THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9506300055
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE HOUSE
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
WHEN STROLLING the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, you might have noticed odd-looking orange bottles stuck to the sides of some buildings. And you probably wondered, what in the world are those?
They are 18th-century bird bottles, reproductions of an earthenware birdhouse based on an original excavated from the site of the James Geddy House in Williamsburg.
Now you can buy your own, for $15.95, at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center and other Williamsburg retail outlets.
The bottle can be hooked to the side of a building or hung from a tree. Not only does it make a festive decoration, it is a five-star hotel for our feathered friends. A transparent glaze makes the bottle waterproof and provides insulation for its residents.
In colonial times, the bottles served as nesting places to attract martins and other small birds to public areas. Tavern keepers liked having birds around, because they controlled the insect population.
The bird bottles also can be ordered by mail. For information, call (800) 446-9240. USE AND REUSE EVERYTHING
Two unusual recycling tips come from the July issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
Use the water leftover from boiling vegetables or eggs to water houseplants. Rich in nutrients, the water is like a vitamin pill for your plants. Just be sure to wait until it's cooled to room temperature before you pour.
Wait! Before you toss those worn and ragged tennis shoes, listen to this idea: Leaving the entire rubber sole intact, cut off the back third of the sneaker material. Now you have a pair of ``sneaker clogs,'' ideal for leaving at the back door to slip on and off for quick outdoor jobs like putting out the trash. A COSTLY OCCASION
In case you were wondering the average amount spent on a wedding present, a survey conducted for Lenox has an answer - slightly more than $82.
The survey for the china and crystal manufacturer tossed out other bouquets of trivia.
Among them, this:
The tendency to give money for a wedding gift varies dramatically by region.
In the Northeast, 79.4 percent of gift-givers included money as part of the gift, compared with 34.7 percent in the West, 38.3 percent in the South and 59.4 percent in the North Central regions. BE RUTHLESS BEFORE A MOVE
Take the mayhem out of moving by following these tips on the pre-move cleanup. The advice comes from the June issue of Southern Living magazine.
Clean out the attic, basement, garage and closets. And be ruthless. Donate usable items to a charity or have a garage sale.
If possible, measure the new house. No sense moving a 6-foot long sofa if you will have only 5 feet of space for it. Make sure your furniture will fit and that you can get it through the door and up the stairs.
If you are changing your decorating scheme, don't move furniture that you won't be using in the new house. For a local move, however, this would be a good time to send out pieces for recovering or refinishing.
Leave the heavy stuff behind. Firewood, bricks, scrap lumber and other heavy items of relatively low value per pound are very expensive to move.
Flammable or dangerous chemicals shouldn't be moved. Give them to a neighbor or check with your city about proper disposal. Leave paint behind for the new owners to use for touch-ups. CREATE A BATHING BEAUTY
Turn a bland and functional bathroom into a bathing beauty with these decorative touches suggested in the June issue of McCall's magazine:
Furnish the bathroom. Borrow objects from other rooms, and that sterile look will go down the drain. Hang an antique mirror or paintings you might display in the living room. Add picture-frame molding to a medicine cabinet. Bring in a small chair to hold bright bath towels. Make room for a floral bouquet and a scented candle.
Introduce color with wallpaper or a border. It instantly fills an empty room.
Paint or stencil a design on the tiles.
Add a valance to the shower curtain. Make one from lace or a fabric remnant to fill the void above the curtain rod.
Use small touches that will make a big difference. Change the hardware on the vanity. Use baskets for tissues, toilet paper or towels. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
WILLIAMSBURG PRODUCTS PROGRAM
Reproductions of 18th-century birdhouses cost $15.95.
by CNB