San Diego Homeowner | Vol. 3 Issue 2

Caring for YourNatural Stone

Nevada SilverFortune Seekers

Emeril’s Grilled OystersOn the Half Shell

Winter StargazingConstellation Orion

Vol. 3 Issue 2

SAN DIEGO

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TIME FOR TRAVEL

YOUR HOME

With the winter season upon us, sky watchers have a great wealth of objects to look at! Astronomer Steve Kates, affectionately known as Dr.Sky, believes that the winter

season is one of the best to start your lesson plan on learning the many constellations that make up the night sky. Dr. Sky has compiled the following “must-sees” for the winter and beyond.

There are some 88 constellations, or star groups, in the entire sky. More than half of these can be seen from the vantage point of an

observer in the Northern Hemisphere. To begin, try to observe the Orion constellation.

Look high in the east at sunset for the magic of the winter constellation Orion - the hunter. Greek mythology tells us that Orion was one of the great hunters but had a very large ego. This inflated ego made the gods very angry, so they sent a scorpion to kill him and remind us of his mortality. Diana, who admired Orion’s hunting skills and great ego, begged the gods to place him in the sky for all time.

In our winter sky, Orion makes for a great starting point. This mighty hunter sweeps up a large area of the sky and can be seen with the naked eye. Starting at the top left of Orion, you’ll come to a red colored star known as Betelgeuse – the giant’s shoulder. This super giant star is some 650 light years from Earth and is so large that if placed over our Sun, its diameter would extend far beyond that of Jupiter.

The other bright star in Orion is located on the opposite side. There you will see a bright blue star known as Rigel. Rigel is a young blue giant, some 773 light years from the Sun. At that distance, Rigel is a bright star – 40,000 times more luminous than our Sun!

In the middle of Orion are the three belt stars. Look just below the middle star of the belt for the famous Orion Nebula. This stellar nursery is located 1,500 light years from the Sun and is a great object for telescope or binocular viewing.

Observe the skies a few hours after sunset and you will get to see the brightest star in our skies other than the Sun. Sirius, the “dog star,” is located to the lower left of Orion and blazes in a most majestic manner. Sirius is actually a close neighbor of our Sun, situated just 8.6 light years away.

STONE IN LOVE

Looking UP This WinterNevada

Nevada got its name from a Spanish word which means “snow clad,” as it relates to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Snow Peaks. The discovery of the Comstock Lode, a massive silver deposit in 1859 brought many fortune seekers. Statehood followed in 1864 when Nevada was admitted as the 36th state.

Nevada is located in a mountain region that includes both semi-arid grass lands and sandy deserts. It is the most arid “dry” state in the USA. Like an oasis in the desert, Nevada’s two main cities; Las Vegas and Reno attract fortune seekers from around the globe, hoping to strike it rich in one of the many casinos.

If you are headed to the mountains, Lake Tahoe is on the border of California and Nevada. Stateline Nevada has a wide selection of both gaming and non-gaming hotels, scenic lake view hotels, ski lodges, and spa resort hotels. Nevada combines America’s history with great food and untarnished scenery. From the historic Kit Carson Trail to white water rafting, horseback riding, skiing and golfing, Nevada is never dull!

Source: NevadaTourism.com

Natural stone in the home, both indoors and outdoors, is not only practical but can also be

aesthetically magnificent. Bringing the outdoors inside, stone can give any room an earthier feel, and with a little bit of care and maintenance it will last a long time.

Although durable, cantera is a relatively softer stone often used for columns, fountains and fireplace surrounds and comes in a variety of textures and colors. It’s susceptible to light abrasion and strong acids so harsh chemicals such as chlorine should never be placed in cantera fountains. Instead, a few drops of non-acidic algaecide will clear up any algae and light sanding will also remove calcium lines.

With cantera flooring you don’t have to seal all stone, but in high traffic areas or where stone is exposed to the elements a yearly seal with a high-quality sealer is recommended. However, if you do choose to have regular maintenance, you may want to employ the services of a company that specializes in the care of stone.

Many homeowners have travertine, slate, marble and other stone surfaces covering their floors. Most people over clean their floors with wet cleaning when all that is needed is a dry cleaning by vacuum, a dust mop or tack mopping (having the mop just wet enough). If a cleaner is used, a neutral non-acidic one is recommended.

When grout becomes soiled, a flood mop should be used with a good cleaner. Scrub grout with a soft bristled brush then pick up water with a mop. Other floor tips include using walk-off mats at all entrances, wiping up spills immediately, avoiding chairs with rollers and gluing scrap leather on the bottoms of chair legs. Grout sealing or staining can also renew the original color of the grout.

Stone kitchen countertops can be maintained by cleaning with stone cleaners, using cutting boards and hot pads and applying a stone disinfectant. Granite is often utilized for kitchen countertops because it does not get etched from acidic foods. With marble, travertine or limestone you can get dull white spots from anything acidic. However, a professional re-honing can bring the surface back to

its original luster. Granite countertops should be sealed every three to five years.

Outside stone surfaces may be left natural if a homeowner isn’t concerned about erosion.

However, if so, then a seal every three to five years is recommended. If

the area is exposed to water, sealing more often will keep your home in its like-new

condition.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb unsalted butter1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil1/2 c minced garlic1 ½ tbsp Emeril’s Original Essence1/4 c chopped parsley3 doz raw oysters in their shells3/4 c grated Parmigiano-Reggiano3/4 c grated Pecorino-Romano Crusty French bread, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Combine the butter, olive oil, garlic, and Essence in a medium saucepan over mediium heat and cook until the butter is melted and the garlic just begins to sizzle. Remove from the heat and set aside until cooled slightly. Stir in the parsley.

Using an oyster knife, shuck the oysters, leaving the oyster nestled in the side of the shell that is more cup-shaped. Make sure to sever the muscle attaching the oyster to the shell.

Preheat a grill to high. Working in batches, place the oysters on the grill and spoon about 2 teaspoons of the butter-garllic mixture over each oyster. Top each oyster with a pinch of Parmesan and a pinch of Romano. Close the grill and cook until the butter sizzles and the oysters puff up, 5 to 6 minutes. Using tongs, remove the oysters from the grill and serve on platters with lots of French bread for dipping.

Serves 6.

Grilled Oysters on the Half Shell

Emerils.com