Whether hosting a backyard barbecue or a birthday bash, your lawn is the perfect spot for outdoor entertainment. To create the right atmosphere, all you need are some simple decorations and an understanding of layouts to create a relaxing space that maximizes fun, comfort and entertainment for you and your guests. Easy Backyard Decorations That […]
outdoors
Posted inGardeners Corner
5 Reasons Your Hydrangea May Not Be Producing Flowers
Winter can sometimes spell doom for hydrangeas across much of the United States, but not so this year. Winter was mild, with record-breaking warm temperatures in the northeast, where gardeners regularly experience angst about whether their big leaf and mountain hydrangeas will flower. The other factor that can thwart the flowering cycle is wild temperature […]
Posted inAuto Talk
How to Prepare Your Vehicle and Secure Your Home for a Summer Road Trip
As peak summer travel season approaches, the cost and stress associated with road trips are top concerns for many travelers. With 43% of households planning road trips as their top travel plan this year, proper preparation of both your vehicle and home is essential. Mercury Insurance offers important tips to ensure your vehicle is road-ready […]
Posted inHome
A Legacy Project
For Christie and Tom Jones, building their dream home was more than a construction project — it was the start of a legacy they hope to pass down to family for generations to come. Today, the Joneses are proud homeowners of a three-cottage, multigenerational, waterfront property along Hood Canal, completed with the help of BC […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Four Seasons of Fun and Discovery
Every day is a good day to be a child at a park, and today is no exception. At the group camping site of Kitsap Memorial State Park, several small children are seated in thoughtful conversation beneath the trees. Close by, a little girl and her friends have collected fir cones and are busily preparing […]
Posted inGarden
A Garden Dressed for a Party
In the Suquamish garden of Cherry and Terry Jarvis, landscaper Teri Cole has taken garden design to a new level. Several levels, in fact. Cole’s canvas is a lovely piece of high-bank waterfront that makes its way down — one broad step at a time — from the street to the beach. Along the way, […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Creating a Low-Maintenance Garden: Tips and Tricks
Gardening is a fun hobby that has plenty of health benefits. If you’ve been thinking about converting a barren backyard into a stunning landscape of greens, these six tricks will help you build a garden that requires minimal time and effort to care for. 1. Know the Type of Soil How do you keep your […]
Posted inAt Home
Recipe for Patriotic Candy Poppers
Break out the red, white and blue and (safely) set off your favorite fireworks — it’s almost time to honor America’s birthday. Along with all the booms and blasts, make sure your crowd is satisfied with one of the country’s most beloved snack foods and a true firecracker in the kitchen: popcorn. Celebrated for its […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Outdoor Play Each Day Will Help Keep the Screens Away
It’s difficult to distance ourselves from screens; they follow us everywhere — in the car, into stores, at restaurants and all around our houses. Children often become reliant on screens for entertainment, and parents sometimes use screens as a distraction. While there’s high-quality, educational digital content available, even too much of a good thing can […]