It may sound harsh, but when money is involved, you can place your trust in no one but yourself. Even family members, or the most reliable of employees, or your longtime business partner, may give in to the temptation of leaking important business secrets, which should not leave your office. Or at a different level, it would be interesting to know what your employees REALLY think about you, what they talk about when you are not in the office and so on. It may be just gossip, or the usual small amount of dissatisfaction towards the boss, but one never knows, better stay on the safe side and be aware of it before it turns into something much bigger. The development of electronic and acoustic technologies makes it possible to listen to their conversations, when they think that no one will be listening? but actually someone is! How? With a wall microphone! What is a wall microphone? It is a device which, just by leaning on a wall, allows you to listen to any conversation taking place behind it. Some of them are equipped with a special electronically enhanced stethoscope, to convey the sounds from the next room directly into your ears, while others feature a ceramic microphone, so that anyone can find the one that best suits his needs. The quality of this kind of device is guaranteed by a built-in state-of-the-art processor, which separates voices from background noises, ensuring clarity of sound. These wall microphones can also be timer-activated, and connected to a recorder, to ensure that any conversation that takes place when you are not in does not get lost. This type of items is available in specialized online Spy Shops.

One of the most popular products released into the market these last few years is the iPod. Without a doubt, having an iPod is just as important as having a cell phone to most individuals. Not only can it store thousands of your favorite songs, but it can also store your favorite videos and most memorable photos. It is truly a high tech piece of equipment when you really think about it. Most iPods are so small that they can literally fit in the palm of your hands, but they can store so much information. On average, most iPods have about eight gigs of storage which means that it can hold tens of thousand of songs, videos, and photos. While the iPod is a remarkble device, it wouldn´t work without having the proper cables.

While the iPod itself can store countless items, none of this can be possible without having the right cables to transfer and load data. There are numerous iPod cables you can buy to make your iPod function efficiently. Some of these cables include the Belkin stereo link cable, the USB Sync cable, the iCruze cable, the six inch iPod compatible headphone splitter cable, and the belkin cable. These are just a few of the random cables that an iPod is compatible with, but there are several more. The more basic iPod cables would be the dock connector to USB 2. 0 cable, the dock connector to FireWire cable, and the dock connector to the USB cable. All these cables have different features to make your iPod work and do everything it is suppose to do perfectly.

The iPod has become one of the best inventions over the past decade. While the iPod is very popular and is one of the hottest items out on the market today, it couldn´t work without having the proper cables. There are several iPod cables for you to choose from to make your iPod experience the best it can be. Select the right iPod cables for you and enjoy your iPod. to the fullest.

Ensuring the right choice of cable company can involve considerable research. You will be able to find what you want in a cable company if you take the time to research what you have available to you. Time Warner Cable exceeds all other providers for quality for your investment in cable, internet and telephone service. If your choice is with this company, you will reap the benefits of more than just having your services bundled into one package. Discovering The Internet with Road Runner High-Speed Broadband ServiceWhen you choose Roadrunner via TWC, you will surely have the speediest service available. With this online connection, you can do your surfing and downloading quicker, all at lightning speeds. A reliable source will be able to provide you with free and updated security. With this internet service, you can surf the internet three times faster than with DSL, and possibly 100 times faster than with a dial-up connection. Think about how much time this will save you when surfing the Internet. From Time Warner Cable, Experience HD Quality with Digital CableCustomers of Time Warner Cable are thrilled with their new digital cable service. You get plenty of channels without any charge for extra equipment with this cable service. There are no long term contracts to worry about. Yet another reason to chose Time Warner Cable TV is that they have a big selection of movies, news, sports and how-to shows with such a diverse number of channels, so what more do you need? The premium movie channels available by subscription from Time Warner Cable and pay-per-view are an incredible value for the array of titles that can be accessed. Late costs are nonexistent, and you do not have to leave your house to return movies. All you have to do is press a button from the comfort of your couch and you will be watching a movie in no time. If You Want To Eliminate Per Minute Charges From Your Phone Bill, Order Time Warner Digital Phone ServiceYou will be amazed at the phone service you get when you choose Time Warner Cable as your provider. It’s hard to imagine that you’ll be able to phone anywhere and anytime for one set price. You get all the extras for free. Services such as call waiting and call forwarding are free. For just a single flat price, you get everything included. The great thing about this is you will know what your bill is going to be each and every month. There will be no surprises that have you worrying about where you are going to get the money to pay for all those long distance calls. By offering cable, internet, and phone service, Time Warner has produced legions of satisfied customers. One of the most preferred advantages is having every service listed on a single bill. No longer will you have to worry about juggling three bills – just pay it all at one time! In order to save time and money you may want to consider getting the Time Warner Cable Bundle!

