Aaaah, autumn! It’s the perfect time to entertain outdoors — most of the bugs are gone, the sun isn’t scorching even though it’s warm enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and there’s a bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal.

Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature.

Lighting

The earlier sunset will afford you an ideal opportunity to bathe your outdoor space in evening lights. Use soft light, but use plenty of it. Try dozens of votive candles in jars and glasses to protect the flame from the wind, hurricane lamps, or kerosene lanterns set on low. Create cozy seating areas and equip each with a glowing light source.

Heating

The method you’ll use to chase the chill from the night will vary depending on your climate and your outdoor space. If you have a yard (and community by-laws allow), a campfire is a wonderful informal party setting. In smaller gardens, consider self-contained fire pits or a chimenea.

For a more formal affair, you can install a propane-powered heater. These units are available in a range of heating powers and prices. Or, drape attractive throws or quilts on each chair for your guests to wrap around their shoulders to ward off the night air.

Of course, you’ll want to take advantage of the wonderful colors and textures of autumn in your decorating scheme and table settings.

Color

Autumn’s colors are deep and rich — russet, crimson, burnt orange, gold, dark green, and the color of hay. Use these hues repeatedly in tablecloths and settings, flowers, centerpieces, and even the food. Scoop out pumpkins and other squash and fit them with containers of water to make vases. Mass potted mums in vivid colors. Use orange Chinese lanterns, bright rosehips, stems of red or orange berries, or chilies. Wrap vibrant maple or sumac leaves around votive candleholders or napkin rings. Sunflower heads can be strewn on the tabletop, or left on the flower stalks in a container.

Texture

The textures of fall are earthy and rustic. Especially play these up if your gathering is informal — a corn roast, a bonfire, a jeans and sweater evening. Use burlap or rough cotton to cover your buffet table, and dish towels as napkins. Weigh down your tablecloth with apples or pears hung on rough twine. Or use rattan placemats and wicker baskets. Terracotta pot saucers make great paper plate holders.

If you’re hosting a fancy sit-down outdoor dinner, use the subtler textures of hydrangea blossoms and colored leaves on a linen tablecloth. Try bringing your indoor dining table outdoors for the evening-it will add unexpected elegance to your setting. Paint gold lettering on small gourds to use as place cards. Grace your table with late-blooming roses in crystal vases.

Whether you hold a harvest hoedown or a stylish sit-down dinner party for eight, fall for outside entertaining this autumn!

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site.

Heat is not the most unbearable thing in summer.What we hate most is the pesky mosquitoes.Because of the mosquitoes,we can not go out lightheartedly when night falls. Mosquito bites aren’t only uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous. Mosquitoes can carry several different diseases, including Malaria and Yellow Fever.Here are some great  tips to keep you and your family safe and itch-free on those beautiful summer nights!

• Cover up, but dress lightly: It is best to wear light colored clothes like khaki or white since mosquitoes are attracted to dark and bright colors. Cover up as much as you can with lightweight long sleeves and long pants to make it more difficult for the bothersome pests to bite you.
• Sip water not beer: A recent French study found that mosquitoes preferred the taste of beer drinkers over folks sipping on water. Other forms of alcohol have yet to be studied, so drinking wine or spirits may also make you attractive to skeeters.
• Skip the perfume: Mosquitoes also dine on flower nectar so you don’t want to smell like a floral garden. Skip the perfume spritz before heading out in the evening. You might want to check your clothing detergent; it could be making your clothes smell like blossoms.
• Exercise in the morning: Lactic acid, a byproduct of working out, attracts mosquitoes, as do perspiration and body heat. Work out earlier in the day, preferably the morning, to avoid baking in the heat and to decrease the bugs ability to find you in a crowd.

Heat can not represent the summertime.Do not forget that heavy rains and lightning occur frequently in summer.If you meet the heavy rain and lightning ,you should not relax your vigilance.If you are struck by lightning,it does usually more serious than heatstroke.But how to get away from the lightning? Follow the next tips,the rate of being struck by lightning is reduced.

1、Follow the 30/30 rule. Count the seconds after a lightning flash. If you hear thunder within 30 seconds, seek safe shelter (see step 2). Do not go outside again until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike.

More than half of lightning-related deaths happen after the thunderstorm has passed. Danger exists whenever thunderstorms are in the area, even when clear skies are directly overhead.

2、Only use safe shelters. Full-size buildings, such as houses or businesses, work best. Stay away from sheds or open shelters (picnic awnings or baseball dugouts). Hard-top cars, vans and trucks work well, but not golf carts, soft-top convertibles (even with the top up), bicycles, or motorcycles. Whether in a building or a car, keep all windows and doors closed.

