If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man…
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
Sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.
After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?
No. I’m escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up?
No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq, I’m taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn’t know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.
I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family.. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier…We will then turn off the seat belt sign.”
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.
So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.
Red Fridays..
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday.
The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the “silent majority.”
We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ….. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far, will wear something red..
By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you?” is. “We need your support and your prayers.” Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.
Dining Room Tables
Dining Room Tables for all occasions. We offer everything from small Round, Gateleg or Drop Leaf Kitchen and Dinette Tables to to Large Dining Room Tables that can seat up to 22 people
Dining Room Chairs
Amish Chairs, Benches and Barstools to match your dining room furniture. All of our Chairs, Benches and Barstools are available in Mission, Traditional and Shaker styles
As you move into your own place there are several essential items you need to have. It is vital you have a refrigerator to put food in, a washer and dryer to wash your clothes with, and an oven to cook food. Each room in the home is going to have its essential items just as the dining room does. Here is a basic guide to help you select dining room furniture.
As you begin to shop for dining room furniture, you want to consider what it is you will be doing. For most families, this is a place to eat dinner and talk amongst each other. It is the place that you will have friends over for meals and a place where you can catch up on what is going on in each others’ lives. For this reason, you want to look at it as something far more than just a place to quickly scarf down some food.
It is vital you take your time selecting the furniture that will be going in this room. There are several factors that will play into your overall decision. For instance, you want to think about how many people are in the family, how old your kids are, if there is a room nearby what type of furniture does this room have?
If you have kids that are young, you are not going to want to spend thousands of dollars on delicate furniture that could potentially get ruined. And no matter how many people are in the family, you want to have a table that seats no less than four to six. This is suitable for if you have friends or family visiting.
So what exactly is included in the ensemble of dining room furniture? The big pieces of furniture are going to consist of the dining table and chairs. As mentioned, select a table that is an appropriate size according to your family and a style that is suitable for the kids’ age. Some styles you may want to consider include whole wood dining tables, wrought iron with glass tops, and you can even throw marble into the mix.
Typically you are going to want to create a unique theme with the furniture in your dining room. If you have a wood table, look into purchasing a wood storage cabinet that you can store and display cutlery sets and antiques. If you are going to have a black wood grain table, stick with the black and silver theme for any floor lights or cabinets you purchase.
The last piece that many people forget to include with dining room furniture is wall paintings and pictures. Having beautiful paintings and pictures displayed around the dining room can have a visual effect on the overall room. You will be amazed at how this can bring the room to life.
The last thing to keep in mind when decorating your dining room is to keep it as simple as possible. If you place too many items inside the room, you will only end up cluttering what could have been a comfortable and sophisticated room.
Living a lavish lifestyle can easily go from a dream to reality simply by adding a fresh coat of summer paint to your wall décor. There is no question spring and summer has a feel to it that brightens up everyone’s day. Instead of wishing and waiting for these seasons to come again, why not bring them to your home year-round?
Adding a fresh coat of paint can be a cost-efficient way to completely alter the feel and appearance of your home. It allows you to create a vibrant and vivacious effect to each room inside.
Wall décor can have a significant effect on your home and the tone that it displays. For this reason, consider placing a warm yellow sunflower color or sky blue. This will generate a refreshing feeling that is calm and soothing.
The color selection is crucial to accenting the home. While you want to compliment your personality, sticking with serene spring and summer colors can help you develop a stress-free environment. There is no need to stay away from purples and greens as this can coordinate perfectly with butter yellow. By mixing in sky blues and fresh white, you can get the style you were hoping for.
If you are struggling imagining what the colors are going to look like in your home, you can certainly attain samples. This allows you to place it on the walls you plan on painting to get an idea.
At the end of the day, you will be amazed at what summer paint can do for your wall décor. By highlighting various sections in the home and adding a calm and soothing paint to the walls, you can drastically alter the tone of your home for the better.
There is no question that summertime the living is easy. The weather is gorgeous, flowers are blooming and the smell of a barbeque is enough to brighten anyone’s day. While attempting to maintain a clean summer décor, you will run into various stains from barbeque sauce to popsicles to mud from the rain. Here are a few tips to help you maintain the clean décor you started with.
First and foremost, take this opportunity to stay with your typical summer décor style. You want everything in your home to accent your overall personality and who you are. There is no need to alter your style just because of potential stains. As long as you have a color-safe stain remover for barbeque spills and pet messes, you should have no problem staying with your desired household fabrics and upholsteries.
