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Swimming as a recreational activity goes back as far as 2500 B.C. in ancient Egypt and later in ancient Greece, Rome, and Assyria.  In Rome and Greece, swimming was part of the education of elementary age boys and the Romans built the first swimming pools (separate from bathing pools). The first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC. Gaius Maecenas was a rich Roman lord and considered one of the first patron of arts - he supported the famous poets Horace, Virgil, and Propertius, making it possible for them to live and write without fear of poverty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Living - Creating an outdoor living space beyond the four walls of your home is gaining ground as one of the most popular home improvement projects of all. Whether your outdoor room will be a brick paving patio or a wood or composite deck, creating an outdoor room is the least expensive way to extend your living space.

 

 

Not only does building a new deck or patio create new space for recreation and relaxation, the return on your investment is also significant. According to one report, installing a deck will give you a 76.8% return on investment when it comes time to sell your home. Patios aren't rated in the findings, but I'd expect the results to be similar. Whatever outdoor living space you decide to build, you will be increasing the value of your home.

 

 

 

 

 

Private and home swimming pools did not became popular until the middle of the 19th century. By 1837, six indoor pools with diving boards were built in London, England. After the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 and swimming races were among the original events, the popularity of swimming pools began to spread.  Today many homes have their own heated pool many with their own enclosures, decks and patios.

 

Each year, Welcome Home makes it's way into the back yards of America to keep our finger on the pulse of what American Families are doing with their pools.  We also make our pilgramage to the International Pool and Spa Expo to keep our finger on the pulse of the industry. This year we head to Las Vegas to bring you the newest products for 2009.  We found that companion to many swimming pools are enclosures, barbeques, decks, gazebos and many other landscaping signatures that go along with the family pool.  

 

 

 

 

 

The ancient pool "the great bath" at the site of Mohenjo-Daro was most likely dug during the 3rd millennium BC. This pool is 12 by 7 meters, is lined with bricks and was covered with a tar-based sealant.

 

Ancient Greeks and Romans built artificial pools for athletic training in the palaestras, for nautical games and for military exercises. Roman emperors had private swimming pools in which fish were also kept, hence one of the Latin words for a pool, piscina. The first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC. Gaius Maecenas was a rich Roman lord and considered one of the first patrons of arts.

 

Ancient Sinhalese built pairs of pools called "Kuttam Pokuna" in the kingdom of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in the 4th century BC. They were decorated with flights of steps, punkalas or pots of abundance and scroll design.

 

Swimming pools became popular in Britain in the mid 19th century. By 1837, six indoor pools with diving boards were built in London, England.[4] After the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 and included swimming races, the popularity of swimming pools began to spread (reference: Encyclopedia Britannica). In 1839, Oxford had its first major public indoor pool at Temple Cowley, and swimming began to take off.  The Amateur Swimming Association was founded in 1869 in England, and the Oxford Swimming Club in 1909 with its home at Temple Cowley Pool. The presence of indoor baths in the cobbled area of Merton Street, London may have persuaded the less hardy of the aquatic brigade to join. So, bathers gradually became swimmers, and bathing pools swimming pools.   Today pools, spas and other related outdoor living area have covered the face of our planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In years past, the spring and summer months saw many are getting the outdoor grill ready for barbeques and parties.  Now that fun can be had year-round. Outdoor grilling can be a fun family activity anytime of the year but especially during the warmer months, and grilling meats and veggies make for more flavorful foods. Good outdoor grilling begins before you start up the flames. Let's look at some pre-grilling hints and tips first.
 
1. Marinate meats for grilling.  Marinating meat before you grill can actually reduce your cooking time, because the marinade is designed to tenderize the meat, not to mention the flavorful marinades you can purchase or make yourself to give your meat a kick. If you marinate before you grill, try to let the meat marinate at least 2-4 hours for the best flavor and tenderizing results.
 
2. Skewered meat and vegetables for grilling; When using skewers to grill meat and vegetables, it is important to cut the meat into similar sized pieces to ensure even cooking on the grill. When grilling meat and vegetables on the same skewer, ensure the meat is smaller than the vegetables and well tenderized before grilling, so that the vegetables, which will cook faster than the meat, don't burn before the meat is done. It's also important to ensure the pieces are big enough not to fall through the grill.
 
3. Hold off on the sauce before grilling. Sauces are great for flavoring meat when grilling, but if you put them on too early, they will burn or brown quickly, making a mess of the grill and not really adding much flavor to the meat. Hold your sauces until the grilled meat is almost done, then add them at the end for the best flavor.
 
4. Separate your meat and veggies before grilling. Chicken has to cook on the grill at a higher temperature than steak but should also cook faster if properly defrosted before grilling. Vegetables will take the least amount of time to grill, so they should be saved for the end, especially if using a charcoal or wood grill, because the fire will be lower and less likely to burn the vegetables. Start with your meat items that take the longest to cook, then add the rest of the items to the grill, taking into consideration the time it takes for each item to cook.
 
Enjoy the great barbequing months ahead. Always remember to clean your grill between uses, and then clean your grill after using it too. In fact, if you clean your grill cooking surface immediately after use, while it is still warm, it is much easier to clean than if you wait.  Just these few short tips will equate to a summer full of fun.  Fun by the pool, around the deck and around the home.   Pools and good barbeque is a great formula for summer fun.