Fall is the time to help lawns recover from summer stress and prepare for the winter ahead. Continue to mow your lawn as long as it continues to grow. Grow cool season grasses like bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches tall. … read more

If you are planning to build a new home or do a major remodel, there is a natural question that should come up. Whom do I call first? A builder/remodeler or an architect (or designer)? In 28 years of building and remodeling, I … read more

It is a strange age when it seems like one requires a trip to the library, a day of research and an existential crisis just to understand the labels on a carton of eggs at the supermarket. There has been a push in … read more

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. … read more

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 … read more

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 … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Honda Civic 1.5T 4D Touring Engine: 1.5-liter, DOHC 16-valve direct injection, turbocharged 4-cylinder Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT) EPA Ratings: 31/city, 42/highway, 35/combined Base Price: $26,500 As Tested: $27,335 Overview: The all-new, 10th generation 2016 Honda Civic is the comeback … read more

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, … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Volvo XC90 AWD R-Design Engine: 2-liter, supercharged, turbocharged, inline 4-cylinder Transmission: 8-speed Geartronic automatic EPA Ratings: 20/city, 28/highway, 23/combined Base Price: $49,800 As Tested: $67,155 Overview: The 2016 Volvo XC90 is the first redesign of the Chinese-owned Swedish automaker’s flagship … read more