slate porch and walk

I have been remiss in my blogging. In my defense, I did successfully complete my doctoral comprehensive exams (which I may have noted earlier), which took up January through March. We’re also finishing a $35 million capital campaign and preparing for our big event (to raise $600K in a single evening) which is in two [...]

what’s a realtor to do?

In every corner of Central Florida, signs of the worsening real estate crisis are looming large: dozens of for-sale signs in neighborhoods, overgrown and abandoned foreclosures, short sales, auctions and plummeting prices.
There is no doubt that homeowners (such as this one, who has one mortgage too many and has yet to throw the current house [...]

a nudge to make us budge?

From John Tierney at the New York Times comes this intriguing piece on encouraging everyday folks to make greener decisions.
Are We Ready to Track Carbon Footprints?

Before I unveil my plan to combat global warming using mood rings and glowing lapel pins, let me explain the scientific rationale.

Everyone talks about the future weather, but [...]

how does that make you feel? house therapy to the rescue

There have been many moments in the renovation journey in which I was certain I needed therapy, medication or preferably some lovely combination of both in a tropical resort far, far away from any real estate I own.

Turns out I’m not crazy. And I’m not the only person who seemingly needs an official interpreter/mediator/Vito with [...]

you’ve got mail

My new mailbox from Renoma Lighting (aging copper with tapioca glass): I think it complements the Arroyo Craftsman lighting well. These are stock photos so the finishes don’t match as well as they do in real life — both are a slightly patina-ed copper.

green goes home

From Carol Polsky of Newsday comes this article, “House products go green.”
How about a biodegradable dish rack made out of cornstarch? (No, it won’t dissolve in sink water, only in landfills.) Or a sustainably harvested cork cutting board, or one of bamboo? Or a temperature-controlled butter dish that no longer uses batteries?
The products — seen [...]

chili’s chicken enchilada soup

Hungry? Enjoy.
 
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup chicken soup base or bouillon granules
3 cups diced yellow onions
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 cups masa harina (see note below)

a bewitching kitchen?

For the kitchen cabinets — Kraftmaid oatmeal glaze in maple.

With moss green glaze for the island.

Door fronts.