard Parties: The Tiniest Party Guests

From Pools Spas & Patios

The Fall is a great time to utilize your outdoor living space to entertain.  Having a party for your small kids is even more fun, according to this post from Pools Spas & Patios.  Making the party fun and exciting for your smaller guests will give your backyard and home "cool" status, and will make your children want to spend more time around the house.  This post gives some great tips to make a kids party the best that it can be in your backyard.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

15 Sep

Posted at 14:35h in General Interest by
0 Likes

Winterizing Your Outdoor Kitchen

From Houselogic

Unfortunately, its that time of year again:  There is a chill in the air, the days seem to be getting shorter, the leaves are falling, and winter is just a few short weeks away.  Looking outside at your swimming pool and outdoor kitchen brings you back memories of the wonderfully long, hot, summer days by the pool and in your outdoor living space.  Now that winter is almost here, it's time to start thinking about putting your outdoor space to bed for the colder days to come.  This post from Houselogic gives you the proper way to winterize your outdoor kitchen to ensure that when next summer comes, you will be ready to start up and go without significant damage to your outdoor kitchen.

Here is an excerpt from the post: