Out on the Balcony editor’sletter

One of the things I love most about this time of year is

that I am able to spend so much

time outside. Yes, it’s hot and

humid, to be sure, but I can’t get

enough of Atlanta’s canopy of

green trees. When my husband

and I first moved here from

California, our jaws literally

dropped as we drove through

forests filled with giant stands of Live Oaks, Magnolias and

Pines (and don’t even get me started on those beautiful

Eastern Redbuds and Dogwoods). What a pleasure it is to

drive around and see so many lovely specimens that exist all

over town. Hey, if you have to be stuck in traffic, why not roll

down the window and go to your zen place by contemplating

Mother Nature’s handiwork?

My favorite go-to after the end of a long day is my balcony.

I’m lucky to have an apartment that is on the top floor of

the building and that looks out over a forest. My balcony is a

place where I consciously unplug. No TV, no stereo, no smart

anything. Just me, a book and an iced sweet tea (see? I’m

adapting!). It was with that in mind that I wrote our “Buying

Guide: Decks” (p. 47)—I hope it will inspire you to take a

second look at an under-utilized deck that needs sprucing up

or inspire you to build a new one.

Sarah Zeigler wrote our “Cool Tool School” (p. 13) for this

issue and I read it with great interest. My daughter and son-

in-law are huge fans of home-improvement projects and

are starting their own collection of cool tools. My son, an

aerospace-ground equipment crew member in the Air Force

serving in Qatar right now, has taken working with tools to a

professional level. You might say tools are a family affair.

A hot climate isn’t new to me, but this humidity! While it’s a

blessing for the growth of the afore-mentioned trees, it takes

a toll on humans. Carrie Whitney addresses that subject in

“Keep Your Cool: Save Your Cash” (p. 35) this month. Did you

know that turning on a ceiling fan lowers the temperature

in a room about two degrees, allowing you to set your

thermostat a little lower? Read on to find other ways to beat

the heat this summer.

And maybe take Dad to a park for Father’s Day to enjoy those

trees! Happy Home Improving!

Stacy Moser Managing Editor

10 atlanta hOme ImprOvement JUNE 2016 AtlantaHomeImprovement.com

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