Next, realize that you do not have to spend an arm and a leg to display nicely at barbeques and parties. You can easily create a comfortable and elegant surrounding at an affordable price while keeping everything clean. It is recommended you create a summer cleaning kit that consists of napkins, OxiClean stain remover, and anything else you can think of to scrub down the deck and patio furniture. You want to make sure you maintain a clean décor inside and out.
The last tip to maintaining a clean summer décor has to do with your clothes. Spills are going to happen from time to time, but you should not have to give up white dresses and light yellow shirts. You can pre-treat your clothes prior to tossing them in the laundry with OxiClean max Force. This is perfect for removing the toughest of stains whether it be grass, wine, or ketchup from the barbeque.
There is going to come a point in time when you simply cannot live with the kitchen décor you have been putting up with for several years. Many dread the day they are going to have to spend thousands of dollars to fix their kitchen. Fortunately, it is possible to rekindle your kitchen at an affordable rate.
The first thing you will want to start at is the cabinets. Instead of completely replacing the outdated cabinets start by repainting them a color that appeals to you. From there you can swap out the outdated door handles and replace them with elegant ones. Even at $5 a pop you will still save a great deal of money while drastically upgrading the cabinets.
Next, it is time to fix what is going on with your kitchen walls. The walls can have a huge effect on your overall home décor. Paint and wallpaper are the easiest ways to completely transform your kitchen. For the paint you want to stick with a fresh, neutral color. It is going to be the wallpaper that accentuates your style. There are hundreds of thousands of options you can choose from to suit your personality.
Finally, start looking at the countertops. Replacing laminate countertops is going to be a dreadful process. For this reason, consider painting over the existing laminate regardless of whether it is cracked, chipped or scratched. Start by applying a coat of bonding primer so the paint adheres to the laminate. Next, apply a few coats of the color you have selected. Lastly, seal the counters with polyurethane. You can add style by stenciling in designs if you choose to.
There is a lot that goes into maintaining kitchen décor. Just know that you do not have to spend thousands to get your kitchen the way you want it.
Make The Most Out Of With Your Interior Decorating During The Current Recession
Author: admin, June 27, 2009Due to the recent recession, far more people are finding themselves watching over their budget closely. For this reason, home improvements and interior decorating are not on the top of the list for many. However, there are ways you can go about getting more bang for your buck while adding to your home.
Just because you are tight on the dollar does not mean you have to reduce the quality of improvements you add to your home. Companies understand the need to accommodate to customer’s demands during the economy’s struggles. For this reason, you can brighten up your home with interior pain, smarter lighting systems and the appliances in the kitchen.
By touching up the pain in your home, you can eliminate the common odors that build up in the kitchen, family rooms, bathrooms and basement. It will also allow you to freshen up your walls increasing the attractiveness of your home.
Lighting systems are the next thing to look at with your interior design. With the advances in technology, your lighting systems can now be designed to restrict energy through controls and sensors. You can also use longer lasting and energy saving lamps for your home which will improve the overall quality of light while saving you on the energy bill.
The last room to consider with your interior design is the kitchen. Many appliances have made drastic steps forward in regards to efficiency. You will find that simple items like a stove can now communicate with you through your cell phone if it has been left on making things much safer. On-faucet filtration systems are another advancement you will want to look into.
Despite the frugal times, you do not have to put interior decorating on the backburner. There are some tremendous projects you can take advantage of at a reasonable rate.
When going on a date, you obviously want to stay true to who you really are. If it is the right person, they will love you for the person you are. But at the same time, you have to understand as a guy there are certain things that attract and detract women. Home decorating and how you present yourself is one of those things.
If you are a bachelor with your own place, filling your home with clutter, pizza boxes and electronics is not the way to win over a girl. There are certain home decorating tips you want to take into consideration in order to attract the opposite sex.
Whether you are bringing a date back home or are cooking a special meal, you want to be comfortable showing off your pace. You certainly do not have to have a home filled with cute decorative items all over. However, it is to your advantage to have these items on hand. For example, keep candles in a drawer, romantic dishware close by, and relaxing CD’s to set the mood.
There is nothing girly about having a fine dining table to eat at. This is ideal for you as a bachelor as well as for when you bring the girl back. Home decorating is simple if you stay within a single style. If you have a black and silver craze, stick with a black table.
Upon completing your dinner, you can then mosey on over to a black leather couch or something comparable to get comfortable. To top off your home decorating, having a fireplace amidst the room can set the tone for a comfortable and romantic evening. And everything you have done to attract the woman still allows you to live the life of a manly man without converting to the interior decorating side.
