Photo by James P. Blair. © National Geographic Society.
Interactive planning director Jeannine sent this image to me this morning. Residents of Sun City, a retirement community near Phoenix, once upon a time covered their lawns in grass-colored gravel. What do you think? This eco idea dates back to the early 1960s. Who needs drought-tolerant shubs and flowers when there’s emerald stones to scatter across the yard?
P.S. Big game this weekend: Chargers vs. Broncos!! Can you imagine the thrill of having the next Green Home build near San Diego? My vote is in!!! Just think of the 'tail-gate parties' happening at the stadium...why not throw that ole Tom Turkey on the 'Barbie' and have a different kind of Thanksgiving celebration? Fans, Fair Weather, Football and Feasting...doesn't get much better than that!! Pleeeeeeease cast your vote for Del Sur, San Diego, CA!!!!
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There'd be NO mowing! Be sure to put the black landscaping tarp underneath so weeds don't grow up through those stones.
If this is a retirement community, wouldn't there'd be some sort of landscaping company taking care of the grounds. I can't imagine telling my mom (in assisted living) that it's time to mow. Heck, we took the car keys away from her. Can't see her behind a wild mower. You might wonder why I chose the adjective "wild". If you knew my mother, you'd understand why this machine would appear that way. If you gave her a riding one, she might consider it her new car. I feel sure that she won't be reading this….and if she did…she'd laugh.
I'm so glad you said "once upon a time". Hope that idea is corrected by now. I found the picture and the whole idea so sad. If that's the price of "sun", I'll stay where the seasons are real. But thanks, Mary, for a look back in history.
Great vintage photo, MARY, but from past experience, I'd say that the grass-colored gravel idea doesn't have a very long shelf life in hot, sunny, desert climates. The sun soon bleaches it first to a blueish-green, then pale blue-green, then a sad looking, washed out blue. It's not pretty at that point.
Reminds me of the current trend by banks and mortgage companies who hold foreclosed real estate these days. Many communities now require them to spray paint the dry, brown grass of the front yards a "healthy" green—at least until that starts to fade into a worn and matted blue-green looking carpet as well.
The best approach: start with appropriate xeriscape plantings for your area, chosen for seasonal color and ease of maintenance, add some natural color gravel (pinkish reds go well) and work in some larger river rock to help define soft drainage flow lines within your yard's perimeters. Eco-friendly, and pretty much guaranteed to always look good and last a lifetime.
Go Lean and Go Green!
I remember visiting Sun City many years ago. If I remember correcty one of the residents had a concrete pedestal amongst the green, and on that pedestal they had mounted a push mower painted gold colored.
I think it's absolutely dreadful, discusting actually. What should be done is to landscape the lots/plots (you can't call them lawns or even yards !!!) with deset plants, stone, etc — keep it as nature made it !!! If one wants to live in a desert one should accept the desert landscape — Arizona can't be Florida & vise-versa !!!!!
(I've seen idiots here in FLA put in rock & gravel yards & it looks awful & makes me very sad — especially when the University of Florida has & continues to breed/design new types of St.Augustine grasses that are more & more draught, bug, disease, & heat tolerant — so there's NO EXCUSE not to have a nice lawn. Along with these new grasses (aka: FLORATAM) there've also been less harmful fertilizers developed & plants should be native — there are dozens of beautiful native plants including flowers (that's where Juan Ponce' DeLeon came up with the name: La Florida)!!! There's nothing as wonderful as running your bare toes through a wonderful FLORATAM lawn !!!
So design & Xeriscape for your area !!! Your county will have a master-gardener who can teach & guide you through the needs of your area FREE OF CHARGE — so, GO GET THE KNOWLEDGE !!!!!
FYI: "Floratam" is an off-shoot of St. Augustine grass which IS NATIVE to Florida , it was developed by joint efforts of U of F and Texas A & M.
I think those emerald colored stones look great!
When you tire of looking at the emerald-green colored gravel in Sun City, head over to Quincy, MA (only 27 miles from the eco-friendly HGTV Pinehills Green Home 2010) and enjoy discovering America at the Adams National Historical Park. This park "tells the story of four generations of the Adams family (from 1720 to 1927). The park has two main sites: the Birthplaces of 2nd U.S. President John Adams and 6th U.S. President John Quincy Adams, and Peacefield including the “Old House,” home to four generations of the Adams family, and the Stone Library which contains more than 14,000 historic volumes."
When folks say that Plymouth Rocks, it's the real deal! No green gravel or spray-painted lawns, just nature's bounty on display and our nation's heritage from the Pilgrim's day.
Thank you Coop for grounding us once again!
Even though our hearts belong to the GH2010, did you know that this photo represents the 1960 Del Webb retirement community near Phoenix where more than 100,000 seniors toured his community and bought 237 homes in the first weekend! What a concept for the era!! An era that was dominated by nylons, beehive hairstyles, petticoats, bold femininity, bright lipstick, and often the projection of a "cheerful, happy" persona.
So, having an Emerald Lawn seemed to fit the time, and the trend! It wasn't so long ago that this Pilgrim Ph-eminine Ph-eline can't remember the charm of the diverse trends of the 60's Mystique! Emerald Rocks and Tie-Dyed shirts!! The Rockin' Sixties!!
MGTOTD: Before the first frost, don't forget to pick the herbs in your garden. You can enjoy them all year long if you wash, pat dry, and freeze the herbs in sealable plastic bags!!
