Take Time to Breathe in the Fresh Autumn Air

Even though summer is leaving us autumn has a lot to offer. It’s an invigorating season when the air is brisk and the leaves create a beautiful blanket of vibrant colors. We should enjoy the changing of the seasons and breathe in the fresh new air.

Yesterday I sat on my patio in the morning sun and took a deep breath. I could hear my wind chimes blowing lightly in the background and it was wonderfully peaceful. The crisp air was so refreshing I decided to indulge and take a moment for myself and practice the breathing exercises I have learned over the past year and a half with yoga, to take in the positive energy from the earth and rid myself of the negative. I’ve been practicing yoga for the past year or so and I can’t say enough about how great it makes me feel. By taking the time to breathe and meditate it gives me a renewed and refreshed feeling I cannot explain, but if you ask any of my friends they will tell you I highly recommend trying it.

Yoga will teach you to appreciate deep breathing and the cleansing purifying effects of all the exercises. Full Yogic-breathing combines first inhaling and expanding the abdomen, you then continue inhaling as you expand and fill the chest. To exhale, first from the chest as it empties and melts, then continue exhaling from the abdomen as it draws inwards completely. This is one full round of yogic-breathing. You may experience unevenness or ‘bumps’ in your breaths; this is only natural considering most of us have created improper breathing habits over the years. Remember above all, this process should be done without stress or strain. Go slowly and easily, it make take a few weeks of practice to perfect a smooth flowing pattern with minimum effort and maximum capacity. Trust me, it’s much harder than it appears, it still takes a lot of focus for me. Remember the pattern… inhaling - abdomen then chest; exhaling – chest then abdomen.

Some of the benefits of complete Yogic-breathing are increasing oxygen supply to the blood—hemoglobin levels, it slows the heart rate, creates calming effects on central nervous system therefore relieves tension, helps with insomnia, headaches, indigestion, aids in metabolism as well as mental and mystical benefits. Along with the healing benefits, getting in touch with your self and the universe, meditation gives you a sense of peace that I try to carry with me throughout my day. When I’m stuck in traffic or in a situation I know I cannot change, I stop and take a deep meditative breath. There are many more benefits to practicing Yoga, physically and mentally, it’s worth the time to try it for yourself.

Our lives are hectic - work, family, errands to run, why not take some time to relax and breathe in the fresh air. Enjoy your home and the fresh air; autumn is a beautiful time of the year. I make time for myself, even if it’s only for fifteen minutes, to relax on my patio or garden to relax and breathe in the fresh air. Don’t let it pass you by… before winter asks the same question.

"There comes a time when autumn asks,

"What have you been doing all summer?"

Author Unknown

Decorating Tips for Small Balconies or Patios

Over the past weekend while I was in Manhattan I noticed how some balconies were decorated so beautiful and others were left empty for precious unused space.  If you’ve ever lived in a big city, you know how every square foot is cherished and a balcony can be wonderful place to relax and take in the open air.  Small spaces, such as apartment balconies or patios can sometimes be challenging to decorate, but it can be done and after living in the city for the past six years, I highly recommend it.

 Decorating your apartment patio for summer doesn’t have to be a daunting task, in fact, can be a very enjoyable and rewarding task. What better way than to kick back on your balcony or patio in the cool evening breeze as you relax on a comfortable chaise lounge after a long day at the office? Or enjoy your morning coffee and newspaper as the sun comes up before you begin you busy day?

 No matter where your apartment is located – city or rural, urban or suburban, north or south or east or west – it doesn’t matter how large or small your apartment patio is, there are a few general tips to remember before you begin your patio-decorating project this summer:

1. Treat your apartment patio as you would any other room in your apartment. Keep it neat and organized.

2. Pick a single theme or style for your apartment patio: Romantic and plush, country casual and white wicker, or art deco and neon ... one theme at a time, please!  Pick your style and stick with it.

