admin answers:

It is called “the Coral Castle”, south of Miami, on Route 1 near Homestead. The builder’s name is written as “Edward Leedskalnin”.

“Leedskalnin, Edward. “A Book in Every Home: Containing Three Subjects: Ed’s Sweet Sixteen, Domestic and Political Views”. Homestead, Florida: self-published, n.d. Leedskalnin’s personal views and a few photos of his environment, Coral Castle.”

admin answers:

The best answer that I can give you is to contact a dealer in mexico that sells statues. I have seen a lot of donkey statues, but not one with a man sleeping beside it. I know that they are out there. Any tourist shop along the border will probably have it.

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Creating a Japanese style garden is a mindset and not just something you build. The Japanese people’s respect and adoration for nature is what you need to discover before you wish to attempt to to build that style of garden. Just your comment about the statues and lanterns says you need to study and contemplate some more before you start.
Step One: Find a local nature preserve or wildlife area away from all people and human remnants. Spend the whole day by yourself out there and observe nature and how it interacts. Study the flow of the land and the interplay plants and the stones and the water . Enjoy your day and try to learn to respect and admire nature for its wonderful beauty.
Step Two: Get some books written by the actual Japanese landscape artisans not some American just churning out landscape books. Get the books that have many pictures of actual Japanese gardens. Study those gardens pictures.
Step Three: Take what you have learned from nature and the pictures you have studied and you can now create a garden.
Below are some links that may help.

admin answers:

Look up your local fabrication shops. They have plenty of scrap metal. They usually sell it to recycling plants, but I’m sure if you ask, they’ll be more than happy to give you what you need for your project.

admin answers:

If thick means 1/8″ or more, then you will have to use a torch. If it is copper or brass wire, then you can solder (lead-tin) or silver solder it. If it is iron or steel, then you can braise (brass), silver solder, or weld it.
If you wish, you can E6000 adhesive and apply it between the wires (it will run so don’t do too much at a time.
If you have fooled around a bunch with the wire, you will probably have to take it apart and clean it for the solder or glue to adhere. If the piece will stay together, you can dip it in boiling soapy water to take off oils and dirt.

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Yeah of course, some Tibetans would die just to own a picture of him, illegal in china

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I don’t know of any etiquette for a meditative garden. As long as you find it to be a reflective area is all that would be important. Some are very simple like the Zen gardens. Mine has a lot of wild flowers, some meandering paths, and a bench that I can sit on while thinking. My Buddha rests on a pile of stones to raise the statue above the plants.

Hope this helps.

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When decorating your garden, use the ‘surprise’ principle. It’s really very easy, especially if you have paths that curve, and high perennials that can ‘hide’ the stuff around the curve. Get whatever ‘fun stuff’ you like, and if you have even just one ‘standard lot’ you’ll have room for at least 10 ‘decorative items.’ You can put one gnome or a group of gnomes either peeking out or ‘working unaware’ under the leaves. You can put a ‘reflection ball’ in a small pond or birdbath in a sunny place where it can sparkle and shine with the sun. You can use things you like, and set them where you want, because it’s your garden. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and at our Flower and Garden Show every year, the people who win the top ‘amateur garden’ prizes aren’t those who use stuff they find in books or on the web or a ‘formula’ from a book. They spend time in their gardens, they love their gardens, and they have a ‘natural feel’ for the decorative pieces they put into their gardens. Whether you want gnomes or stone animals and reptiles or glass balls or all three … It’s YOUR garden, and you should buy what you like and put it where you want to … I guarantee that it will look wonderful, not just to you but to those who can see in or take a walk in your garden.

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Dude, you’ve said too much.

Now they’ll know you’re on to them.

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Heck no i’d be tickled pink and then ask him if he had lost his mind ☺
Never mind what the neighbors would say just hope the local news or newspaper didnt get wind of it.lol

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Adding items other than plants to one’s garden is simply a matter of personal choice. You garden for yourself, not for others. If you like it, do it. I personally think all of the above items mentioned are fun and funky and add a quaint charm to a garden, if done tastefully and in moderation. I like to garden with old/junk/antique items as containers. I, myself, own four pink flamingos. Funny story on how that happened: I used to detest the pink plastic flamingos in the garden. I attended the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle one year and one of their display gardens featured old original pink flamingos tucked in here and there. It looked so cool! I got on eBay and bought four. I told this story to the seller and he said he used to dislike them, too, but they are making a comeback and he decided he wanted a few. On his 50th birthday, his friends gave him 50! So he was selling 46 of them! I tuck mine in between some ferns and they look like they belong. The grandkids can hardly wait each spring to bring them out. To answer your question, these items all “belong” in your garden if you want them to.

admin answers:

In many businesses, a good way to grow a venture is to have a case study / proof of concept which can be pitched to potential business partners, investors, clients, or (in the case of larger businesses) internal decision makers — whoever holds the resources that you need to grow your small venture.

