Songbirds are not just frequent visitors to gardens and birdhouses. They are everywhere. Some species, like the dark-eyed junco, are ubiquitous, adapting to various environments. But others have special habitat requirements. For example, marsh wrens need marshes and sagebrush sparrows need sagebrush. A songbird splashing in shallow water is a common sight. But is it […]
Featured
Featured Articles from the West Sound. These are the highlighted articles from WestSound Magazine.
Posted inAt Home
Savor the Season with Comfort Foods
Few things go together quite like the holidays and comforting seasonal recipes. When time is short during the season’s hustle and bustle but you’re craving a savory meal, reach for an ingredient like READ German Potato Salad, which can be the shortcut you need to get Potato, Turkey and Veggie Casserole on the table quickly. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Grace Notes
Digital dudes and divas everywhere may understand the importance of a thank-you email but may underestimate the power of a handwritten “thank you” or “just because.” “Letters are magical. It’s like giving someone a hug and saying, ‘I care about you,’” said Dee Fergusson, an avid letter-writer and a title clerk at Pacific Northwest Title […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Plants for Every Room of Your Home
Gardeners know the benefits of digging in the soil. It elevates a person’s mood, improves mental and physical well-being, and the outcome is always good — added beauty or tasty nutritional food. But many of us are stuck indoors for the winter, have a lack of space to garden outdoors or just can’t get enough […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Holiday Appetizer Soiree
Growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, Trudy Northover recalls her parents always hosting get-togethers for friends and family. Christmas was a massive celebration at their home. “Tech has taken so much away (web, email, etc.),” Northover says. “It’s such a gloomy time of year, so our appetizer party is a wonderful time to host […]
Posted inAt Home
Simple Sides for Holiday Entertaining
Like many hosts, you are likely searching for perfection in your holiday get-togethers. With an ever-expanding guest list, each year may seem more and more difficult to pull off the perfect gathering. Make things easier and still delicious by serving ready-to-eat options like refrigerated macaroni and cheese made with real milk and cheese. Here are […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Elixir Fixer — Celebrating Community and Good Times
From its clever, seasonal storefront window displays (a local newspaper Readers’ Choice winner) to its vibrant wallpapered walls and curated shelves, the Manette building’s stark, white-and-black exterior belies the retail artistry and “party in a bottle” happening inside. “It has a nostalgic, speakeasy vibe with modern touches.” That’s how owner Jim Higgins described the interior […]
Posted inAt Home
5 Steps to Incorporate Universal Design into Your Home
As more homeowners opt to remodel their current homes for accessibility and safety, those concerns are particularly important in kitchens and bathrooms. Baby boomers should especially take into account the accessibility of their homes and improvements that can be made. Incorporate universal design strategies into your next remodeling project with this five-step guide from the […]
Posted inAt Home
How to Avoid Overspending and Going into Debt on Black Friday
Many people look forward to Black Friday so they can cash in on those special holiday deals. But if you’re not careful and don’t have a plan, impulse spending on tempting sale items can swallow your wallet. If you are already in a significant amount of debt and enter Black Friday blindly without a plan […]