3. Make your apartment patio or balcony easy-care. Have a place for everything so everything's in its place. Durable, recycled plastics and washable seats and cushions are a must. If you're going with patio gardening, choose from the many self-watering containers that allow you to harvest tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, beans and other edibles all summer long.

4. Remember, sleeker spaces are easier to clean. Give yourself enough room to get around your apartment patio quickly with a broom, bucket and window washer.

5. A very important tip is to make your apartment patio furniture and accessories as weather-proof as possible. The last thing you want is to be carrying dripping wet patio furniture through your apartment in a sudden summer downpour!

There are many different styles to decorate your patio, here are just a few:

Casual Country – weathered wood, antiques, folk art, wicker, and cottage garden flowers are all casual country style theme designs. 

• You can use old barrels, covered or not, as side tables.  Use as much old, weathered, antique materials as you can to add to your country theme.
• Either our Cupella Tin Lantern or our Ivory Parasol Lantern would add a beautiful touch to your country theme patio.
• Herb gardens and flowers in every area corner of the patio.
• Choose easy care wicker or old-fashioned painted metal with a bright rust-resistant paint. 

City Garden - visit your local nursery to see what types of plants will thrive best in your environment; understand that your apartment patio offers decorating opportunities as well as limitations. If your apartment is several stories up in the big city, you've got urban gardening issues - more pollution, stronger wind, deep shade and city heat, for instance, to deal with if you choose to decorate your patio with plants. Keep in mind, even on shaded apartment patios you can enjoy a secret garden that provides privacy, fragrance and serenity if you choose the right design and plants for your environment. 

• Choose ergonomically sound patio furniture and bamboo floor-mats, normally used for Yoga exercises and meditation.
• Choose sleek design furniture.
• Choose soft lighting, lanterns are an ideal way to create the perfect atmosphere.
• Any one of our beautiful wind chimes will enhance your patio garden with relaxing sounds.

Whatever your style ...

I suggest sticking to tried-and-true small-space design techniques to suit your small apartment patio or balcony. Use height to draw eyes upward toward the more expansive sky.  Add lights or string lights to banish the dark and open up the great outdoors.

Remember, the most important decorating ideas for your apartment patio begin with your own imagination.  If you find it comfortable and enjoy your decor, chances are your visitors will too.

A deck may not count towards the square footage of your home, but it will give you the opportunity to make your home or apartment feel larger and expand your opportunities for entertaining.  You can transform your patio so dramatically that you'll be the envy of your neighbors. 

Labor Day Holiday

 "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."        - Albert Camus

 I’ve always enjoyed the change of season to autumn and the vibrant colors; there’s freshness in the air and clear blue skies. Fall is a beautiful time of year, be sure to capture the fun and beauty of it.

 We all enjoy the colors of the autumn leaves but did you ever wonder how and why a leaf changes color in fall? Where do the bright reds, yellows and oranges come from?

 As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is a signal for them to begin getting ready for winter.  During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis, a process used by plants to make food.  It makes glucose, a kind of sugar, and oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air and water. Cells (very small parts that make up a plant or animal) use glucose to create energy to live.  A chemical called chlorophyll helps makes photosynthesis happen; and this chemical is what gives plants their green color.  

During fall and winter, trees rest and live off the stored food from the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making process or photosynthesis process, the green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves and as the bright green fades away, we begin to see the vivid red, yellow and orange colors.

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are seen mostly in the fall.  In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves to turn this glucose into a red color. The brown color we see in trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.  The combinations of all these things make the beautiful colors we enjoy in the fall.

So the next time you’re relaxing on your patio or in your garden enjoying the gentle breeze gazing at the beautiful colors of the Fall Season, you’ll know why the leaves are changing colors.  

Change is in the Air

You can already feel a change in the air in the Pocono Mountains.  Just a little bit crisper and nights are already dropping below 50 degrees.  It won't be long before Fall is here and the trees will create a beautiful patchwork of color. 

Take time to visit our site www.WindChimesGarden.com and see what catches your eye.  There's bound to be something there that will look perfect in your garden.