The signs of pregnancy are those changes which can be objectively observed by a woman, her doctor or both. Early in pregnancy these signs can be confused with other conditions but in the last half of pregnancy there can be little doubt about a woman’s condition. Some of these signs do not occur in every pregnant woman. Others, however, always accompany pregnancy.

Change in the skin. From the beginning of pregnancy certain areas of the skin may become more heavily pigmented. At first the pigmentation is localized around the nipples and in a straight line down the middle of abdomen. This is usually quite apparent about the end of the second month. Pigmentation in the form of blotches may appear on the face, hands, or other parts of the body. When they occur on the face they are sometimes termed the “mask of pregnancy”. Wherever this pigmentation occurs, however, it is only temporary and disappears after childbirth.

In some pregnancies a skin condition known as striae is found. Pinkish lines are seen about the abdomen, breasts, and thighs, sometimes producing a sensation of itchiness and superficial tenderness. After childbirth the striae become white and almost unnoticeable.

Rarely, but in some pregnant women, fine hair appears on the surface of the body, particularly on the face. This almost invariably disappears soon after pregnancy.

Changes in in the vagina and uterus. The lining of the vagina, which is the canal or tube leading from the uterus (womb) to the external orifice of the genital canal, and through which the child is born, becomes darkened early in pregnancy. The tip of the womb softens and enlarged. A physician considering these changes along with symptoms reported by his patient sometimes can tell, with a fair degree of certainty, whether or not his patient is pregnant.

Changes in the breasts. Nature prepares the breast of a pregnant woman for nursing her infant. Whether or not she choose to breastfeed her baby is another matter. In any case, the supply of blood in the breasts increase and the blood vessels become apparent through the skin. Toward the end of the first month of pregnancy a pricking sensation and feeling of weight are experienced in the breasts. During the next few months, a secretion gradually forms which toward the last days of pregnancy becomes abundant and almost continuously discharges from the breasts. This is whitish opaque substance called colostrum. The appearance of this substance is an indication that it is highly probable that the mother can successfully feed her baby.

A second breast change occurs about the eighth week of pregnancy and is a positive sign of conception. This is a new growth of tiny glands in the pigmented area around the nipples. This have the appearance of little protuberances and are known as Montgomery’s tubercles.

Quickening. The baby is in fact a living creature from the instant of conception, but it’s movements are first sensed by it’s mother about the eighteen week of pregnancy. This movement is called quickening – literally, coming to live.

Increase in size of abdomen. In a woman of average size, there is a slight bulge of the lower abdomen at about the third or fourth month of pregnancy. This alone, however, is not sure evidence of pregnancy because a tumor may cause a similar contour.

Fetal outline and movements. During the fifth month the baby’s movement can usually be detected by the doctor, by touch or by direct vision. By exploring the abdomen by hand, he can outline the fetal parts. The outline and movements are positive signs of pregnancy.

Fetal heartbeat. When the fetus is four and a half months old, a doctor, listening through a stethoscope, can hear the baby’s heartbeats. These are distinguishable from the mother’s heartbeat because the fetal rate is very rapid – approximately 160 beats per minute early in pregnancy and a little slower later. This in itself a positive sign of pregnancy.

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There you were, walking innocently through the mall, when you decide to go into the pet shop. Actually, your children make the decision, clamoring to get a puppy.

Among the roly-poly puppies is an energetic little black and white dog. Unsure what it is, you look at the card in the window. “Black Labrador Retriever” it reads. Surprised, you ask a clerk about the puppy, and are assured that it is indeed a purebred black Labrador. Purebred? Can black and white Lab puppies be purebred? The price certainly is “purebred” price!

As luck would have it, your children want that very puppy. You hesitate, and finally ask for the puppy to be held until the next day. Back home, you decide to do a little research. You go online, and search the Internet for “black & white lab puppies info”.

