When it comes to home improvement, Lyle and Eileen Beck of Poulsbo know their way around this not-so-old house. Over the past 12 years, the couple have performed plenty of projects in and around their sunny country home. From installing flooring, ceilings and wainscoting, to constructing outbuildings and sewing curtains, the pair embodies the adage […]
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Posted inGarden
A Garden that Defies Limits
Western Washington excels as a gardener’s playground. Abundant rains, mild winters and not-too-hot summers let gardeners grow a wide selection of plant species and varieties. But even with the botanical diversity at the gardeners’ disposal, the “tropical” garden does its best to stay out of their reach. The winter temperatures are not quite mild enough […]
Posted inHome
Design — Advice from the Experts
Trends in home design for 2017 run the gamut from simple and strong to bold and reclaimed. Tranquil baths, bold flooring and attention to reusable materials top the list. Just like in fashion trends, there are… always hot new colors and styles — and it’s tempting to feel like you need to revitalize your home […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Westward Ho on the Mother Road
Route 66. The Mother Road. The Will Rogers Highway. The Main Street of America. No matter how you refer to it, one of the original highways in the United States is both iconic and unrecognizable at the same time. And driving it from Chicago to Los Angeles is an adventure still today. “If you ever […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Ireland and Scotland — A Sense of Humor and the Wrong Side of the Road
For years, we dreamed of a life of travel. Whenever a favorite vacation was coming to an end, my husband and I would say, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could stay longer — like forever?” Well forever is now, as we embark on a multiyear travel adventure. We invite you to join us on […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Bremerton’s Creative Center
No one can deny that Bremerton has been in a slow takeoff, with attempt after attempt to revive, modernize and bring back the spicy little city that once was. Of course, we know that will never happen, for that which was is now history, but recent events tell a surprising story. Maybe the old city […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Party-Planning Pizzazz
When friends of Katie and Glenn Eberling open their mailboxes and find a personal, creative, original invitation to a Christmas party, the holiday season officially begins. The couple have been holding Christmas gala parties for several years to kick off the Christmas season, always early in December and with a hand-addressed, mailed invitation. “Our party […]
Posted inGarden
Cold Frames, Cloches, Hoophouses
As cold weather arrives, gardeners’ thoughts turn to the best approaches of protecting their overwintering crops and tender ornamentals. Simple structures can benefit gardens year round. The Winter Garden What a treat it is to venture out into the garden in the coldest months of the year to discover some treasures for the dinner table. […]
Posted inHome
Utensil Holders
Maybe the least minded of kitchen items, yet maybe the most useful of vessels — the utensil holder. Being the least notable of kitchen devices means some design mistakes can be made. A while back I had a blast writing about midcentury kitchen utensils. At the time, I had old kitchen utensils of every color […]