Dear;Mary I think it is beautiful and the most important met the necessity and requirements for the residents
Barbara: Very interesting information, but a bit strong calling people "idiots". I prefer the term "less informed". When I visit Florida, I love to run my toes through sand. Nothing can beat the summer grasses in Michigan and all the other Mid-west states.
Now, who mentioned xeriscape first? I think it was Coop. Doesn't matter. You can't make Florida look like the Arizona desert and the opposite. (notice, i meant visa-versa, but got bad spelling) I can't make my garden look like Hawaii but I can grow roses and tulips and irises and dogwoods. Keep it Green!
Coop: I would love to visit the Adams National Historical Park. I am reading a lot of that history right now. Thanks for the info.
Marie Miller, I was going to say that this very useful MGTOTD should have appeared yesterday, before the snowfall in Sandia Park, but on second thought, I doubt they grow much in the way of herbs in the high desert. Any insights?
Talking about xeriscapes, I find it simply amazing that in the Coachella Valley, the home of Palm Springs and other inland desert communities, there are reputed to be over 100 golf courses. Imagine the water needed to keep the greens green there in the summer! However, I'm sure I've read that some, or maybe many, of the courses use reclaimed water. Besides, I guess all the Palm Trees and native desert plantings help balance out the water requirements somewhat.
I don't know about herbs, but the Coachella and neighboring Imperial Valley do grow plenty of dates along with lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and lots of other produce.
Plenty of sand to run between your toes there, Katydid, as well as swimming pools and spas to dip in, lots of tennis courts, and excellent shopping on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert. In Palm Springs, I never miss my annual visit to the Palm Springs Follies. I also really enjoy the Palm Springs aerial tramway, which rises over one mile, and at 20 degrees cooler than the valley floor, it's a great place of hike and dine during the dog days of summer visits.
Plymouth Pilgrims and Palm Springs Pioneers Rock!
Green rocks are tacky. Nothing wrong with desert landscaping, but keep the stones natural and be proud of your rock landscaping, don't try and fake it into being something that it is not- grass!
Dear Coop, and Katydid: Xeriscapes are not only the latest trend in landscaping, they are becoming a necessity in many areas. Interesting to think about: The next time you go to a gas station, take notice how the drinking water they are selling inside is usually more expensive than the gasoline they are selling outside. Like gasoline, water needs to be conserved. A Xeriscape can be a beautiful and effective way of doing this.
Maybe some of the inland desert communities are planting warm season grasses, such as buffalo grass and blue grama, which are very water conservative? These grasses do not need as much water and are perfect in areas that do not get a lot of use, such as a sunny front lawn.
MGTOTD: Avoid sugar snap peas with dry-looking, rusty, wilted, or damaged pods, as they might have been hanging around for a while. Pods should be plump, uniform in color, and crisp – reject them if you can see large seeds through the skin, which means they will have lost their freshness.
Coop: If only I could afford a visit to Palm Springs, I'd be there in a flash. Can you tell us more about the Palm Springs Follies? When is it and what is presented? As for the golf courses, as Marie pointed out, they probably use warm season grasses, but with their abundance of sand, hope they don't make the traps unduly large. I am lucky to live in a state surrounded by the Great Lakes, but that makes me even more conscious of the need to conserve water. Live Green. I'll drink to that with a glass of tap water.
Katydid, the Follies just opened for the new season and runs until the end of May each year. It's a great show, billed as "a world-famous, Broadway-caliber celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 40s, 50s, and 60s with a cast old enough to have lived it!" The cast are all stars in their own right, professional singers and dancers from ages 56 to 85 plus, You have to see it to believe it—and you wonder how they can all look so good under those bright stage lights! Quite a production, and well worth seeing. Just look at PalmSpringsFollies online for the full story. And while in PS, don't miss the Aerial Tramway up to the top of Mt San Jacinto; it's yet another uplifting experience! Check it out at PStramway online.
Now, away from the desert xeriscapes and back to the rich green landscape of the HGTV Pinehills Green Home.
Plymouth Rocks and Palm Springs Rolls!
Ahhhh Coop & Katydid: Shopping on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert, aka "The Rodeo Drive of Desert!!" I cannot say that I am a woman with great fashion sense, however I read that the hottest new styles will hit the runway during the fifth annual Fashion Week El Paseo, presented by the City of Palm Desert!! WOW!! The weeklong event will take place at the Great White Fashion Week tent in the fashionable El Paseo shopping district in Palm Desert, California, March 22-28, 2010. The Designer celebrities will include Kevan Hall (known for sensuously draped streamlined silhouettes), Lloyd Klein (combines intricate "Grêco" fabric draping and sublime choices of material), and Eduardo Lucero (known for his vivid colors, feminine detailing, romantic and curvaceous shapes in his designs) This presentation may not be quite like the collections seen on the elegant stage at the Opera Comique in Paris, but I would love to participate even though I'm not typically a 'gliz & glam' kindda girl!!
Further….Coop, I would also love to participate in the 'Fabulous Palm Springs Follies'….yes, 'Let the Good Times Roll!' My favorite era…the greatest good-time music of the '40s, '50s and '60s!! A time for the Big Bands, Swing to Doo-Wop, Motown and Pop!! Whether you listened to these songs on the jukebox, or listened to them on your Hi-Fi, it was a time when you just wanted to get up and dance!
