Category Archives: Guest Post

The Insulating Benefits of a Sleeping Bag Liner

As a necessary requirement for any camping activity or outdoor overnight activity, the sleeping bag is very important. When sleeping in the cold outdoors, it is vital that the proper type of bag is purchased. All products provide a rating on the label, so you know how much protection you will have against the cold. For bags that do not provide enough warmth in the cold, there are other options in improving performance, without purchasing another bag. A sleeping bag liner or travel sheet slips inside your bag, to improve its ability to protect you from the cold. Liners can be added or removed to meet the changing requirements from one day to the next or in different locations.  These products typically come with a zipper, which aids in keeping warmth in your bed roll.

One product available is the silk liner, which is desirable because it is soft, yet sturdy. Other products combine Egyptian cotton with silk, for an even more comfortable feel. Silk fabric is a soft and shiny when dry, yet becomes very strong when it gets wet. Woven silk provides insulation properties that are far better than other heavier fabrics. This makes it perfect for use with bedding, particularly in the outdoors. It can greatly improve the comfort level of the sleeping bag and allow the user to get a better night’s rest. Silk used to make consumer products interestingly comes from caterpillars. If you think about how well this creature’s cocoon keeps out chilling temperatures, you can understand the benefits that using silk will provide in keeping you warm.

If the high cost of a silk liner is not in your budget, you can buy a fleece liner as an alternative. Fleece is made of natural animal fibers, typically from the yak or sheep. It keeps animals warm, so it will help keep you warm inside your bedroll as well. Liners made of this fabric can be washed in a machine at home and are available in many bright colors as well. Coleman offers a desirable product which folds into a highly compact roll, which is kept in place with a stretch cord. This can keep you warm in temperatures as low as fifty degrees (F), by itself. This is an indication of just how warm you will be when using this product inside your bag. It is a very thin fabric, but provides quite a bit of warmth.

As weather conditions can change very quickly outdoors and wind chill can make the environment much colder, using a bag liner is the best way to ensure you will stay warm, when such conditions arise. Many have additional handy features, like a carrying pouch or a closable storage pocket. These items are easy to pack and take with your other camping gear.

Illinois Pocket Watch History

In a grand building standing on many acres, the Illinois Springfield Watch Company was born. The year was 1869. The man: J.C. Adams. Adams founded the company based on industry and a vision for the future. Springfield was a booming town and Adams, among others felt it was the perfect place for pocket watch manufacturing.

The first company directors included J. T. Stuart, once a partner of Abe Lincoln, a bank president named Williams, a local merchant named Miller and others. The Illinois Springfield Watch Company began production in 1872, however, things were not in full swing until around 1875. They initially produced key-wound watches and later, a line of fine railroad pocket watches as well.

The company reorganized twice, due in part to financial issues. By 1885, they had become the Illinois Watch Company. The company produced many a pocket watch, not all under the Illinois label. They brought us names like Burlington, Santa Fe, Plymouth and Washington, all produced by Illinois but sold by different means and various exclusive retailers.

The last pocket watch in the Illinois tradition was made in 1932. the Hamilton pocket watch company had purchased the Illinois Watch company in 1927, continuing to manufacture true Illinois. However, after 1932, Hamilton was producing watches with the Illinois label that were technically Hamilton pocket watches.

Just because the Illinois pocket watch ceased production in 1932 does not mean a collector can not still find them today. There are many classic Illinois pocket watches in excellent condition available for sale. Antique dealers, pocket watch guide websites and even ebay are great places to find them. As any collector knows, don’t expect them to come cheap, as antiques never do. The purchase price is going to be dependent on the pocket watch condition, model and year of production (age). The most important any collector or buyer should ensure is that the watch they are buying is authentic. Ask for proof. Any reputable pocket watch seller will be more than happy to meet this request.

The 3 Tech Breakthroughs That Changed Garden Lighting for Good

In the last few years, there has been a real spike in the popularity of solar garden lights.  There are many reasons for this.  They are simple to install, are comparable to traditional garden lights with recent increases in technology, AND they save you copious amounts of money off your power bills.

People like the fact that there is no wiring that you have to navigate through during installation.  Until recently, this type of light was not in the same ballpark as others that required wiring installation.  The lighting was less bright, the batteries didn’t last long enough, nor did the solar panels transform enough of the sun’s light to last very long after dark, so they just didn’t really justify purchasing this type of garden lighting.

In the last 5 years, there have been a number of technological breakthroughs which have made solar lighting much more efficient, and yet still cost effective.

