Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

ABILENE, Texas -

Trees began to bud thanks to recent warm weather, but the freezing temps put a stop to it.

But was it enough to do some real damage?

George Williams, a landscape architect with Extreme Exteriors, thinks not.

"It might make them a little slower coming out, once they finally do come out but most of the trees around here are used to this type of weather and they'll survive" Williams said.

If your landscape has a tropical touch, like palm trees, you'll need to give them a little more care.

Theyre the most vulnerable to cold weather, we wrap the trunks with burlap or some other type of material, cloth or plastic, Williams said.

Warmer weather is in the forecast for the next few days but spring wont actually start until after mid-March.

Protecting your plants against future freezes is as simple as making sure theyre watered.

Ice tends to insulate the roots so they dont dry out, Williams said.

See the original post:
Budding trees face added stress as winter weather returns

By Sarah Gordon

PUBLISHED: 10:44 EST, 26 February 2014 | UPDATED: 10:48 EST, 26 February 2014

156 shares

9

View comments

There is nothing we like more on holiday that a perfect pool at our resort. Whether we're sitting around it and enjoying the view, cocktail in hand, or plunging in to cool off after a particularly strenuous tanning session.

So it comes as no surprise that hotels are priding themselves on creating iconic pools to tempt travellers.

Peak of perfection: Slip into the pool and float around while enjoying a view of the Pitons in St Lucia

Design Hotels has made a splash by nominating its 'three impossibly perfect pools', the soothing waters that crown its collection of stylish accommodation. And the pictures will have you longing to dip a toe in the water.

But TravelMail decided to go one step further and add our own three pools of perfection into the mix.

See more here:
Six of the world's most perfect pools: In pictures

Published 4:29pm Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Hartselle City Council is planning to approve a $357,905 bid from Triple J Construction in Crane Hill to landscape Hartselles two exits on I-65 and medians at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Alabama 36.

Department of Development director Jeff Johnson said the Alabama Department of Transportation and engineers from Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood have given the green light to accept the low bid, despite it being more than $150,000 less than the next closest bid.

They feel comfortable with the contractor, Johnson said. Ive received tractor, Johnson said. Ive received good reviews from other clients that theyve worked for.

Johnson said when a $53,000 extra charge is added by ALDOT for upkeep and inspection, the project is still $76,000 under budget.

That does give us an option to increase the quantity of certain shrubs or plants, but it cannot exceed more than 15 percent of the original bid price without approval from ALDOT, Johnson said.

Go here to see the original:
Landscape project $76k under budget

U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner (Lewis Geyer, Longmont Times-Call)

Republican Congressman Cory Gardner intends to drop his re-election bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Udall, lobbing a bombshell that alters Colorado's political landscape for the November elections.

Shortly after The Denver Post first reported Gardner's plans, the GOP front-runner in the Senate race, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, revealed he was going to run for Gardner's seat in the 4th Congressional District.

A number of Republicans, including former state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams, hailed Gardner's move.

"This is a game changer not only for Colorado Republicans in the Senate race, but also it totally changes the entire 2014 election," Wadhams said Wednesday. "Cory is someone who all Republicans can rally around and can usher in a new generation of statewide leadership to our party and the state of Colorado."

Former Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck

Gardner, who is viewed as a rising star by the national GOP, has criticized Udall over his support for the Affordable Care Act.

Udall's campaign said the senator "looks forward to debating the important issues that impact our future."

"From flood and wildfire recovery efforts to ensuring that every family has the opportunity to get ahead to standing up to the NSA and protecting Coloradans' freedom to be left alone, Mark spends every day working to protect Colorado's special way of life," said Udall's campaign spokesman Chris Harris.

Denver political consultant Eric Sondermann said the Gardner move "single handily puts Colorado at the center of the battle for U.S. Senate that Republicans are waging."

Go here to read the rest:
Cory Gardner to challenge Mark Udall, Ken Buck to seek Gardner's seat

WORCESTER Jonathan M. Weaver studied English as a major at Assumption College and he chose to minor in philosophy and politics.

So, it probably caught some people by surprise, that, after graduating in 2006, he began pursuing job opportunities in the urban development field.

"My parents, though, had a pretty good idea about where I might eventually look for a job," said the 29-year-old Mr. Weaver, who lives at 16 Homestead Ave. in Auburn. "When I was a kid, I liked to play with Legos, Lincoln logs and trucks. They probably figured that I might get a job in a field that had something to do with building things."

Mr. Weaver, a senior project manager at the Worcester Business Development Corp., has, within a short period of time, caught the attention of many in the city who are charged with planning and designing the urban landscape.

