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Gryphon Adams

Gryphon Adams began publishing in 1985. He contributed to the "San Francisco Chronicle" and "Dark Voices." Adams writes about a variety of topics, including teaching, floral design, landscaping and home furnishings. Adams is a certified health educator and a massage practitioner. He received his Master of Fine Arts at San Francisco State University.

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Hills present a challenge in landscaping. Without planning, the area may present an eyesore. Erosion, landslides, weeds, run-off, wasted topsoil, mulch, gravel and other topical treatments provide ongoing hassles without ongoing maintenance. Landscaping with rocks provides a cost-effective solution that can turn a hill into a pleasing focal point on the property. With some planning plus the right tools and materials, you can create a hill landscape that's an asset to your property.

Look over some pictures of hills with rock landscaping. Designs range from rocks that form planned patterns of abstract art to natural-looking landscapes where the rocks sit in the earth amid native plants to create the look of a long-standing natural terrain. Adding plants to the hill will help reduce erosion by creating a network of roots that hold the soil.

Choose what types of rocks and plants you will use for the hill landscaping. It may be useful to list the pros and cons of the materials you are considering. For example, lava rock comes in black and red and have the advantage of being porous and lightweight. They may be more convenient to carry up the hill than solid boulders.

Mark the desired positions for the largest rocks or boulders with plant stakes or tent stakes. Go down the hill and check the effect from different vantage points. For a natural effect, place the rocks in a random configuration with uneven spacing. For a more formal effect, place rocks in a pattern, such as a spiral, or space them evenly apart.

Dig a hole into the hill for each boulder. Make the hole large enough to bury at least 1/4 of any boulder or large rock. The larger and heavier the rock, the deeper you need to seat it in the earth to reduce the risk of a rock slide and potential property damage or injury. For example, if the boulder is 40 inches tall, make the hole 10 inches deep.

Place each rock or boulder in the corresponding hole and fill the earth back in around it. Stamp the earth firmly around the rock with your feet.

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How to Landscape With Rocks on a Hill | eHow

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in...

As Democrats survey a troubled 2014 political landscape, it's easy to forget how optimistic they seemed less than a year ago.

"I would expect that Nancy Pelosi is going to be speaker again pretty soon," President Obama told cheering House Democrats at a party retreat last February.

In the rosy scenario that took hold in some Democratic circles, the party was positioned to recapture the House in 2014 and maintain control of the Senate, allowing Obama to defy the history of second-term presidential decline. Great successes and good years lay ahead.

Had Democrats forgotten Obamacare, the law they passed in 2010 that was scheduled to take effect in 2014? It almost seemed as if they had.

Obama and his allies put off the arrival of Obamacare until after the president faced re-election in 2012. His administration also delayed releasing key rules regarding the law until after the election for fear of angering voters. But now they can't put it off any longer. 2014 will be the year Democrats pay for Obamacare.

When Obama spoke to the House retreat, polls consistently showed Democrats leading in the so-called "generic ballot" question, that is, whether voters will choose a Democratic or a Republican representative in the next election. Now, however, there's been a big swing away from Democrats and toward Republicans.

In addition, a new CNN poll found that 55 percent of voters surveyed said that when it comes to congressional races, they're more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes Obama than one who supports the president. "Those kind of numbers spelled early trouble for the Democrats before the 1994 and 2010 midterms, and for the GOP before the 2006 elections," CNN polling director Keating Holland reported on the network's website.

Meanwhile, support for Obamacare, already low, could fall further as more middle-income Americans voters figure out that they are the ones who will be paying for the Democrats' national health care scheme.

In 2009 and 2010, Obama, Pelosi and their fellow Democrats sold Obamacare as a kind of miracle. It would give health insurance to 30 million previously uncovered people and cut the federal deficit by more than a trillion dollars at the same time. And the only taxes needed to pay for it all would fall on the very wealthy. It seemed impossible, but that's what they claimed.

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Democrats will pay political price for Obamacare in 2014

CREATED 9:36 PM

The giant hill in Camels Back Park has been a hot spot for outdoor lovers in Boise for generations.The iconic area in the North End is the gateway to the foothills, and could soon be getting a facelift.

Ridge to Rivers trail experts, city engineers and landscape architects have developed a proposal that would convert the top third of the steep trail into stone steps and landscaping with native plants.

"They do a lot of maintenance and a lot of it makes sense, park regular Fred Roe said. Once there starts to be erosion it can really take off, so it's good to stem it before it gets worse."