Also, thank you for mentioning The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which I understand was constructed in rugged Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs! Thanks to you, I read about it, and have put it on my list of 'gotta do' when visiting Palm Desert!!! I especially liked the idea of the guided nature walks at the Top of the Tram!!!
MGTOTD: Intricate glass chandeliers can be cleaned with gin and a soft cloth. Really!! Just fill a spray bottle with cheap gin and spray away!! (The trick is to not inhale the Liquor!!)
I have not heard the term Hi-Fi in YEARS! LOL Be careful in using some of the younger Wi-Fi users may think it's a newer version.
No chandeliers = no problem.
Using gin to clean chandeliers? I can think of other uses, Marie. I'm told that with just a few glasses, it'll clean your clock, too! (Again, the trick is not to inhale the Liquor!)
So, for sparkling chandeliers, and a twinkle in your eye, thank you Marie Miller for another interesting MGTOTD.
Plymouth Rocks and Gin Rules!
Don't talk about shopping on El Paseo, Marie Miller. My credit cards have been feeling neglected since my return from Thailand in late August, and they'd jump at the chance to run amok (or amuck) at all the high-end boutiques, art galleries and ritzy restaurants in Palm Desert. I've put them on "ice" (without the gin), to be soon set free once again in the Caribbean…
Then of course there's all the fantastic shopping in Santa Fe, and sightseeing to do along the Turquoise Trail when visiting the Dream Home, much less the Boston experience, along with Plymouth and all of Cape Cod during a Green Home visit. If only those credit cards would wear out before I do, but it never seems to happen that way!
But as they say, if you've only one life to live, live it well !!!!
Coop: What's with the tie-in between Liquor, cards and chandeliers? I suppose the common denominator would be hitting a 'gin rummy!!' And, my idea of a gin rummy would be having a credit card that never hits the bottom-less pit!! Shopping on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert with a 24-7 line of credit would be heaven!! Think of the treasures that you could collect for home, body & soul? And, don't forget to reserve bus tours and tickets online now for the 'Boston Experience!!' So, if that economic stimulus check from the government is still burning a hole in your pocket, plan a trip to Massachusetts, the shopping is fabulous & you might even have a chance to see Coop and Show-Me at their best at the high-end boutiques, art galleries and ritzy restaurants in Palm Desert.
Let's shop til you drop!!
Coop: Did you know that a version of "Whiskey Poker" is still played in Mexico, where it is known as La Viuda (the widow), or possibly La Vida (life)?
To my dear blogging buddies:
From ghoulies and ghosties,
Long-leggety beasties,
And things that go bump in the night….my best to all of you on this lovely Halloween night!!!!
Halloween:
"A gentle breeze rustling the dry cornstalks.
A sound is heard, a goblin walks.
A harvest moon suffers a black cat's cry.
Oh' do the witches fly!
Bonfire catches a pumpkins gleem.
Rejoice, it's Halloween!"
MGTOTD: How to Go Green on Halloween!! Luckily, the basics of Halloween, spooky tales, playing dress-up, things that go bump in the night, don't require massive quantities of cash or a wasteful amount of resources as long as you're willing to think ahead and let your imagination run wild. Making your own costume will put a huge dent in the consumerism of the holiday!
An at-home Halloween party will let you save energy if you live in a spread-out neighborhood where trick-or-treating would require a car: Dim the lights, set out some soy candles, and get the younger set bobbing for apples, making crafts from recycled paper, and telling their favorite ghost stories.
Happy Green Halloween!!
Dear; Mary: Prety picture of the community, and prety green rocks , and, can,t wait to see more updates on the DGH `.~
I have seen similar ideas done for some freeways
home decor guy
http://www.homedecornew.com
I don't know about all of you, but I certainly have a sugar hang-over this morning…not enough 'tricker treaters' & too much candy left over! If I eat one more candy corn…allbeit that they are delicious, my sugar levels are totally out of wack!! Nothing but spinach salad for this girl today!!!
MGTOTD: Do you really need to buy that Panini Maker? Not if you already have a waffle iron, you don't. Give it a try. It's a great way to make grilled cheese sandwiches, too!!!
I have seen this in person and do not like it!! I guess I love plants better than rocks. But, they do have a great, green product now that looks and acts just like grass…..and it does not look like the original synthetic turf…Plus, scorpions love hiding in those rocks!!! There are also wonderful low growing plants that replace grass and look great!! The more plants around your house in the desert the cooler the temperature. As long as you use drought tolerant and native plants!!! And there are so many….with flowers,,, without flowers,,, green… gray,,dark,,,light!! Coop, I hope that you have a great time in the Caribbean!! We are planning our trip for my little one's birthday!! He wants to go to Atlantis… And, I definitely do not mind!!! I love the white sand and turquoise sea!! Oh, and the Bahama Mamas (the drink of course)!!! Marie, another great tip… and it is a great way to clear out your liquor cabinet… And you are correct about xeriscapes being a necessity in some areas… which is already implemented in Las Vegas!! They use the synthetic grasses….or rocks…. no grass!! They have a water shortage and have learned how important it is to protect our environment by using native and drought tolerant plants!!! Love life by living green!!!