Less than 150 days to opening day for the Minnesota Twins and excited fans are counting down to the 2010 season and expecting great things from the Twins. April 5 marks the opening day and players, coach and fans alike will be geared up to go. Catcher Joe Mauer recently added a third Silver Slugger Award to his mantle. Mauer won the Silver Slugger Award in 2006 and 2008. Following closely on the heels of a second straight Gold Glove Award, many consider Mauer to be one of the leading potentials for the American League MVP Award. We will soon find out as the announcement will be made on November 23. There’s been plenty of activity going on with the Twins this month and the excitement over some changes has the Twins camp looking ahead with optimism. The acquisition of shortstop J. J. Hardy in exchange for Carlos Gomez came just after the announcement of the moving sale, which was held on November 7. Fans were invited to the Metrodome and offered a variety of memorabilia and merchandise as the Twins prepared for their move to Target Field. Also related to the Target Field move, the Twins announced plans to launch “This is Twins Territory”; their 2010 advertising campaign. The first commercial will air on November 9 on local stations in Twin Cities. Although talks have been quiet between the Twins and Mauer, many fans believe that he is a cornerstone for the team and that talks will pull through to keep Mauer from heading to where more money is being offered. Many of the players are referring to Mauer as an outstanding player and hope to see him awarded the MVP Awarder later this month. With the brand new Target Field on the horizon for the Twins, fans, team members, coaches and staff are all looking forward to breaking in the new location. The Metrodome Stadium has been home to the Minnesota Twins since it first opened in 1956. Some fans are nostalgic about the move but most are excited about the new location of Target Field which is conveniently located. When it comes to seating option, there are a few things about Target Field seating that you should be aware of to ensure that your seat selection is the most comfortable and enjoyable one for you. Some seats are angled towards home plate more than the section. Protective netting behind the home plate covers sections 111-117, home plate terrace sections 212-218 and home plate view sections 312-318. You cannot view the left field wall from the home run porch view sections nor can the right center field wall be viewed from the grandstand. Overall, however, these custom seating arrangements offer visitors the opportunity to make the most of each ballpark experience at Target Field. Six different gates provide easy access to the field from all sides. Choices for seating include the main level, terrace level and club level. With approximately 18,500 infield seats and a total of 40,000 seat available, there’s a perfect seat at Target Field for you. More aisle and fewer seats per row than the Metrodome are just a couple of new features fans will enjoy. Transportation to Target Field by car, rail, transit, bus or bike is possible. Every level of Target Field will have heated concessions and restrooms and the roof canopy will offer protection from less than perfect weather. A total of six different types of seating provides fans with many options. These types include typical seating, pavilion seating, champions club seating, dugout club seating and legends club seating. Less than 6 percent of the Field has bleachers type seating.

With the economic climate as it is, people are worried about going with the wrong company for their wire and cable markers products. Finding the best deal for your company has become far important than it ever was before. So How Do You Know Who Is The Best Company To Purchase From? Firstly there are aspects of a company that you need to research:?    Do they cater for what you need??    Does the company have specific models and makes of items you require to make your decision??    Does their website have a good process contact such as a phone number or contact form? These factors depend on where you find your company whether that be online or through other medias. So What Are The Differences Between Each Company? Well, firstly some have an up to date News feed on their website for customers to see updates of all of their latest products, whether that be wire and cable markers or marking systems, identification systems or similar products. This is a useful tool for any company that introduce new products, offers or information that needs to be distributed to customers. However, so many other companies overlook the importance of this and customers do not know about new ideas that the company has installed. A good wire and cable company also guarantee quality for all of their customers. This is a big commitment to guarantee and if distributing throughout the world, this would result in many unhappy customers in a lot of different countries. Other big companies have a page telling their customers about their values, this is an excellent way for customers to understand what they find to be their main focus. But obviously not every company can have these elements, it is when they have none that you should research into them more thoroughly and compare them to those that offer more to their customers than just an average service.

