INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Lay a large piece of kraft paper or cardboard on top of your cabinet. Trace the countertop and cut away any excess paper or cardboard to make an exact template of the surface. Precisely mark the location of the sink hole and any other cuts in the granite. Take your time doing this to ensure that you get precise measurements. The standard overhang on a granite countertop is 1.5 inches (3.8cm) beyond the face of the cabinets below. Avoid choosing an overhang longer than 1.5 inches (3.8cm) , which will require the installation of steel braces to support it. Adjust your template to add the additional measurement for the overhang. Granite can be purchased from local fabricators, home centers, or kitchen showrooms. Ask your vendor for a catalogue, or browse their selection in store or online. Select a style and color that matches your kitchen or bathroom. Granite comes in colors ranging from blue, black, brown, deep red, and vibrant white. Expect to pay a minimum of $75 per square foot of granite slab, to more than $250 per square foot, depending on the granite color and type. You may opt to order a granite slab with pre-finished edges, or cut and smooth the edges on your own.

SUMMARY: Use kraft paper or cardboard to create a template of the countertop. Decide what size of overhang you want and add it to your template. Choose a type of granite slab.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use marking chalk to create a temporary outline for the pool. Spray the chalk directly on the ground. Note the pool's borders, then the placement of walls, steps, and other accessories that need to be placed during the excavation. Remember to dig out enough space to create the thick slabs of concrete for the pool's floor and walls. The quickest way to do this is with a backhoe. Locate a rental company or hire a subcontractor to get the job done. Set the excavated soil away from the edge of the pool. Use a tape measure or marked measuring sticks to keep track of the pool's depth. For example, if your pool needs to be 6ft (1.8m), cut a 6ft (1.8m) pole to use as a reference. Make references for the deep and shallow end if your pool has them. Remember that you can always put dirt back if you dig too far down. Dig out the soil by hand if you can't get a backhoe. Use a spade or alternative digging tools. Some areas aren't accessible to heavy equipment and have to be dug out the old-fashioned way. Make sure you have your permit and know about any utility lines in the ground. Hitting a utility line is a big problem. Hire a contractor to take care of any utility lines needing to be moved. The leftover soil can be sold, disposed of by a contractor, or repurposed for other projects, such as for plant beds. Even out the bottom of the pool as much as possible with a steel-tined rake. Then, take care of the walls. Flatten the soil as needed with a tamper tool. When you're done, test various areas of the pool by holding a large carpenter's level over the soil. Properly leveled pools are stronger and more resistant to damage, so take the time to get this foundation perfect. To keep track of the pool's levelness, install stakes in the pool's corners. Run strings between them. Pack the soil to the same height as the string to ensure it stays level throughout the pool. Shape your pool according to your original design. For instance, your pool may have a sloped floor. Make the slope as gradual as possible, raking the soil smooth to protect your pool from damage later. Choose rebar rods about 0.625in (1.59cm) in diameter. Lay them along the pool's interior in a crisscross pattern, spacing them out by 212in (6.4cm). Keep the rebar about 3in (7.6cm) above the soil. Then, stand 12in (1.3cm)-thick plywood around the upper edge of the pool to prevent poured concrete from spilling out. Use a rebar bender to fit the metal along the walls. Bind bars together as needed with metal ties from a hardware store. The rebar forms a frame that strengthens the concrete after you pour it. Always place the rebar net before adding the concrete. Refer to your original design to figure out where to place the plumbing lines. You will need to dig trenches to guide PVC pipes from the pool to the pump and filtration system. Make the pipes emerge inside the pool, underneath the plywood barrier. Hook the pipes up to the pump and filter system when you're done. Contract a plumber to take care of the water lines. Pool plumbing is complex and building codes vary from community to community. A good plumber will make sure your pool works safely. Call an experienced electrician to connect pool accessories to your community's electrical grid. The electrician will lay wire from the pool's pump and filtration system to your home. They will also hook up lighting systems and other optional components in your design. Leave the electrical work up to a professional. Messing with community power lines is illegal and dangerous. Poor wiring increases the risk of fires and electrical shock.

SUMMARY: Measure and mark the pool's dimensions on the ground. Dig out the soil to create the basic shape of the pool. Level the pool's bottom and walls with a rake. Frame the pool with steel rebar and plywood boards. Install the plumbing lines underneath the rebar and plywood. Wire the pool's filtration system and other electrical components.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: With the turkey lying on its back, slide the twine underneath the turkey and work it to the middle of the turkey's back, half way between the legs and wings. You can draw the ends of the twine up and match them to be sure the twine is centered. Grasp the twine on each side a couple of inches from the bird and slide it up under both wings until it is snug in the armpits. Be sure the neck flap is covering the hole at the top of the turkey. Draw the twine together across the neck flap, holding it in place. Cross the strings one on top of the other and pull tightly. Pull both sides along the outside of the turkey breast, staying on the inside of the wings and legs. Cross the strings under the bottom of the rib cage and pull the ends tight. Maneuver the twine under the top portion of the turkey legs, or drumsticks. Wrap the twine around back of the leg, then back over the top at the leg joint. Cross the twine, then pull the ends back under the turkey legs. Pull the ends outward to tighten the twine and elevate the legs. This style of trussing will hold the legs straight out from the body of the turkey. This allows the heat to flow around the legs, cooking them more evenly than traditional trussing. The traditional style presses the legs against the body of the bird, cutting off the source of heat to the inside of the leg. Flip the bird on its stomach. Pull the skin flap at the bottom of the bird over the cavity. Wrap the twine around the tail and tie it off in a knot. Trim any excess kitchen twine using kitchen sheers. Cook the turkey on its back with the legs elevated off the pan. The indentations of the twine are helpful guides for carving the cooked turkey.

SUMMARY:
Slide the center of your kitchen twine under your turkey. Pull the twine up under the wings. Tie the twine around the neck flap. Bring the twine under the bottom of the rib cage. Wrap the twine around the legs. Tie off the tail of the bird.