Hey reneelovesgreen: Your little one has GREAT taste!! Atlantis is absolutely magnificent, and I look forward to going there sometime soon. We were in the Bahamas some years back, and loved it! The snorkling is like no other place, and the conch choices, whether fritters or stew, is fabulous. Your son will never want to leave the Aquaventure! It is my understanding that it is a thrilling 141-acre water park featuring over twenty million gallons of water! WOW!! This non-stop "aqua" adventure offers incredible Atlantean-themed towers with multiple high-speed water slides, a mile-long river ride with rolling rapids and waves, a spectacular kids water-play fort and 11 unique and refreshing pools.
I do believe that most of the Bahamas are eco-friendly!! Loving life and 'Green' with Envy!! Have a fantastic trip!!
MGTOTD: When you're going to beat egg whites for a recipe, let the eggs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using them. The egg whites will then beat to a greater volume. If possible, beat them in a copper bowl!!
Oh yeah reneelovesgreen: Bahama Mama's are soooooooo good! I have not forgotten that from going to the Bahama's!!!
For those of you that have not experienced this delicious drink, here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
1/2 fluid ounce rum
1/2 fluid ounce coconut-flavored rum
1/2 fluid ounce grenadine syrup
1 fluid ounce orange juice
1 fluid ounce pineapple juice
1 cup crushed ice
Directions:
Combine regular rum, rum with coconut flavoring, grenadine, orange juice, pineapple juice and crushed ice in an electric blender. Blend until the drink's consistency is slushy.
Cheers my friends!!
Been away for a few days and now I'm dizzy thinking about Marie's recipe for Bahama Mamas. Coop: If you would send one of your neglected credit cards my way, maybe I could afford to see the Palm Springs Follies. Saw the clip and was so taken with the connection between the entertainers on stage and the audience. That is just a priceless feeling for a performer. Marie, don't know how you come up with all the wonderful information you provide, but I thank you.
reneelovesgreen: Have a safe and fun filled trip with your precious little one.
Time for me to dream about that Plymouth home that rocks in Ma.
Dear Show-Me and Coop: Hope you are having a fabulous time, you are sorely missed here at the GH & also on the DH!! I guess if you dole out your neglected credit cards, don't forget to send one to Brookings!!! I wouldn't mind sharing them with Katydid, and I could find an exclusive way to exercise their buying power here on the Oregon Coast!!
Dreaming the Dream, and then some!!!
MGTOTD: Before using your woolen or cotton blanket when the weather turns cold, wash them in the gentle cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar. It will leave them fluffy and soft as new!!
Marie, tried the idea using the waffle iron for a grilled cheese sandwich. Guess I need to practice how much cheese it can handle. ; ) Thankfully my new steam cleaner was able to get the extra cheese off the griddle.
There are some interesting/informative pictures on phase II. One can see the basement excavation, the foundation & basement walls poured and read about some of the green building techniques.
I'm baaack! What a great weekend. Miracles never cease—just after discussing the Palm Springs Follies, Show Me and I got a call from a friend who had spare tickets to the Saturday matinee, so we drove ourselves down to the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs and enjoyed a great show. Brad Cummings is a marvelous ventriloquist, along with his partner in crime, dinosaur "Rex"; guest performer Susan Anton sang her delightful Christmas tunes, and of course, all of the Follies dancers were out in stunning costumes to perform the season's new "Let The Good Times Roll" extravaganza. Along with a little dining out, and a modest workout of the credit cards thanks to a bit of shopping, it was a hauntingly memorable Halloween weekend.
Now, the focus returns to matters of far greater importance, the unfolding story of the Pinehills' Green Home and its lean and green building techniques and eco-friendly features.
Plymouth Rocks while Pilgrims Dream!
Dear:Mary its great to see that there are some peopple caring
for others and thinking in the best for them like putting a Green gravel lawns dressing their homes in Sun City, a retirement community and let them enjoying their life doing better things `.~
Coop, I guess your cards are feeling better!! Glad to see you enjoyed your trip. My Husband is heading to Palm Springs on Nov. 17th, for a photo shoot. Looks like Palm Springs is getting a lot of attention this year.. Marie, you are so awesome, really. You always share so much information with us..and it is never wasted!!! I always use, store or share your wonderful comments. Yes, my son is excited to travel to the Bahamas and we are keeping it as green as possible…looks like we will go by boat…maybe even a Catamaran!!!! I will tell him all of the details that you shared with me today and thank you for wishing us a great trip!!! (you are always so sweet)!! Ed, I see with foundation of the Green Home, but, I don't see that the construction or floor plan has a basement… I will go back and research the Phase ll and see if I missed something. Katydid, you are another one who is always so kind… and funny. Thank you !!! And, I too, am a little dizzy after reading the ingredients in the Bahama Mamas…But, very excited to drink one…or two… Maybe, for the Christmas Boat Show, I will make some for our guests!! Alma, you are correct, in Sun City the retirees love living life and not having to worry about their landscaping.. Though, there are several golf courses drinking up all of the water… Most, have now changed to repurposed water irrigation…. They also drive a lot of golf carts… Therefore, doing their part for the environment while having fun!!! Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary!!! Just thought that I would share with my friends, here!!! Love life by living green!!!!!
Ed, I double checked … and, I do still see that portion that looks like a basement, even with a window under the side entrance that heads towards the mud room. Nothing on the floor plan… so, I am assuming that it will mainly be storage for the heating unit, water heater, etc. I am not educated on basements and have never lived in a house with one. Though, our family members have them in Europe. They use them for an extra bedroom and a sewing room. I can't wait for the completion of this Green Home!!!! It is very special this year!!! Love life by living green!!!
