Editor’s note: This is the second part of an excerpt adapted from hiking expert Susan Elderkin’s book, “Best Hikes With Kids: Western Washington” (Mountaineers Books, April 2018). Enjoy exploring the region’s hikes with your little ones — these are the perfect spots for them. Read Part 1 Here. Gold Creek Pond Snoqualmie Pass; 1.4 mile-loop […]
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Posted inThe Outdoors
Best Hikes With Kids around Western Washington, Part 1
Editor’s note: While the weather is still gorgeous, are you trying to pack in as much outdoor times as possible? If you have little ones, hiking can be a challenge. This excerpt was adapted from hiking expert Susan Elderkin’s book, “Best Hikes With Kids: Western Washington” (Mountaineers Books, April 2018), recommends several hikes around our […]
Posted inAt Home
Pressure Canning a Great Way to Preserve Your Garden Bounty
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt adapted from the book “Modern Pressure Canning,” recently released by Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. The glass clinks gently in the hot, soapy water as I wash my jars for this year’s canning. Sitting on the counter are colanders full of tomatoes and peppers that need to be saved […]
Posted inAt Home
How to Inspire Summer Reading
While summer is the perfect time for kids to take advantage of days spent away from the classroom, remember not to put valuable skills, like reading, on the back burner. In fact, research estimates that one to two months’ of learning loss can occur during the summer months. To help your child maintain his or […]
Posted inAt Home
Add Beauty to Your Home with the Japanese Art of Kokedama
Editor’s note: This excerpt is adapted from the newly released book, “Hanging Kokedama: Creating Potless Plants for the Home” by Coraleigh Parker. A variant of bonsai, kokedama is the Japanese art of creating potless plants using a unique soil mixture, moss and string. There is something intrinsically inviting and soothing about the form of kokedama, […]
Posted inAt Home
Easy and Fast Recipes Using a Pressure Cooker
The once-lowly and maligned pressure cooker is making a comeback. This relic of our grandparents’ kitchen is not only improved and safer than ever before, but it saves time, creates more flavor and conserves energy. Cookbook author and cooking teacher Laura Pazzaglia wasn’t thinking of all this when she tried pressure cooking for the first […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Libraries Evolve to Keep Up with New Tech
As ingrained into American culture as apple pie, public libraries have been, in the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “the great symbols of the freedom of the mind.” Embedded into their communities, they became not just an institution that multiple generations have relied on to quench their first for knowledge, but also an instrument of […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Song Sleuth with Sibley
Wildlife Acoustics, maker of the Song Sleuth bird-identifying app, has announced the launch of a birding sweepstakes. It is presented by L.L. Bean Co., maker of outdoor wear and gear. David Sibley, renowned artist and author of “Sibley’s Guide to Birds,” is the prize. The winner of the sweepstakes will have the opportunity to enjoy […]
Posted inAt Home
Traditional Pumpkin Carving Techniques
Editor’s note: Are you among the estimated 64 million Americans who will be carving a pumpkin this Halloween! This excerpt was adapted from the newly published book “Easy Pumpkin Carving: Spooktacular Patterns, Tips & Ideas” can help you make the best jack-o-lantern on the block. Check out the book for more ideas. Do you know […]