Grimanda Realty, LLC
  • Home
  • Listings
    • Featured Listings
    • Home Search
  • Resources
    • About Oregon
    • Home Evaluation
    • Calculators
    • Buying
    • Selling
    • Agency Relationships
    • Contact Us
  • Agent Bios
Grimanda Realty, LLC Opening Doors to New Adventures
  • Home
  • Listings
    • Featured Listings
    • Home Search
  • Resources
    • About Oregon
    • Home Evaluation
    • Calculators
    • Buying
    • Selling
    • Agency Relationships
    • Contact Us
  • Agent Bios
Header Image
Header Image
Company Logo
West Linn, OR 97068 Cell: 503 701-1700
Fax: 267-388-4095
Home:
Work Phone: 503-650-3922
Email Robin

Newsletter


 
 
Loan Officer Photo   Robin Grimm
Principal Broker, Owner
Direct 503 650-3922
Mobile 503 701-1700
robin4realestate@comcast.net
www.GrimandaRealty.com
Licensed in the State of Oregon.
West Linn, OR 97068
Company Logo
 



Click here for
Events in July!

 
 
Watermelon -
the Quintessential Summer Food


Watermelon, sweet and sticky, cool on a hot day, juices running off you fingertips - is there a better summer food? It doesn't require preparation beyond cutting, needs no utensils and is biodegradeable!

However, that green husk hides the secret of its quality well and if you've ever bought an underipe, or worse an overripe and mealy melon, you know the disappointment.

Here is the best tips I've found for picking the perfect melon.

1. Look for "webbing".
These weblike brown spots on the watermelon mean that bees touched the pollinating parts of the flower many times.  The more pollination, the sweeter the fruit is.  (Not sure about the sciene on that one, but I'll take their advice.)



2. Look for the field spot. The yellow spot, known as the field spot, is the place where the watermelon rested on the ground. Ripe watermelons always have creamy yellow or even orange-yellow spots, not white.

3. Pay attention to the size: It is better to choose neither the largest nor the smallest watermelon. Select an average-sized fruit. And note, please: large or small, the watermelon should feel heavy for its size.



4. 'Boy' and 'girl' watermelons: Many people do not know that farmers differentiate watermelons by gender. For example, 'boys' are bigger, have elongated shape and a watery taste. 'Girls' have a rounded shape and are very sweet.

5. Inspect the tail. A dried tail indicates that the watermelon is ripe. However, it the tail is green, it probably means that the watermelon was picked too soon and will not be ripe.

6. Thumping a melon. The most familiar method to check a watermelon's ripeness is to thump the rind with a finger. If this produces a muffled, hollow sound, it is ripe. The sound of an immature fruit, when thumped, resembles a clear, metallic ringing sound. Another way to describe the tones elicited by thumping is a "ping" for unripe or a "pong" when ready. If a markedly dull thud results, the melon has probably reached a state of overripeness.

7. Storage - If you store them in a cool, relatively moist spot, watermelons can be kept without refrigeration for two to three weeks. In the refrigerator, they last approximately a week, although sweetness and flavor may diminish. Thouroughly chilling a large melon takes about 12 hours.
 
 

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.

Prices continue to rise fastest among the lowest-priced homes. The least expensive third of homes, which cost $337,000 or less, saw prices climb 9.5 percent year-over-year. The middle third, from $337,000 to $452,000, saw prices rise 7 percent. The highest tier saw prices rise 4.2 percent. 

For the full story, click here.

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.

 
Privacy Policy  |  Site Map  |  Profile  |  Sign In

Real Estate Website powered by Point2
Point2 Homes West Linn
©2008-2023 Grimanda Realty, LLC

Powered by Point2 Express