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Watermelon Punch Keg
Having a get together this summer? Try something different that will get everyone talking. Turn that watermelon into the ultimate watering hole - a keg for your favorite watermelon beverage. Here's how: You'll need: - An immersion blender or a drill with an adjustable chuck and one electric beater from a hand mixer. - A keg tap (click here for where to buy online) with matching corer. - A sharp knife - Large strainer over a bowl - Large spoon like a wooden spoon or a ladle 1. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the rind (not through to the flesh) so that the watermelon has a flat surface to sit on and stand upright. 2. With a sharp knife, cut a circle out of the top of the watermelon rind, as you would a jack-o-lantern top. Save the lid to replace it later. 3. Prepare the immersion blender or drill with the beater as the bit. Put the watermelon in the sink (things could get messy). Remove the lid, and puree the entire interior of the melon, getting the flesh off the sides but not cutting into the white of the rind. 4. Place the strainer over the bowl and pour the pureed melon into the strainer. User a spoon to mash the pulp through the strainer mesh, keeping the seeds out. For a 20-25 lb melon this should yeild approximately 6-7 cups of juice. 5. Use the corer to tap a hole in the side of the watermelon near the low point. On a flatter plane of the rind would be preferable. Do NOT overenlarge the hole. Follow the taps' instructions to install in the melon wall. 6. Pour in your beverage mix. Chose from some of the ideas below. Plan to refrierate you mix (preferably in the melon container) for at least 2 hours prior to serving. Watermelon Punch: - One 20- to 25-pound seedless watermelon (6-7 cups strained juice) - One 750-ml bottle rose wine - 1 1/2 cups orange-flavored vodka Agua Fresca: - 6 cups of strained watermelon juice - 1 cup of water - 48 mint leaves - 16 tablespoons of super-fine sugar - 8 very thin lime slices, halved into half-moons - ice cubes Combine watermelon juice and water. (Add more water to taste, if too sweet.) In glasses, muddle 3 mint leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of super-fine sugar and a lime slice. Add ice and pour in watermelon agua fresca. Jewel's Watermelon Margarita - - 6 cups of strained watermelon juice - 3 cups sugar - 3 cups water - 18 strips orange zest - 1 1/2 cups lime juice - salt or sugar for rimming glasses - lime wedges - crushed ice - Tequilla or lemon lime soda - as desired per glass Combine sugar and water & orange zest in saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved to create a simple syrup. Allow to cool completely. Mix syrup, strained watermelon juice, lime juice in large pitcher. You may add tequilla or lemon-lime soda now if making one big batch. Or keep separate so that guests control their mix. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip in a saucer of sugar or salt to rim the glass. Fill with crushed ice and pour in margarita mix, garnish with lime wedge.
Happy Independence Day!
Dear Friends, It's time to break out the sunscreen, the barbeque and the sparklers. Our national holiday is here and I hope to help you make the most of it. Look at the great events happening on July 4th and beyond. Add a watermelon keg or custom drink to your next get together and show off some excellent homemade, strudy outdoor furniture. It's America, where we believe anyone can be anything they set their mind to, like a chef, a carpenter and especially a homeowner. If you are visiting with family or friends and they mention a change in their life such as a new job, a wedding or new family members, this is the right time to ask if they are planning to change housing as well. We have lots of great opportunties in our market to help people find the right home for them and I would be honored to serve the people you care about most. Count me as a resource for all your home-based needs.
Happy 4th of July, Robin Grimm
These are the cities where homeowners made the most money selling their homes last year
Kellie Ell | www.cnbc.com 5:11 PM 27 June 2018
The West Coast may have the best returns for homeowners looking to sell... Most of the best returns were along the West Coast. San Francisco homeowners who cashed in made a median $222,000. In Los Angeles the median was $137,000; in Seattle it was $123,000; in San Diego, California, it was $108,000, and in Portland, Oregon, it was $87,000.
Meanwhile, Midwestern cities Cleveland and Chicago came in at the bottom of the list, with median returns of $16,000 and $20,000 respectively. In Chicago, when factoring in inflation, it was actually a loss for homeowners.
For more, click here.
Portland area's home prices climb slower than nation's for first time since 2012
By Elliot Njus | www.oregonlive.com 07:41 AM, 26 June 2018
Portland-area home prices grew slower in April than those of the nation as a whole for the first time in more than five years.
Home prices continued to rise, climbing 5.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the S&P/CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index. The national index rose 6.4 percent.
Twelve of the 20 cities included in the index saw prices rise faster than Portland, led by Seattle, where they climbed 13.1 percent year-over-year.
Taking Do-It-Yourself furniture to a whole different level
We can all agree that the whirr of a circular saw sends the blood pounding. The inherent threat of using powerful tools keeps some would be builders away. But let's admit it - cinder blocks and 2x4's went out of style after your early 20's. With the right guidance you can create some pretty impressive furniture projects and the internet is replete with resources for you. In fact, a Google search for DIY Furniture will bring up lots of plans. Check out this pair of outdoor chairs and side table all made from one, yes one!, piece of plywood. Jamison Rantz's Rogue Engineer has tons of plans that allow you to tap into your inner designer. Ana White started making her own furniture out of necessity, and now shares thousands of plans for free online. Her 'Get Started' page covers the very basic tools you'll need and plans are divided by cost, skill, style, room and project. Check out this Double Chair with Table as a beginning level project perfect for summer.
What to do during the DAY on 4th of July
Corbett Fun Fest – 7am Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast, pie-eating contest, whole hog raffle, and more. Biggest fireworks in East County at the Corbett Grade School. Estacada Timber Festival at PGE Timber Park – starts at 10am with pole climbing, axe throwing, log pond rolls off and chain saw show offs. Happy Valley Park Fourth of July Family Festival – 9:30 am – 2.6 mile community hike & parade down SE 145th at noon. Hillsboro Rotary 4th of July Parade – 10am West on Grant, South on NE 2nd, East on E Main, and NE on NE Cornell. King City Walk & Roll 4th of July Parade – 9:30 am from City Hall to King City Park. 10 am - 2 pm vist the festival with bounce houses, food carts, craft vendors, and live music. Lake Oswego Celebration and Firework Spectacular – Lions Club Pancake breakfast from 6:30 am on at George Rogers Park. 10:30 am parade down A Ave to Millenium Plaza, pets welcome. Fireworks by Lake Grove Swim Park AND on the Willamette River by the George Rogers Park. Oaks Park – Local amusement park and roller skate rink is open from 10am to midnight with live music, rides, and Pepsi Fireworks Spectacular in SE Portland near the Sellwood Bridge. Portland Waterfront Blues Festival (Juy 4 – 7) – 40 World renowned performers. Spectaular Fireworks. Tickets required but you can hear the music and see the fireworks outside the venue. Salem Cherryfest NW (July 4 - 8) – formerly The Bite and Brew of Salem featuring craft beers and ciders, food vendors, a carnival and fireworks on the 4th of July. Free admission on July 4th. Tickets required other days, click here for info. St Paul Rodeo (July 3-7) – Fireworks every night. Traditional Rodeo and Carnival. Fort Vancouver Fireworks Spectacular – picnic during the day to save a space to see this massive show at 10pm. Willamette Park Celebration – West Linn hosts live music and activities leading up to fireworks.