Housing Plans

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To tell the truth, this question is asked of us quite frequently. It is obviously not easy to give a precise cost due to the imponderables that are connected to it.

First of all, it depends on the type of ground on which the garage is to be built. We can chose independent foundations such as monolithic floating slabs or monolithic floating slabs that reinforce the periphery in order to properly receive exterior walls and any other attachments. Already, a variant in the amount of  1000$ to 2000$ may be applied. In such a case, a monolithic slab would prove to be less expensive.

After this, will the assigned contractor prefer to erect the entire garage, or will he agree with you and do only the structural part to allow you to finalize the rest to save costs? Here, a variation of between 3000$ to 5000$ must be considered for more specialized manpower. (labour)

Will your garage be insulated to enable you to do odd jobs all year round?  Will it be erected with 2 x 4’s or 2 x 6’s? Technical-wise, will you have electricity, heating and plumbing in your garage?  There are other important elements that have considerable influence on construction costs. We can easily say there is a variance of 2000$ to 3000$ if not more. Of course, this is according to the size of the garage.

Finally, many garage plans suggest bonus spaces at the ceiling for additional storage. Will this space be built as planned or will it be eliminated and built with trusses and a window? If you opt to keep this extra space, will it be insulated or only done in plywood?

You will now understand that with all these possibilities, it becomes very difficult to set firm construction costs for a detached garage, but since you have taken the time to read this article, here is an example that could serve as a reference guide.

Let’s say that you are interested in the detached garage no. 2975-16, which is 16’ wide by 24’ deep. You are planning to erect it with 4 vinyl sides on a monolithic foundation with 2 x 4’s, as well as with the bonus space planned on the upper floor but not insulated. A minimum of electrical facilities is included but there is no plumbing or heating. The cement footing, the structure and the roofing (finishing of these steps included), would be done by the contractor whereas you would be responsible for both the interior and exterior finishing. Well, this garage should cost approximately 24500$

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Sigh, she loved eating - her waistline was visible proof.  And she poured over cooking blogs.....dreaming, dreaming.   One of her favorites was Winos and Foodies, by the lovely Australian blogger, Barbara.  So she asked, Please Barbara....would you, could you do a guest blog for me on some Moroccan dishes?

And look what arrived on her blog doorstep! Mmmmmmm......

All recipes on Barbara's delicious blog, right here.......

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If the blogging fairy came along and tapped you on the shoulder and said "you can choose to spend the day with any blogger in the world " - who would you choose?  I'd choose to spend the day with Maryam in Morocco. 

 

We'd sip mint tea and eat stuffed dates while she showed me all the pretty rugs and fabrics and glass jars she has collected on her travels.

Stuffed Dates

Remove seed from fresh dates and stuff with cheese and nuts of your choice. I like the salty feta cheese against the sweet date with the crunch of a pistachio nut. A soft brie with almonds also makes a tasty filling.

I'd ask Maryam to introduce me to her favourite couscous maker so I could I'd learn to make perfect couscous.

Plain Couscous

Add 400 ml of warm water to 350grams of couscous and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt. Rest for 10 minutes, then rub 2 tablespoons of olive oil into couscous to break up lumps and aerate the grains. Place in an ovenproof dish, dot with 20 grams butter, cover with foil and heat in 180C (350F) oven until the couscous is heated through, about 15 minutes. I often add brown flaked almonds. Pine nuts and dried fruits also go well with couscous.

Left over couscous is the perfect filling for stuffed vegetables. 

Stuffed Tomatoes

Remove insides of tomatoes and cook to reduce to a sauce with onions, spices and preserved lemon. Mix with couscous and fill tomato cases. Bake in a 180C (350) for about 25 minutes.

Naturally we'd spend the afternoon shopping. When we returned to Peacock Pavilions we would enjoy a refreshing glass of pomegranate juice..................

Pomegranate Drink

Put some ice in a glass, add a dessert spoon of pomegranate syrup and top with soda water. For a sweeter drink replace soda water with lemonade. I'm sure a shot of vodka would work in this drink.

.................and some local olives. 

Orange and Rosemary Olives

Crack olives with a meat mallet to split skins slightly. Marinade olives overnight in orange zest, rosemary spikes and olive oil.

In the evening we'd sit under the olive trees and eat platters of watermelon.

Citrus Watermelon

Remove skin and cube the watermelon. Sprinkle with freshly squeezed orange juice and scatter mint leaves over the platter.

Then just before midnight the blogging fairy would re-appear and it would be time to say goodbye to Maryam.  I think I'd need some help to get  all my shopping home.

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See full recipes right here.  And Shoukran, Barbara!

The gloom and doom of global currency exchange rates is hardly missable, with news headlines and current rates being splashed about everywhere telling us that we're in global crisis, that we're experiencing a real crunch, that the dollar is weak and the Euro is running amuck. International businesses and traders have a real battle on their hands just trying to identify what the best deal, the best rate and the best conversion rate is, and at present it seems a perpetual challenge just to stay up to date with the fluctuating currencies.

Remodeling a kitchen can cost a lot of money. For a less expensive way to give your kitchen a whole new appearance, consider getting unfinished kitchen cabinets.

There are a dozen effective and beautiful ways to personalize any baby shower gift and the results can make a gift truly special.