Because of his early career accomplishments, Mr. Weaver has been chosen by the Telegram & Gazette to receive the Young Leader Award at the Visions Community Awards program that will be held at 4:30 p.m. March 5 at Mechanics Hall. Carmen M. Ortiz, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, will be the keynote speaker.

Mr. Weaver was born in Putnam and grew up in Danielson. A former high school hockey goalie, Mr. Weaver became familiar with Central Massachusetts when he attended Assumption, where he is now pursuing a master's degree in business administration.

While in college, Mr. Weaver said, he immersed himself in student government activities and was elected president of the Student Government Association during his senior year.

He said he thought it was always important that students attending college in Worcester learn more about the city by taking part in its various cultural, entertainment and other offerings. To that end, he and other student leaders convinced the Worcester Regional Transit Authority to set up a bus stop on campus so that the students could get about.

Mr. Weaver, who was also involved in associations involving student leaders from the other area colleges and universities, said he also got a grasp about the city's development agenda when he was invited to attend a program about The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts while it was undergoing renovations.

"I really was impressed about what I heard and I was fascinated with the work that was being done," Mr. Weaver said.

The rest is here:
'Young Leader' envisions the urban landscape

How bad are things in Congress right now for Democrats? So bad that a guy who has been there 58 years is calling it quits. I mean, cmon, where does he have to go?

Theyre dropping like flies up on Capitol Hill. So far, nine House Democrats have announced theyre retiring; two just flat-out resigned, see ya, were outta here.

That 58-year congressman, John Dingell, had this to say about the modern-day American legislature: I find serving in the House to be obnoxious. The enormous expense of money made by people in the course of the campaign has not been well spent in the interest of the public.

Shocker. Congress is a dismal dystopia loaded with disgruntled dyspeptics. Huh. And it took him 58 years to figure out that?

With winter giving way to spring, all the talk is now turning to the 2014 mid-terms, whos up, whos down, whos in, whos out. The consensus across the board is that Democrats are most decidedly down and definitely out. None of the lofty political pundits sees the party of the president picking up enough seats to take over the House. Most predict Dems lose seats; some say they lose a bunch.

More, talk is beginning to swirl that Democrats might just lose their majority in the Senate. Already, two longtime legislators have bailed resigned, not retired. They looked at the landscape, may have even gazed into the future, and said, nuh uh. And inside the chilled Senate halls, those too afraid to run are frozen in fear, with nowhere to turn.

None, for instance, are turning to the leader of their party, President Obama. Gallup puts his approval rating at just 44 percent, with disapproval at 53 percent (he took roughly 53 percent of the vote when he won in 2008). Hes toxic and, in record time, already a lame duck. No one needs him as an ally and, frankly, like your kids on a trip to the mall, no one wants to been seen anywhere near him.

The playing field is clearly tilted toward Republicans this time around. Sean Trende, who not surprisingly covers electoral trends for realclearpolitics.com, says there are 17 competitive Senate races, 15 of which are held by Democrats, two of which are held by Republicans.

In a complicated analysis called a Monte Carlo simulation, Trende sees this trend: Democrats lose, big. This is a grim picture for Senate Democrats, suggesting that the president would have to get his approval above 50 percent by Election Day before they would be favored to hold the chamber, he wrote in a piece titled How Likely Are Democrats to Lose the Senate?

Sure, there are scenarios and simulation models in which Democrats hold the Senate, or even gain seats. But, he notes: There are also, however, situations where the election turns into an absolute debacle for Democrats.

See the original post:
CURL: Fear and trembling for Democrats on Capitol Hill

The final logo for Story Hill BKC has yet to be chosen, but here are two concepts that have been developed. BKC will hold a bustling cafe with an open kitchen at the back. Exposed Cream City brick walls will enhance the rustic feel of the space. Original terrazzo will be refurbished to give the cafe old world charm. Published Feb. 26, 2014 at 11:07 a.m.

"Bring your imagination," read the text from Chef Joe Muench as he invited me to tour the future home of Story Hill BKC at 5102 W. Bluemound Rd., which is scheduled to open sometime this summer.

And there was no pretense in his request. Imagination is exactly what it takes to walk into a space that's been stripped down to the studs and envision the potential of what it might become.

But, that exercise has become part of the day-to-day for restaurant owners Muench and Dan Sidner, whose vision of a coffee shop / retail shop / restaurant still rings larger than life.

"It's exciting and frustrating all at the same time," says Muench as we walk through the space bright and early on a Monday morning.

The large front windows are dusty from the demolition, and yet as the sun filters through the grime it reveals the lovely if stark landscape of Mitchell Boulevard Park. The view is broken only by the myriad colors of Nancy Metz White's recycled steel "Tree of Life" sculpture, a symbol of the artists intention that it become a place for Milwaukee locals to gather and forge new community ties.

