With so many youth leagues cancelled this year, families across the country are missing the time spent together during the athletic season. Fortunately, even though the official season may not have happened, you can still inspire your children to enjoy the benefits of the game. While on-field activities may have been called off, families continue […]
outdoors
Posted inGardeners Corner
Preserve Your Garden Produce for Delicious Winter Meals
All your hard work is paying off with a bountiful harvest. Fresh produce is filling your garden, countertops and refrigerator while the garden keeps producing more. Preserve some of your harvest to enjoy throughout the winter with some tried-and-true or updated variation of food preservation techniques. Hanging bundles of herbs to dry is a longtime […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Skateboarding
Wheels screech up and down ramps, scraping against hard cement walls as wheel recreationalists attempt an “ole.” Checking every angle to see how the ramp could be used in a unique and creative way, skaters give each other advice as they practice and perfect their moves. It’s a typical scene at a skateboarding park — […]
Posted inGarden
Gardeners on the Go!
The first week in June each year, 36 intrepid gardeners board a bus for a three-day garden visit and shopping marathon. The Gig Harbor Gardeners chapter of the Northwest Perennial Alliance has sponsored this trip for the past seven years, and has yet to scratch the tip of the iceberg in terms of private gardens, […]
Posted inGarden
The Cryptic Bird of Summer Twilight
Numerous species of migratory birds breed in West Sound. Many travel thousands of miles from wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. The later a bird arrives, the farther it has traveled. These species, called long-distance migrants, sometimes spend the nonbreeding season in the Southern Hemisphere. It may seem strange that some birds spend several […]
Posted inPeople & Places
A Weekend Adventure on Marrowstone Island
It’s a three-bridge, two-island drive from Kitsap County to bucolic Marrowstone Island in Jefferson County. And only 35 minutes by car. The three bridges span bodies of water, each of them a geographic demarcation line. Hood Canal forms the boundary between Kitsap and Jefferson counties. Portage Canal separates Naval Magazine Indian Island (most of it […]
Posted inAt Home
5 Ways to Create a Family-Friendly and Fun ‘Staycation’
With summer vacations looking a little different this year, infusing new energy into playtime — and making it a family affair — can turn time at home into a fun “staycation.” Both kids and adults can quickly grow tired of the same scenery and activities, but new ways to engage together can help bring back […]
Posted inGarden
The Garden of Lynn and Jim McIntyre
“Why would you want to buy that piece of swampland?” asked the strawberry farmer when Jim and Lynn McIntyre showed interest in a plot of land he had tried to cultivate. The land was full of rocks and wet clay, and a big section consisted of a 3-inch-deep peat-like layer. Full of scotch broom, with […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Summer Maintenance Tips for Your Victory Garden
“When the pandemic hit, I decided to plant a vegetable garden.” I’ve heard this from consultation clients and Plantrama listeners for the past three months, and my response is always the same. “Congratulations! You made a terrific choice.” I recognize that the stress of the COVID-19 crisis can easily prompt people to eat sweets or […]