Keeping Christmas Spirit Alive: Christmas Just Isn't The Same Without Santa Claus!

Holidays may come and go but some holidays, like Christmas, should never change. Most people have a favorite holiday and for many it is Christmas. The festivities, shopping, and decorating get the best of all of us but Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Santa Claus stopping by for a quick visit to share the true meaning of Christmas, giving.

Although Christmas can be a busy time of year, we must not forget to go back to basics. Santa’s kind and giving spirit touches everyone and he is able to bring back the never-ending nostalgia of childhood for adults too. As adults, we try to keep Santa Claus alive for our children to keep the innocence of their youth as long as possible. The smiles we see on our children’s faces when they sit on Santa’s knee and the anticipation of Christmas day allow us to somehow live vicariously through the eyes of our children. We may be adults but we’re still a little kid at heart.

Our children are growing ever so fast and smarter by the minute. It seems that their innocence is lost so much sooner these days. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be entertained and sheltered in Santa’s comfort zone for a little while longer. Eventually your child will ask if Santa Claus really exists. Like most parents we will try to keep Santa’s spirit alive for as long as we can. In our efforts to keep the joyous mystery of Santa Claus alive, we sometimes recreate jolly old Saint Nick at home by dressing up as Santa Claus. Or you may even do the annual mall visit with Santa. This year you may need more than just a Santa Claus suit or visit to the local mall to impress your children. This year you could give them even more by sending a Letter From Santa.

As parents we know that Santa Claus is a representation of the real meaning of Christmas, the spirit of giving. Christmas is ultimately about being able to give from the heart and not just giving material things. Santa Claus history reveals the story of Saint Nicholas, a religious bishop, who was well-known for his generosity towards children and poor. It is believed that Saint Nicholas entered homes through a window and left gifts for the children as they slept. During the Christmas season, we continue this self-less tradition of giving that Saint Nicholas began. By keeping the Santa Claus spirit alive our children learn the value of giving through special moments that make a lifetime of treasured memories.

Essential Safety And Care Tips For The Hot Tub/Spas

Ownership of a hot tub/spas is a big responsibility because not only does it require regular maintenance, but there are also safety considerations. Should any accidents occur in the area, the owner will be held accountable. Responsible owners regularly perform maintenance, enforce safety rules, and purchase spa covers to keep the area secure when it is not in use. These steps ensure that the health and safety of those in and around the area is maintained.

Hot tub/spas owners should establish safety rules and actively enforce them, making sure they are always setting the proper example. Drowning is one of the most common accidents that can occur, especially with children age five and younger. Supervision and enforcement of the safety rules can prevent these accidents from happening. The area should be completely enclosed and youngsters should not be permitted inside without an adult present.

Keeping infants and toddlers away from the area completely is the best approach, so adults should keep the house doors closed and locked. This way, children cannot wander outside and accidentally fall into the hot tub/spas. If adults do permit children near the area, these youngsters should never be out of eyesight. Adults should reinforce the seriousness of the issue and never allow children to "play scream" for help while nearby.

Children are not the only parties at risk in and around hot tub/spas, as adults should also exercise caution. People with diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure issues, or other serious illnesses, as well as women who are pregnant, should get physician permission to enter the water. Individuals should not go into the water during or after drinking alcohol or certain prescription medications. Those who have just consumed a heavy meal should wait a while before entering. In all cases, people should not soak in 104-degree Fahrenheit water for more than 15 minutes.

When entertaining, if the hot tub/spas are going to be used, owners should inform guests how to safely enter the water and where the seats can be found. If a rainstorm or lightning is present, everyone should stay out of the water, minimizing their risk of electrocution. Only unbreakable beverage containers, utensils, and dishes should be used in the area and electrical appliances should be kept a safe distance away.

New owners should ensure that the type of water being used to fill the spa or tub is proper. Water should be neither too hard nor too soft and spa products can be used to make adjustments to this as required. The water should also be sanitized and tested on a regular basis and the filter and tub should be cleaned according to a recommended maintenance schedule.

These are just a sampling of the responsibilities that go along with hot tub/spas ownership. New owners should read the usage and maintenance guides and may want to attend seminars on the topics. All owners should keep safety at the forefront of their minds whenever anyone is in or around the water, regardless of the person’s age or experience level.

Water World Home & Leisure Centre is a family-owned and operated business, founded in 1975, offering customers quality products and outstanding service for nearly thirty years. Specializing in custom, inground pool installations in the Peterborough and Northumberland County areas, and offering a full line of inground and above ground options, along with a wide range ofspas and all the chemicals and accessories you would ever need.

Keeping Your Jacuzzi In Good Condition

When you've got your very own Jacuzzi, it can be easy to forget in the middle of all the relaxation and gentle bubbles that you need to dedicate a bit of time to maintaining your tub. Our guide gives you a quick 'how to' on Jacuzzi maintenance. First, make sure you have the right equipment. Jacuzzi surface cleaner, filter solution, bleach and a soft sponge are the most important things, helping you to keep the tub surface, filter and plumbing in great condition. 

