After years of dreaming and planning, you’re ready to remodel your house into the home of your dreams. Before you take the plunge, keep these four important mistakes far away from your project. 1. Not fully researching your remodeler By skipping this step, … read more

Leaving a sinking ship, the last thing one would grab would be the family napkin rings. That is a good way to put the issue in perspective. These little treasures are not given much thought, even in our gadget-oriented society. Asking about a … read more

Scones Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. soda 4 tbsp. sugar 1/2 cup (1 cube) cold butter 1/4 cup buttermilk (Don’t have any? Put some lemon juice into milk until it curdles; usually 1/4 cup.) … read more

Topping Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs (These are Japanese breadcrumbs, which are flakier than regular breadcrumbs. If you can’t find them with the other breadcrumbs, try the aisle that carries Asian food.) 4 tbsp. butter 1/4 tsp. salt Truffle oil to … read more

Red Foxes In England, foxes are an integral part of an English garden, except if the garden includes chickens — and then foxes are definitely not wanted. Here in West Sound, we could go for years without glimpsing a fox, or we may … read more

“Eat your vegetables” is not just a dinnertime scolding anymore. It is a new way to look at a vegetable garden and a hot trend in the horticultural world. But is vegetable gardening in suburbia a lost art? Computers and technology are the … read more

It’s a familiar feeling. The bright light of summer gives way to fall, and the light fades until winter arrives and leaves the landscape perpetually shaded. For residents of the Pacific Northwest, the ensuing gray skies can cause everything from the blahs to … read more

As the fall weather becomes chillier and rainier, our thoughts begin to turn to indoor gardening. There’s always room inside our homes for a few well-chosen plants. Studies have even shown that houseplants help reduce stress in humans. Additionally, they are a great … read more

Fresh cut greens brought into the home this time of year is a tradition dating back hundreds of years. It identifies with our inclination to bring the garden indoors when we are spending less time outside. Traditional winter festivals included “hanging of the … read more