redwine

Does anyone have a link to a story that had the gallup, or other forecaster, on Sarah Palin's chances of selection for VP prior to the announcement last friday? I recall Romney expectations in the 60-70% range, but want to find out how much of an underdog Palin really was. thanks

Its time for my annual attempt to get the lawn to look good next year. It has not worked well in the past, but I have perseverance and will try till I die. This year its not too good, lots of weeds and bare patches. We live in Boston, so its time to think about the fall treatment. I have limed, so I don't think that's a problem. I was thinking about aerating, and then throwing sand down to fill the holes. Should I seed at the same time, or am I supposed to wait until after all those plugs disappear before putting seed down. Or should I aerate, sand and seed at the same time. Thanks for the help.

OK, When you order room service, they usually tack on an 18% or more service charge. Are you supposed to tip the person who delivers on top of that? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I'm just not sure what the correct etiquette is.

Hi, I have a small landing (5x5) going to my front door that is set in bluestone (Set on/with sand, not permanently set in concrete). Over the years (we live in the northeast), it has become unlevel. I want to try and level it out myself). How hard is this to do, and does anyone have any internet resources that can help me out? I have seen lots of instructions about how to build a bluestone patio, but this seems like it should be much easier. Do I just lift the stones up and relevel the base (tamping down while doing it, and then reset the stones. There is a good gap between the stones (about an inch between stones), so I should just refill with stone dust when done? Or should I take all the stones off (again, its not a big area), and retamp everything and reset it all? Thanks for any help.

I need an extra freezer (the stand alone type, not a frig/freezer). Can I put this freezer in my garage? I live in Boston, where it gets hot (80's and humid) during the summer and cole (garage can get to 40 degrees in the winter, maybe colder). Its also a garage, so dusty, dirty, etc. Are freezers designed to function in this kind of environment, or will I just be wasting my money? thanks

I read someplace that a chef suggested reconditioning in a non stick pan by low cooking an olive oil and kosher salt recipe. Anyone heard of this or knows anything about it. thanks

I have a Paella pan that I use about once a year. It cleaned it and dried it, but it still developed a ton of rust all over the cooking surface during the year. Can I just clean off the rust and use the pan? It's not an expensive one so that's probably the start of the problem. thanks

I have really old metal casement windows. They are beautiful, but so energy inefficient that I have decided to replace them. Can people tell me who they think the best manufacturers are for replacement casement windows. I know that I will lose alot of the charm of the old windows, but want to use the best replacements that I can. Thanks

I don't get their stardom. They're not in any movies that I know of. They really have not done anything since they were small kids. They both look like they have eating disorders, and are not overly glamourous. Why are they in the celebrity news all the time? Are they producers, or just rich?

Live in an old 70+ year house in Boston. Probably original copper water pipes. Pipes were working fine, until recently there is a rattling noise in the pipes when we fill the tub on the second floor. Its fairly noisy, like air is stuck in the pipes, and usually goes away after a few seconds, likely when we increase or decrease the flow of water in the tubs. Is this something to be worried about? Should I get a plumber to take a look at it? It has never happened with this regularity in the 6 years we have lived in the house. thanks

When I bought my house, they came with some end irons in the fireplace. They're nothing special, but since they are there, I have kept them in the fireplace. I have a grate that I use to stack and burn the wood, so these things simple sit to the side. Problem is they are pretty ugly colored, kind of gray or iron colored. I have seen some of these things with a nice bronze color. Is it possible to paint them a nice bronze color, and if so what type of paint stands up to the heat. Also, what were these things originally used for? Or were they simply decorative? Thanks

Any ideas why this happens I have a keypad on the outside of the garage that I use to open the garage. It usually works fine. except when it gets cold. Usually in the winter, it won't work in the morning when its most cold, but often works in the afternoon when it is warmer. The remote controls in the car work fine, its just the outside keypad. It is relatively new and was professionally installed. Thanks for any help.

OK, old toilet located on the 2nd floor, probably 30+yrs old, so its a big tank and it drains slow. Too much toilet paper (we won't get into that, I'm still fuming). I flush, of course its clogged, but does not overflow the bowl, it makes it to the top of the bowl, but does not overflow. The bathroom floor is dry (thank god). Fills up to the top and then slowly drains down. Now here is the part I cannot figure out. The ceiling below the toilet (or in the general area) is leaking on the first floor. How can this happen? The bathroom floor is competely dry. Any ideas? thanks!!

Question: I have duck fat that I used to make duck confit from this past winter/spring. It has been in my frig in a tub, and I just checked it. And unlike in the past, there is no mold on the fat, and it actually smells like the tyme/rosemary that I made confit with. I usually use the fat for other things, like frying potatoes. Anyone know if the fat has become rancid. I really smells fine, although it has been 6 months since the last usage. Thanks

Hi, I just got a soil test on my lawn from the local agricultural lab. The recommend some more lime, as well as fertilizer levels of 20-3-12 in April and June, and 10-6-4 in late august, which is different from the fertilizer I was using. The question is, if I was planning on overseeding (I waited until these results got back so I have not done it yet, and we live in Boston area), what should I do from a timing perspective? Should I apply some lime, and use the 10-6-4 at the same time as a top dressing and starter fertilizer and grass seed. Should I do the lime and 10-6-4 before the seeds?, if so how long do I have to wait? The first frost will be here in about 3 weeks. Or should I get the seed down and germinating (using top dressing and starter fertilzer right away before the frost comes, and then put some lime and 10-6-4 right before the snow comes?

Thanks for any help!

I have some gas (likely premium octane) that I did not use for the lawn mower last fall. My mower is so persnickety that I dare not use the old gas in the mower. What can I do with the leftover gas? Can I put it in my car, or will it hurt the engine. It was stored in one of those red plastic gas cans in my garage in the northeast. thanks

OK, we have a 2-3 year old 6 burner Thernador range, dual fuel, professional, big honking expensive thing. The range is set in an island, and we had the backsplash that comes with the range installed (it rises about 4 inches above the range). There has been this buzzing noise, not loud, but irritating in a quiet kitchen that comes out of the back of the range. The appliance repair guy told us that it is supposed to make that noise and that our cabinets are too low. That they should be higher and that would muffle the noise. Does this make any sense at all? I would have someone else come to look at it, but I paid $60 to have this guy do nothing with the thing. Thanks in advance.