Jason's Log Furniture Reviews

It has been awhile since I have truly experienced an Iowa winter.  We have enjoyed the warmth of the South the past two years and the much-milder-than-the-Midwest winters of the southeast for the three years prior to that.  I had forgotten how raw and blustery the Iowa snowstorms could be.

Others who live in our immediate area warned us that the wind really howls through our neighborhood.  However, they assured us that we are on the leeward side of the snowdrifts.  This winter season has been unusually mild so, until very recently, we had to take our neighbors at their word.  With this last storm, we experienced some of what they were talking about.  Our front yard was relatively drift-free, except for one that wrapped around from the corner of the house right to the driver’s side door of our pickup truck parked in the driveway. Luckily this was a light snow; otherwise, we may have had to shovel the door of the truck out of a drift in order to get into it.

As with nearly any drifting situation, a barrier can be used to control that nasty little guy in our front yard.  By putting up a fence-like structure at the corner of our house, we can shorten the drift enough to keep it away from the truck.  However, actual snow fences can be quite unsightly, need to be put up every fall, taken down in the spring and then tucked away in storage during the warmer months.  Luckily there are other options.

Shrubs, grass, and trees present natural snow barricades, as well as provide habitat for birds and wildlife.  The right varieties can enhance your landscape dramatically, as well as provide assistance with any drainage issues you may have.  Be sure to plant perennial varieties to lessen the amount of maintenance you have to provide.

Another alternative is to install a structure that works to block wind.  Just like natural plantings, it can beautify your landscape as well as provide a visual breakup to your garden.  A trellis, expertly crafted from naturally insect and decay-resistant cedar, is a perfect way to accentuate your landscape and to block the breeze when the winter winds blow.  This rustic backdrop for climbing vines will virtually disappear into its surroundings while providing height to the garden ensemble.  Leave the vines attached to the trellis during the winter to further enhance its wind blocking capabilities.  Use several of these trellises together for areas that need a wider snow “fence”.  They are a beautiful, low maintenance, eco-friendly way to block the snow without installing an unsightly fence in your front yard.

The landscape of communication has changed dramatically.  Not so many years ago, people had only a few options for talking to friends and family.  They could either pick up a telephone…one that was connected to the wall in the house…and dial a number, send a letter through the mail, or engage the other person in a face-to-face dialogue.  These days the possibilities are endless.  Nowadays the home phone has been replaced by cell phones.  I hardly remember life without them.  Email is a very popular and convenient form of communication, replacing snail mail letters.  And now, social media has become a highly popular means of sending and receiving messages.

The phrase “social media” encompasses many different outlets, but the most well-known is Facebook.  Originally developed as a means for students to swap information, it has since developed into a worldwide communication phenomenon.  Young and old have personal Facebook pages where they post status updates, showcase photos and videos, play games, and track posts from friends and chosen entities.  Facebook for business has also transcended many traditional ways of advertising.

Even primitive log furniture can be social in the modern world.  JHE’s Log Furniture Place has joined the social media movement.  If you become a fan by “liking” the page, you can receive exclusive content and special promotions.  JHE’s will provide updates and interesting information that you can only receive on your Facebook news feed.  Photos of furniture in progress are posted in albums on JHE’s Log Furniture Place wall.  A wealth of useful tips and tidbits can be found.  If you have a Facebook account, become a fan of JHE’s today!