From the description you provided, it sounds like your work has an element of fashion or taste. So, you may want to consider (if you haven’t already) “packaging” your pieces as a collection and defining the characteristics of your “target client” who would install your collection in his/her home or business.

If you’ve sold your pieces in the past, thinking about your client base may help you define these traits. Alternatively, you may also consider a nominal investment in market research which you can conduct yourself with tools from SurveyMonkey.com or Zoomerang.com. (A simple way to recruit respondents is to send your survey to friends and family and ask them to forward the link to your survey to 2-3 people and in turn ask those respondents to do the same — a “snowballing” technique.)

You may also want to try defining the potential market size of buyers for your pieces and the economic opportunity that represents over the next 1,2 or 5 years — build the case that will interest buyers and manufacturers in working with you now and in the long run. Then, ask for a pilot investment of time/resources to work with you for the next 1, 3, or 6 months — make it easier for manufacturers and retailers to say yes by helping mitigate the risk they see of you being “unknown” and ask them to help you define the terms of a pilot. (Remember, this is a negotiation, so try to define the terms that will be ensure your success when it comes time to measure the results.)

When the pilot proves successful, you can ask for a larger investment and make the case for expanding your line of designs (if your partners do not demand it first).

To find manufacturers and retailers, you might consider participating in a tradeshow. Often, participating as an exhibitor can be prohibitively expensive, especially for a start-up business. But, if you register as an attendee (sometimes for free), you can walk the tradeshow floor and approach / pitch the people that you meet in the booths. The ultimate goal is to develop a list of warm leads for follow-up meetings after the show is over — don’t expect to close a deal there and then. Consider a tradeshow the icebreaker. Your “first date” comes later when you follow up to continue the conversation you started.

I know this does not answer exactly *where* to find manufacturers and retailers — you can probably do much of that by searching online — but hopefully this gives you some strategies that you can use when you find those leads. Good luck!

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Kris vs. Keris
The term keris comes from the Malay and means ‘dagger.’ The Malay term is from old Javanese word ngeris which means ‘to stab’ or ‘to pierce’. Kris is a European rendering of this Malay term. As noted by Frey (2003), kris is the more frequently used term. The correct term, keris, is justified by the title of the Ensiklopedi Keris (Keris Encyclopedia) by the late Bambang Harsrinuksmo. Some collectors prefer keris, others kris. Older spellings include cryse, crise and criss.

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Blade and fittings
Kris blades are usually narrow and have a wide, asymmetrical base. Blade length is highly variable. The blade is made from different iron ores and often contains nickel. A bladesmith, or empu, makes the blade in layers of different metal. Some blades can be made in a relatively short time, while more legendary weapons can take years or even a lifetime to complete. In high quality krises the metal of the blade has been folded dozens or even hundreds of times and handled with the utmost precision. There are kris blades that carry the imprints of the smith’s thumbs, or even lips, used in the forging process. The different metals formed into the blade give the steel its distinctive ‘watered’ appearance. This is called pamor or pamir and is similar in concept to Damascus and Japanese steel. Blades are acid etched after forging to bring out the brilliance and darkness of the metals used. Iron ore sources are rare in some areas of the Malay world, especially in areas of Java. Empus are very resourceful in finding blade materials and have used everything from meteorite iron (rare and highly prized in keris and usually have a high titanium content) to scrap from fallen World War II aircraft. Kris blades can be straight or sinuous. With sinuous blades, the bends are called luks. Most krises have fewer than 13 luks and there will always be an odd number.

A kris and its sheath have many parts. The names for these parts vary by region, but for the most part, these are the standard terms: ukiran – handle/hilt; patra – handle carvings (especially on Javan ukiran); selut – metallic cap on the ukiran (not on all krises); mendak – metal cup on the tang between the ukiran and the blade guard; wilah – blade; pocok – blade point; peksi – tang; ganja – guard/parrying structure; wrangka – the wide, top portion of the sheath; gandar – the narrow portion of the sheath; pendok – a metal sleeve for the gandar; buntut- end of the pendok.

The ukiran and the sheath are often made from wood, though examples from ivory, even gold, abound. Different regions in Southeast Asian produce different styles of wilah, ukiran and sheaths. One beautiful material used for some ukiran and wrangka was fossilized elephant teeth. A tooth would be cut to transect the enamel folds and polished. The result was a stunning work of art.

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Origins
Frey (2003) concludes from Raffles’ (1817) study of the Candi Sukuh (Candi is pronounced chundi in Malay) that the kris recognized today came into existence around AD 1361. Scholars, collectors and others have formed myriad theories about the origins of the kris. Some believe the form that is credited with being the earliest form of the kris, the keris majapahit, was inspired by the daggers of the Dong-Son in Vietnam (circa 300 BC). Frey (2003) dismisses the Dongson origin of the Majapahit. Unverifiable claims of another form predating the Majapahit exist. Kris history is traced through study of carvings and bas relief panels found in Southeast Asia. One of the more famous renderings of a kris appears on the Borobudur temple and Prambanan temple.