Other trail regulars dont seem to mind the changes either.

"I think it serves the purpose that people use the hill for well- to climb to the top," Roe said.

"Looks like the proposal is going to be pretty beautiful, Daniel Walsh said. I'd still use the stairs and probably still get as good of exercise."

Some say if they cant stop Mother Nature from running its toll, they'll just have to fix what they can to keep the landmark around for generations to come.

"You know, sometimes I wish it could stay the same, but the reality is it doesnt, Roe said. So if it's going to change on its own, and we want to keep it, we need to maintain it."

The plan is still in its beginning stages and is estimated to cost $70,000. The city is seeking a grant from the State of Idahos Non-motorized Recreational Trails Program to help fund the project in 2014.

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Possible changes to iconic Boise landmark

Home security camera catches FedEx deliveryman throwing package 20 feet onto porch Home security camera catches FedEx deliveryman throwing package 20 feet onto porch

Updated: Friday, December 27 2013 11:02 PM EST2013-12-28 04:02:50 GMT

A home security camera in southern Maryland caught a FedEx deliveryman tossing a package 20 feet onto a concrete porch. The homeowners complained to the company and posted the video online. The driver has been fired.

A home security camera in southern Maryland caught a FedEx deliveryman tossing a package 20 feet onto a concrete porch. The homeowners complained to the company and posted the video online. The driver has been fired.

South Carolina authorities say a 44-year-old woman angry at a man for returning home without beer on Christmas beat and stabbed him with a ceramic squirrel.

South Carolina authorities say a 44-year-old woman angry at a man for returning home without beer on Christmas beat and stabbed him with a ceramic squirrel.

Updated: Thursday, December 26 2013 5:27 PM EST2013-12-26 22:27:36 GMT

A big country star opened a huge, new restaurant last week in Woodbridge, Va. But a house rule for the new establishment is roiling some Virginians: no guns are allowed inside.

A big country star opened a huge, new restaurant last week in Woodbridge, Va. But a house rule for the new establishment is roiling some Virginians: no guns are allowed inside.

Updated: Thursday, December 26 2013 1:34 PM EST2013-12-26 18:34:20 GMT

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Home security camera catches FedEx deliveryman throwing package 20 feet onto porch

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Hvac | Furnace | (323) 272-2311 Florence-Graham, Air Conditioning Service Florence-Graham, ca - Video

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Middleburg, FL (PRWEB) December 27, 2013

Black Creek Gutters is advising homeowners to start off 2014 by installing new gutters.

As the wettest months in the greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area often take place between June and September, homeowners certainly dont want to be dealing with their gutter issues then. Also, leaves and other debris that collect over time in gutters can cause leaking corners, and even damage a homes wood fascia. If gutters are improperly installed or maintained, they will undoubtedly fail in their purpose of diverting water away from a home or commercial building.

Black Creek Gutters provides both commercial and residential seamless aluminum gutter installation, gutter guards, gutter repair and gutter cleaning. They service all of Clay County Florida, as well as the surrounding areas, including Orange Park, Fleming Island, Middleburg, Mandarin and some of Jacksonville. They have been family-owned and operated for more than 25 years.

The staff of Black Creek Gutters has more than 45 years of combined experience, and is committed to providing customers with quality rain gutters that will last a lifetime. They offer affordable gutter leaf guards as well. If customers have any questions whatsoever regarding which products and services are best for their needs, the staff will sit down and go over the options with them.

Black Creek Gutters offers discounts for senior citizens and active or former members of the military. To schedule a free consultation, please call them at 904-282-7592.

About the company: Whether homeowners need to repair a leaky gutter or have new gutters installed, Black Creek Gutters is here to help. Only a phone call away at 904-282-7592, Black Creek Gutters can answer any questions regarding their products or services. If a question involves which product is best, they will go over every option and evaluate which would work best for their customers home or business. They are fully licensed and insured. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.rainguttersclaycounty.com/.

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Black Creek Gutters Recommends Starting the Year Off with New Gutters

Feng shui for animals at the L.A. zoo. Jan Cisek, feng shui consultant talks to BBC.
L.A. zoo employed a feng shui consultant to help with designing the best environment for three golden monkeys that have been bought from China. A feng shui e...

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Feng shui for animals at the L.A. zoo. Jan Cisek, feng shui consultant talks to BBC. - Video