All Outdoor Patio Furniture

Regarding the difference between barbecuing and grilling, I mentioned recently that a quick way to sum it up is to say that grilling is high and fast, while barbecuing is low and slow.  To be a bit more explicit, grilling is usually done on charcoal grills or gas grills, when one is cooking hamburgers, or tender, thinner cuts of meat, at 500° or more, for an hour or less.

The intense heat and the rapid cooking process help to seal in the juices, which makes the meat more succulent.  If you’re going to use any kind of barbecue sauce when you’re grilling, don’t put it on until the meat is nearly done, or the sugar in the sauce may burn.  It’s also important that you stay close to the grill at all times, as the meat cooks so quickly that it can go from juicy to dry in a matter of minutes.  You can also keep the meat from drying out by turning it with tongs, as a fork will just make a bunch of holes through which the juices can escape; and, believe me, it will be a fast getaway.

Barbecuing, which is normally done over wood or charcoal, is used when cooking larger, tougher cuts of meat, at 225° or less, with smoke, for over an hour; and I mean well over an hour.  As a matter of fact, in some instances, such as when you’re cooking a whole pig, you may have to barbecue overnight.  The good part about a situation like this, however, is that you won’t have to tend to the meat – or even stay awake – the whole time.

Of course, most people who do the pig-cooking thing at least once a year (and I think we all know someone who does) like to make it a marathon event.  Even if the pig won’t be done until Sunday afternoon, they generally like to start getting things ready on Friday evening, right after work.  Besides preparing their picnic tables, they’ll want to make sure that there are enough Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, garden benches, settees, and folding chairs for everyone to be seated comfortably.  Furthermore, most of them enjoy tending to their barbecues throughout the night, and often end up sleeping in their swingbeds.

When you’re barbecuing, you can brush on sauce as often as you wish, as it will create a delicious glaze on the meat.  You can also give it a great, smoky flavor by putting damp wood chips into the fire.  The long, slow pace of this method dissolves the connective tissues that make meat tough, causing it to become tender enough to fall off the bone; and that’s the goal of all outdoor chefs.

There are many types of wood that you can use, and each lends its own, unique flavor to the meat.  Furthermore, just as certain wines are thought to ideally complement specific foods, various kinds of wood are recommended for use with particular meats; and we’ll explore some of these in upcoming blogs.

In the meantime, I hope that I haven’t made you too hungry!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, charcoal grills, folding chairs, garden benches, gas grills, grills, picnic tables, settees, Swingbeds

Among the many indoor projects that people are working on at this time of the year, painting is one of the most common.  This is understandable, as it’s a great way to give a room a whole new look, without the expense of remodeling; and virtually anyone can do it.  For first-timers, however, the myriad choices in paints can be rather confusing.  Heck, it’s difficult enough just to pick from the millions of available colors.  Then, after you make that monumental decision, you have to figure out whether flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss paint, will best suit your purpose.

So, if you’re not familiar with these terms, remember that flat paint has a matte finish, with no sheen, shine, or shimmer.  Because it doesn’t reflect light, it can hide some minor imperfections; but it’s less durable, more porous, and harder to clean, than glossier types.  This makes it more hospitable to mold and mildew growth, so it shouldn’t be used in high-humidity rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens, or in backyard structures that aren’t insulated.

Eggshell has just a slight hint of luster, but can add a bit more depth and warmth to a room.  Easier to clean than flat paint, it still disguises small defects, and is less attractive to mildew.

Smooth and somewhat shiny, satin paint is much more durable than flat and eggshell varieties.  Very easy to clean, and resistant to mold and mildew, it’s great for use in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as high-traffic areas.

With its beautiful, sparkling finish, semi-gloss paint is extremely durable and easy to keep clean.  It’s used mostly for trim, doors, and bathroom and kitchen cabinets; but it’s highly reflective, and will draw attention to even the slightest blemish.

Gleaming, glistening gloss paint is mainly for trim, wainscoting, and cabinets; but it can also make a home look stylish and welcoming when used on the front door.  Because it spotlights every imperfection, however, wherever, whenever, and if ever you use it, be sure that whatever you put it on has no flaws whatsoever.

Once you’re done with the indoors, you can start planning a fresh look for the outdoors.  Adding patio furniture to your porch or lawn is a great way to add an entirely new living space to enjoy.   Of course, with the thousands of patio chairs, porch swings, garden benches, swingbeds, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, hammocks, accent tables, gliders, outdoor dining tables, garden structures, and ottomans available, there’s practically as many varieties of outdoor furniture as there are paint colors!

Luckily, though, this will cause you no consternation.  Because materials can be easily split into two categories; cedar, pine, oak, cherry, teak, eucalyptus, and cypress, verses aluminum, synthetic wicker, polywood, and vinyl.  Your decision is simple: either you wood, or wood not.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, adirondack chairs, aluminum, backyard structures, cedar, chaise lounges, cherry, cypress, eucalyptus, garden benches, garden structures, gliders, Hammocks, oak, ottomans, outdoor dining tables, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic tables, pine, polywood, porch swings, Swingbeds, synthetic wicker, teak, vinyl

Sure, there are millions of people who look forward to summer, when they can spend time relaxing on porch gliders and patio chairs, napping in hammocks, swimming, and taking vacations.  Even so, nothing attracts us to the outdoors like autumn.

That’s understandable, as it’s such a spectacular show that lasts for such a short time.  This creates a sense of urgency about seeing it, unlike the joys of summer, most of which last throughout season, and, in some cases, beyond.  When you think about it, it’s often more fun to visit a park that’s no longer crowded, where the picnic tables are free, or the beach, when the sand isn’t covered with towels, and the pool houses are empty.  In autumn, however, there’s a fleeting period when colors are at their peak, before the leaves are shed.

Luckily, in contrast to expensive summer – or winter – getaways, we can enjoy fall’s scenery for free, without traveling anywhere.  Certainly, many people do take trips, but that’s a choice, rather than a necessity. 

Indeed, one of the best ways to revel in fall’s grandeur is to take a page from summer’s book, and drink it all in from the comfort of your outdoor furniture.  Just position your Adirondack chair for optimum viewing, tilt your lounge chair back, relax on your garden bench, or get an around-the-tree bench, where you can move 360º without ever leaving your seat, and even get caught in a brilliant shower of leaves.  

Another great way to see it is from a swingbed!  If you haven’t heard about this gem yet, it’s like a porch swing, but with a wider and deeper seat that lets you lie down on it.  If you’ve yet to see one, just go to CedarStore.com, where you’ll find a variety of them in several styles, along with an assortment of soft, thick, cushions, available in over a dozen colors.

Swingbeds are great for year-round use, and they make fantastic gifts as well.  Best of all, they ship – free – in as few as three business days, so there’s still time to get one before the leaves reach their peak.  I’ve got mine, and, believe me, it’s truly a dreamy way to experience the splendor of the season – any season.

Yours Outdoors, 

Kathy

Tags: swingbed, Swingbeds