In our modern world, glass is an every day part of life, but this was not always so. The elegant and ethereal medium known as ?glass? is simply and basically made of sand, and or, silica and a flux; sodium or potassium.   These elements fuse together when melted at a very high temperature, resulting in the product readily recognised as glass. Glass is an ancient invention, having been produced for the past 5000 years and particularly since the development of techniques in the 18th century.   The first glass makers were found in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, 5000 years ago with examples of this early glass surviving today.   At the time, it was seen as a very exotic product and study has shown that the simple techniques used were held as secret by those ancient artisans. The first glass products were rather crude bottles and flasks, produced by moulding the basic shape from mud.   The modelled shape was held by inserting a short metal rod into one end with the shape then dipped into molten glass thus forming the “core” of the flask shape.  Long molten threads of glass, known as “canes”, were then wound around this basic shape until the flask or bottle was complete.   Before its fall, Egypt held the monopoly on glass making throughout the known world.   When the Romans invaded Egypt, they quickly adopted the glass making secrets discovered.  It was, in fact, the Romans who continued the development of glass making with the introduction of glass blowing, around the 1st century BC.  It was from this Roman development of glass making that led to the production of glass through out the Western world. In the meantime, the Chinese had discovered glass which, in ancient China, was attributed with special properties such as the ability to keep evil spirits away.   It was also considered to have healing properties being associated with gemstones and crystals, however, prior to the 17th century, the Chinese found little use for this product.   It should be remembered that, up until the 19th century, architecture worldwide used very little glass in windows, with the Chinese favouring sheets of translucent paper.   Nor was glass required for storage purposes due to China?s highly developed and refined production of porcelain. While China had been producing glass since about 700 BC with various small glass workshops operating throughout the country, most of these workshops with their small random outputs, were short lived.  It is also apparent that glass did not rate Imperial patronage until the late 17th century with the Kang Xi Emperor (1662-1722) establishing the first state glass factory as an Imperial workshop in 1696.   The workshop was located within the palace walls of the Forbidden City and was staffed with the best craftsmen to be found in China.    The beautiful Chinese glass, so well known in the West as “Peking glass”, was in fact, introduced to the Chinese by a 17th century German Jesuit missionary priest.   The missionary supervised the establishment of the Imperial workshop and brought many Western techniques of glass and enamel work to the Chinese court.  As a result, Peking glass has been correctly described as a “stepchild” in the great family of Chinese decorative arts. Interestingly, it was the introduction of snuff, or, finely powdered tobacco, that led to the establishment of the Imperial workshop.  When Europeans first arrived in China, not only did they discover new and exciting things, but the Chinese, equally unaware of the Western world, discovered ideas new to China and snuff taking was one of them! Due to the fast developing habit of using snuff at the Imperial court and it quickly gaining popularity in high society, glass snuff bottles were produced.   The Imperial workshop commenced production of tiny bottles specifically, for the purpose of containing snuff or powdered tobacco being for use by the Imperial family, or, given as gifts to civil and military ministers of the Imperial court and foreign diplomats.                                                                                      A Chinese ?Peking Glass? table lamp, the lamp of typical thick walled, heavy construction, weighing just over 4 lb / 1. 8kg.   The mustard yellow lamp standing on a custom made, gilt wood base and seated in a gold plated bronze ring, the lamp fitted with a gold plated bronze cap.   Circa 1900.   Overall height (including shade) 22″/56cm                                         A Chinese ?Peking Glass? table lamp. The glass of a rich cobalt blue and of typical Peking glass type, thick walled and a heavy base with a weight of 4. 2 lb / 2 kg. The down light of the lamp producing an effective illumination of the cobalt blue glass, (more widely known in the West as Bristol blue). The lamp fitted with a turned, gold plated bronze cap and standing on a turned Maple wood base burnished with Dutch gilding.  Circa 1900       Overall height (including shade) 20?/50cm   These early productions were monochromes or, single colours in Imperial egg yolk yellow, ruby red and opaline green.   They were of simple shape, or, ’’scholar’s taste”, ranging from plain to highly decorative pieces with multicolored glass overlays, the glass being either carved or faceted.   Overlay glass was later developed.   This involved dipping a glass item into a vat of molten glass of contrasting colour.   The shape was then cooled, requiring a 3 day period after which it was decoratively carved revealing the original coloured layer of glass.   Glass carving is a lengthy and tedious process, both time consuming and labour intensive.   The final shaping and polishing is done by hand in the traditional jade-cutting process of methodical grinding and polishing.   The Peking glass lamp illustrated is a single color example and was produced by repeatedly dipping the glass shape into a vat of molten glass until the required shape was produced and finally finished and polished. Today, Peking glass is found in many forms both functional and purely decorative.     The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique lamps with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique lamps.   Lamps are shipped ready wired for the US the UK and Australia.  For more information you are invited to visit their web site at:-  www. antiquelampshop. com  © The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009  

