There’s a lot of basil out there this time of the year, but it has reached the end of the season. Folks are scrambling to use and process the fresh aromatic leaves — drying and making yummy basil butter and pesto concoctions. Basil … read more

Some years ago, representatives of an engineering firm in Winslow came to our studio on Madrone Lane and argued that a window shade could not insulate well because the cold has already passed through the glass and is inside the house. To test … read more

You may have heard that bats are wonderful for insect control. They certainly are — a bat can eat as many as 1,000 insects an hour. By devouring mosquitoes, crane flies and other pests, they protect crops and human health. In many parts … read more

Someone once said that wealth is built on real estate because they’re not making more of it. Doesn’t feel like sound advice for those who bought during the real estate bubble, when housing prices were reaching record highs and anyone with a pulse … read more

It is not so much the food, but also the casserole dish that was selected for the job, a white opaque Pyrex 2.5-quart casserole dish introduced in 1963. As ingredients were added, the meatloaf grew until it wouldn’t fit in a standard loaf … read more

Have you ever looked at a piece of artwork and thought, “I’m not artistic,” or, “I could never do that”? According to an Adage.com article, only 25 percent of people feel that they’re living up to their creative potential. That means that 75 … read more

Go into a plumbing showroom or home-building store and you will be amazed by the variety of types, styles and finishes available in kitchen plumbing fixtures today. The following article is designed as a decision tree to help you make the right choices … read more

Clean your home with the power of herbs. Whether you choose to use fewer chemicals in your home or want to be eco-friendly and avoid toxins, you can use many common herbs from your garden for cleansing and antiseptic qualities. In history, numerous … read more

I love “Aha!” moments. I recently had one regarding the mysteries of garlic in storage. I had noticed that some years, my garlic stored without any trouble, lasting well into the summer, while other times many of the cloves shriveled up and were … read more