I have 9 days to go on holiday. I spent the last 8 years holidays whiling away my days swinging in a hammock on the more remote beaches of Kophangan in Thailand.
Anyone know anywhere nearer, but as beautiful?
Geraldine
has anyone got/had one of these hammocks or anything similar? im considering buying one from argos (link below!) and wanted to know the pros/cons and good/bad things about such a hammock!! are they comfy, do they get weather beaten quickly?? any info greatly appreciated!!
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6503501/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500011159.Garden%2C%2BDIY%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3D1500011219.Garden%2Bfurniture%3EC%24cip%3D1500011228.Hammocks.htm
Louis
They are off-white, so I dont mind using bleach, I just dont want them to fall apart if I bleach them. They are getting those mildew-y grey spots on them and look really dirty. The morning dew must be getting to them and making them wet. When they dont dry out right away, I think they are geting moldy-YUCK! I gotta get it out. What do I use?
Crystal
I got my ferret and hes awesome. But he wont sleep in his hammock…I think he is afraid of heights…is this normal? He wont climb the ramp thing in his cage to get to his hammock, im worried about him…
Eddie
my hammock is about 13 feet 6 inches from tip to tip including the chain link that attatches it to the stand. Thanks!
Tanya
Have the family come together to discuss various ideas of what a perfect deck plan might be for everyone. Walk around the property and consider various locations for the deck. Backyards are often the popular choice but the side or even front yard may be a better choice to suit the needs of the family.
Determine the potential size of the deck. Where a larger deck might cut into the yard area, a smaller deck might be the better slection. However, if the yard is rarely used or lawn maintenance is a negative issue, then a larger deck will make life easier.
Consider what things are typically done by family members outdoors. Determine how the construction of a deck might make them more enjoyable. Brainstorm ideas of new ways to enjoy outdoor living as well.
Cooking outdoors is the most popular deck activity for the majority of people. Locate the grilling area as far away as possible from areas where children playing might pose a safety issue. Leave enough room for the chef and assitant cooks to gather around the barbecue to chat and burn meat together. It might be worthwhile to construct a complete cooking center with a small refrigerator, counter space and even cabinets. In cases where rain might affect the ritual of cooking outdoors, think about erecting an overhead shelter of some sort.
In the planning of a deck it is important to consider the placement and arrangement of outdoor furniture. An area could be set aside specifically for dining with a large table and chairs. A wide open deck might be preferred that would offer several strategically located areas that would encourage small groups of people to come together for buffet style dining and tasting wines.
Consider sticking with movable furniture instead of built-in benches and tables. Guests and family members are likely to prefer arranging their own seating and eating spaces.
Eating and entertaining on the deck after dark are considerations that make deck lighting an important issue. Motion sensing floodlights are great for providing security or lighting the way for home entry. However, it is extremely unappealing for outdoor dining ambiance. Low voltage lighting fixtures set into steps or posts provide a much more effective and subtle solution. Outdoor holiday lights or Japanese lanterns strung up on or around the deck strategically can do much to create a festive feeling or mood.
The movement of the sun during daytime hours will impact upon the location of the deck. Main entertaining areas will have to be kept away from the heat and the glare of the afternoon and setting sun. Attention will have to be paid to choosing the best places to sip a drink at night, read the newspaper early in the morning, work on a tan or enjoy an afternoon nap. Such decisions will affect the placement of overhead structures such as arbors and pergolas as well as hammocks and swinging chairs.
Privacy can be an important deck design issue. The size of the deck will partly determine the approach to be used. Low railings and benches or none at all open up a deck to the yard. Railings with closely spaced balusters, privacy screens and overhead structures can be used to provide a sense of enclosure.
Building a raised deck might put the family on display for all the neighborhood to see. However, by stepping the deck down, this problem will disappear. The alternative would be to construct a higher deck with fence-like structures bordering it. A strategically placed trellis can easily support attractive climbing and flowering plants that will work with the deck’s railing system to provide all the privacy that is needed.
Constructing a multilevel deck is another alternative that will create areas that are separated but not walled off. In the process family members and guests can experience various measures of privacy.
The wraparound deck is another excellent choice to create a sense of privacy. Because of its design nature, one area will be separated from the other simply because each one is adjacent to a different side of the house.
One of the easiest methods to create privacy on a deck is by means of the strategic placement of plants around its perimeter. As bushes, shrubs and trees grow over the years, the snese of privacy and enclosure will heighten. Hedges can easily be planted in order to replace railings and achieve the same effects.
Orienting the deck in order to enjoy the best features within the yard is an extremely important decision. Where possible, plan and design the landscaping to complement the deck and enhance the total experience. The location of flowers, shrubs, climbing vines and trees are part of this. However, items such as bird feeders, trellises, fountains or other water features can enhance the measure of enjoyment immensely.
Creating the perfect deck plan should involve everyone in the family in some way and should reflect the lifestyle, tastes and desires of all concerned. In that way this new outdoor space will easily provide years of enjoyment for the whole family, guests and quite possibly any future owners.
Andrea
Key West is the key to an ultimate romantic weekend getaway. Located at the southernmost part of Florida, it is the perfect venue for couples who want to break free from their everyday lives.
