Home Tips of the Month from Bonny Lamb

from Bonny Lamb

 
 

We all have different interpretations of privacy, sort of pro-Alexa or not. Recently I read that when you make a call and are placed on hold, you can’t hear the person on the other end, but sometimes they don’t turn off their mic and can hear you and whatever is being said in your house. Additionally, while you are on hold, some companies listen to your background activities/conversation for data collection. Discomforting, isn’t it?

 
 

Try hydroponically grown salad greens—they really are good. Whole Foods carries a brand called Lef that is pesticide free. Unlike the usual salad greens, these greens taste fresher, last so much longer, and don’t get wet, soggy and spoiled in a few days. Also, I suspect the chance of getting contaminated leaves is far less.

 
 

I love grilled cheese sandwiches—they’re my favorites with sliced tomatoes. Instead of using butter on the outer slices, add olive oil/evoo to a skillet—I use a generous amount—and fry your sandwich in the heated olive oil. The first time you try it, you’ll notice the difference; afterwards and considering the benefits, I’m quite sure you’ll happily adopt.

 
 

The debate about the SPF number with sunscreen continues and now Johnson & Johnson has informed us that Neutrogena, etc., are not safe to use. And to prevent staining, let your sunscreen dry before adding clothing.

 
 

Another reminder about English ivy, an invasive species that strangles and kills trees, like this one in West Cambridge. It’s our local kudzu, all too evident in Cambridge, Belmont and Somerville, taking over gardens and climbing trees. At the beginning of the climb, the roots can be pulled from the trees; once securely attached to the tree or wedged within the interstices of the trunk, the thick stem at the bottom of the tree needs to be sawed to destroy the vines.

 

79 Bradford Road, Watertown 02472

Sensational location for transportation, parks, amenities of Cushing and Waverley Squares in Belmont, shops and restaurants on Mt. Auburn and Arsenal Streets and Watertown Squares, easy access to Cambridge and the Pike. Lovely 2-unit property will give you excellent rent as an investor or a delightful house to live in with the financial benefit of tenants. Windows all around provide exceptional light; designer paint colors, an open bar between the kitchen and dining room and wood-burning fireplaces are some of the standout features of this well-maintained home in the Victory Field neighborhood. 4 sunrooms provide extra space for office, exercise, play or walk-in closet. Wainscotting in the dining rooms, white kitchens with SS appliances and glass-front cabinetry, and renovated baths are pleasing to buyers and tenants alike. A big front porch, covered patio and level, grassy fenced yard are perfect for outdoor enjoyment and entertainment. 3-4 pkg plus garage presently used for storage.

7 Clinton Street, Unit 2, Cambridge 02139

Mid-Cambridge Victorian beauty! Open the white picket fence and take the brick pathway to this delightful condominium with its own private side entry. This captivating home is wonderfully unique in every way, with an abundance of windows and handsome oak flooring with a matte finish. The spacious living room features a soaring ceiling, a bay with 4 tall windows, double closets at the entry. New quartz counters complement the honey-toned cabinetry and SS appliances with a gas stove grace the open kitchen with a window above the sink. The dining area has a deep closet, access to the deck via sliders, and open views of the backyard and your parking space. An in-unit washer/dryer closet is located in the updated bathroom. The lower level has the same high quality wood flooring, a 4-window bay, double closets and en suite bathroom with shower. This flex room has been used as a bedroom; a door leads to a common area with extra storage and the exit. Between Harvard & MIT; the T, amenities.