design your home

The notion that "home improvement increases value" is really true. In fact, home improvement is the smartest way to increase value. The profile of the house is the first thing that the buyers will notice.

1. Do the kitchen and bathroom first. Remodeling of these rooms really offer the highest percentage return on home owners’ investments. In addition, bathroom and family room renovations offer a fairly high return to the home owner.

2. Repaint regularly. In fact, many of the home value experts noted that repainting the exterior of the home will show formal returns in most markets.

3. Keep the original design of the home in mind. Stick with either similar materials for remodeling or complementing ones. It is just as important that you know how to make your home attractive and inviting for the buyer to fully submit his attention and interest. It's also important that you must try to think for some color scheme and decors for your home. Make additions as necessary. Certain research has noted that if there are some important things to be put up, such as putting additional deck or spacious basement for the children to play, then go for it. It will make your home look good and inviting.

How to Design Your Own Home
If you've already decided to design as much of your home as you can without the help of an architect, this planning scenario takes you through the beginning steps required to gather the information, resources and examples necessary to enable you to design your own home. You will begin to see some of the required knowledge that goes into the planning of the home of your dreams. Whether it's building a new home or remodeling an existing one, both processes are exactly the same. Remodeling folks have additional burdens of starting with a box that limits them, but hopefully this will help!

Steps
1. Get inspired. Planning your new home is the most critical moment of the process, and the most fun. Capitalize on the magical inspiration every project needs to make a house, a home - yours! Capture the lightning-in-a-bottle that motivates you in the first place to design your own home. Write it all down, keep a scrap book, bookmark pictures in books, take pictures, whatever your preferred method.

o Write down every price quote, budget amount, phone number

o Take hundreds of pictures. Digital cameras make it cheap and easy. Shoot every angle of a building you like. You'll find more detail in the photos than you saw in person.

o Keep a scrapbook of magazine articles, newspaper articles, business cards, etc. Begin compiling a list of every detail you like from your various resources. The more information that you can provide to your architect or builder about paint colors, door hardware, plumbing fixtures, counter-tops, built-ins, stair details, appliances, etc. before you begin construction, the more likely you will hit your housing budget.

o Check out other examples of houses you like (friends, family, etc.) and learn about aspects of each.

2. Get organized. You need documents that contain information you've gathered which serves to direct your planning efforts. Accurate documents focus attention on facts. Basic information eliminates "Pie-in-the-Sky" dream scenarios which waste time, effort and people's patience. Start with a Requirements List. Make a Wish List separately so that you can add it to your design later, as you find you can afford. Spend approximately 30 days to 6 months on this part.

3. Find a scheme. You'll want to consider several different designs to find the scheme that best fits your needs. Schemes are freehand sketches drawn to capture the essence of a plan under consideration. They can be as simple as paper napkin sketches or professionally illustrated drawings. All are valid tools and each serves the purpose to convey a concept. This should take you about 3-6 months.

copy from http://www.wikihow.com/Design-Your-Own-Home

peelings

We always throw peelings away while eating fruits thinking them useless. But there are surely some useful peelings always around us.

EX1
Peelings of orange contain a lot of citric acid featuring of preventing breast cancer. We can buy and storage more oranges in the rush season, dry them in the sun and put them in the jar after eating .We can blew them up as tea all year long to cure of cough, there are abundance of vitamin C to replenish some nutrition we lose everyday. And we can also dry the peelings or bake them in the oven, levigating them and mix with tooth paste to make tooth whiter and cleaner,smell better.

EX2
The peelings of orange, lemon and pomelo can eliminate bad smell from the sinkhole, just boil those peelings in the water and then take them to brush the sinkhole. Not only canceling the bad smell with natural fresh odor, but also do make it clean. The water of peelings has the same way as wax, just wipe the wooden floor or furniture with the liquid.

EX3

If you are drawn by the marker, it is hard to clean with water or soap. And then you can take some juice from the peelings of orange to rub, the mark will easily be cancel.

EX4

We all know the cleanser will destroy the environment while washing dishes, in order to prevent that, we can eliminate the oil on dishes with the white parts of orange peeling. It will have the same effect as cleanser without hurting your hands and the nature .

EX5

There are some substances to restrain bacteria, fungus to breed, like athlete’s foot(香港腳), tinea(癬) everywhere. We can apply banana peelings to the sick skin to treat it.

EX6

In the winter, it is easy to chap for your skin. You can just apply some mature banana to skin 3~4 times a day, it not only lubricates but treats the wound.

EX7

The aluminum pot is getting dirty and black as cooking, we can boil the water in these pot with apple peelings for about 15 minutes, and then it is to be shining.

The Wonderful powder ~ baking soda

Today I want to introduce some information to you all. It would be useful, interesting or even amazing. This object is not special but has much functions.

