I don’t know about you, but I don’t much about history. It’s been ages since I’ve been in school and to be frank, I don’t really care much for history. It hasn’t done anything for my immediate living situation — or has it? After I got a paver stones driveway installed, I realized that history played a much larger part in my life than I thought.

The history of interlocking paver stones is an interesting one, going all the way back to the Roman Empire. Sure, when you think of the Roman Empire you think of the coliseums, the battles, and the Caesars. You don’t usually think of paver stones. Besides having epic battles and ruler changes every few years, the Romans were busy creating new and helpful technology to make their society stronger as a whole.

When the Romans created their roads, they created a unique system that’s still used today. Their system consisted of a well-compacted base of limestone (or lime and gravel), which was then covered with a tight fitting cut stone pavers. By using this method, the Roman’s created the first paver stones style roadway that was both cheap and nearly maintenance free during the passage of time and weather.

When the Roman’s created their stone pavers roadways, they used materials that were available to them, particularly a natural stone cut. In today’s world, we no longer have to rely on completely natural materials. Using our technology, we were able to take this process and update it, using the natural stone pavers example and creating concrete paver stones which are much cheaper and stronger.

Before today’s modern paver stones were created, the stone paver still had a few steps of historical evolution to go through. Although the Roman’s came up with the initial process of the paving stones roadway, this system wasn’t updated until the 1940s, in the country of Holland. Holland had to pay special attention to their roadways and find a special method to create functional roadways since Holland is located below sea level. Being below sea level was a serious problem not just because of flooding but also because the ground often moved and sunk.

Holland ended up creating the first concrete paver stones. By creating strong paving stones that were interlocking, they were able to create a road that would be flexible with the ever-changing ground and require little to no maintenance. This interlocking paver stones method didn’t actually come to the United States until 1973.

Paver stones eventually made their way into the home improvement sector where they now play a prevalent part in today’s modern homes. Although historically it took awhile for paver stones to come to their modern form, they have been around for centuries, providing reliable roads for all types of environments. Even today, you can still find the interlocking paver stone roads in Holland, changed very little from their original forms.

Although I’ve ignored history, history wasn’t ignoring me - it has given me one of the greatest economical and useful investments I’ve ever made for my home.

In today’s tough economy, the last thing on your mind is probably home maintenance. The first thing maintenance brings to mind is money and that’s something many of us have very little of. Even though times are tough, paving stones are one of the best ways to save money while making your home look great.

Paving stones are interlocking stones that provide a beautiful décor to any home. These stones are used on patios, driveways, walkways and even as pool decks. Paving stones come in a variety of colors from earth tones to multi colored, giving you the freedom to accent the outside of your home in just about any style you please.

One of the best things about paving stones besides making your home look beautiful is that unlike concrete driveways, they don’t require maintenance. Driveways that use tar and concrete have to be paved every few years in order to avoid cracks and discoloration. Not only does this method take a lot of time and effort but it also adds up in cost. The chemicals alone can ruin your clothing and the smell can last for days, destroying what could be great outdoor opportunity with family and friends. Paving stones don’t lose their color either, regardless of temperature and sunshine. Your landscaping will keep its color and look great for many years, without maintenance!

Another fantastic thing about paving stones is that they are easy to remove in case of emergencies. With road expansion and utility companies upgrading their lines, you never know when your driveway will have to be torn up so maintenance work can be done. Even though the utility company is the one who tears up your driveway, you’re the one who is going to be stuck with the costs of repaving. Paving stones are a great way to avoid this expensive hazard. Since they are interlocking, they come right apart, making it easy for the utility company to get in and get out and for you to repair your driveway without the added cost.

Paving stones can also be used to create a more modern looking front yard. Lawn care takes a lot of time and energy, from mowing to trimming to raking; it can be a full time job. Not only does the maintenance take time and energy but it also gets very expensive. Buying seed, watering the yard, buying weed killers and fertilizers all add up very quickly. The worst part about these costs is that they have to be done year round; they’re not just a one-time purchase! Paving stones on the other hand don’t have that kind of upkeep- they look great year round without needing to be watered or fertilized.

Paving stones are the best answer to economic woes. Unlike lawns that require maintenance and upkeep, paving stones stay beautiful looking year round and last for many years. They are both the modern and economic answer to driveway repaving and concrete walks. If you’re looking to save money this year but still want to drastically improve your home, paving stones are the way to go.

One of the best things about having a paving stones patio besides the amazing look of it is being able to grill in style on it. Whether you’re cooking solo or having a party, your paving stone patio will shine with its year round beauty. Rather than letting this beauty go to waste, here’s a great chicken recipe that screams to be made on your paver stones grill.

Note that this recipe yields 6 servings, but its easily adjusted to fit any sized crowd. It might be wise to plan on a few unexpected guests drawn in by the tantalizing smell of your exceptional talent for grilling. One look at your gorgeous paving stone patio outdoor living area and well... they'll probably crash the party.

Sensational Chicken ala Stone Patio Grill

Ingredients
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
1 lime that should be juiced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 pinch cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:
• Whisk together the limejuice, the vinegar, the orange juice, the wine, and the honey until the honey dissolves.
• Once the honey has dissolved, add the salt, the pepper, the chipotle powder, the onion powder, the garlic powder, the paprika, the chili powder, the cinnamon, the oregano, the cumin, the ginger, the red pepper flakes, the cayenne, and the olive oil into the mix and whisk it together.
• Place the chicken breasts into a plastic bag, pour in the marinade, and coat the chicken well. You’ll want to marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or if you’re really aiming for some strong flavor up to 2 days.
• Once the chicken has marinated, you’ll want to preheat your paver stones grill to a medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Once the paver stones grill has reached the medium heat, you’ll need to remove the chicken from marinade. Be sure to shake off any excess marinade and discard remaining marinade.
• Cook chicken on the preheated paver stones grill approximately 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until the juices run clear and there are no signs of pink in the meat.

And there you have it! Delicious, exciting flavor from this entrée gives you a meal of seasoned chicken with that will excite and please, both you and your guests. If you really want to make this meal an evening to remember, be sure to add some southwestern style décor on your paving stone patio. This chicken will knock your socks off.

If you end up with more chicken than the crowd could eat, it won't go to waste. In fact, now that you've added this recipe to your paver stones grill recipes, you have a source for some of the tastiest salads this side of the Rio Grande. Dice or slice up the leftover chicken and put it with a salad. Add a little ranch dressing to a great mix of greens. A little onion and tomato, and its a southwestern salad sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.