House as a Mirror of Self presents an unprecedented examination of our relationship to where we live, interwoven with compelling personal stories of the search for a place for the soul. Marcus takes us on a reverie of the special places of childhood--the forts we made and secret hiding places we had--to growing up and expressing ourselves in the homes of adulthood. She explores how the self-image is reflected in our homes; power struggles in making a home together with a partner; territory, control, and privacy at home; self-image and location; disruptions in the boding with home; and beyond the "house as ego" to the call of the soul.
As our culture is swept up in home improvement to the extent of having an entire TV network devoted to it, this book is essential for understanding why the surroundings that we call home make us feel the way we do. With this information we can embark on home improvement that truly makes room for our soul.

Welcome to the world of safer, greener household cleaning. This friendly book will help you become more self-sufficient and benefit your health, the environment, and your bank balance. Natural Household Cleaning is packed with clear, easy-to-follow cleaning recipes to replace common commercial cleaning products with natural alternatives. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that your kitchen cupboard already contains many harmless options for transforming your home into a clean and fresh-smelling haven. Lemons, salt, vinegar, baking soda, and club soda are just some of the natural ingredients that can be used to clean the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, floors, and everything in between. Many of us don't realize just how easy it is to make your own cleaning products and achieve truly amazing results. Turn a chore into a pleasure and discover a whole new way to clean!

'Not a cosy series of reminiscences but a slice of bygone reality. This delightful collection of country curiosities shows rural life in the raw a hundred or more years ago. Hugely enjoyable, a real eye-opener and surprisingly useful!' Alan Titchmarsh A perfectly formed and beautifully presented collection of titbits from the ever-surprising pages of Country Life. Flitting from observations on cheese rolling in Gloucestershire to smuggling silk in Sussex, from Shakespeare's Avon to the vanishing sign language of country tramps ... and all by way of a charming rumination on the origins of the simnel cake. Within these lovely pages there will indeed be something for everyone. Classic writing on the idyllic British countryside, Wodehousian ruminations on fishing and golf, and moving accounts of beloved (and unusual) pets. With a highly entertaining blend of expert views and humorous asides, Curious Observationsis a perfect Christmas gift.

Chatsworth has been home to the Cavendish family and the hereditary dukes of Devonshire since the original Elizabethan house was built on the site purchased by Sir William Cavendish in 1549. A famous historic house in England, Chatsworth is renowned as much for its fashionable history its majestic dresses and tiaras, its magnificent lace and splendid uniforms as its unrivalled collection of art, its palatial gardens, and its celebrated family dynasty. House Style takes the reader through images of show-stopping ensembles by the most celebrated designers of the day, from the Victorian era s Jean Philippe Worth to Alexander McQueen, and also features historic examples of ceremonial, military, court costume, fancy dress, and estate liveries, as well as clothing worn by members of the family to ride, hunt, shoot, and fish. New images of the rare surviving garments and gorgeous contemporary photographs are accompanied by new essays from leading historians and fashion critics. An exclusive invitation into the glamorous world of Chatsworth, this book is a true collectible for Anglophiles, fashion-history aficionados, and those fascinated by aristocratic style.

What’s the favorite four-letter word of people who are less than fully organized? “Help!” So many technological, social, and economic changes affect your life that you need organization just to keep up, let alone advance. Many people have two jobs – one at the office and one taking care of things at home. If you have a family, you may count that as a third job. Caring for elderly relatives or have community commitments? You can count off four, five, and keep right on going.

No matter what life stage you’re in, getting organized can make every day better and help you achieve your long-term goals. Organizing For Dummies is for anyone who wants to

• Polish his or her professional reputation
• Experience less stress
• Increase productivity
• Build better relationships
• Maximize personal time

Organization isn’t inherited. With the human genome decoded, the evidence is clear: DNA strings dedicated to putting things into place and managing your time like a pro are nonexistent. Instead, organization is a learned skill set. Organizing For Dummies helps you gain that skill with topics such as:

• Understanding how clutter costs you in time, money, and health
• Training your mind to be organized and developing a plan
• Cleaning house, room by room, from basement to attic (including the garage)
• Creating functional space for efficiency and storage
• Time-management strategies for home, office, and tavel
• Scheduling, delegating, and multitasking
• Making time for your family
• Managing your health – physical and financial
• Finding time for love
• Organizing and cashing in on a great garage sale

Getting organized is about unstuffing your life, clearing out the dead weight in places from your closet to your calendar to your computer, and then installing systems that keep the good stuff in its place. Organizing is a liberating and enlightening experience that can enhance your effectiveness and lessen your stress every day – and it’s all yours simply for saying “No” to clutter.

Building a Garage is a practical, step-by-step guide which covers all aspects of building a garage from the planning and design stage through to construction and completion. Whether you would like to build a garage yourself or employ a builder, whether you want to construct a double or a single garage, whether you wish to build with bricks or wood, and whether you require a garage just to house your car or also to provide storage and workshop facilities, this is the book for you.

This book is written for beginning and intermediate wood carvers interested in carving a traditional Hopi kachina-style doll. Tom Moore, a respected kachina-style doll carver for forty years, provides historical information about the evolution of kachina dolls and kachina carvings. He traces the art form from the early days, when the dolls were intended to be educational toys for children, until modern times, when they became wood sculptures collected by non-Hopis, costing thousands of dollars. This fascinating book provides patterns, respectful background information, and step-by-step instructions for carving and painting Corn Dancer, Poli Sio Hemis, and Crow Mother in the traditional manner. Tom's interpretations of the dolls include the traditional "belly-acher" pose, bright colors of the 1980s style, and the all-wood approach currently favored by Hopi carvers. The book provides a photo gallery, index of terms, and lists of tools used and materials required.