The arrival of an AARP invitation in the mail can be a trigger that sends a person off like the proverbial dog looking for its forever home. It may come as a shock —”What?! I’m nowhere near old enough for retirement!” — but that one little invitation turns the idea of aging into a personal […]
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Posted inPeople & Places
Turning Metal into Art
Bapatoms is all about home, family, creativity, plasma cutters and a MIG welder. Of course, it is also about metal, lots of metal! The name came from a creative grandchild who couldn’t quite say “Grampa Strom” and substituted “Bapatoms.” With extraordinary energy and an imagination formed during a childhood in the style of Tom Sawyer, […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Which Plants to Grow in Conservatory, Home, or Office
Being close to nature has many benefits but many of us cannot reap its benefits in cities due to lack of trees and plants and excessive buildings. Several studies around the world have shown the positive effects of greenery on our well-being. Did you know that houseplants can boost your creativity by up to 45 […]
Posted inHome
Precise and Personable — The ‘Door Doctor’ is In
Dave Tripp, owner of NW Millwork and Door Co., said his friends like to call him “doctor.” While playful, the nickname hints to the secret behind Tripp’s success of over 20 years in the construction industry. He grew up on Bainbridge Island and has worn a number of hard hats in the construction business locally; […]
Posted inGarden
Love of Flowers Travels from Holland to the Key Peninsula
From not being able to afford flowers when she moved to the United States to having a business designing gardens large and small, Patricia Ruff has traveled far. Her love of flowers and her need to create helped her begin digging in the dirt. In turn, her artistic aspirations using nature as her canvas brought […]
Posted inHome
Cut and Dried — Lasting Flower Arrangements
Traditional dried-flower arranging is an art that seeks to capture the beauty, form and color of flowers in their peak of bloom and suspend it in time. This practice uses tools such as glycerin, silica gel, flower presses and microwaves to control the drying for realistic preservation. With these tools, flowers and foliage can last […]
Posted inGarden
Orchids as Houseplants
Once grown exclusively as a hobby of the wealthy, orchids are now available to every interested gardener. Perhaps you received one as a gift and wonder what to do after the bloom fades, or perhaps you’ve seen them for sale and want to buy one. They are not throwaway holiday plants if you understand how […]
Posted inGarden
Scents and Sensibilities of the Fragrant Winter Garden
“If our sense of smell is sluggish … we shall have missed more than half the ecstasy. We shall have missed, for instance, that winter day in January or February when we step out of the door and suddenly smell the spring.” ~ Louise Beebe Wilder Winter is a fickle old friend to gardeners. It’s […]
Posted inAt Home
Breakfast Recipes for a Healthy New Year
A commitment to health and wellness means taking care of yourself and your family, exercising and eating right. The New Year is the perfect time to refocus your goals and make better health a priority. A nutrient-rich breakfast can set you up for success each and every day. Dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt […]