The ubiquitous summer fruit that appears at nearly every picnic or beach party and is nearly everyone’s favorite must be watermelon! Those who come from hot-weather summer climates have memories of the sweet, succulent melon, sold at fruit stands and off the back of pickup trucks. Frequently, the melons were floating in a tub of […]
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The West Sound Magazine blog is your destination for information and tips about living in West Sound — home, gardening, outdoor recreation, things to do and more.
Posted inAt Home
‘Shedding’ Light on a New Trend in Building
As a kid in the 1970s, I remember all my neighbors having those cheesy, metal sheds with a barn-style roof in the backyard. Yes, one of those where they kept all the Christmas stuff, the lawnmower — you name it. They were patently unattractive, rusted and dented easily, and the doors didn’t close. They were […]
Posted inAt Home
What to Know about Your Tuna Sandwich
Americans love their tuna. Indeed, United States is the largest market for canned tuna in the world. But according to experts, much of the nation’s canned tuna is not produced sustainably or ethically. “Many of the nation’s largest tuna producers continue to talk a good game on sustainability and human rights, yet have not made […]
Posted inCommunity News
Enjoy All-Local Talent at Ten-Minute Play Festival
A ghost, the goddess of death, a jellyfish and World War II GI, and a gaggle of waterfowl are among the characters that strut the stage at this year’s Island Theatre Ten-Minute Play Festival, Aug. 18 and 19. Now in its sixth year, Island Theatre’s Ten-Minute Play Festival features original short plays by Kitsap County […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
A Garden’s Memory
My time in the garden is often solitary, but as I focus on a task, my head is filled with whispers. The conversation comes, unbidden — triggered by a sound, a scent or a flower. The garden is where I reconnect with people dear to me and sometimes long gone. Whenever I see the grapes […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Fun Facts about the Great American Eclipse — and Where You Can See It
Are you still hoping to get a peek at the “Great American Eclipse” on Aug. 21? Millions of Americans will only have to drive 60 or 70 miles to see the total eclipse, according to the GreatAmericanEclipse.com website. NASA says that the totality path, “where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s […]
Posted inAt Home
Extend Your Living Space with an Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor spaces can offer a lot of extra living space in the warmer months of the year in the Pacific Northwest. Outdoor kitchens, from simple to spectacular, give you a new way to entertain and enjoy your home. It is important to think about how you cook and entertain, so you can refine your wants […]
Posted inCommunity News
Prepare for Excessive Heat, Fire Dangers This Week
Pierce County Alert — The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of the Puget Sound area this week. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80s to lower 100s on Tuesday through Sunday, and higher than normal temperatures may persist into next week. An excessive heat warning means that […]
Posted inAt Home
One Thing You May Forget to Do with Your Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are designed to help manage energy use, but most of the U.S. households with these controls do not choose to program their thermostats, according to a bulletin by the Information courtesy Energy Information Administration. Based on information collected through EIA’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) for 2015, only 12 percent of the nation’s 118 million […]