To Log in to My Home Finder or Sign Up for a New Account  click here

Feng Shui For the Bathroom

 

 

 

 

Feng Shui seems to be all the rage these days.  Chinese culture believes it brings good luck, prosperity, and even good health when the life-force energy, called ch’i, is flowing properly.  Conversely, it’s said to bring bad luck, poverty, and sickness when the forces are blocked, disrupted, or dissipated in a poorly designed or poorly organized space.

 

Good Feng Shui in the bathroom is taken quite seriously in China because so many personal health and sanitation needs are centered in the bathroom.  Even if you don’t ascribe to the benefits of good Feng Shui, it can be fun to see how your bathroom stacks up.

 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

  •         Your bathroom should not be visible from the front door of your home.  This is bad not only for your health but also for the health of your guests.
  •         Your bathroom shouldn’t be located at the end of a long hallway, either.  This can cause the ch’i to flow right out of the house, almost as if it were being poured down a drainpipe instead of circulating smoothly through the rooms. 
  •        The toilet should never sit directly opposite the bathroom door.  It should be off to one side so that it’s not the first thing you see when you look inside the bathroom.

 

MIRRORS

If you do have a toilet that’s directly opposite the door in a bathroom that’s down a long hallway that can be seen from the front door, all is not lost.  Mirrors are like the duct tape of the Feng Shui world: they can fix just about anything.  Their reflective power is said to pull good forces into the house and break up bad Feng Shui.

  •         If your bathroom can be seen from the front door, hang a mirror on the outside of the door and keep the door closed to fix the problem.  For a bathroom at the end of a long hallway, a mobile, a wind chime, or a beaded curtain in front of the door will provide extra protection.
  •          Be careful to hang mirrors so that even the tallest person in the family can see the top of their head in the mirror.  If the mirror can be seen from the toilet, it must be large enough and hung so that even the tallest person can see his entire head while standing near or sitting on the toilet.  Any household member whose head is even partially cut off when they look in the mirror will suffer from frequent headaches.
  •         Mirrors that break up or distort an image, such as mirror tiles, should not be used in the bathroom for the same reason.
  •         Placing mirrors on opposite walls so that they create an “infinity” effect can cause ch’i to dissipate and should be avoided.

COLORS

  •         White is the color of mourning in China and the idea of painting any room white is considered very bad luck.  But filling a white bathroom with bright, colorful objects, such as towels, shower curtains, bath mats, decorative soaps, etc., can help.
  •         If you are planning to repaint, good Feng Shui colors include red (the color of happiness, warmth and strength), green (the color of spring), and yellow (the color of the sun).  Blue’s not bad…but it’s not too good, either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Home Equipment

 

 

Here’s a list of basic equipment every home should have:

 

  • Flashlight
  • Long wooden matches
  • Garden house and nozzle
  • Fire extinguishers
  • First Aid Kit
    • Antiseptic
    • Aspirin
    • Adhesive tape
    • Sterile Gauze pads
    • Gauze roll
    • Adhesive bandages
    • Rubbing alcohol
    • Baking soda and salt
    • Scissors
    • Tweezers
    • Mineral Oil
  • Plunger
  • Electrical tape
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Putty knife
  • Folding ruler
  • Candles
  • Portable radio
  • Bucket
  • Oil can
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Pipe wrench
  • Common screwdriver
  • Cutting pliers
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Knife
  • Paint brush
  • Claw hammer
  • Ladder
  • Drill
  • Hand saw

 

******************************************

What You Should Know About Antifreeze and Pets

 

It is said that antifreeze is responsible for the poisoning of over 10,000 dogs and cats every year. The toxic ingredient to blame is ethylene glycol, a substance that is found not only in antifreeze, but in radiator coolant, brake fluid, hydraulic fluid, and other automotive liquids. Its sweet-smelling and tasting properties make it attractive to pets, and it doesn't take much to cause damage. One to two teaspoons can poison a cat, three tablespoons can kill a medium-sized dog.

Because it's a substance that is readily available at auto supply stores and is used in nearly every motor vehicle on the road, it's important that pet owners know a few things about antifreeze and its effect on small animals. Here are seven things that you should be aware of:

  • ·   Symptoms vary, depending on how long it has been since the dog drank the antifreeze. They will also depend on how much of the poison they drank.
  • ·   Initial symptoms mirror those of intoxication.
  • ·   The ethylene glycol can cause an irritating effect on a dog's stomach, which may cause vomiting.
  • ·   Dogs will urinate and drink excessively. They may be depressed and exhibit signs of poor balance.
  • ·   Dogs drink more because the thirst centers of the brain are stimulated in response to the poison ingestion.
  • ·   While some dogs may appear to look and feel better 12 hours later, it is only because the liver and kidneys are working to metabolize the ethylene glycol. It is common, however, that symptoms return in 24 hours, and are much worse. Things to look for are dehydration, weakness, depression, diarrhea, rapid breathing, mouth ulcers and seizures.

If you are certain that your dog has consumed antifreeze, you should attempt to induce vomiting and get him or her to a medical professional immediately.

 

***********************************

"Dogs look up to you; cats look down on you; pigs treat you as an equal."  Winston Churchill