Home Tips of the Month from Bonny Lamb

Eating a well-balanced diet, concentrating on vegetables, fruits, fish and whole grains, increases bone density. Ask your physician about Vitamin D supplements, now considered a necessity, too.

Which are better for you–dried or canned beans? According to Consumer Reports “On Health,” both are fine unless you have concerns about sodium intake. Canned beans have high sodium content, although low-sodium now are available. Canned beans are a big time-saver!

According to a UK study, group singing–nonprofessional and noncompetitive–made people happy. As the singing session progressed, so did happiness and confidence. It would be fun to organize skype/facetime/zoom singing groups during this need for social distancing and see if the results are the same. Humor is good for our health, too, and would be essential with this endeavor.

Unless your loathing for washing dishes is greater than your fear of some ruination of these products, it’s better not to put quality sharp knives, wooden bowls/utensils and china with gold leaf into your dishwasher.

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 roots of the plant need to be sawed to destroy the vines.

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Home Tips of the Month from Bonny Lamb

Home Tips of the Month from Bonny Lamb Remember at the start of the COVID-19 quarantine, when we all panicked that we would run out of food? Living solo and minimally, I had very little on hand. I visited several grocery stores and the shelves were vacant. I declared to my daughter that I would die of starvation rather than from the virus. Hearing my plight, a friend suggested a store outside of Cambridge and I bought much more perishables than I needed. I lived, but much of what I bought didn't. Recently I read a statistic that 25% of the food we buy goes bad. Two remedies: Don't buy so much–which means don't grocery shop in-store or online when you're hungry, and get into the habit of moving your older food to the front of your refrigerator. Vitamin D has so many health benefits. There are people in sunny climes like Hawaii, who still have Vitamin D deficiency. Check with your doctor for his/her advice. Drains by James visited recently to clear my disposal and drain from cantaloupe skins. He advised against putting any kind of vegetable or fruit skins into drains because the skins stick to the sides of the pipes. I thought it was really nice of him to let me know, considering that he makes his living clearing drains. According to Consumer Reports On Health, avoid processed meats like cold cuts, hot dogs, etc., even if the label says uncured and nitrite-free. The USDA allows these labels, even though nitrite-free foods–meaning the nitrites come from celery or other vegetables–still contain nitrite levels similar to the levels from synthetic nitrites. 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 roots of the plant need to be sawed to destroy the vines.  Enjoy the Summer! Very best, Bonny Lamb Bonny Lamb Vice President 1073 Mass Ave, Cambridge 02138 617.803.8080 bonny.lamb@compass.com © Compass 2020 ¦ All Rights Reserved by Compass ¦ Made in NYC Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. All Coming Soon listings in NYC are simultaneously syndicated to the REBNY RLS. Compass makes no representation or guarantee that Coming Soons are available in your region, or that its use will result in the benefits described herein.

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Home Tips of the Month from Bonny Lamb

Home Tips of the Month from Bonny Lamb MAY is skin cancer awareness month. Here are the ABCDE's of skin cancer when evaluating a spot: Asymmetry – one half does not match      the other Border – uneven borders Color – variety of colors Diameter – grows larger than the size of a pencil eraser Evolution – changes in color, size, shape and other traits In a previous Home Tips I wrote about the vitamin-packed leaves of radishes that are good to use for salad greens. Turns out that the cute little red (white or purple) radishes have an abundance of vitamins, too. Sliced or chopped radishes add zip to salads, but they're good as a snack, too. Not only do you get beneficial vitamins from orange juice, especially Vitamin C, but the potassium can reduce the impact of too much sodium in your body, according to Consumer Reports newsletter, On Health. Potassium is a mood elevator, too—eat bananas. Orange juice is now available with half the sugar/calories–yea–but the producers charge more for it. Mushrooms get brown and squishy all too soon. If you add a good, absorbent doubled section of paper towel (Bounty is good) to the bottom of the original container and use the original (helps the environment) plastic wrap securely around the box, the paper absorbs excess moisture that otherwise ruins the mushrooms. From CNBC: More than 4 million homeowners who have delayed their monthly mortgage payments as part of both government and private lender relief programs have been put into forbearance by mistake and are having a hard time getting out. While the programs cannot, by law, hurt their credit scores, they can keep borrowers from refinancing their loans or procuring new mortgages. I hope you and your families are well and are "surviving" our very weird journey in uncharted waters. We certainly have had time to think about what we most value in life. Be well! With best wishes, Bonny Lamb On the Market 11 Chauncy Street Offered at $2,300,000 Impeccably designed with casual elegance in mind.  Outdoor entertainment areas; private grounds. An urban retreat!  7 Rooms | 3+ Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 2 Underground Parking www.11chauncy.com Click on the image below for additional info and virtual walkthrough Click on the image below to view the virtual brochure Click on the image below to watch the social media video with sound on Bonny Lamb Vice President 1073 Mass Ave, Cambridge 02138 617.803.8080 bonny.lamb@compass.com © Compass 2020 ¦ All Rights Reserved by Compass ¦ Made in NYC Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. All Coming Soon listings in NYC are simultaneously syndicated to the REBNY RLS. Compass makes no representation or guarantee that Coming Soons are available in your region, or that its use will result in the benefits described herein.

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57 Reservoir Street, Unit 2, Cambridge 02138

Huron Village in West Cambridge. This upper level duplex with private entry is flooded with light from abundant windows and skylights. The semi-open plan is perfect for daily life or easy entertaining. You will be impressed by the good taste, quality of the renovations, and move-in condition. The handsome kitchen with custom-made cherry cabinetry and under-cabinet lighting has beautiful granite to complement the wood, accented by SS appliances, including a gas range and vented hood. The mudroom off the kitchen leads to the private deck for outside dining. The marble spa-like bathroom, located between the 2 bedrooms, is really lovely, with a deep soaking tub, separate shower, unique Robern mirror, designer sconces, and skylight. The office with built-in bookshelves leads to the front deck. The flex room on the second level has a kitchenette, bathroom with shower, and skylights. Enjoy having central AC or a FP in winter, w/d, a garage with remote control and extra storage. Near everything!

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3 Benton Road, Unit 2, Somerville 02143

Turn-key! Impeccably designed with 1,840 sf of beautiful space on one level for easy, efficient living. The expansive open floor plan sets the stage for interactive daily living or a fabulous venue for entertaining friends–with plenty of space for social distancing. The airy interior, with windows on four sides, easily provides separations for living, dining, kitchen, and the built-in “office.” A beautifully appointed kitchen is sure to enchant with its oversized island with microwave drawer, Bertazzoni gas range, vented hood, pot-filler, SS appliances, and honed granite island and counters. The grand scale of the mr bedroom with walk-in closet and en suite bath is impressive; 2 additional bedrooms with bath are generously sized. There are long views from windows and from the delightful private deck. In-unit washer and dryer, Hunter Douglas shades, plantation shutters, abundant closets; extra storage; 2 underground parking in heated garage. Between Davis/Porter/Union Sqs; T’s &T-to be.

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