The first was LED technology.  These greatly increased the brightness of any garden light, while using a lesser amount of power, which obviously plays right into the hand of any solar technology which needs to store power, as it lasts for longer.  It also moves them into direct competition as your regular outdoor lighting.

The second technological advance was in power storage.  Batteries which these lights use to store the power they receive from the sun have become much more cost effective, while becoming more functional.  Once the batteries are fully charged, they are able to last longer until they need recharging, and can handle more charges.

The third breakthrough is in the solar panels.  These have become much better at photosynthesizing the light (turning it into power), and the panels themselves have become much more competitive price-wise.

When you add these three factors up, you can see why solar lighting is now making significant inroads into the outdoor lighting market, as it is now a product that has comparable quality to normal lighting, and will actually pay you back for as long as you have them on your property.

There are many other interesting facts on Boneblogger. Look around.

How To Polish Stones By Hand

Ever asked yourself how it was that people two hundred years ago used to get their rocks and gems such as clear quartz to be so clear and perfect when they didn’t have rock tumblers available? It’s not like they could toss a few rocks into the sea and then sit back for a few decades waiting for for the water and sand to do its thing.

No, they did it all by hand. And if you’re interested in giving it a try, you might it to be a rewarding – if somewhat labor-intensive – undertaking.

So how exactly does one go about polishing rocks by hand?

Ideally, you should start with a soft stone – something that registers 3-4 on the Mohs hardness scale. This isn’t an absolute rule – you can work on harder stones, but the time and energy you have to expend is going to rise considerably. Start with something like onyx, or perhaps a calcite or dolomite.

Don some safety goggles, gloves and even an air mask. Rock dust is nothing to sneeze at, if you’ll pardon the pun. Using a small hammer and chisel, remove any chunks from the stone that stand in the way of its ideal form. Once the larger ones are gone, briskly grind the stone against some concrete. This will wear away the smaller protuberances.

When you’re pleased with the general size, get yourself some 50 grain sandpaper and begin to work over the entire stone. Concentrate on consistency – again, what you’re doing here is slowly grinding the stone into a final shape.

Once it’s there, you can start working with a finer grade sandpaper – say 150 grain. Again, simply get comfortable and work away at the stone. You are soothing the marks that were left by the concrete and the 50 grain sandpaper. It’s about this stage that your stone will start to resemble something finer and prettier than you see out in the field.

At this point you can move up to a finer grade of sandpaper – depending on the rock, anywhere from 300 to 600. This is the refinement stage. Any remaining blemishes are going to be smoothed away.

The final stage is working with ultra fine sandpaper – or even better, a soft cloth like denim. Slowly clean and rub the stone. Let it air dry, then apply a commercial stone polish – you can find this at just about any good hobby store that knows a thing or two about rock hounds.

You’ll notice that the final result looks a bit rougher than the stones you get through your tumbler. But take heart – you’ve worked really hard. You might find that a stone polished by hand means a bit more to you now!

How to set up a Cage for Rabbits

There are many misconceptions when it comes to keeping pet rabbits. One of them is that they can happily live in cages for long periods of time. While it is true that rabbits will definitely need to have a cage, you should always remember that they are the happiest when given some freedom to roam around as well. As such rabbits should be given a designated area for them to get some exercise while having a good cage to serve as a home base. Setting up a cage can be a simple matter of buying one from the store. But more careful consideration should be taken if you want your rabbit to stay happy and healthy.

Indoor rabbit cages come in all shapes and sizes and you can usually find one at a decent price in any local pet store. Standard varieties will come in rectangular shapes with a door latch that will either be on the top or the side. In general, the larger your cage is, the happier your pet bunny rabbit will be. They enjoy having space to roam around, especially if they are housed with another rabbit. Also remember that the cage will contain much more than the bunny itself. You’ll need adequate room for hay, bedding, and a food source. Water bottles can also be attached to the sides of cages or you may prefer to drop a water dish down for the rabbit.

Some people choose to combine two cages together using wire mesh. This is a great idea as long as you make the structure secure. The most important use you will have for your cage is to use it for litter training. With a good litter box you can train your rabbit to do its business in the given areas while keeping the mess to a minimum. Whenever possible, let your rabbit out of its cage to get some exercise. Make sure to supervise your pet to keep it out of trouble and with time, it will know how to go back to its own area when it’s time. As you can see, a good cage will serve as a home away from home while your bunny enjoys the other areas of your house.