It seems as if far too many towns and cities are cluttered with homes that look identical to one another. While this is easy for builders, it has no variety whatsoever. If you are looking to make your home stand out, purchasing manufactured stone can help you decorate it the way you want.
Manufactured stone veneer can help you bring style and class to your home while giving it the touch it needs to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Not only is it extremely easy to install, but it is far more affordable than natural stone as well. You will find there are several variations and options to choose from.
There are several ideas and possibilities you can come up with using manufactured stone. From a patio lined with fieldstone to an outdoor fireplace and barbecue pit, the options are endless for what you can do outside. You can then move on to build a privacy wall using lake stone, quartz or several other styles.
While outside is what people immediately think of with stone, you can do a great deal of decorating inside as well. It gives you the ability to create a rustic fireplace during cold winter nights or an interior wall that is crafted with stone. Moving to the kitchen, you can have walls filled with stone giving it a rural effect.
The sky is the limit for what you can do with stone. It is a terrific way to decorate your home inside out. The only thing limiting what you use this material with is your creativity and imagination.
Who said fun had to stay inside? On a nice summer evening there is nothing better than entertaining guests on your deck or patio with a cool breeze flowing. While it can be quite costly having people over, you can drastically cut back on these costs with exquisite garden décor.
You do not have to spend a fortune satisfying guests. Taking advantage of the vibrant seasonal colors and textures that a beautiful garden and greenery have to offer will help you add just what is needed to flourish your backyard setting.
The great thing about flowers and gardens is that it does not have to be expensive. While staying cheap, you can still go further than placing a small bouquet or vase on the table. There are tremendous ideas spread all across the internet that can help you with your creativity. This will assist you to come up with fresh ideas to liven up the party.
In addition to greenery and flowers, the proper table settings can flourish your garden décor as well. Nice china does not have to be limited to the indoors. Offering large serving pieces and tasteful dinnerware will help maintain a relaxing and elegant evening filled with a delightful summer smell.
There are several ways you can incorporate flowers with your table settings. One way to get creative with your garden décor and table settings is to tie cut flowers to fabric napkins with ribbon. Another tip is to fill unused tea cups with colorful blossoms. This just enhances the overall summer effect that you display.
As long as you are willing to get creative, you can entertain guests with exquisite garden décor at a reasonable price. Between greenery, flowers, a garden, and beautiful table settings, you will be more than honored to show off your home
As you head off to college the last thing on your mind probably is dorm room décor. However, you will quickly learn the importance of utilizing the space you have while maintaining the most hopping room in the building. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the space you have.
First and foremost, utilize storage units and plastic bins to hide stuff away. With the little amount of space you have, you can store a lot underneath your bed and next to it with storage units. You will even find that plastic bins can be a great item to place a TV or microwave on.
A big part of college is experiencing life and making new friends. Because of this, you are going to want to have friends over as much as possible; especially if you have the hottest room in the building. For this reason, it is important you have extra seating to offer friends. Over-sized pillows and director’s fold-up chairs are ideal because they can easily be stored away but offer extra seating in a quick second.
In addition to having fun, you do need to study from time to time. The last dorm room décor tip is to pick up some small but essential accessories. It is important you have a desk lamp so you can study late into the night. And because not all dorm rooms have air conditioning, you are going to want to pick up a fan for those hot fall and spring days.
Despite having such a little space, there is a lot you can do with a dorm room. Utilize the dorm room décor tips in this article to help make the most of the space you have.
Bathroom Decorating Tips To Help You Make The Most Of The Space You Possess
Author: admin, June 17, 2009Just because your bathroom is lacking space does not mean you cannot do anything with it. There are a plethora of bathroom decorating tips that can help you maximize the amount of space you possess. It is the simple things that will make a world of a difference.
The first tip is to utilize any and every space you have. Many homes are going to have small awkward spots that typically go unused. If you take the time to measure out this space, you will find that it is more than possible to place trash cans, small pots with potpourri in them, or even pictures hanging in the corner.
Something that many people struggle with is keeping the counters clean. It can be so easy to clutter the counter with bathroom supplies like toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, blow-dryers and so on. This is precisely where it is helps to have bins and shelving units. It will de-clutter the space around the sink and make your bathroom look far bigger.
The last tip with your bathroom decorating is to decorate according to the size of your bathroom. If you have a small bathroom, do not place large pictures and mirrors. This will make the pictures seem huge and the bathroom rather small. The little things like using light colors of paint and pleated window shade can increase the assuming size of the room as well.