3、While inside, avoid anything that conducts electricity and is plugged into a wall socket — phones, electrical outlets, lights, desktop computers, televisions, stereos, and water faucets (metal plumbing conducts electricity) are just some of the items to avoid. Portable devices such as wireless phones (stay away from the base station that’s plugged into the wall), flashlights, unplugged laptop computers, and personal MP3 players are all fine. Avoid metal door or window frames.

4、If you’re caught outside, go inside immediately. No safe options exist outside. Run to your car or a safe building as soon as you hear thunder.

5、Lightning can and does strike in the same place twice — hundreds of times, really. Conditions that draw lightning aren’t likely to change. If lightning strikes close to you, do not assume you are safe until the storm passes. See Step 1.

6、If you are struck by lightning, call the police and the hospital immediately. If you see someone struck by lightning, call the police and the hospital and treat any injuries as appropriate. Follow the same basic first aid steps as for any other victim. Expect to see burns, and if the victim is not breathing, begin CPR immediately. There’s no reason to avoid treating the victim; victims are not charged with electricity and are completely safe to touch.

The ting we can not tolerate in summertime is not only the hot weather,but the mold also brings us some troubles.Summer is the peak time for mold allergies.As warm and humid conditions increase so does the ability for mold growth. Mold grows in damp conditions where it reproduces and sends spores into the air. Inhaling these particles may trigger allergy like symptoms and nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation.

But, how could we do to prevent and clean up the mold? Next seven tips may help you combat the mold.

1.     Kill mold naturally.  Pour white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle and spray on the moldy area. Let it set without rinsing.

2.     Toss the bleach. Hydrogen peroxide kills mold effectively on clothes, floors, bathroom fixtures, walls and even kitchen appliances. It’s a great alternative to chlorine bleach because it’s safe for families and the environment. It also doesn’t leave behind toxic residue or produce toxic fumes as chlorine bleach does.

3.     Keep it dry. Keep the humidity level in your home between 40 to 60 percent. Use a dehumidifier during humid summer months and especially in damp spaces, like basements.

4.     Clean humidifiers.  Clean humidifiers on a regular basis to eliminate it as a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

5.     Store with care. Put away collectibles and winter clothes in plastic storage bags to prevent mold growth on clothes and other household items not in regular use.

6.     Use caution when wet. Dry all kitchen and bath surfaces thoroughly after use. Also check for leaks in the plumbing, walls and roof that can encourage mold growth.

7.     Keep air moving. Double-check the ventilation throughout the home. Use exhaust fans that vent outside the home in the kitchen and bathroom. Ensure clothes dryers vent outdoors as well.

Old dining chairs are easy to find and even easier to restore. A coat of white paint will hide most imperfections and a newly covered seat will finish the look. Follow these steps to rejuvenate old chairs.

What you will need：

-Chair with drop-in seat;
-Ffine-grade sandpaper;
-Low-sheen acrylic paint;
-Paintbrush;
-Slotted (flat head) screwdriver;
-Staple gun;
-Small hammer (from hardware stores);
-Upholstery tacks;
-Calico (if the seat padding is in poor condition);
-Upholstery fabric (from fabric stores).
-Photography: Andrew Lehmann   Styling: Rachel Brown

How to cover your seat ：

Step 1:

Remove the seat by pushing from below and set aside. Sand the chair frame with fine-grade sandpaper. Use a damp cloth to remove any dust. Paint the chair frame and allow to dry, then paint a second coat.

 Step 2:

Remove the old fabric from the seat by sliding a screwdriver under the staples or tacks and easing them out. Keep the old cover to use as a pattern for your new cover. If the padding is in bad condition, you might want to cover it with calico first (use the same method as for covering, below).
 

Step 3:

The old seat cover as a pattern to cut the fabric cover. Ensure there is an 8cm excess of fabric around the edge for securing to the seat.

Step 4:

Place the fabric wrong side up and iron to remove wrinkles. Place the seat, wrong side up, on the fabric. Fold one side of the fabric over the seat and lightly tack in place. Repeat on the opposite side. Once the fabric is stretched smooth and tight, use a staple gun to secure in place. Repeat with the remaining sides. For a round seat, tack in four places then pleat the fabric evenly around the perimeter using a staple gun to secure each pleat. To finish, place the seat in the chair frame.

