My Urban Garden Deco Guide

The choices we make, the design of the garden, the function we choose for it ( ornamental or productive, recreational..) are all oddly relevant to global warming...

If it is a subject of interest then this link is to a fabulous BBC 58 minute program researching the history of theories on global warming ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00dhlgl/

Waouhhhh ! The Dallas hotel of the Starwoord group has a rooftop pool that qualifies as beyond stunning for audacity! Look closely and you will see the pool hangs ^OUT of the building...

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3321

I though I would give a few more details on the mini cow I posted about :

The Dexter breed is the smallest British breed of cattle. It is a dual-purpose breed, with the average weight of a cow being some 300 - 350 Kg's and standing 92cm - 107cm at the shoulder. There are two recognized types, short legged and non-short, both of which have their equal merits.

The Times has just posted an article about mini cows and other mini cattle that are emerging in gardens ...

'For between £200 and £2,000, people can buy a cow that stands no taller than a large German shepherd dog, gives 16 pints of milk a day that can be drunk unpasteurised, keeps the grass “mown” and will be a family pet for years before ending up in the freezer'

...' Today’s mini-cattleman follows a similar pattern, choosing to keep a single “house cow”, collecting the milk each day and using artificial insemination to produce one calf annually for meat. Many people start with one cow and let it produce a calf before sending it to slaughter at the age of two, when the meat is at its most tender and high in healthy omega3 fats.'

Designers will as they have for chicken ( via the i Podish Eglu) come up with 21 st century  ideas to make it a viable option. 

A quick 1.0.1 on raising a house cow :

 http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/articles/cattle/23_house_cow.htm

A great video :

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Mini-Cows-used-to-help-self-sufficiency-to-beat-credit-crunch/Video/200808315081613?lpos=video_2&lid=VIDEO_15081613_Mini%2BCows%2Bused%2Bto%2Bhelp%2Bself%2Bsufficiency%2Bto%2Bbeat%2Bcredit%2Bcrunch

 Nicolas Melan from   Sequoia Studio ( Hong-Kong) , brings us "Bahia"  in corian with a concrete base.

Seen at Design Icons ' The striking Zig Zag chair by Enzo Berti is great for any garden or outdoor space being made from moulded polyethilene. Available in transparent white, yellow, orange, red or black. Minimum order quantity 2. Made in Italy.'

I am currently looking at the complete James Bond series... and I think this new Wave piece is perfect for  the ultra gadgety anti credit crunch happy few !

A welcome change from BBQ and cocktails  ... I love this new idea : LED finger beams allowing you to light paint and share creativity with your guests!

http://www.cheapsalesconsulting.com/catalog/4PCS-LED-LASER-FINGER-BEAMS-p-27183.html

No finds today but I am watching The Man With The Golden Gun - James Bond  from 1974... all about the depletion of fossil energy !!! They were already discussing saving things thanks to solar energy!