Although the bathroom often gets overlooked in regards to overall décor, there is a lot you can do with it. This is especially the case if you have little space to work with. It will challenge your creativity and allow you to enter into a whole new realm of bathroom decorating
It is common to want to make your home look as cozy and enlightening as possible. If you are not the most experienced home decorator there is no need to worry. Here are some basic home decorating tips to help you liven the inside of your home.
The first tip is to consider scale, which refers to the size of various features and furnishings within your home. It is important you learn to find a balance from room to room. You want to include larger items in larger rooms and smaller ones in the smaller rooms. You can create an illusion that your room is larger than it is by placing small items.
The next basic home decorating tip refers to contrast. What this refers to is a black couch with white pillows, a green clock on a black wall, and blue napkins on a white tablecloth. Make sure you do not use too much contrast as this can make the room look too chaotic. Although it can be a bit of a challenge at first, finding a contrast without overwhelming the space can do wonders for your home.
The last tip is to find rhythm with your theme. While you do not necessarily have to have a particular print or style, you can accomplish rhythm just by sticking with various colors or by following certain contrasts throughout the home. Creating a rhythm will bring the entire space together and is perhaps the most crucial facet with basic home decorating.
There is no question that personality plays a part in the way you decorate. What appeals to you and what you feel is classy will contribute to your bachelor décor. As a single guy, you are going to want to appear successful, mature and sophisticated all while including the traits of your personality into your pad.
When you think of a typical bachelor pad you are going to think of big screen TV’s, video game systems and stereos with large speakers. There certainly is nothing wrong with this as long as you know how to present it.
Having one room filled with all of the flashy gadgets you love is not going to cut it. There is a way take all of your interests and apply them into a sophisticated bachelor décor. It is up to you to find a balance between sophistication and electronics. The easy way to do so is by including a maximum of two or three attractive pieces per room.
For instance, there is nothing wrong with having a big screen TV with an attractive stereo in the living room. They key is matching these electronics with a TV stand and stereo stand that are similar in style and color.
You can go even further by adding a classy stand-up light that is similar to the TV and stereo. As a bachelor, stainless steel, silver and black can be quite appealing. It looks eloquent while still giving off the single-guy impression.
The last bachelor décor is to purchase a nice comfortable couch. You do not want to have classy electronics filling the room with grandma’s couch. Invest in a couch that is going to flow with the rest of the room. It allows you to remain a guy while including some sophistication and style into your pad.
Add Character To Your Home With Indoor Water Fountains As Decorative Accessories
Author: admin, June 11, 2009When it comes to decorating the inside of your home, you are quickly going to realize there are many decorative accessories and options you can choose from. The key is settling on a specific style and going from there. One type of accessory that can add style and elegance to your home is an indoor water fountain.
There are several different kinds of indoor water fountains that you can choose from. While each has its own benefits and features, they all serve as perfect decorative accessories. The first type of fountain to look at is a wall fountain which is wall mounted. It contains a surface where the water flows down and is within a frame. Because they are on the upper scale of the market, these are typically the more expensive option.
Your next option is a table top water fountain which is the most inexpensive. Because of its size, it has a subtle effect but can add a lot to a room. They can be perfect for bedroom décor and are highly popular for the romantic flare that flows off.
The last type of indoor water fountains that makes for perfect decorative accessories are floor standing fountains. These are similar to the table top fountain but are much larger and stand on the floor. They can be placed in the corner or can be a focal point if used right. Standing fountains are rather subtle as well and are extremely easy to build. And because they stand, you can hide the cord without any problems.
As you begin to look for home decorations you will find that a common theme is patterns. A pattern refers to the way various textures and color lines are pieced together to create an object. There are a number of different ways you can use patters with decorations inside your home.
The first way you can use patterns is to create a focal point in the room. Because of how wild some patterns can be, it can instantly capture the eye when walking into a room. Just make sure you use it in the right way so that it does not turn people off.
The next way to use this design with your home decorations is to create a theme throughout a space. Rooms and your overall house will look much better if there is a concurrent theme. If you have a particular theme that is spread throughout the house or in particular rooms, it can add charm and eloquence.
The third reason to use this pattern is to spice things up in a dull are of the home. Whether it is a frequently used room or a room that sees little action, you can easily bring the space to life with a particular pattern.