The Chongwen branch of the Lady Book Saloon is nestled into a corner of the second floor in the New World Lady’s Mall. The Chongwen branch of the Lady Book Saloon has plenty of plush lavender chairs where visitors can curl up with a book on a lazy afternoon or relax during one of the store’s movie screenings. Books, including domestic and international titles, are arranged according to their relationship to women at the Lady Book Saloon. A children’s play area is equipped and ready to distract playful tots that come with their mothers to the Chonwen branch of the Lady Book Saloon. Access to the extensive DVD rental library is one of many benefits Lady Book Saloon members enjoy.The Lady Book Saloon also houses a café where readers can enjoy a cup of tea or a bite to eat

An old adage says “a woman’s work is never done.” The phrase is just as true, if not more so, today as it was over 300 years ago when the phrase first came about. In addition to traditional roles as wives, mothers, and daughters, today’s women are also under pressure to achieve professional success.

As women take on all these roles, it’s not surprising that a retreat that allows women to escape their busy lives and focus on personal development would be in demand. While women’s bookstores have long been established, they’re a rarity in China.

The Lady Book Saloon in Beijing is working to fill that void. While shying away from the word “feminist,” planning director Sun Tingting says the bookstore, now expanded to three branches, fills a special need that women have. “Reading is an effective method for spiritual growth,” she explains. “Through reading and communicating, women obtain an inner strength to be better employees, better wives, better daughters, and better mothers.”

The first branch, on Chengfu Road near Tsinghua University, opened in 2007, and the concept has been wildly successful. The bookstore’s membership numbers over 1,600 and about a million women have signed up to receive the store’s newsletter.

Members pay an annual fee, but in return get access to free books and a DVD library, food and beverage discounts and event discounts. They can even join in planning some of the store’s events and classes.

On a normal day, women can curl up with a book in the store’s reading area, relax in the house café, or surf the internet using the store’s Wi-Fi network. There is even a play area for women who bring along their tots. Events and educational classes are popular, focusing on subjects from art to food and even relationships. One recently-held class taught women how to use essential oils in home beauty treatments.

The Chongwen branch is tucked into a corner on the second floor of the New World Lady’s Mall. A free shuttle car runs between the subway exit and the entrance to the mall. With a soft lavender-themed interior and feminine decorations such as tea sets and scented candles for sale, there’s no mistake about the target audience. The books here are divided into sections, “Books written by women,” “Books written for women” and “Books women should read.” They include both domestic and international titles. The Lady Book Saloon is most popular with women aged between 20 and 45. Sun explains that women in this age group are experiencing changes in family and professional relationships, but still need to focus on inner growth.

Bookstores are facing increasing pressure from online book outlets, but Sun is confident that the Lady Book Saloon’s niche market and unique service will continue to allow the company to grow. “We don’t have a price advantage, so we take a more personal approach with warmer service and a more intimate experience,” she says. “Technology makes life more convenient, but the need for personal communication can not be replaced.”

Keeping with the idea of a personal experience, the Lady Book Saloon holds monthly meetings to get feedback and suggestions from customers to better expand services in the future. Sun envisions future bookstores as being cultural landmarks. “We will develop into a women’s club, where like-minded women can make friends and improve themselves through reading and communication,” she says of her plans for the bookstore chain.

The formula seems to be working. A new branch is set to open this fall in Beijing’s Xinjiekou neighborhood.

When most of us live in the city, we miss and look forward to the countrylife more and more. We like the sweet smell from the soil of countryside, the close touch with the nature. More and more people like to “plant ” on the internet, they enjoy the feeling of working and harvest.Why not to taste the life of a farmer?

Sweat, bug-bites, a few skull-meets-falling-orange episodes later… and I’m now officially hooked. Why? It’s fun! Whether you’re a social type or more of a contemplative loner, it’s honestly a great way to spend a few hours. Sure, there’s the do-gooder feeling that comes from knowing you’re bringing previously-wasted produce to poor families in need of nutritious food. But there’s also something actually enjoyable about plucking ripe, orange spheres from the sky and delivering them into boxes where they sort of glow against their own greenery. Before I wax too poetic about the whole thing, I’ll stop and say: Just come on. You can meet great people and make friends, or just find your own tree and let your thoughts wander while you help feed people.

If you have young children, your trip to Genting Highlands would be more complete if you visited the Strawberry Farm in Genting Highlands. It is best to visit the Strawberry Farm on the way home rather than on the way to Genting. Well, that is only my personal opinion.

You see, on the way to Genting, the kids are so excited about the prospect of playing all the games and rides, they probably couldn’t care less about picking strawberries. lol. However, on the way home, they are disappointed and a bit down and the strawberry farm is the best place to pick up their spirits again before leaving Genting. All you need is another 20-30 minutes for a walkabout.

You can handpick strawberries at the Strawberry Farm, look at the mushroom farm, the flower farm and the organic bean sprouts. There is a little Strawberry Farmhouse Cafe if you need a little snack. They also sell pretty kites and strawberry print umbrellas.