Most people think a basement remodel is one of the easiest home remodeling projects to complete.   More often than not, it is actually one of the more complex projects.   Basements often have water and drainage problems, inadequate ceiling heights, old sloping concrete floor slabs, no insulation, and no easy way to connect the plumbing.   And most people expect the basement to serve many purposes.   Often the basement is designed to accommodate work and play, media rooms, storage and craft areas and many other uses. So unless you are looking for a simple, one-room remodel, be prepared to address a number of challenges. Measure the head heightMany basements don’t have adequate floor to ceiling height to create livable space.   Older homes especially have inadequate head height since the space was only ever meant to be used as storage.   Also, basements will often have pipes and ductwork that hang down below the floor structure of the level above the basement.   It is often impossible or too expensive to move these.   So when measuring head height, measure from the lowest objects on the ceiling.   Keep in mind that if ducts and pipes are confined to one area, it may be possible to step the ceiling height so some areas are higher than others. Assess how level the slab isMany older homes had a very poorly constructed concrete slab as the floor.   Often this slab is so out of level that one side of the basement is several inches higher than the other.   Without removing the slab or pouring a topping slab to level it, it will be challenging to construct anything level and square.   Plus when furniture is moved in when the project is complete, it won’t sit flat on the floor, which will call even more attention to the problem.   Spend the money to make the floor level.   In the long run it will be worth it. Be sure the basement is dryDon’t put money and labor into a basement that is not dry without solving the problem.   If the basement has water problems, a drainage system is the best solution to solve the problem.   Typically a portion of the floor slab is removed around the inside of the basement perimeter and rock and drainage pipe are installed to drain to a sump pump location where the water collects.   The sump pump will periodically drain the water to the exterior when necessary.   If water is coming through the center of the slab, it may be necessary to install drainage within that area of the slab as well.   It may be tempting to try some of those roll-on waterproofing systems.   Typically these do not provide a lasting solution.   It’s important to make a way for the water to drain away easily.   Water will take the path of least resistance, so making an easy way for the water to drain is the best way to maintain a dry basement. Insulate the wallsMost jurisdictions will require the walls of the basement be insulated if is being turned into living space.   Usually this is accomplished with installing 2×4 stud walls adjacent to the basement walls and installing fiberglass batts.   Keep in mind that wood that is not pressure treated should not be in contact with concrete, so often times the 2×4 walls are held away from the concrete, so only the bottom wall plate has to be pressure treated.   Consider using a higher R-value foam insulation instead of fiberglass.   Since foam insulation has a higher R-value per inch, you can reduce the thickness of the perimeter insulating walls by around 2″.   This means more floor space.   Also a closed cell foam will act as vapor retarder as well, which will help keep the wall cavity dry.   If you are adding a bathroom, assess how it will be plumbedMany basements need an additional bathroom since it’s inconvenient to go upstairs every time you need to use the bathroom.   Installing a basement bathroom can be a challenge because most basements have a concrete slab as the floor.   Usually this means cutting out portions of the slab to install drains for toilets, showers or tubs, and other fixtures.   Do this instead of installing a floor on top of the slab and having a step up to the bathroom.   In the end, it will be worth the additional cost. It is also necessary to assess how the house is connected to the sewer, and the elevation of the sewer.   It is easier to install a bathroom when the sewer outlet is below the level of the new basement bathroom drains.   If the sewer outlet is above the basement floor (as it often is in older homes) then the sewerage will need to be pumped up to the sewer outlet.   Alarms and other safety systems should be installed to alert the occupants when the pump fails or there is a power outage.   Adding a bedroom?A basement bedroom is a popular item to include in a basement remodel.   A particular challenge of adding a bedroom is the requirement for an egress window to allow individuals to escape if there is a fire.   Since the size of this window is quite large (it is actually sized to allow a fire-fighter to gain access to the house with equipment on), the window will often be partially below the exterior surface level, or grade.   To solve this problem, a window-well is constructed on the exterior of the house to allow access to the window.   This also has the added benefit of increasing the level of light in the basement, making it seem more open and connected to the outdoors.   There are minimum sizes for egress windows and window wells, so following the code is important, otherwise you will not pass the building inspection. Make it multipurposeA basement will serve many functions, so it’s important to plan for and consider all the uses.   Basements are often used as play areas for children, work areas, sleeping areas, storage areas, exercise areas, and media rooms.   Consider how materials chosen for the floors and walls will aid in allowing the space be used for multiple uses.   Also keep in mind that if children will be playing on the floor, a basement floor is often quite cold, so carpet may be a good choice since it usually has a thick insulating pad. If you want a hard surface floor, consider a floating floor of wood or cork (but keep in mind that you often have to test how much moisture is coming through the slab to see if the product will be suitable for your application).   A basement remodel is one of the most popular remodels because often times it takes advantage of space that is already existing.   While it appears to be simple, it can often be one of the more challenging projects to complete.   But a well design basement often becomes the preferred ‘hang out space’, so it’s well worth the investment of time and funds.   Don’t skimp on doing it right, because in the long run you will get many years of enjoyment out of a well designed space.