Probably the easiest bits of your Jacuzzi to clean are the external surfaces. Make sure you do this regularly to prevent a build up of grime. Get a proper cleaner from a spa supply store for the best results. First, empty out your Jacuzzi then apply the cleaner to all surfaces. Give it a bit of time to soak and dislodge the grime. Next, wipe off the cleaner using a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge, taking extra care around the jets. Use a cotton swab to reach the fiddly bits. 

Care also needs to be taken with the inner workings of the Jacuzzi so the pipes don't get blocked. Fill the Jacuzzi with warm water and dissolve into it 2 teaspoonfuls of detergent and half a cup of bleach. Run the Jacuzzi for a couple of minutes until the water from the jets is clear. Next, drain the tub and fill it with cold water. Leave it for 5 minutes and then drain it again so the Jacuzzi gets a good rinse. Manufacturers recommend this should be done every 3 months. 

You need to clean the Jacuzzi's filter separately as this is a delicate bit of equipment. Once you've carefully removed the filter, use water from a garden hose to dislodge the biggest lumps of dirt before soaking it in a solution of water and special filter cleaner. Follow the packet instructions on the filter cleaner and take the filter out of the solution after the recommended time. Remember to rinse it in fresh water before putting it back into position. 

To avoid infections from contaminated water, you should make sure to clean your Jacuzzi regularly. Manufacturers will give you instructions on how often you should do it. If you don't, then scum, dirt, skin cells and oils will build up internally and externally, creating scales that are ideal breeding grounds for infection-causing bacteria. Keep up to date with you care and maintenance, so you don't have to worry and can continue enjoying your Jacuzzi for years to come. 

Transplanting Tips

Early spring is a great time for transplanting trees and shrubs, but you must do so before they wake up. Transplanting a plant is a very traumatic experience for the plant if it is awake. It’s like doing surgery on a person while they are awake. Dormancy starts in the fall as soon as you experience a good hard freeze, and the plants remain dormant until the weather warms up in the spring. This is when you should transplant, while the plants are dormant. 

You can transplant in the spring up until the plants leaf out. When the buds are green and swollen you are usually safe to still transplant, but once the leaf develops, you should wait until fall. When transplanting you can dig the shrubs out bare root, just make sure they are out of the ground for as short a time as possible, and keep the roots damp while out of the ground. 

Make sure there are no air pockets around the roots when you replant them. When possible, it is always better to dig a ball of earth with the plants when you transplant them. The rule of thumb is 12” of root ball for every 1” of stem caliper. If the diameter of the stem of a tree is 2”, then you should dig a root ball 24” in diameter.

Don’t be afraid of cutting a few roots when you transplant. Just try not to cut them any shorter than the above guidelines allow. Cutting the roots will actually help to reinvigorate the plant. It’s a process simply known as root pruning. When the roots are severed, the plant then develops lateral roots to make up for what is lost. These lateral roots are more fibrous in nature, and have more ability to pick up water and nutrients. 

Some nurseries drive tractors over the plants in the field with a device that undercuts the roots of the plant just to force the plant to develop more fibrous roots. This make transplanting the plant the following year much more successful, and makes for a stronger and healthier plant. 

The old timers root pruned by hand by forcing a spade in the ground around their plants. If you have a plant in your landscape that is doing poorly, a little root pruning while the plant is dormant could bring it around. It’s worth the effort.

Pros And Cons In Buying A Used Car In “Cars For Sale"

The major benefit in buying used car is you save lot of money. Not all the people can afford to purchase a new car. And you save considerable amount on car insurance and other charges as well. Many are attracted to the scheme of buying used cars whenever they see the display notice of used cars for sale. Often we see in Sunday newspapers and magazines lot of sale is being done where you can buy even fresh cars which have not run 10,000 miles. 

If you are well versed with the car and its make, model and running conditions then you can go ahead and make a deal. It has become a hobby for influential and rich persons to change their car frequently for sentimental reasons. Sometimes you can see brand new cars which have been bought just one year or two years back standing in the row for sale. 

During the initial years you need not have to change the brakes or check the battery and the exhaust system of the car. The warranties for some branded cars may go up to 3 or 4 years depending on the model. Above all you need not spend for fresh insurance coverage since the owner had already taken one. You are more fortunate if the car has covered only less kilometers because some leading manufacturers give warranty up to 4 years or up to fifty thousand miles whichever is before. You have increased choices if you are read for used cars. 

More vehicles are there with the dealers with lot of options in prices as well as accessories. Warranty can be transferred from the first owner to you with no added charges. So you have chance for improved reliability in buying used cars. You can select the right car with good model, great durability with availability of warranty since you can go for lot of choices. 

It is even better to buy the used cars from known persons than going for ‘cars for sale’ options. The car will be definitely well handled by the first owner and you will also have added advantage of getting accessories also with the car you purchase. On the flip, the interest rates are higher for used cars than new cars, since it carries more risk. Another disadvantage is unless you are tech-savvy you cannot find out the condition of the car without using it. Sometimes even the car would have met with minor accident which is mostly not disclosed to the buyer.