www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNHhalyFxQk

Soong Ching Ling was a very important person in Chinese history. She was born in Sharghai in 1893 to well educated Christian Parents, Soong.Ching-ling traveled to the Unite States with her 2 sisters and were educated at Wesley College.  They all graduated as one of the first Chinese girls to get this type of education.She began to speak out against the conditions of the women in her country in a  non violent manner.  As the Wesley education and influence gave thought of emancipation of Soong Ching-ling when she understood and she saw the plight of Chinese woman beginning with the issue of arranged marriages. However the sisters returned to China where they all married important to important people.

All three play an important part in Chinese history.  Soong Ling married a Dr. Sun Yat-sen, which only lasted ten years before his death. However, she not only became his wife and a stong polical collegue of his.  In a time when women were invisible in the eyes of society, few women would show their faces in public.  He was much older then she, but she appeared in public with her husband and became first consort of a plitical leader anywhere in the world. A kin to the ” First Lady” of China Even .Meeting President Roosevelt and his First Lady, Elenore and addressing Congress.

She went on to lead a political party during WWII. Even her sisters husband were with  the opposition party.  The two parties untied during the war of aggression by the Japanese.  After the war her sisters husband became president and Soong was a voice of opposition.  Our guide said that Soong sisters husband hated outspoken Soong was and wanted her eliminated but that couldn’t happen because she was her sister sister and she was loved by the people.  This is how the story goes.

Now why am I writing about this? Well it is so educationally interesting that everyone should understand bits of history as thins. Also because she had Terrazzo in the house she lived in that was over 200 years old! She lived and worked from this home for the betterment of China.

And you know me. I own and am throughly involved my terrazzo restoration company in South Florida, the Miami/Dade/Broward/Palm Beach county areas…. and I am a terrazzo geek!  It is always nice to see this wonderful floor anywhere.  But to come on this trip and see Terrazzo used all over the world is such a wonder. Like other century old floors, yes they can chip and crack.  However those cracks, with todays technology can be flawlessly filled and color matched and marble chips placed one by one if needed so to be placed correctly to make a seemless repair.

If you have Terrazzo in your home and wonder who to  have come and help you with your individual concerns think of my company.  Because the company has over 20 years of experience in all natural stone cleaning, polishing and restoration.  I enjoy my work so much, I will find Terrazzo to inspect all over the world.Look at this 200 year old Terrazzo in the picture next to this paragraph.  Amazing!!

We treat your Terrazzo as we would this 200 years old Terrazzo, with love and respect.  If you have any stone, be it, Terrazzo, Marble, Granite, and even Concrete, we are the company to call. Colonial Floor Care…we want to earn your business Call us Miami/Dade 305-731-2242 for a free estamate.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_DxI9CNinM

The South east is home to many historical architecual designs and floors.  Examples of these floors are : Terrazzo which was incorporated in the Mid Modern architectural design and the Mediterranean  Revival architecture using Cuban Tile is one of the popular flooring materials used in the South Florida  homes found in Miami Shores which was popular in the 1920′s and continued in building homes especially in Miami shores,  Miami Springs,Coral Gables, historic Bayside . This material was used up until the 1950′s, althought the tiles of the last few decades were not as intricate in design as the early Cuban tile.  In an article written by Sarah Moreno for El Nuevo Herald that brings to light much information from  Arturo Hernandez who has researched and documented these beautiful historic floors.  Cuban Tile also known as cement tile, Encaustic Cement tile or Hydraulic Mosaic Tile,. Hernandez claims it can be traced to Cataluña back to mid 19^th century where The Industrial Revolution allowed for the technical innovation and mass production of these tiles that did not need to be fired. The architect Gaudi, designed floors with these type of  cement tiles that looked like Persian rugs.

Until the 1920 mosaico encaustic tiles were high end flooring, the ultimate florring that decorated the palaces of the Tsars or mansions of the Coted d’Azure, Gaudi Barcelona and Berlin’s official buildings.  Encaustic cement tile were then later on, expanded as a creative and durable flooring all over Europe.  The Spanish, French and Portuguese colonies expanded it’s use.  Some time in the 1059′s the mosaic hydraulic;s importance was lost and replaced by less labor intiensive thus less colorful floors.  But Historical Cuban tile home are still sought after in the Miami area. During the beginning of this century interest has peeked  as the trend for green flooring has brought back attention to this type of flooring.

Why is is called Cuban tile?  Many therories are here in Miami.  One of those is that Cuban tile was entrusted as a special order to a cuban manufacturers who would hand make these tiles for resdential applications in Miami in the early century.  If you walk into a a historic home in Miami and are told you are seeing “Cuban Tile” this is some of the history of this unique and artistic tile.  Cuban tile is a mixture of Portland cement, marble powder and pigments from the earth for coloring.  The end result can be a floor as shiney as Terrazzo and as beautiful and artful as hand painted tiles.

The restoration of Cuban tile floors can be an intricate project depending on the tile design. Highly qualified and trained technicians at Colonial Floor and Stone Care, have the experience and training to restore these highly beautiful and durable tiles. Call us for a free estimate or use the link above for an online estimate.

I have been hearing on the news and reading some articles that small business owners should be getting “some breaks“ this year, and they should.As I am reading, Business like Colonial Floor and Stone Care, who has been in business for around a 1/4 of a century now, is one of the millions of small business owners all over this fine  United States.

Colonial Floor

It was Calvin Coolidge, the president of the United States during the “roaring” 1920s, famously declared that “the business of America is business.”  I thought of that awhile.  Doing some history checking on this subject, and from personal experience, it is true then, just as now.  The Mainstream American is rolling along and always has on the backs of the small business owner. They, from the beginning and from necessity have continue to grow this great nation.

Business had no choice but to be small from the county’s conception untill the late 18th century.  Transport was slow and ineffecient  between cities and towns.  Goods were usually made and sold in small area’s, foods grown and sold to the near by population.  General stores carried all items needed. Better transportation help the building of towns along the transportation lines. Stores got more numerous as towns and cities grew, the Industrial Revolution then brought us into the 19th century, which continue the growth of this county.  Yes we have had our ups and downs, but it seems to me that most small business, tough it through, and persevere.

In New York State the Erie Canal was specifically constructed for transport of goods. Many waterways were use and port cities would pop up. The transportation industry improved over the centuries to what we are use to now. We now have the “large mega stores” or other large businesses , whom even give business to the small business owners that provide work to millions of people combined.

So yes, small business, usually with 20 empolyee’s or less have been the back bone of our society for over 200 years.

Many self employeed people, who are in themselves a small business of one.  The back bone of these United states is the “little guy”, and yea I am proud to be one of them, and  proud to know many small business owners.  I am sure most Americans do!

So here is a big  Thanks! to all you small business owners out there, who help keep the country running.  It is  hard working people like you that keep America stong.