On Bainbridge Island, looking out onto Manzanita Bay, Navy veteran Al Philips has been assembling a collection of native plants around his home. Soon after purchasing his lot, Philips began landscaping. At first, he planted all sorts of plants, but soon a love of native plants took hold and he began exclusively planting natives only. […]
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Posted inAt Home
How Seniors at Home and in Retirement Communities Can Maintain Mental Wellness During the Pandemic
People of all ages are being affected by the global health crisis, but it is important to remember that the lives of older adults have been especially disrupted. After all, the opportunities to socialize, take various classes and enjoy an active lifestyle are among the main reasons that people choose to live in a Life […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
How to Stay Safe on the Water (and Why)
Every year as Father’s Day comes and goes, my thoughts turn to water safety. I think about how so many people’s lives changed on one fateful Father’s Day and how my search and rescue K9 partner Chips and I became part of this story. Sadly, this was not the only time we witnessed a tragedy […]
Posted inGarden
Papa Paul’s Dahlia Farm
About 20 years ago while living in Sandpoint, Idaho, Paul Kusche got bit by the dahlia bug. A food industry executive by profession, and the son of a landscape architect, he’s always viewed gardening as an important hobby and source of relaxation away from the world of business. Kusche’s first attempt at growing dahlias ended […]
Posted inAt Home
Five Simple Ways to Bring Calm into Your Home
From the global devastation of COVID-19 to the national grief, horror and widespread protests set off by the killing of George Floyd, the world is reeling with chaos. No wonder waves of fear, pain and uncertainty are infiltrating our thoughts and emotions — and thus, our homes. We’re witnessing the most disease the world has […]
Posted inHome
Forever on the Water
Jeff and Kerrie Sanson have built a life together centered around the water. For Jeff, it began at birth, growing up in a nautical family and spending his young adulthood working as a commercial fisherman. Thirty years ago, his affinity for boats led to his founding of Pacific Yacht Management in Seattle, a company that […]
Posted inPeople & Places
‘Recycled’ Art
This “chandelier” was created by a group of students from the Community Transition Program at South Kitsap School District. Made from 400 plastic water bottles, it’s 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide and is currently on display at the Port Orchard City Hall. The 11 students in Romny Arnold’s class worked for six months […]
Posted inAround West Sound
The Easiest and Simplest Way to Walk Away from Back Pain
The man who wrote the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” was later quick to document what he discovered to be another unquestioning truth. “The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises, walking is best,” Thomas Jefferson wrote during the mid-1780s. “There is no habit you will value […]
Posted inAt Home
What We’ve All Learned from Working from Home
The recent transition to widespread working from home has shown that the experience has been both educational and eye-opening for many. Working at home means learning to cope with distractions, working with space constraints, managing time with family and learning new skills. And, according to new consumer research, it has also meant reassessing what is […]