Safety is a concern for everyone, especially parents. An important part of raising children is careful supervision of their activities in the home. Parents need to be aware of their children’s surroundings at all times in order to anticipate and prevent potential injury. One of the most overlooked areas in the home is the window. […]
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The Captured Garden
In the summer of 1829, Dr. Nathaniel Ward placed the chrysalis of an adult sphinx moth in an enclosed glass container so he could observe the moth’s emergence. The soil he placed in the container sprouted seeds and spores, as natural soils will do. He fully expected the germinated plants to die off in the […]
Tips for Planting Out of Season
Normally, the best time of the year to plant any plant, including our native plants, is during the dormant season. In Western Washington, that time is generally late October through early February. Fall planted plants have a longer time to take advantage of cool temperatures and moist soils to establish new roots before putting out […]
Use Your Second Home as Second Income
Someone once said that wealth is built on real estate because they’re not making more of it. Doesn’t feel like sound advice for those who bought during the real estate bubble, when housing prices were reaching record highs and anyone with a pulse could qualify for a hefty mortgage. A lot of people and financial […]
Behind the Scenes with Musician Jim Valley
“Have you seen Jim Valley’s garden? You really need to see his garden.” This wasn’t the first time I’d heard Jim Valley’s name. I was standing at a party in Seattle, in a gathering of people who’d just seen “Her Aim is True,” an independent film about former Gig Harbor resident and renowned rock photographer […]
The Chair
Chair or stool: a seat with legs, for one person. A chair can be like a friend, there when needed. Or a chair may be like a familiar song that evokes a memory. But too often those oddball chairs and stools are discarded or basement-bound. I have done a lot of color studies, usually starting […]
How to Create a Backyard Sanctuary for Wildlife
Do you have waterfront property? Does your house look out on magnificent views of the Puget Sound? Or perhaps you have a secluded lakeshore cabin. You may want to consider making your property friendly to wildlife. On my property, there is a vernal pond that my husband dug several years ago. It is only about […]
Color Conclusions
Conclusion without examining intent is arrogant at best. Color, more than any other design element, is complicated with many diverse variables. Form, space, line and texture may be considerations, but color is generally one’s initial focus, the elephant in the room. Making blanket statements about color is like assuming all bees sting. Some men do […]
Bainbridge Island Sweet Spot
It’s the kind of place you’d book for your next vacation, if it took reservations. Steps from Bainbridge Island’s sandy Agate Pass shore is a grand and graceful realm that bridges the gap between Northwest resort and Bel Air backyard. Pool, hot tub, boat house and 200 feet of low-bank waterfront make this country club-esque […]