Welcome back Coop and Show-Me, even with your tattered and torn credit cards! I must ask, did you attend the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs in costume to enjoy the show? I would think it would be a 'howling' good time, especially to see Brad Cummings & Susan Anton!! You would have certainly fit in with the Follies dancers in their unbelievable costumes!! And, their performance of theseason's new "Let The Good Times Roll" extravaganza must have been excellent. It sounds like you really put those credit cards to great work with dining and shopping, and just having a more than memorable Halloween weekend. While we, the more than mere mortals, enjoyed the holdiay by diming the lights and handing out candy! How 'goulsome' is that? Welcome back!!!
MGTOTD: What's the easiest way to remove red wine spills from your carpet? Try a bit of foaming shaving cream (after checking that the carpet is colorfast)!
CHEERS!!
Reneelovesgreen, Happy aniversary! Ten years, must mean you can enjoy ten on Maries Bahama Mamas. They sound like my type of drink! I remember my tenth anniversary, of course that was 32 years ago!! Looking at the basement, it looks like it is divided in sections. One of them looks like it could be a cistern. That woul be pretty green! Our house here in Oregon has a basement. It is a daylight basement so it is almost like a seperate apartment. The house I grew up in in MA had a basement similar to the Green Home. It had the boiler in it the washer, a shop & a ping pong table. It also had a lot of the normal junk one usually stores in a garage. Although there won't be much natural light down there I am sure an entertainment room or other function could be put down there.
reneelovesgreen: My heart sings to wish you Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary!!! Happy trip to the Bahamas, by whatever boat, I'm sure your son will be excited. Keep safe, so we can all welcome you home and hear about your adventures…….and any way you found to keep it green.
Wow, the shaving cream DOES work great on carpet wine spills, Marie. Now, how do I get out the stain from the after shave lotion?
By the way, I went to the Follies as Riff Markowitz and not only got the best seat in the house, but lots of laughs and applause! I think next year I'll go as "Rex", ventriloquist Brad Cummings' Dinosaur dummy….
reneelovesgreen, Nov 17 should be a great time in Palm Springs. The weather, I've found, is usually perfect, about mid-80's that time of year. Now, Happy Anniversary, and get out there and have a great time on your Bahama trip.
Ed, thank you for sharing information on the basement… It is new to me and I am excited to learn more.. And you gave me some great information!!! Thank you also for the wonderful wishes both from you and Katydid!!! Katydid… you are too sweet!!! Thank you.. we will stay safe and I will share all of the information with you guys!! We haven't let our son know that we are booking the trip..it will be a surprise.. We told him that we would research and see if we could afford the trip and get him out of school for a few extra days!!! Can't wait to see his precious face light up.. He is going to be 9. Boy, they grow up fast.. I think he thinks he is 16…He acts like it!!! Marie, I have tried your tip on the shaving cream.. and it works.. I have even used it on clothing when on a trip… Love life by living green!!!
Hey reneelovesgreen: Happy Anniversary for your ten years of marrige, and have an absolutely wonderful trip to the Bahamas….your son will be soooo surprised! Take lots and lots of photos, and please share when you get back!! You are so right about your children growing up so fast! I can still remember when my twins were 9 going on 16, but somewhere between teenager and adult, it went by very, very fast! Enjoy all your moments while you have your son at home as it goes by too quickly!! Children are such a blessing!!
Glad to hear that you have tried the shaving cream trick!!
Here's a new MGTOTD: PAPER IN YOUR COMPOST! You can put paper towels, napkins, and coffee filters with the coffee right into your compost along with your fruit and vegetable waste. Rice, bread, or old noodles, and foods like this that don't have grease can also go in there.
When you read the caption on Pic 3 it refers to it as a cellar and Pic 8 calls it a basement. So according to them the GH has a cellar/basement.
Perhaps it will be a root cellar or wine cellar in the basement?? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/photo_template/articl...
Dear;Mary! I always try to have time to read daily all comments from our lovely bloggers, but what I say now? Ok! Hello!! all keep dreaming
to see soon finished the beautiful GDH `.~
In the Plymouth, MA area and at a loss for what to do? (Yeah, right!)
Well, if you have some spare time on your hands tomorrow and think you've already seen it all, check out the Cape Cod Maritime Museum in Hyannis. "On a unique and compelling site on Hyannis Harbor, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum serves as a focal point for the Cape and Island's maritime tradition. Boat building, cultural exhibits, maritime festivals, marine artifacts, shipwrecks, children's progams and more flow in and out of the museum building."
Who could ask for more?
Plymouth Rocks!
Definately low water bills for this community
home decor guy
http://www.homedecornew.com (Your discount home decor store)
went to pine hills yesterday – the pictures are outdated – there is a picket fence, landscaping (with many native plantings), and pavers – the home is on a small lot, however there are common areas that are maintained by the neighborhood associations – they have grass (for all you grass haters), but, there is plenty of water in this area – the grass that was planted was sod, usually a large content of kentucky bluegrass – although the grass in not perfectly suited for the area, it provide a quick erosion control – overseeding in subsequent years with a grass mixture will let nature decide what grass will thrive with less attention – the home has be painted/stained – the large amount of excavation in the photos is for other homes being built – this area grow quickly, and, there is plenty of the native vegetation steps away from the common areas – there are some great features, among them the rain barrel with pump – and no on told me how to get the water from the rain barrels in green home 2009 to the rooftop garden……..