Baking Soda, a white powder tasting salt, also knowed as NaHCO3 in science. It is a kind of native objest used of baking bread, cookie etc. It can be decomposed by the nature without poison, pollution and it doesn't irritate our skin or even the body. This all-round thing is widely used of cooking, house working

and daily life bit by bit in Japan, the United States of America ...

Baking Soda can be classified as medical, edible, and industrial. You have to buy it from different place as the different sorts: Edible one is sold in drugstores, supper markets or groceries and all three types are selled in drugstore. Though those all can be used for sweeping, cleaning up and washing clothes, it is better to have it for industrial: cheaper and much more.

EX1

Clean up the mark of spattered water on the mirror:

Just dissolve the baking soda in temperate water, and then sousing a piece of cloth with the solution to wipe mirror or metal.

EX2

Clean up the greasy dirt:

Put those greasy dishcloth, utensils, slice ...etc into the boiling water for a moment, and it can make it easier to wash. And we also can take this hot solution to wash sink, every facilities in the kitchen and bathroom.

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=jIJHEZltkkg

EX3

Clean up the mark of tea:

Moisten foam rubber with baking soda and brush cups or glass.

EX4

Let knives and forks shining:

Brush them which are made of silver, stainless steel or other metal and then wash them.

EX5
Get rid of the bad smell from the trash can, refrigerator, shoes..... :

Only cast baking soda in them regularly.

EX6

Get rid of insecticides on the fruits and vegetables:

Wash the fruits and vegetables in the baking soda solution after the water becomes slight yellow (2~3 mins).

EX7

Make the leaves more shining:

Spray the basing soda solution on leaves and wipe out.

EX8

Make flowers bloom longer:

Mix the baking soda with water and then put flowers in.

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=YgkuIWZhyxw

(從糖+水的液體，經小蘇打粉調劑，即變成固體的椪糖)

The Benefit from Tea

Tea and Health: There has been much research lately that explores the potential health benefits of drinking tea daily. Researchers are finding that all teas -- white, green, oolong and black teas from the Camellia sinensis plant(台灣山茶 右圖) -- may aid in achieving a long and healthy life.

Tea contains flavonoids(是富含於蔬果,紅酒及綠茶中天然抗氧化物質), which are compounds that have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize (中和)free radicals(自由基), which can damage the body and contribute to chronic diseases. White and green teas (the least processed) contain the most antioxidant properties, followed by Oolong and then Black teas.

Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins(兒茶素). In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder.

Additional benefits for regular consumers of green and black teas include a reduced risk for heart disease. The antioxidants in green, black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function. A Chinese study published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed a 46%-65% reduction in hypertension risk in regular consumers of oolong or green tea, compared to non-consumers of tea.Tea and Health: There has been much research lately that explores the potential health benefits of drinking tea daily. Researchers are finding that all teas -- white, green, oolong and black teas from the Camellia sinensis plant(台灣山茶) -- may aid in achieving a long and healthy life.

The history of tea in China

Chinese tea has been around for thousands of years.Chinese tea was first discovered and used as medicine.Then it evolved into a beverage, and further in to part of Chinese culture.

1.Before 8th century B.C., Chinese tea was primarily used as a medicine.
According to legend, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung(神農氏) was sitting beneath a tree while his servant was boiling the drinking water, and then some leaves from the tree blew into the water. Shen Nung, decided to try this drink that his servant had accidentally created. The tree was a Camellia tree, and this drink was later called -- tea.

2.During the Chun, Qin Dynasty, Chinese people chewed tea leaves and enjoyed the taste of tea juicy itself.
In this period, Chinese tea was cooked as soup. Tea leaves were eaten with the soup. Tea leaves were even mixed with food. Ancient Chinese books told that tea was eaten and used with other spices to cook .
During the Qin, Han Dynasty, there were also some simple processing of Chinese tea emerged. Tea leaves were pressed into ball shapes, dried and stored. When served, tea balls were crushed and mixed with green onion, ginger, etc., and then boiled in teapots. This was the point that Chinese tea turned from a medicine into a beverage. Also, it represented the beginning of Chinese tea was used to treat guests.

3.Later during the Tang Dynasty, tea became firmly established as the national drink of China. It became one of the favorite drinks during the late eighth century. A writer called Lu Yu wrote the first book entirely about tea, "Literature of Tea", or Tea Classic. In the meanwhile, tea was first introduced to Japan, by Japanese Buddhist monks who had traveled to China to study. And then tea drinking has become a vital part of Japanese culture(Tea Ceremony).
And also, Chinese tea trading had became extremely busy. Techniques in tea planting and processing advanced in great speed. Lots of famous teas were developed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLtaVoH0WAc

4."Tea became popular in Tang and prospered in Song ". In the beginning of Song Dynasty, Chinese tea was kept in the shape of balls and cakes. When served, tea was crushed and boiled with seasoning material. But as tea drinkers became more particular, they paid more respect to the original shape, color, and taste of tea leaves. Seasoning material phrased out and loose leave tea started to take the center stage.