It used to be that cable TV was the technology of choice for getting TV programming. This was true even with the early availability of satellite TV, but satellite TV at the time was too expensive for most people to afford, and even those who could afford it still had to contend with the massive satellite dishes that the technology of the time required.

By the first half of the nineteen nineties, the situation changed with the introduction of new satellite TV technology that provided a much needed improvement upon both the satellite TV that came before it as well as cable TV. This new wave of satellite TV technology required only a small satellite dish that was three feet across at the most rather than the older monstrosities that were over ten feet across. At the same time, the new technology enabled satellite TV technology to deliver more channels at very reasonable prices.

The exodus of TV viewers leaving cable TV in favor of satellite TV started because of the realization that spending about the same amount of money on satellite TV that they had been paying for cable TV could provide those viewers with a much larger selection of channels. The fact that the satellite dishes were so much smaller and therefore more manageable also made a huge difference when it came to making satellite TV a realistic alternative for suburbanites who hadn’t had room for the older dishes. The cable TV company made its own situation worse by dismissing the extra channels as lower quality than what cable TV provided and therefore not interesting to viewers. What the cable industry didn’t take into account was that viewers like having more choices and if they could spend the same amount of money that their cable TV subscription had cost on a service that offered about three times the number of channels, all of those extra channels were essentially free. In short, nobody but the cable TV industry cared whether or not the extra channels offered by the satellite TV industry were of decent quality because they were essentially free.

Now the cable TV industry is finally implementing technology that could turn the tables in the other direction. This technology is called switched digital video. Switched digital video essentially increases the number of separate channels that a cable TV provider can offer by making better use of existing cable TV bandwidth. Right now cable TV providers simply send out all of their channels all at once to all of their subscribers. The digital receivers of the subscribers then filter out those channels. The channels that aren’t part of the subscription are filtered out first, and then all of the channels that the subscriber doesn’t want to watch at a given time are filtered out. This means that even though the cable TV company may be transmitting hundreds of channels over a cable- and taking up most, if not all, of the cable’s bandwidth- any given viewer is only watching one of those channels at a time. Switched digital video allows the cable TV company to deliver just the channel that a viewer wants to watch at any given time. This means that the company can provide a virtually unlimited number of channels.

Switched digital video may be just the technology that the cable TV industry needs to bring customers back from satellite TV.