Ed, 32 years is pretty amazing these days!!! So proud of you!!! Marie, thank you so much!!! Twins!!! Pretty Cool!!! I will make sure to take your advice and treasure every moment that I can. I agree, children are a blessing!! Coop, thank you for the information on the Cape Cod Maritime Museum..sounds really interesting. BBSteve, thanks for the info on the your trip to Pine Hills….great to hear that the rain barrel has a pump. I also love the aesthetics of Kentucky blue grass. I am glad to hear that the lot isn't too big and that there are wonderful common areas. There was a rain barrel on the rooftop garden. Was the drive way in pavers? And what color was the paint on the exterior? Is there a picket fence around the entire house or just the front?? Are the other homes in the process of being built or is it just at the excavation stage?? Thank you again, BBSteve. I have to go look at the pictures again and see if there is anything new!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!
Ed, I also saw two windows in the "left elevation" of the basement. Kathy wrote that one pic shows it as a cellar and another a basement. Maybe, they will include a nice wine cellar and the remaining footage as a working basement… guest room, craft/sewing room, family room, the possibilities are limitless… HGTV always surprises us!!! And the finished Green Home is always a DREAM!!!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!
Actually Renee it's been 42 good years. And like Mary says kids grow up too fast. Having had 10 kids it's unbelievable how quickly they mature!!!
When are they going to update the Green Cam? I have been looking at the same pictures for almost a month now!
BBSteve, thanks for the personal tour. We certainly appreciate the info. It's great to have someone local as our own eyes on the ground, so to speak.
By the way, EdinOregon, let's see, 10 kids, 42 years—that works out to one kid every 4.2 years, although I suspect the spacing wasn't exactly that scientific.
As far as updating the Green Cam site, if it doesn't happen soon, I'll be sending MARY photos of my cruise adventures to post instead! That's not likely to make excited GH viewers very happy when they sign on to see photos of the Caribbean instead of Pinehills! I'm sure the thought is enough to get the Green Cam cranking out updated images in no time!
Plymouth Rocks
Coop: Plymouth Rocks and so do you. I would love to see a picture of you on your cruise sitting at the Captain's Table. Of course, you would be the one holding the menu over your face to protect your identity. So, please, Mary, update the Green Cam site soon.
BBSteve: Thanks so much for your interesting post. People from other parts of this country might not understand grass as we know it. It's wonderful under bare feet. Would love to know more about the basement. Tell us more….please.
I guess we are in need of a new post from Mary and/or Gail! Maybe on Monday? Until then, my best wishes to all for a great weekend! I am just now finishing up on all my gift baskets for the local Holiday "Bizaare", which happens next Saturday! Should be loads of fun, and then I will look forward to another 3-day Festival in December! I certainly hope my community is ready for spa baskets, coffee baskets, tea baskets & baskets for their cats and dogs!! Such Fun!!
MGTOTD: A great way to eliminate the fishy smell you get when cooking salmon is to squeeze lemon juice on the cut side of the fish an hour or so before cooking. Lemon neutralizes the smell.
other homes are being excavated – paint/stain was white, may have been a primer – picket fence is low and goes all around the propertythe driveway and pavers were used in the courtyard as well as the driveway – and what i wanted to know about the rooftop garden was how the water got from the ground level to the garden – someone knows…………
I will see if i can get the kids camera to work and gmake them available
Great MGTOTD, Marie. I've found that another great way to avoid the fishy smell is dining at your favorite seafood restaurant. It also makes cleanup a breeze! Also, congratulations and good luck as a result of all your hard work on those holiday gift baskets.
Katydid, you allude to a photo of DB Coop at the Captain's Table—how about during a head to toe seaweed/herbal wrap in the spa—the end result being the look of a fully wrapped (and desiccated) Egyptian mummy. Ha, instead of King Tut, you'd have a slightly older version, King Coop! By the way, could you hand me my Pharaoh's staff and bring the chariot around to the front, please—I've got a pyramid to build. It's either that, or win the HGTV Green Home 2010 in Pinehills! When it comes to a comparison of feature for feature, the Green Home wins hands down, and would be infinitely more liveable.
As they say back in the Old Country, Plymouth Rocks!
EdinOregon you made me laugh today with your intelligent comment
I tried to say the same but I can't.
Yes, Dear!Mary, I agree with EdinOregon, Please, update the Green
It was so good, that you share with us, The Retirement Community, and
also, it is a wonderful work to keep the Green color even if they used
rocks. `.~
Coop… You are hilarious!!! King Coop, I guess it is… the aging rock star! And I love your comment on heading to your local Seafood Restaurant for a easy clean up and clean smelling home!!! Though, having an eight year old…I will most likely be using Marie's method most of the times!! He loves reading… and even takes books to the restaurants, grocery stores, shopping centers, etc.,,, to pass the time!!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!
Coop: While your humor has me again rolling in the aisles, a Heston or a Cheney you are not. So unwrap your bandages, get some sun, drink lots of water (or whatever your beverage of choice for the evening….have you tried Marie's Bahama Mamas?) and save the last waltz for me. And yeah, the Green Home wins! Hands down. Thumbs up to the Pinehills!
You're absolutely right, Katydid—the first thing at the top of my to-do list on the cruise are a couple of Bahama Mamas at sailaway. I'll insist that it follow Marie Miller's recipe. By the time dinner comes around, they'll have to prop me up in my chair, which should make a great lasting impression on my table companions!