[edit]
Use
Functionally, the kris is not a slashing weapon like a bowie knife or other fighting knife, but rather a stabbing instrument. The kris was mostly out-matched against anything other than another kris. If a kris fighter had stealth on his side, the kris was lethal. There are many stories of a kris being made especially for killing a specific person.

One of the most famous folk stories from Java describes a legendary kris bladesmith, called Mpu Gandring, and his impatient customer, Ken Arok. Ken Arok wanted to order a powerful Kris to kill the chieftain of Tumapel, Tunggul Ametung. Ken Arok eventually stabbed the old bladesmith to death because he kept delaying the scheduled completion of the kris, which Ken Arok had probably ordered several months before. Dying, the bladesmith prophesied that the unfinished or incomplete kris would kill seven men, including Ken Arok. The prophecy finally came true, and the unfinished kris of Mpu Gandring disappeared.

Krises were worn everyday and at special ceremonies, with heirloom blades being handed down through successive generations. Yearly cleanings, required for as part of the spirituality and mythology around the weapon, often leaves ancient blades worn and thin. In everyday life and at events, a man usually only wore one kris. Women sometimes also wore krises, though of a smaller size than a man’s. In battle, a man could wear three krises: one of his own, one from his father-in-law and one a family heirloom. The other krises served as parrying daggers. If the warrior didn’t have another kris to parry with, he used the sheath. Krises were often broken in battle and required repairs. A warrior’s location determined what repair materials he had. It is not unusual to find a kris with fittings from several areas. For example, a kris may have a blade from Java, a handle from Bali and a sheath from Madura.

In many parts of Malaysia and Indonesia, the kris was the weapon for execution. The specialized kris, called an executioner’s kris, had a long, straight, slender blade. The condemned knelt before the executioner, who placed a wad of cotton or similar material on the subject’s shoulder/clavicle area. The kris blade was inserted through the material and entered the body behind the clavicle. The blade pierced the subclavian artery and the heart. Upon withdrawal, the cotton wiped the blade clean. Death was fairly quick.

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Spiritual power
Discussing the essence of the kris is a complicated topic. For the most part, blades were considered to almost be alive in some cases, or at the very least holders of special powers. Krises could be tested two ways. A series of cuts on a leaf, based on blade width and other factors, could determine if a blade was good or bad. Also, if the owner slept with the blade under their pillow and had a bad dream, the blade was unlucky and had to be taken away. It is important to note that just because a blade was bad for one person didn’t mean it would be bad for another. Harmony between the owner and the kris was critical.

Some krises helped prevent fires, death, agricultural failure and myriad other problems. Likewise, they could do more than prevent problems; some krises brought on fortuitous harvests and other events. Krises could also have tremendous killing power. There are legends of krises moving around on their own and killing individuals they disliked. When making a blade, the empu could infuse into the blade any special spiritual qualities and powers the owner desires.

Because some krises are considered sacred, and people believe they contain magical powers, specific rites needed to be completed to avoid calling down evil fates. For example, pointing a kris at someone is thought to mean that they will die soon, so in ceremonies or demonstrations where ritualized battles are fought with real krises, the fighters will perform a ritual which includes touching the point of the blade to the ground to neutralize this effect.

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Moro kris
A Moro kris is a heavy sword of Philippine Moro invention with an asymmetrical blade approximately 50cm long. It may or may not be sinuous.

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Modern significance

Hishammuddin’s act of waving the keris (traditional Malay dagger) at the UMNO Annual General Meeting in 2005 drew applause from the UMNO delegates.In modern day Malaysia, the kris is used as a symbol of ketuanan Melayu, or Malay supremacy. In 2005, UMNO Youth Chief Hishamuddin Hussein brandished a kris at the UMNO general assembly in response to Opposition questioning of the Malaysian social contract, which was received enthusiastically by the Malay delegates, but scoffed at or criticised heavily by the intelligentsia of the nation. Prior to this, politicians have threatened that “krises shall be stained with Chinese blood” if the Chinese minority questioned Malay special rights.

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Media Depiction

Cover to Nightwing #118 (2006), with Jason Todd holding a bloody kris. Art by Jock.In Soul Calibur II & III, Kris is an unlockable weapon for the Dagger discipline and Kris Naga is Taki’s ultimate weapon.
Jason Todd, a comic book villain, uses a kris in Batman and related books, like Nightwing.
In the Dune novels and their subsequent film and television adaptations, the traditional weapon of the Fremen tribe is a crysknife, which is a sinous / wavy short blade made of the sandworm tooth. It may be inspired by the ‘real’ kris.
In Mortal Kombat: Deception the character Ashrah wields a kris (spelt Kriss)

admin answers:

Navel Jelly or Brasso is the first and least obtrusive way to start before using anything abrasive. Then try a small electric rotary tool using a felt disc (1/2″ x 1/8″) with a mild abrasive polish to get at the rest of the corrosion.

