Getting more out of a vacation starts with finding ways to stretch your travel budget. To help, travel deals publisher Travelzoo recently unveiled the top six destinations where Americans will find the strongest deals in 2017. “We predict three trends will influence travel deals next year. Increased choice for flights, a strong U.S. dollar and […]
Featured
Featured Articles from the West Sound. These are the highlighted articles from WestSound Magazine.
Posted inGarden
Start Your Winter-Blooming Garden
Color in the garden does not have to end when the skies turn gray and rainy. Some gardeners even like the challenge of having something blooming or showing color 12 months a year. Here are three very reliable plants that can get you started on that goal. Daphne Sometimes called winter daphne, this evergreen plant […]
Posted inAt Home
5 Easy Ways to Live More Sustainably
It might not feel like you alone can have an impact on the environment, but over time, small lifestyle changes can make a substantial difference. Need some ideas to get started? Draw inspiration from the collective efforts of one California olive company working to run operations in an eco-friendly way. “Our employees are vital to […]
Posted inHome
Utensil Holders
Maybe the least minded of kitchen items, yet maybe the most useful of vessels — the utensil holder. Being the least notable of kitchen devices means some design mistakes can be made. A while back I had a blast writing about midcentury kitchen utensils. At the time, I had old kitchen utensils of every color […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Four Easy-Care Gardening Trends for the Holiday Season
Dress up the holidays or give gifts that continue giving throughout the year with these low maintenance gardening trends. Just add a little fun, classic beauty or style to make it even more memorable now and throughout the year. Terrariums: These mini greenhouses continue to grow in popularity and are perfect for new or timid […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Identification Guidelines for Bird Watchers
The late Roger Tory Peterson developed an identification system for birds that eventually earned him the title “dean of birdwatchers.” When first introduced, these guidelines were designed to aid in the identification of birds seen from a distance. They evolved into an all-encompassing system that allows birdwatchers to identify birds overhead, off in the distance […]
Posted inHome
A Norwegian Cottage Christmas
Laila Caspersen and John Hansen were each raised in families who had observed Norwegian traditions and cultural values for generations. When they met in college and discovered their similar backgrounds, it seemed natural to marry and continue those traditions. Their home is a reflection of their love and appreciation for their cultural history, abundant with […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Good for Body and for Planet — Clean and Green
There isn’t much that Laura Kneib can’t make by hand. Clothes. Butter. Wood boxes. Pottery. Growing up in a family that made anything from their own clothes to herbal remedies has taught her two things: You make everything you use, and then you reuse. She recalls her parents going “senging” — harvesting ginseng — on […]
Posted inAt Home
Planning for Safety in Your Remodeling Project
It’s exciting to think about a remodeling project and all the fun things you will do. And while safety is not something that most people would say is unimportant, you’d be surprised at how many ways safety can become an issue. A first step is permitting. Simple enough, but many people often see building permits […]