By the way, reneelovesgreen, how wonderful that your young son enjoys reading so much. After all, its one of the most valuable keys to unlocking the treasures of the world. With knowledge, commonsense and a good sense of self, that's a virtual guarantee of a life fully and richly lived. (Along with winning the Green Home in Pinehills, of course!)
Pinehills Pilgrims for Literary Legends!
Old King Coop was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his staff, and he called for his chariot,
And he called on HGTV for a entry for free,
Every entry he had came into play,
In hopes of winning a Green Home some day;
Oh there's none so rare, as can compare
With King Coop and Show-Me, the Pinehills Pilgrims Pair!!
MGTOTD: Chopping dried fruit is no longer a sticky mess if you first coat your knife in nonstick cooking spray beforehand. The fruit will then slide easily off your blade!
With the holidays approaching this tip might come in handy for the recipe I have for you today! It is one that my mother handed down to me
Graham Cracker Ice Box Fruitcake:
Ingredients:
2 pounds graham crackers, crushed
1 pound chopped candied fruit
1 pound raisins, chopped
1/2 pound pitted dates, finely chopped
1 pound finely chopped nuts
2 cups miniature marsh-mallows
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Mix crackers, fruit, raisins, dates, nuts, marshmallows and milk in large bowl. Press into 2 well-buttered loaf pans, or line pans with wax paper (can use disposable foil pans). Store in refrigerator three days before eating.
It's the BEST EVER!!
Jolly Old King Coop and I wanted to thank you for your poetic accolades. Yes, Pilgrims and Pioneers we are, seekers of the paranormal and simply extraordinary, whether it be in Pinehills or on the Turquoise Trail.
Speaking of extraordinary, your Ice Box Fruitcake family recipe sounds absolutely divine. That's definitely a recipe that should go on a framed menu board hung in the Green Home kitchen, as "Marie's Masterpiece." A perfect pairing with any holiday meal, and as a special treat, to be prepared on site for the winner of the Green Home by the culinary queen of cuisine herself, Marie Miller.
Plymouth Rocks and Ice Box Fruitcakes Rule!
Coop, you are shameless. Is there no limit to the extent you will go to keep from cooking anything yourself? However, your idea of inviting the culinary queen of cuisine, Marie Miller, to prepare her yummy Ice Box Fruitcake in the kitchen of the winner of the Green Home is pure genius. Not only would we be gifted by a wonderful holiday dessert, but get to meet the queen of the posts, and be able to thank her in person for all the tips, recipes, research, poems and creative writing that we all enjoy so much. And Show Me, you can tell Old King Coop that he is pretty extraordinary himself.
A nod to all the other bloggers who have kept this HGTV forum so alive and interesting. I don't make lists because I always leave someone out, but you know who you are, and I thank you so much. Such great friends……we are a lucky group.
Can I add a little rum or brandy to the fruit cake? How about your Chargers tonight? They finally beat a winning team. Don't forget to root for the Steelers tomorrow.
Okay folks, the word is out: don't miss HGTV's House Hunters International Monday, 9 Nov at 10pm e/p (check your local listing to confirm times) The destination is THAILAND!
To clarify, neither Coop nor I will be featured in Monday night's episode of House Hunters International. Rather, the show will center on Brits Julie and Mark Taylor's search for a second home along the tropical beaches of Thailand. Will it be on the island of Phuket—the Laguna area, Phang Nga, Phuket Town, Rawai, Nai Harn, or Kata? We'll find out Monday night.
Sawasdee krup to friends both here and in the Land of Smiles!
OH WHERE OR WHERE HAS OUR LITTLE GAIL GONE? OH WHERE, OH WHERE MIGHT SHE BE? With her days cut short, and her nights cut long, Oh where, oh where is she?
Dey makes un mit FAN und dey makes em mit GIRL,
I guess dey makes em mit she!!
I'm hoping that Gail will soon have another POST for us to digest! We are starved for comment food on our beloved HGTV Green House 2010 in Rocking Plymouth!!
MGTOTD: Freeze your marshmallows after opening the bag! They'll be as good as new when you thaw them out!
Show Me: Come on! You mean to tell me that you and Coop will not be seen somewhere on your beloved island of Phuket? Or, the Laguna area, Phang Nga, Phuket Town, Rawai, Nai Harn, or Kata? We'll be searching for glimpse of either of you tonight on the House Hunters International! Maybe, sunbathing? Maybe shopping somewhere in Phuket, like Patong Beach, Kata & Karon Beach, Bangtao, Surin and Kamala Beach as well as Phuket Town? Will you be the fellows strolling along the beach with the short sleeved cotton shirts on that have "Tommy Bahama " written on the backs with embroidered champagne glasses? And, flip-flops? The sea grass hats will give you away!! WE WILL BE WATCHING! Gui lah hui mi a de Akha!!!
Ed…. I reread your comment… you said that your tenth anniversary was 32 years ago!!! WOW!! Guess I was speed reading. So, now I am even more impressed!!!
Hi Marie! Thanks so much for this tip! I just sold a house that has three beautiful glass chandeliers from the 1930's so I passed along your tip to the Buyers! What a fun time they could have cleaning their chandeliers!
Living the Dream!
