From watching scary movies to dressing up as ghouls and goblins, spooky season means it’s time to pop up your loved ones’ favorite snacks for a ghostly good time. Before heading out to trick-or-treat, gather your minions in the kitchen for some family-friendly … read more

Is there anything more entertaining than watching the aerobatic antics of hummingbirds? Whether they’re visiting for a sip of sugar water at the feeder, zooming through the garden (where you’ll often hear their whirring wings before you see them) or engaging in an … read more

During the design process, I am often asked how to ensure the lowest construction cost of a project. Whether the owner has set a maximum construction cost budget or not, it’s necessary during the preliminary design stages of the project to develop a … read more

Just in time for Oktoberfest, the little purplish blue Italian prune plums ripen — and all over Germany, slices of sweet, succulent “zwetschgenkuchen” fill the cases of pastry and coffee shops. This cake is also a popular dessert at Oktoberfests and all German … read more

Spending a day in Port Gamble is like taking a step back in time. This wonderful historic community setting on the northwest shore of Kitsap County was developed beginning in 1841 by a U.S. Navy expedition on the 2-mile-long bay at the mouth … read more

Although this column generally deals with something baked or sweet, this month — in acknowledgment that nearly everyone already has a favorite zucchini bread recipe — it includes a couple of savory dishes that can be served for a summery brunch, lunch or … read more

Not every homeowner has a privacy fence. At some point, though, you’ve likely wished you did. Standard plank or timber fences can look garish and out of place. Brick and steel are tough, but expensive. Is there an optimum solution? Indeed, there is. … read more

During the pandemic lockdown, many homeowners had a renewed interest in greenhouses. If you’ve been inspired to think about owning a glasshouse or greenhouse for the first time, but you don’t know where to start, Hartley Botanic — a manufacturer of handmade English … read more

What might the housing market look like in 2022? Mortgage Cadence, a digital mortgage lending company, surveyed over 1,000 Americans to better understand this year’s opinions. For many people, 2021 was the year to buy a home. Whether it was first-time home buyers, … read more