Although you can fly straight to Key West International Airport, choose Miami as a landing destination instead and begin your weekend getaway with a romantic drive along the US1 (nicknamed The Overseas Highway) over the vast waters. The drive gives you impeccable views of the ocean, and the wide variety of hotels, seafood restaurants, dive shops and boats that serve as a preview of how much of an amazing trip you are about to have.
Couples often prefer a quiet getaway for a romantic weekend. Make the most of each other’s company by spending the whole day at the beach, lying on the sand or swinging on a hammock with good food and good drinks. You can also take the seventy-mile ferry or chartered plane ride to the island of Dry Tortugas for an extraordinary diving experience, or simply enjoy the cool breeze brushing up your hair on a cruise ship. Spend some quality time walking around Key West. Enjoy strolling the palm tree-infested streets holding each other’s hands and watch the very eventful sunset.
Spend your romantic weekend at the luxurious Marquesa Hotel right in the center of the historic district. Just in the same street, the Eden House offers the same historic atmosphere with a more affordable rate. One of the essentials of romantic weekend getaways is to linger over local cuisine. On Duval Street, you will find many of Key West’s top restaurants for your romantic dining. On this strip, restaurants have an area with porches where you can just watch the world go by over a sumptuous meal and a glass of wine. Being surrounded by water, these restaurants serve seafood as their specialty, served, of course, in many different ways. If you want your fish raw, the Japanese Origami is highly recommended. Other top picks include the Seven Fish and Bagatelle for those who prefer their fish cooked. Also, you should try Key West’s long time favorite, Sloppy Joe.
If you are the party type of couple, on the other hand, you can take your romantic weekend getaway to Key West during the spring break and in November where fun is spread throughout the island. During the spring break, resorts and bars throw parties and promise everyone in attendance a good time. November activities, on the other hand, include the Halloween costume parties and the Key West Power Boat Race. Water sport enthusiasts fly in to Key West every year to witness this event.
Key West is said to be the haven of writers. Authors get inspired by the beauty of the island. Since the mood for this particular weekend getaway is romantic, visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and explore the very walls where Ernest Hemingway wrote his emotional novels. Those fascinated to the underwater can have a self- or guided-tour at the Key West Aquarium, which features diverse exhibits of sea life in the Florida waters. Check the Aquarium’s daily schedule for feeding if you wish to have a close encounter with the sharks.
Whether you want it quiet and private or loud and wild, Key West has something for you to break loose from the routine. It is the jaunt perfect for couples who wish to unwind and relish a romantic weekend getaway.
Carlos
Have you ever wondered how it feels to gently sway side to side, with a warm breeze sifting through the trees, all the while being fully-engaged in a heart-wrenching paperback? Well, if you’ve ever wondered what this feels like, you most certainly don’t own an outdoor hammock. These hammocks truly put you into a different mind-set, cradling your full body weight, with strength and durability, and with soft gentle swings seems to melt all your stress away. Now this is not to say that outdoor hammocks are the miracle cure for stress-relief, although, one can’t deny that once you settle into these fabric cradles of comfort all if not most is forgotten.
Hammocks almost seem to be a forgotten form, that in years past were almost a staple in most neighborhoods. With the emphasis on big ticket items, such as: decks, patios, and swimming pools, the in-expensive comforting qualities of the traditional hammock have been over-shadowed. And ask yourself this, would you prefer a seat on a hard, rough, wooden bench on a deck? Or a soothing stretch on a hammock? The answer seems to be quiet obvious.
Traditionally hammocks were tied or fastened between two large trees, located in an area of interest at your cottage or summer home, or maybe you were lucky and had a maturely developed home with substantial tree growth. A lot of times hammocks were moved around from camp site to camp site, and tree to tree, while consistently providing campers that necessary extra component of relaxation desired when on a retreat of this nature. Now, hammocks are still a very popular item with campers and outdoors folk, but the allure seems to be lost for the person looking for that little piece of extra relaxation in the comfort of their own backyard. Maybe it’s the era, or maybe that baby boomers were to busy spinning their brothers and sisters around in these hammocks to fully realize the vast array of benefits these outdoor hammocks possess. Whatever the case may be these hammocks are really demanding attention.
With a plethora of styles, shapes, and colors now available these hammocks cater to comfort-seekers of all generations. Portable hammocks are very popular right now, portable doesn’t mean un-trying and re-tying, portable means a backpack hammock that has a built-in stand, very innovative, you can imagine the possibilities for this. Hammock swings are also a different concept, instead of tying between two trees, these chairs hang freely – and create a very unique look. And this next one might be new to some readers: trees are no longer required. Many companies now produce hammocks that are compatible with both hammock stands and trees. This also gives you the option of bringing your outdoor hammocks indoors during winter months or rainy seasons.
Hammocks are great for the entire family, you can encourage your kids or grandchildren to get outdoors and enjoy the weather. Give them a book to read, and let them enjoy some alone time. Encourage them to do their homework while swinging away in the hammock. After a hard-days work, nothing beats settling down in a hammock, these products will truly bring positive change to your life instantly with very little cost.
Luis