Marie Miller, I'll be the one on the beach wearing the short sleeved shirt that says "Out of My Way—It's Bahama Mama Time!" written on the back! Show Me will be wearing a shirt with a much more discreet slogan: "Lod noi dai mai, krup"
Laew pob kan mai.
Hey Coop: Would the shirt that Show Me is wearing have the bargaining slogan on it? Like, "Can you lower the price?" Do they have venders on the beach side trying to sell wares? Like in Mexico? I can tell now who the party animal is…Coop!! With a shirt like yours, you will gather a party before the sun goes down!! Of course, not being in in the Bahama's, you might confuse some of the people of Thailand! Better to have a shirt that says, "Phuket Private Party Place"!!
Laew pob kan mai? Until I'm back home?
MGTOTD: If you don't have a vacuum attachment to clean your cloth lampshades, just run a lint roller over the shade. It really works.
Marie, I thought Laew pob kan mai meant where is my home? LOL!! I learned that Laew pob kan mai means See you later… Right, Coop? Thank you for teaching us your worldly ways!!!
You've got it Marie—Show Me is always bargaining, so his slogan of "Lod noi dai mai" means "could you lower price?" By the way, there is very little of the wandering beach vendor thing in Thailand. The beaches there are for relaxing, not shopping, although small beachside huts are set up, either for souvenirs, snacks, or better yet, massage.
I think "Laew pob kan mai" means where's the next party? Or…help, I've partied hearty and I can't stop!
Actually, reneelovesgreen is right, it means see you later (or, again)
And when it comes to winning the Pinehills Green Home, I say to you "chok dee"
About HGTV's House Hunters International episode last night (Monday, 9 Nov)—the British couple was looking at property on Ko(h) Lanta, which is actually a group of islands just off the Thai mainland, but south and east across the bay from Phuket. (Ko, or Koh, means island) I've not been to Koh Lanta. They are only accessible by ferry, so are less populated and less developed than Phuket. (Phuket is easily visited by direct flights into the Phuket Airport, or from the mainland by way of the Sarasin Bridge.)
The Brits bought a penthouse condo for a bit over $400,000 US.
A good choice for a vacation home, as there's no worry about maintenance while you're away. Also, keep in mind that foreigners cannot buy land, thus can only buy single family residences as leasehold, but they ARE able to buy a condo freehold (since they don't own the land on which the building sits individually) as long as only 49% of the condo units are foreign owned.
So, once again, whether house hunting in Pinehills or Phuket, remember the phrase "lod noi dai mai!" (Could you lower the price?)
Hello!Dear;Mary, can;t wait to see more update on the DGH I think at this time it looks prety `.~
Coop and Marie: I can only hope that choc dee means good luck. Now that rlg has cracked your code, I hope that we can get back to normal speak. Sorry about my post on the DH because now I understand why they bought the vacation home that they did. Location isn't everything, money has a lot to do with it. I am so happy to once again focus on the Pinehills, and my Dream Green Home in Plymouth.
Any more info on the cellar/basement?
While we're all refocusing on the Green Home in Plymouth, how about a great day trip to ride the rails in historic Cape Cod? Better yet, enjoy the Cape scenery while you dine on a gourmet Thanksgiving feast during an exciting 3 hour train ride.
For the younger set and the young at heart, let Santa and his elves entertain you on a delightful holiday rail journey, or choose to experience the thrill of solving a theatrical murder mystery, all while dining on a 5 course gourmet holiday meal (December 5, 2009)
Or, join fellow passengers on a Luncheon Train, a Sunday Brunch, or even a Family Supper on the rails in fully restored locomotives and vintage dining and coach cars. The Cape Cod Central Railroad was "named one of the top ten scenic train rides in the country by USA Today…" What's more, "you'll see cranberry bogs, sand dunes, quaint historic villages of old Cape Cod, and…cow tunnels—one cow high and one cow wide!" For more information, go to capetrain.com.
All aboard!
Ahhh Coop: I love refocusing on the Green Home in Plymouth as we all know I have visions of lighthouses and cranberry bogs & all those quaint villages of old Cape Cod seem to belong together!! Talk about a retreat! I would love to partake of the benefits of unwinding on Cape Cod with a massage or energy treatment that could be discovered from Provincetown to Falmouth. Whether you enjoy yoga, pilates, tai chi, dance fitness, meditation or spinning, its all there! It is a unique way to spend quality time in Cape Cod! Then there are the diverse mix of unforgettable restaurants, ranging from upscale elegant eateries and waterfront restaurants to old-fashioned Cape Cod clambakes and seafood shanties. We all certainly know that the Cape is renowned for serving the freshest seafood!! And, ice cream parlors, bakeries and coffee shops are never hard to find!
Yesssssss, Cape Cod is a place to inspire thought, nurture dreams, and invigorate crativity!! The Cape has been a blessed destination ever since the Pilgrims convened their first meeting in Provincetown in 1620!
MGTOTD: The quickest way to chop nuts is to place them in a sealed plastic bag and roll over them with a rolling pin!!
Emeral rocks? Can't imagine them being used in Emerald City, can you?
Mary, did you ever think this retro photo would receive so many comments?
Are there exciting things to do in Palm Springs in February?
Marie Miller, where do you get all these great tips? This is another great one!
Coop, it's entries like this that can stir up my envy. Oh well, gotta choke it out before it takes root. Thanks for that move, Mixed Marshall Arts.
What I don't have to choke out is your great descriptions. Love them!