The last way to use patterns with your home decorations is to reproduce a particular historical style. Styles come and go over time as new ones are developed and old ones are rekindled. Bringing back a pattern from the old days can add character to your home as oppose to tarnishing your home with the same bland colors and style.
There are many rooms in the house that are primarily focused on in regards to interior decorating. However, the bathroom is one room that often gets overlooked. Do not think you need to spend a long time turning this room into an elegant dream-room. Here are three tips to help you accentuate your bathroom décor.
1. Mirror
Every home includes a plate-glass bathroom mirror. This is perfect for getting the job done, but it is not going to provide you with the glamorous look you desire. Adding a mirror frame allows you to customize the look of your bathroom in a matter of minutes. There are a plethora of different styles and countless finishes so you can coordinate perfectly with your bathroom.
2. Shower
The shower is where you can truly bring elegance to the room. You can start by adding a curved shower rod which will make it feel as if you have increased the overall size. You can find fixed and adjustable-length curved shower rods to make installation extremely easy.
You can also update your showerhead with a luxurious style. A rain-shower showerhead is ideal for a full-body spray while there are multi-function showerheads so you can get the pressure just the way you like it.
3. Pain and linens
The last step to accentuating your bathroom décor is to make it feel more homely. Splash your walls with a calm and soothing color of paint while freshening up the baseboards and any scratches. To put on the finishing touches, purchase a new set of fresh towels to make it as cozy as possible.
Whether you have just had a baby or are expecting one in the near future, it is vital you make the room as homey as possible. There are a number of things you can do to make over a room for the new piece to your family. Everything from the paint to the flooring to the furnishings should be taken into consideration.
The first tip for baby decorations in the room is the paint and wallpaper you put up. You are going to want to paint the room with characters and light paint to bring a light-hearted atmosphere to the room. If you are going to paint, make sure it is completed at least a month or two prior to the baby’s arrival so there are no toxins from the fumes still around.
As for the flooring, you do not want to purchase new carpet because of the chemicals carpets are treated with. You are better off keeping the older carpet for the time being and placing rugs or mats down. This gives you the opportunity to match the wallpaper with mats you put down. Again, stay with a cute and cuddly theme such as friendly brown bears, Sesame Street or anything comparable.
The last piece to the puzzle in regards to baby decorations is the furnishings you include. Although they can be expensive, it is worth paying the price for a new crib that is safe and secure. In addition, purchase mattresses, blankets and other linens that are made from natural fabrics. Synthetic materials possess PBDE.
It is never too early to start prepping for the arrival of the new part of your family. Take the time to plot out all of the baby decorations you are going to need and want to include in the baby’s room.
Earlier this week our finisher had a pump blow up, and I mean blow up. No one was hurt but it did some pretty good damage to the shop. Thankfully the damage was in an area that didn’t have any furniture in it. Because of the loss of the pump and damage to the shop our finisher is about a week behind.
We thank you for understanding and are very happy to hear that no one was injured.
As many people realize the Amish are not big fans of most of the modern conveniences. This does vary depending on the Church they belong to, but in this case our finisher is of the old order variety. Read as very conservative Amish. (yup even they have liberals and conservatives). Because he is old order he uses propane to light the rooms in the finish shop (not where they are actually spraying the finish though). As for sprayers and the ventilation system electricity is a must. He uses a diesel generator for that.
$7.12 The Lord Provides 3″ lock blade knife
This stainless steel knife has solid rosewood grips with The Lord Provides laser engraved into them….
$11.25 God is Faithful Multi-Tool
Constructed of stainless steel and solid rosewood, this multi-tool truly does have more than one use…
Recently we discovered that the oil we recommend use to polish & preserve Amish furniture was discontinued. This is very unfortunate because it worked great and was non-toxic.
Obviously we’re trying to find a good alternative that works just as well and is green. Once we do we’ll let you know
Here is a new take on an old classic. It’s basically a carlisle table with an 18 inch butterfly leaf http://twitgoo.com/1v1z
An Amber Alert has been issued for a 2-year-old girl who disappeared from Southfield at 1:15 a.m. today.
Police were not releasing the girl’s name, Michigan State Police Sgt. Greg Jones said this morning. But the girl, about 35 pounds and 3 feet tall with braids with pink and white beads, was last seen with 21-year-old Dekevin Dorsey, Jones said.
Dorsey, last seen wearing a red long-sleeve shirt, is driving a silver Chevrolet Impala with license plate number BNK 1915. About 6 feet tall and 165 pounds, Dorsey has a teardrop tattoo on his face.
Read the rest of the article here