So Sorry

If the information you find is honest, you will learn that black Labradors do not come in black and white. Any dog billed as a white and black Labrador Retriever is of mixed blood. Unfortunately, disreputable breeders are working to convince the public that these mongrels are AKC registered dogs. Indeed, with a bit of dishonest paperwork, some may become registered as black Labradors, but their registration will not endure scrutiny.

Realizing that the puppy in the pet shop is far over-priced, since it is not purebred, you decide to look for a real black Labrador.

AKC Color Standard

The American Kennel Club (AKC) gives just 3 colors for Labrador Retrievers:

1. Black Labrador
2. Yellow Labrador
3. Chocolate Labrador

Any other color – or a combination of colors – disqualifies a dog for registration as a Labrador Retriever.

A black Labrador may have a small white spot on the chest and meet the standard, but even that is considered undesirable.

A black Labrador should be all black, from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. There should be no streaks, spots, or flecks of other colors. If the dog is older, and has a few white “age” hairs, that is fine. A young black Labrador, however, should be completely black.

The Color Genes

The black Labrador Retriever’s color is determined primarily by 2 genes.

1. The first gene (B) decides how dense a black Labrador’s coat pigment granules will be. When pigment granules are dense, the coat will be black. When pigment granules are sparse, the coat will be chocolate. If this were the only gene involved, there would be only chocolate and black Labradors.

2. The second gene (E) makes the difference. It determines whether any pigment is even produced. Regardless of the B gene, if a dog has the recessive E, there will be little color. It will be a yellow Labrador.

Variations in a number of other genes control subtler color details.

A black Labrador’s nose matches its coat – black.

Blue, Charcoal, Grey, and Silver

Unscrupulous breeders have come up with new names to fit their puppies that do not meet the officially recognized standard, telling people that it is a new line of “purebred” black Labrador.

The most blatantly pushed of these four colors is silver. This is a very light color and, since it is sought by some who do not adhere to the standard, disreputable breeders describe unusually light colored yellow and chocolate labs as “silver” labs.

Sharon Wagner, molecular biologist and geneticist of wigwaglabradors.com wrote an analysis, which concluded “Silver breeders also blatantly lie. They have information on their websites that talk about DNA testing done by the AKC ? AKC never did any genetic mapping of silver Labradors nor do they have any plans to do so since they are a registering body only and the Labrador Club of America writes the standard for the breed.”

Dogbreedadvice.com states in a Labrador FAQ: “‘Silver’ Labradors are purely a scam and are either crosses with Weimaraners or very light chocolates.”

A black Labrador Retriever’s color should never be any of these shades.

Are You My Father?

Imagine that you mate 2 black Labradors, and nine weeks later a litter of squirming little puppies arrives. Three are black Labradors, as expected, but 2 are chocolate Labs, and 4 are yellow Labs. Ahem! Will the real father please stand up!

You know the real father – no question – so how did this happen? It all goes back to genes. A Lab with one gene for dark and one for red-yellow pigment will appear to be black or chocolate, depending on other genes that control black or chocolate color. Each parent of a litter with some yellow puppies must have at least one gene for red-yellow pigment.

We know we mated 2 black Labradors, so each of them must have had one gene for dark pigment and one for red-yellow pigment. If both parents had been yellow Labs, neither could carry the gene for dark pigment. None of their puppies would have been chocolate or black Labradors.
Black Labrador Retriever color is important to many people, as are the short, dense, weather resistant coat; the “otter” tail; and the clean-cut head with broad back skull.

More important, though, is that your lovable Labrador be happy and healthy.

Since time immemorial cultures worldwide have been using tapestries as an innovative medium of decorating their homes, churches and buildings. This trend has continued till today. In a true historical sense tapestries and wall hangings are art forms that serve to depict the cultural scenario of a particular place. It is one of the most complete and durable art forms based upon textile

These days’ tapestries are a very popular part of every home decor and there are many experiments being done with them. Provided that the weaver has the skill to do so, elegant styles based on floral and landscapes as well as medieval designs, and modern art can be infused to create a tapestry that is an art work by itself. Such works give a unique dimension to this traditional art form, giving pleasure to art lovers and interior designers in its wide variety.