5.When the Mongol ruled in China, the drinking of tea a symbol of decadence. But it returned to popularity under the native Chinese Ming Dynasty

6.From the Ming Dynasty, tea began to be brewed by steeping cured loose leaves in boiling water. Because the tea was first tried by Europeans, it was this method of making tea that became popular in the West, and remains so to this day. Also under the Ming Dynasty there was many different types of teas, fermented black teas, unfermented green teas, and the semi-fermented variety that it is now known as oolong.

7.After Ming, numerous types of Chinese teas were invented. The Art of Chinese Tea is being perfected continuously. The famous Kung Fu Cha (or Kung Fu Tea) is one of the landmark development of Chinese tea brewing.

introductions of the tea

White tea
Young leaves (new growth buds) that have undergone no oxidation; the buds may be shielded from sunlight to prevent formation of chlorophyll. White tea is produced in lesser quantities than most other styles, and can be correspondingly more expensive than tea from the same plant processed by other methods. It is less well known in countries outside of China, though this is changing with increased western interest in organic or premium teas.
Green tea
The oxidation process is stopped after a minimal amount of oxidation by application of heat, either with steam, or by dry cooking in hot pans, the traditional Chinese method. Tea leaves may be left to dry as separate leaves or they may be rolled into small pellets to make Gunpowder tea. This process is time consuming and is typically done with pekoes of higher quality. The tea is processed within one to two days of harvesting.
Oolong
Oxidation is stopped somewhere between the standards for green tea and black tea. The oxidation process takes two to three days. In Chinese, semi-oxidized teas are collectively grouped as blue tea (青茶, literally: blue-green tea), while the term "oolong" is used specifically as a name for certain semi-oxidized teas.
Black tea/Red tea
The tea leaves are allowed to completely oxidize. Black tea is the most common form of tea in southern Asia (Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.) and in the last century many African countries including Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The literal translation of the Chinese word is red tea, which is used by some tea lovers. The Chinese call it red tea because the actual tea liquid is red. Westerners call it black tea because the tea leaves used to brew it are usually black. However, red tea may also refer to rooibos, an increasingly popular South African tisane. The oxidation process will take between two weeks and one month. Black tea is further classified as either orthodox or as CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl, a production method developed about 1932). Unblended black teas are also identified by the estate they come from, their year and the flush (first, second or autumn). Orthodox processed black teas are further graded according to the post-production leaf quality by the Orange Pekoe system, while CTC teas use a different grading system.
Post-fermented tea
Teas that undergo a second oxidation, such as Pu-erh, Liu'an, and Liubao, are collectively referred to as secondary or post-fermentation teas in English. In Chinese they are categorized as Dark tea or black tea. This is not to be confused with the English term Black tea, known in Chinese as red tea. Pu-erh, also known as Póu léi (Polee) in Cantonese is the most common type of post-fermetation tea in the market.
Yellow tea
Either used as a name of special tea processed similarly to green tea, or high-quality tea served at the Imperial court.
Kukicha
Also called winter tea, kukicha is made from twigs and old leaves pruned from the tea plant during its dormant season and dry-roasted over a fire. It is popular as a health food in Japan and in macrobiotic diets.

environment & classify

Tea is one of the favorite beverages in the world. And today I’ll introduce it from what kind of environment is proper to its grownth, how to make it, its history in the world and in Taiwan, the benefits to our health, and to its developing in the future .

The tea trees are evergreen plant and grow in tropical to sub-tropical climates( moist and foggy environment, the areas must drain well ), the soil is sanded and fine acidic and the altitude is about 600~2000m. Many high quality tea plants grow at elevations up to 1500 m, as the plants grow more slowly and acquire a better flavor. Only the top 1-2 inches of the mature plant are picked. These buds and leaves are called flushes, and a plant will grow a new flush every seven to ten days during the growing season. Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved China plant and the large-leaved Assam plant.

http://www.tea-party.com.tw/page02.asp?KindID1=477
http://myweb.hinet.net/home6/taishuanhe/new_page_33.htm
The types of tea are distinguished by the processing they undergo(fermentation). Leaves soon begin to wilt and oxidize if not dried quickly after picking.

The fermentation can be separated into 3 parts: full-fermentation, semi-fermentation, and none- fermentation. The full-fermentation means the tea leaves are oxidizied completely and usually called black tea. The semi-fermentation are contains oolong, pu-erh, blue tea etc. . And none- fermentation is green tea.
http://www.pcchkt.com/ch04.htm

And we also classify teas by the seasons: the spring tea is plucked in spring, the summer tea is plucked in summer…Those teas’ quality vary from the water content or the length of cultivating period.Ordinary people prefer the spring tea and then this kind of tea is much more expensive. But it does not mean that the spring tea is the best . Take summer tea for example, it is commonly made for oolong and black tea.