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Chiseled In Stone - The Newsletter - June 2008
June 03, 2008
Stone Bathtubs
were an invention of the Ancient Romans the first culture in western civilization to take to bathing. The Romans bathed socially in baths, large swimming pools really, in public buildings. The bathtub inside the home came centuries later. Today stone bathtubs come in as many sizes, shapes and colors as there are stones and they are known to hold heat very well.
But just how do you get the thing into your bathroom? You hire a professional rigger to move the 2500lb soaker, hopefully to a first floor bathroom. And don't forget to reinforce the floors before rolling the tub through your house.
The Glow of a Stone Lamplight.
Honeycomb calcite can only be found in the U.S. specifically the state of Utah. The "honeycomb" affect is made with the growth of long tubular shaped crystals. And while this stone is millions of years old it has only been recently discovered and quarried. Its color and translucent characteristics are unique to calcite and the dense quality of the stone makes it easy to mine and to carve. The stone's surface takes a beautiful polish. and because of its translucent properties the stone can take on a warm honey-colored glow with natural, candle or electric light.
Stone Rickey
- 1 1/2 oz Gin
- 1/2 oz (fresh) Lime Juice
- 2 oz (fresh) Orange Juice
- 3 oz Club Soda
- 1 oz Simple Syrup
Directions:
Pour gin, lime juice, orange juice and simple syrup into a highball glass three-quarters filled with ice. Fill with club soda and stir. Garnish with a slice of orange, and serve.
The Expert's Opinion.
The last word on marble countertops for the kitchen is Vermont Verde Antique(R). Vermont Verde Antique(R) green serpentine marble is generally considered to be the only marble with a polished finish that can be used in exterior applications, floors and stairs, and of course kitchen countertops. The National Bureau of Standards measured the properties of the marble which has an abrasive hardness which exceeds many types of granite. According to Mike Solari of Vermont Verde Antique LLC in Pittsford, VT. "I have Verde Antique countertops in my kitchen and they look as good today as they did 19 years ago when they were installed." Nineteen years ago? And they say all the hottest trends in the U.S. start in California.
Homebody's Buddy
"Do you do windows?"
If you cannot afford to pay a professional a $ per-pane rate to handle the daunting task of washing your windows this spring here are a few tips on making the chore a little easier to perform.
- A professional from the This Old House site recommends a soft cloth washer & squeegee. "Rubbing the window back and forth with paper towels only moves the dirt around, it doesn't remove it"
- Care2 offers this green clean recipe; 2c. water, c white vinegar, tsp dishwashing liquid
- An engineer who was given the job of cleaning the outside windows of his home came up with the following solution; 1 Gal of water, c. dish washing liquid, 1c. White vinegar, 1 c. ammonia, (the dishwashing liquid is the secret to streak free results).
The "Old Man of the Mountain", the granite outcropping shaped like the head of man had kept watch over New Hampshire for thousands of years. Despite many attempts to shore up the White Mountain monument the ledges finally gave in to gravity and crumbled to the ground below in May 2003.