Log Homes for Beginners – 10 Steps to Success – Home-Improvement
Log Homes for Beginners - 10 Steps to Success
For those who may be thinking of building a new log home and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with it, there are a number of steps you should take to make the process smoother.
1. Decide on a home style by reading log home magazines and visiting log home shows in your area. Attend log home company seminars. Do you want a single-story, one-and-a-half story, or two story house? Do you prefer a traditional cabin style, or a more contemporary look? Do you like round logs or square logs?2. Decide on a rough floor plan. Based on the plan, determine how many square feet of living space you'll need. Find standard floor plans at log home shows and on log home company web sites. Standard plans can be customized if needed.3. Narrow down your choices of log home companies you think you would want to work with. Contact their representative in your area and discuss your plans. Visit model homes build by each company.4. Based on the plan you choose and the number of square feet of living space, determine the rough turn-key cost of building your home. Remember, the cost of a log home "kit" is only part of the overall cost of your home. Cost estimator calculators are available on some log home company web sites, and on the Log Home Advisor web site.5. Based on the estimated cost to build your home, determine if the cost is within your budget and your ability to be approved for a mortgage. If not, go back to Step 2 and make changes to reduce cost.6. If you're OK on the financing, locate and secure property. Make sure that there are no problems with road access, zoning, building restrictions, utilities, or services.7. Arrange your financing with a bank or finance company that understands log homes. Many banks don't offer log home mortgages.8. Get a contractor/builder who has log home experience, preferably experience with your particular log home company's building methods. Sign your log package contract with your chosen log home company, and arrange for delivery.9. Monitor the construction process closely to make sure everything is going smoothly and correctly.10. Move in and live your dream.
Al Hearn is owner and operator of Log Home Advisor, a web site dedicated to the needs of log home enthusiasts.
A Beginners Guide to Lovebirds
A Beginners Guide to Lovebirds
Lovebirds are so named from the way they sit close to each
other, not because they are in love with each other. Lovebirds
can and do mate for life, but it doesn't happen every time.Lovebirds are social birds and should be kept in pairs.They are very active and curious birds and can even be quite
aggressive at times. They can chatter all day long with a
sometimes very shrill sound.Lovebirds are native to Africa and a few nearby islands. In
their native habitat, they are found usually in small flocks
of 10 to 20 pairs.Lovebirds are of the class Aves, the genus Agapornis and
members of the Psittaciformes, or family of parrots.Agapornis comes from the Greek words: Agape meaning love,
and ornis meaning bird.Lovebirds typically live from 10 to 15 years depending a
great deal on the care they are given, some lovebirds have
been known to live to be 20 in captivity.There are 9 species of lovebirds, of which 8 are available
as pets. They are not related to the South American parrotlets.Sexually Dimorphic1. Abyssinian Lovebird
2. Redfaced Lovebird
3. Madagascar Lovebird (Grayheaded)Sexually Monomorphic (Similar)1. Black cheeked Lovebired (Blackfaced)
2. Fischer's Lovebird
3. Masked Lovebird (Black Masked or Yellow collared)
4. Nyasa Lovebird (Lilian's)
5. Peachfaced Lovebird (Rosyfaced)Characterized by Eye Rings:Without Eye Rings:1. Madagascar
2. Redfaced
3. Peachfaced
4. AbyssinianWith Eye Rings1. Masked
2. Fischers
3. Nyasa
4. Black cheekedWhat To Look For In A Healthy Lovebird1. Active, alert and curious disposition
2. 4 well formed toes, 2 forward and 2 backward, nails must be complete
3. Bright, round eyes
4. Nostrils clear of discharge
5. Feathers lay tight against the body
6. Smooth beak that closes completelyWhat To Avoid In A Healthy Lovebird1. A bird that sits huddled in a corner or on the floor
2. A bird with feathers fluffed up
3. Deformed toes
4. Vent fouled with feces or badly stained
5. Signs of weeping or runny eyes
6. Excessive plucking or excessive missing of feathers
7. Bald spots
8. A squeak, wheezing or other abnormality when breathing
9. Nervous behavior
10. Lethargic behavior
11. Dull or lifeless feathers
12. A bird too large for it's normal size (birds can and do get fat)
13. Nasal dischargeIf you are a first time or novice lovebird owner, don't choose
a bird that you think may be sick, choose the healthiest bird
you can find. Many sicknesses can be cured, but better to leave
these birds for experienced owners. Don't buy a sick lovebird
because you feel sorry for it.If possible get a certificate of health from the breeder or
pet shop guaranteeing that a replacement will be made if the
lovebird becomes sick or won't breed.Lovebirds are not rare, there are a lot of them around to choose
from. So take your time and select only birds that you really
like the coloring and personality of.Keeping Lovebirds as PetsLovebirds should be kept in pairs, one female and one male.
They very much enjoy each others company, although don't
be alarmed if they have occasional spats with each other.If a pair of lovebirds constantly fight, then it's best to
find each of them another mate. If you're buying birds from
a breeder, make sure the breeder will exchange birds if
they are not compatable.As a general rule, only one pair of birds should be kept
per cage. Keep one or more cages far enough apart from each
other so they do not allow birds to be able to peck at each
other.When introducing new birds to a home with pre-existing birds,
the new birds may not always be welcomed readily.Lovebird BehaviorLovebirds need exercise out of their cages daily.Remember: Birds Love to FlyBeing cooped up in a cage all the time is not healthy for
them, physically or emotionally. Birds kept in a cage will
often sit on a perch and flap their wings incessantly.Lovebirds need between 10 to 12 hours of rest a night. Do
not keep your birds in rooms with televisions or other noisy
devices when it's time for the birds to roost. Total darkness
is not advised either, use a small 7 watt bulb in the room
to provide enough night light for the bird to find it's
perch and drink or feed if needed.Keep all electrical wires, extension cords, etc, completely
hidden and unavailable to the birds.Never use Kerosene or similar type heaters that give off fumes.
Coal and wood stoves are no nos. No matter how hard you may'
try, a wood burner will emit fumes and smoke into your home
that may kill your lovebird. If you have a home with a wood
burner completely isolate a room only for your birds and
use an infrared or electric heater.A fairly constant 80 degrees Farenheit temperature is about
right for lovebirds.It's not a good idea to keep finches, cockatiels, rosellas,
or budgies with lovebirds.Copyright
Horse Racing Betting, A Beginners Guide (Part 2)-Gambling
Horse Racing Betting, A Beginners Guide (Part 2)
In part one we went over how to pick contending horses by looking at the jockey, trainer and then finished off by looking at the form of the horse. By looking at the factors we went over last time you should now have been able to select some winners.In this article I'm going to give you a few more tips on how to select winners and give you a few more factors to look for to narrow down your potential selectionsThe first factor you need to look for is if any horses have already won a race on that course or at that distance. To do this you need to look at the right hand side of the horses name. The letters you will see will be a 'C' if the horse has won at the course before and a 'D' if the horse has won a race at the same distance. Sometimes you will see a 'CD' which means that the horse has won a race at the same distance which was at this course.
This is very good as the potential selection has already won a very similar race and there is no reason why it can't win again.One thing you must be careful about when looking at this is that the race may be of a higher class meaning that the selection is racing against better horses which lowers his chance of winning.There is plenty more factors to take into account when selecting winning horses and when looking at horse racing betting to help you select winners.Rob is making a living using his horse racing betting system and you can join him going to his site http://www.racing-systems-uk.com to learn more about horse racing systems