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Good evening Howling Glory

I came across Baroness by chance a few months ago {I think I may have asked a Q about them…} and whilst the music didn’t quite click with me {the music was great, but I couldn’t get into the vocals}, I really liked the artwork. They are very Art Nouvaeu in style…

Artwork 1)
# Is the woman on the left ‘curvy’, or pregnant…? Eggs are symbols of fertility and new life / rebirth {which is why we have them at Easter}. This could also explain the cockeral above her head.
# Are those lilies around her head? The lily is a female sexual symbol, though not usually that type of lily but ‘calla lilies’ {said to represent female genitals}: http://milan.milanovic.org/math/english/fibon/images/13.White%20calla%20lily%20with%201%20petail.jpg
# The full moon behind the pregnant woman, and all that water swirling are both strong female symbols. The moon rules the tides {and as such the lives of sea fish} and women’s bodies.
# It seems the catfish {in the 2nd woman’s lap} has become akin to the snake in male sexual references, but only since the Blues songs of the early 1930s.
# Not sure about those skulls beside the woman on the left, but maybe a connection to sirens and drowned sailors…?

Artwork 2)
# Notice the full moon again ~ two this time.
# I’m wondering if the circle of birds has something to do with the ‘wheel of life’ ruled by the fates {Birth, Life and Death}.
# Poppies symbolise sleep and death {note their use in Remembrance services}. In some myths, poppies are offerings to the dead.
# I think the woman on the right represents Death, due to the bones and skulls. And the one on the left is either Birth or Life ~ I believe those are beetles in her hair, and in Egyptian mythology they can symbolise creation, as well as one’s actions in life (judgement of the heart against the ‘feather of truth’).
# The shades of red and brown the women are wearing represent Earth, which is also a female element ~ Earth = hearth & home.
# Those insects tied to the reeds could be dragonflies, or bees.
Dragonflies are associated with Freya, the Norse goddess of love, fertility and war. They also represent transformation, adaptation and insight / wisdom. In European folklore they got names such as ‘Goddess’ Horse’, ‘Devil’s Needle’ and ‘Water Witch’.
Bees are a symbol of the devine feminine, and long regarded as messengers of the gods {hence the old tradition of telling good or bad news to the bees}, and they can represent hard-work and perseverence.
{there’s something in the back of my mind about dragonflies having a piece of thread glued to them, but I can’t remember…}

Artwork 3)
?!
# Ravens are birds of wisdom. That ‘tear’ shape around the eye of each bird ~ the tear-drop can represent the ‘third-eye’ / second-sight.
# Those could be sage leaves, also symbols of wisdom and knowledge. Is the smoke coming from the sage plants? Native Americans ‘smudge’ by burning bundles of sage leaves and using the smoke to cleanse.
# In the hand on the left ~ two wisdom teeth.
# The raised hands around the top of the head make me think of kids in school putting their hand up to answer, so maybe it represents knowledge, the idea that we just ‘know’ the answers somewhere inside.

Artwork 4)
Hmmm…
# Blue ~ female colour.
# Flowers ~ female sexual symbol.
# The white worm-like things could be butterfly chrysalis’, and butterflies represent transformation and change.

Artwork 5)
# The circle looks like more chrysalis’, especially as the figure seems to be wearing a crown of butterfly wings.
# The insects again could be bees or dragonflies.
# Ears of corn ~ fertility, growth, rebirth.
# Bones ~ death.
# The figure’s skin shows signs of pestilence, maybe smallpox or plague.
# That looks like smoke curling in on the left.
# “The darkest hour is always just before the dawn”. From death comes rebirth… Transformation…

Well, that’s my tuppenceworth for you!

admin answers:

If they weren’t so creepy then people would gladly add them to their fake deer and whirly-gigs. But they are scary and dangerous, so those gnomes can only blame themselves.

admin answers:

Here is one site that is selling plans to make your own windmill. The plans cost $9.95 and it is a really cute windmill. I will keep checking to see if I can find another option, maybe even free!

Http://how-to-plans.com/garden_windmill_plans_large_.html

admin answers:

I would check with a Home Depot or Lowes down here.. And it depends which way the patio faces… North side doesnt get all the direct sun…. East facing gets morning sun but not during heat of the day…. South and West patios need really hearty plants that can take Sun and Heat beacuse tey get it most of the day in summer.

admin answers:

Since you are a Yahoo user, try this link:

http://local.yahoo.com/

Good luck with your search.