When it comes to hot weather, there are few treats more refreshing than a cool, sweet watermelon. I remember as a kid, my dad and I would go out and procure a watermelon and wed let it sit in the sun for a day or two to fully ripen.
Watermelons are curious fruits, in that they are primarily water. There is so much juice in the porous meat of the flesh that it dribbles out of your mouth. The porous nature of the watermelon also makes it perfect for flavoring. What? You have never thought of flavoring your watermelon? Many people, my father included, like to put a little salt on their watermelon to intensify the flavor.
You can do the same thing with sugar. Sometimes watermelons, especially those that arent ripe, can be bland tasting and adding sugar helps to balance that out.
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A lot of people correctly guessed the identity of last week’s mystery tool. It is a paint viscosity cup, which is used to check if paint needs to be thinned. We randomly picked one winner from all the comments and that lucky person is Ashley from Baldwin, GA.
To be eligible for next week’s giveaway, you need to post a comment and tell us what profession uses this simple tool and what do they do with it? Then next Tuesday, we will randomly pick one of those comments to win a Paslode cordless 18-gauge brad nailer. Paslode nailers are one of the pros’ favorite for tools for cabinetry work, decorative molding and fine woodworking. This mode
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In the midst of so many stories of demolition of old houses, it is always refreshing to learn of a new victory for preservation. It is especially sweet when that victory comes for a large historic area.
courtesy Landmarks Preservation Commission of NYC
Yesterday, the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission approved a new historic district in Brooklyn Heights. Most of the 610 historic row houses, apartment buildings, and Queen Anne homes in the Crown Heights North II Historic District were built between 1870 and 1920. The approval comes four years after a landmark designation for a section of 472 buildings right next to the newly approved section. There is a third section of comparable size currently being considered for the designation.
Those who pushed for the designation point out that property values in the area will increase, and the homes will be protected from major development.
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I have always been a big fan of the beauty and grandeur of Victorian homes because they are very fairy tale oriented with an almost castle-like appearance. Although, there is one part of the castle facade that I dont like: the turret, or tower, that sticks out of the top.
The rooms inside these little areas are generally small and cramped and not of much use except as a viewing room or storage. It may make the outside look more attractive, but it doesnt really serve much purpose. Rapunzel isnt stuck up there and there isnt a moat or dragon guarding it. The closest thing in suburbia is a turned on garden hose and a riding lawn mower.
Al Capone had a house with towers, but he used them as guard towers and shot anyone who got on his property. See, form and function.
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As Ive discovered the past several weeks, historic old houses come in all shapes and sizes. Im not sure I could handle living in an old English defense tower conversion and while an old water tower home conversion sounds intriguing, that doesnt seem like me either. But living in a romantic old lighthouse now were speaking my language.
However, before I get into lighthouse living, I want to remind everyone about the twitter chat with Bob Vila on Thursday June 30 at 10:00 a.m. Ppacific time and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. VinylSidingZone is participating in the event which can be followed at and . The hashtag to use is #GetReadyThurs. The topics planned for the twitter chat are exterior siding, painting, staining and general renovation topics. If
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