Whether it’s a backyard barbecue, a block party or movie night, you can sweeten summer fun and celebrations with an iconic treat. August 10, National S’mores Day, is a great reminder to make the most of summer. This year, consider going beyond the classic S’mores recipe that family and friends have been enjoying for decades. […]
diy tips
Posted inAt Home, Blog, Featured
Curb Appeal Tips for Making Your Home Shine
There are many things you can do to improve your homes curb appeal, ranging from doing simple things yourself to hiring a professional. Here is a quick rundown of great curb appeal enhancers that almost everyone can manage. Paint your entry door. Or, if it is wood, refinish it. This can brighten up your home […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, Gardeners Corner
Mossy Rose Gall — A Fascinating Pest
I love plants with interesting foliage, be it the striking color, shape or fragrance. Rosa glauca, with her lovely bluish foliage, captured me the first time I saw it. Its flowers and hips are a bonus, always appreciated for their color and delicate nature. The flush of bloom is over for the season, so imagine […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Marriage of Cookware and Art Can Be a Fun Experiment
Have you ever considered displaying your toaster on the living-room coffee table? Or hanging wooden mixing spoons from the hall entry mirror? Or hanging your frying pans on the wall behind the sofa? Usually not, one would say. Recently, I found myself displaying kitchenware with art and actually creating cookware displays in a living room. […]
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment
Master the Art of Grilling Perfection
To master the art of grilling, it’s best to start with a piece of high-quality meat. While some supermarkets have been responding to the consumers’ demand for transparency, it’s still a good idea to find a great local butcher shop and get to know the people behind the counter. Typically your local butcher can offer […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Proper Care Helps Driveways Look Like New, Boosts Curb Appeal
Our driveways get a lot of use and not much attention. You maintain your yard and home, but when was the last time you showed your driveway some love? A few simple maintenance tips will keep this part of your home in top condition and help increase your curb appeal. Concrete and asphalt driveways are […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Ideas for Parents for Promoting Children’s Summer Learning
“Summer time and the living is easy” — but parents shouldn’t make it too easy for their children to forget everything they’ve learned up to vacation time. Schooling stops during the summer but our learning should not. Many children tend to regress in skills learned in school during the summer months. Children come back to […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Greens & Eggs & Ham
Cleanup is probably the least enjoyable part of entertaining guests — as are elaborate recipes that keep you in the kitchen all day. “Sheet Pan Suppers,” released this past December by Workman Publishing, promises to take care of those problems. Named an essential kitchen gadget by the New York Times, the sheet pan is a […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Wood Varieties — Advantages, Care and Use
Last month I sat down with John Steiner to get his thoughts on woodworking — the cabinets and furniture pieces that he builds out of solid wood. Recently, I went back to his shop to discuss those woods. This is not an all-encompassing review of every wood out there, but rather a list of woods […]