Not surprisingly, that vision of community is part of the restaurateurs' vision, as well.

The building, which most recently housed Goldfish Uniforms, actually comprises three distinct buildings that were fused as years passed. Once a grocery store and a candy shop, the space has seen its share of neighborhood activity over the years, and Muench says the intention is to restore that vibrancy.

"We want it to be hummin' all day long," he says as he points to the area that will eventually house the caf.

The space, which will eventually benefit from natural light thanks to four newly-installed windows, will be flanked by an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven all visible from the front door as customers enter. Meanwhile, a bar with a counter will provide seating as well as equipment for coffee service.

See the rest here:
Bring your imagination: An update on Story Hill BKC

U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner (Lewis Geyer, Longmont Times-Call)

Republican Congressman Cory Gardner intends to drop his re-election bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Udall, lobbing a bombshell that alters Colorado's political landscape for the November elections.

Shortly after The Denver Post first reported Gardner's plans, the GOP front-runner in the Senate race, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, revealed he was going to run for Gardner's seat in the 4th Congressional District.

A number of Republicans, including former state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams, hailed Gardner's move.

"This is a game changer not only for Colorado Republicans in the Senate race, but also it totally changes the entire 2014 election," Wadhams said Wednesday. "Cory is someone who all Republicans can rally around and can usher in a new generation of statewide leadership to our party and the state of Colorado."

Former Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck

Gardner, who is viewed as a rising star by the national GOP, has criticized Udall over his support for the Affordable Care Act.

Udall's campaign said the senator "looks forward to debating the important issues that impact our future."

"From flood and wildfire recovery efforts to ensuring that every family has the opportunity to get ahead to standing up to the NSA and protecting Coloradans' freedom to be left alone, Mark spends every day working to protect Colorado's special way of life," said Udall's campaign spokesman Chris Harris.

Denver political consultant Eric Sondermann said the Gardner move "single handily puts Colorado at the center of the battle for U.S. Senate that Republicans are waging."

Original post:
U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner to enter U.S. Senate race against Mark Udall

Artist's rendering of the East Sooke Fire Hall

image credit: Submitted

If youve driven along East Sooke Road recently you might have seen some land clearing and a sign reading: Site of the new East Sooke Fire Hall. A new fire hall is getting underway, and targeted operational date is in early 2015. The new re hall will be located on East Sooke Road, east of Raglan Place.

This fire hall has been long in the making. There have been ongoing efforts from successive fire commissioners to replace the existing fire hall, but the necessary conditions came together in 2013 to make the dream a reality. Some of these conditions included the sale of land, which Brian White of the East Sooke Fire Commission said came at a very satisfactory price. An anonymous $40,000 donation moved things along nicely as well. White said many in the community also stepped up, reflecting a real community effort. Former Juan de Fuca area director Brian Henson contributed land clearing and Ramsay Milne helped with the burning of the brush and shrub. The CRD has also provided significant support.

According to White, the impetus behind this fast action came last spring, when an inspector from the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) came to the East Sooke Fire Hall and asked why they still operate from a fire hall that was inadequate way back in1994.

A CRD document dated February 2013 (Proposed East Sooke Fire Hall) addresses the need for a new fire hall, as the existing one was significantly below standards. It was deemed antiquated and undersized, and did not meet current building code requirements. Its proximity to a community park also posed safety concerns for children playing in the area. Further, it lacked drill and training areas, it could not serve as a post-disaster facility, and expansion or reconfiguring the existing structure was not possible.

After a successful referendum last summer, at which time East Sooke residents voted 339 to 138 in favour of the new fire hall, the focus has been on the planning and design of the hall. A detailed Request for Proposals had nine firms respond.

David Nairne and Associates were the winning architects, and the decision was made to proceed with an all steel fireproof interior and exterior, because of the enhanced survivability of the building after a major earthquake or forest interface fire. Construction is slated to start in late June. The target date for a fully operational East Sooke fire hall is early 2015.

Dr. George May, the Chair of the East Sooke Fire Commission, said, the fire hall design achieves the tests of affordability, long life, and capacity to survive a major fire and earthquake. We expect this design to meet the needs of East Sooke for a long time to come.

Besides the obvious benefits of providing a go-to place in case of tsunami or forest fire, said Brian White, the new fire hall will include a built-in water tank loading station for residents of East Sooke. The existing waterline will also be extended, to just before Anderson Cove.

See the original post here:
East Sooke's fire hall speeding along

Small kitchen remodeling ideas
Small kitchen remodeling ideas.

By: Heryz suzo

The rest is here:
Small kitchen remodeling ideas - Video