Toilet roll dispensers come in various shapes and sizes in order to work with the amount of room the bathroom has. Different materials are used to make bathroom dispensers, but each type provides you with a long lasting device. There are controlled and non-controlled delivery tissue dispenser options that come in several designs and mounting choices. There are also models that allow for large toilet rolls to be used instead of the standard size. You’re guaranteed to find the toilet paper dispenser that works best with the amount of space available. Single Toilet Tissue Units Single toilet tissue holders can be found in chrome plated zinc, epoxy coated aluminum, chrome plated steel, cast aluminum, chrome plated brass, and stainless steel. Some models will have a controlled delivery system to limit the amount of toilet paper that is used with each pull. Standard toilet paper rolls will fit in this type of tissue dispenser. Many of the single bathroom tissue dispensers can be found in dual models with controlled or non-controlled delivery. Door and Wall Mount installation and Toilet Tissue Models Recessed single toilet paper holders are great for tight areas. Stainless steel with a bright or satin finish and chrome plated brass can be found with or without a hinged hood. Non-controlled delivery is most common with recessed toilet roll dispensers. There are also models that have a shelf attached to serve as an additional storage area above the toilet roll. You can easily use this area to store extra rolls of toilet paper or as a place for a customer to hold their personal items. The shelf is available in a color laminate with various shades to choose from. You can easily match the color with the rest of the bathroom to give it a more amiable appearance. Dual Toilet Paper Units Dual bathroom tissue dispensers are available in cast aluminum, stainless steel with a satin or bright finish, chrome plated zamac, and chrome plated steel. You will have multiple options on how you prefer to have the device mounted. Surface mounted, recessed, and partition mounted can hold up to four rolls at a time; which means less frequent refills. You will also have a choice between controlled and non-controlled delivery models. Large Roll Tissue Units Large toilet paper dispensers are made to hold jumbo sized toilet tissue rolls. The models are made of satin finish stainless steel and are surface mounted. There are models available that will hold single or dual jumbo rolls. Depending on the dispenser, they can hold a large toilet paper tissue roll that is up to ten inches. Large toilet paper holders are great for areas with enough space within each stall. Tissue Dispenser Options The amount of space you have inside the bathroom partitions will help determine what kind of toilet roll dispenser you choose. Many recess mounted models can help save valuable space in areas that don’t have a lot of extra room. For bathrooms that have spare space, installing dual toilet tissue holders can be the better option. Your customers will want to have a restroom area that is known to have toilet paper available. Dual toilet tissue dispensers require fewer refills from employees while still having toilet paper accessible to your customers. Learn more about Bathroom Accessories including ADA requirements for bathroom toilet paper products and specifications by contacting XPB Lockers.

Bring the beauty and warmth into your home with our prints, rustic decor, home furnishings and kitchenware. From whimsical to dramatic, you’ll find something to please everyone in your family with rustic home furnishings. For many city dwellers, rustic home furnishings are a way to escape the hectic urban lifestyle for the peaceful tranquility of rural living. When it’s impossible to leave the corporate rat race behind, an urban apartment or city house decorated in rustic home furnishings can be a relaxing place to unwind after a stressful day at the office. Country decorating utilizes natural materials as much as possible and decorative items that look handmade even when they aren’t. Wooden floors may be polished to sheen, yet have characteristic marks from decades of being walked on. Braided rugs are scattered about, providing texture and warmth. The walls may be painted in neutral shades or earth tones, or perhaps papered in small floral patterns or bold country motifs. For those living on country farms or in mountain cabins, the rustic decorating style is a natural choice that showcases the tradition of a farming heritage. And for those who live in-between, the suburbanites, upscale country home furnishings can provide a comfortable gathering place for family and friends to enjoy each other’s company, or to relax after a long commute. Popular designs incorporate such elements as apples, floral wreaths, roosters, birdhouses, hearts, and Americana folk art for borders or to be used either above or below chair railing or crown molding. Wide borders with bold patterns complement smaller matching designs, checks, stripes, or plaids that can be used for larger wall areas. A bear or moose motif may be used with more rustic home furnishings to create a log cabin ambience or to bring the feel of wilderness living into the dwelling. Chandeliers that look like wagon wheels or that are made from antlers, whether authentic fixtures or reproductions, are common lighting elements for rustic decorating. From moose wall plates and elk switch plates, to bear coat hooks and deer towel bars, loon key holders and pinecone or leaf curtain swag holders, we are your source for rustic metal art decor featuring wildlife and fish themes for decorating your log home, lodge, cottage and log cabin. A dark brown leather sofa fits perfectly in a country theme, especially when teamed up with either complementary or contrasting upholstered chairs. Comfort is a primary factor when it comes to selecting seating for the rustic dwelling. Throw pillows and curtains can be made from the same fabric to add a unified look to the room, though window shutters are an innovative alternative to traditional drapes when it comes to window treatments. A stack of folded quilts, perhaps piled in an open trunk or a large basket, invites family and friends to wrap themselves up on chilly evenings while watching television or reading a good book. Or handmade afghans can be draped over the back of the sofa and chairs. Such simple decorating elements provide a hospitable feel to a family room. Baskets, in a variety of shapes and sizes, are also an integral element of country decorating whether handmade or mass-produced. To add additional interest, baskets can be lined with calico prints or trimmed in lace, filled with balls of yarn and embroidery projects, or hold freshly baked cookies for mid-afternoon snacking. Another idea for bringing elements of nature into the house is to arrange a small collection of bird houses on a plant shelf or countertop. Other collectibles can also be displayed, perhaps rag dolls or stuffed teddy bears.