Tapestry belonging to the medieval times, were usually made of wool. Durability and maintenance were better due to the strength of the fabric which could sustain the pigmentation as well as dyeing effects. The warmth of wool tapestries could be maintained if mixed with synthetic polymers. A basic use of natural materials has been retained for weaving tapestry, till date.

Today’s wall tapestry uses different types of fibers, the stress is on new and improved fiber for reproducing famous works of art on tapestries. Vast improvement in dye and pigment standards, ensure that consumers can procure faithful reproductions of historical designs, like the ones to be found in European churches and museums.

Those of you with a flair for uniqueness in decoration can, try a tapestry that will totally change the atmosphere of your room. A tapestry can be an answer for any decorators challenge in doing up a large room or odd niches while maintaining a certain atmosphere to the place. A well chosen tapestry, adds a dash of history while mingling with the theme, adding color and giving your home, a unique flavor.

Creative use of a tapestry can do away lapses in decoration by infusing a spark of color or opening a vista to a different era. These days consumers are spoilt for choice literally, they can choose to be with any piece or time in history as they wish to.

For many centuries art lovers have been appreciating the versatility of the tapestry. The modern day use of weaving introduces mixing of new fabrics and techniques with centuries of age old tradition, making the tapestry a versatile, charming, and beautiful art d?cor to be cherished. Tapestries are a family heirloom that can be passed down from one generation to the other.

Lacquerware is any object that has been coated with lacquer, a substance that produces a very hard and durable finish. Lacquer is resistant to water damage, acid and abrasion. The most common type of lacquer comes from a specific type of tree, called the lac or varnish tree. When the tree is the proper size and age, slices are made into the bark and the sap is collected. Great care is taken while doing this, as any contact made between the raw sap and human skin can cause serious skin irritation. The art of lacquerware has been practiced in China and Japan since before the modern era. It has also been practiced in other areas, notably India. Indian lacquer is sometimes made from the secretions of a specific type of insect, rather than the sap of the varnish tree.

Cinnabar lacquerware is a very distinctive type. Lacquer can be applied without pigments added ,and results in the piece having a translucent finish. With Cinnabar laquerware, a pigment is added to get the deep red color that is called Cinnabar, or China Red.

The name of this type of lacquerware comes from the mineral called cinnabar. This mineral was ground into a pigment, added to the lacquer and gave the piece a deep red color. Cinnabar is the mineral mercuric sulfide, and was also used in thermometers years ago. As this name implies, the metal mercury is present in the mineral, and when true cinnabar was used as a pigment, there was a real danger of mercury poisoning from just handling the finished lacquerware. Mercury was also released into the air when artisans ground the pigments, and the toxicity of the mineral was known in ancient China, for only slaves and convicts were used to mine it. Antique cinnabar lacquerware in existence usually has been coated with a clear protective coating that prevents mercury from leaching out of it, and handling of it is held to a minimum. These antiques are not on regular display, as they are photosensitive and natural or artificial light can cause the piece to turn brown. While the name is still used, there is no cinnabar in modern cinnabar lacquerware, It has been replaced by non-toxic pigments that emulate (but do not duplicate) the color of the original.

The creation of a cinnabar lacquerware piece begins with application of coats of lacquer onto the foundation of the piece. Up to 500 coats of lacquer are applied, according to the style of the artwork to be carved and the size of the piece. Each coating of lacquer is applied, and allowed to dry before the next is applied. It can literally take years for a lacquerware piece to receive the needed coats of lacquer.

Once the piece has the desired layers of lacquer, a highly skilled artisan carves the ornate designs into the lacquer that cinnabar lacquerware is noted for. The artisan’s tools must be sharp, and his skills proficient, for the lacquer is very hard. Sometimes layers of different colors of lacquer have been applied, and the artisan has to carve at the required depth to bring out the contrasting colors. While ancient cinnabar lacquerware consisted of most any type and size of object, modern cinnabar lacquerware items are usually beads for jewelry, small boxes, plates, trays or other small items.