Of all the delicious fruits grown in the Northwest, pears may be the most versatile, succulent and satisfying of all. Pears transcend summer into fall, ripening late summer to early autumn, depending on variety and weather conditions. This beautiful fruit lends itself to freezing and long-term storage, and is available nearly year-round. But it is […]
Featured
Featured Articles from the West Sound. These are the highlighted articles from WestSound Magazine.
Posted inThe Garden
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Bats Eat Insects Galore Bats were a topic in this column in fall of 2008. Since a horribly devastating disease called “white nose syndrome” or WNS is decimating bat populations nationwide, it’s appropriate to revisit information about one of nature’s most awesome weapons in controlling insects. Bats feed on night-flying gnats, moths, mosquitos, beetles and […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
A Walk on the Edge for Birdwatchers
This time of the year provides some of the best birdwatching. A walk on the “edge” will produce the largest variety of bird species. Forests and heavy brush bordering fields, wetlands and other open areas create this edge effect birds are drawn to. At this time of the year, the natural food supply is at […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Native Plants for West Sound Gardens
Native plants are the perfect complements for West Sound gardens. They are easy care, once established, and many of our “domesticated” or “cultivated” plants once had native roots. Also look for native plants that survive well in British Columbia, Oregon and perhaps Northern California. Visit the native plant sections at local nurseries for ideas. And […]
Posted inThe Home
So, You Live with a Messie? Tips to Help Keep the Peace
Opposites attract: Night owls marry early birds, party people partner with homebodies and we, neat freaks, just can’t live without some messies in our life. We love them: They are our partners, our children, our aging parents. They are spontaneous, funny, out-of-the-box thinkers who challenge us to think in new ways and try doing things […]
Posted inThe Home
An English Country Cottage in Hansville
Tires crunching a tidy, graveled driveway announce one’s arrival to Roy and Barbara Wilson’s Skunk Bay home. It lies just beyond the waterside hamlet of Hansville and is nestled on about 5 acres just above the bay. Apples lay at the feet of their expansive lawn, welcoming deer who may happen to saunter by and […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
The Wine Cabinet — Storing Wine
A reader recently asked, “What is the proper way to store wine that you intend to hold for some time?” Right after moving from Bremerton to Silverdale in 1998, another reader emailed me and asked if I knew anyone who was interested in a 50-bottle wine cooler he wanted to sell. My wife, Kathy, and […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Greater Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour
Marking its 20th year, the Greater Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour is an opportunity to get a rare peek into a professional artist’s creative space — as well as meet other artists and purchase locally made art directly from them. This year’s tour, scheduled for Sept. 16-18, will feature 27 artists who live and work […]
Posted inThe Home
Blue
Blue is a monster — arrogant and selfish, a color that wants to call the shots and pull the trigger. It can suck the air from a room one moment and bring in the light the next. The ever-present hue can confidently stand alone or easily fit in with crowds of thousands. Blue is part […]