Some people look forward to winter because they enjoy snow sports. Fans of NFL football love the playoffs. Others appreciate a reason to wear flannel and sip hot chocolate by a cozy fire. Birders see winter as the time to bundle up and grab the binoculars. For birds that breed in the Arctic, a West […]
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Posted inAt Home
5 Ways to Dress Up Your Gift Wrapping Game
So, you’ve done the research and bought the perfect gift, but now you want to add that extra-special touch? I’ve got the answer: wrapping paper! Getting creative with your gift wrapping game is a fun way to take a thoughtful gift from “wow” to “wooooow!” Here are a few ideas of how I like to […]
Posted inHome
Transform Your Home — Take it From the Top
The roof often goes without notice, greatly underappreciated for its contribution to protecting your house and family. Roofs only account for roughly 5 percent of the building cost of a home but protect the other 95 percent of your investment from the sun, rain, wind and other forces that can damage your home and belongings. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Find Your Way to Enchanting Brugge, Belgium
The medieval village of Brugge, Belgium, is a major tourist destination in Europe. But it only feels that way between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. That’s when the Market Square is bustling with day visitors, via bus from Brussels and off the cruise ships in Zeebrugge. Still others breezing through on a […]
Posted inGarden
A Globe-Trotter’s Garden
On a south-facing bluff in Indianola sits a botanical “salad bowl” known as Windcliff. A garden mixture of plants from around the world, it houses a diverse array of species. Plants from China and Vietnam are well represented but South African species especially love the climate and populate the garden, much like loading a salad […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Scrabble Party
From Thelma Higbee’s 1959 dictionary to CJ’s Evergreen General Store rhubarb strawberry pies — it was a wild Scrabble game. This isn’t my first rodeo, I mean Scrabble party. Over the years, I have had a few of the giddy, giggly get-together events. One Scrabble gig was a yard party with some 20 folks and […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
How to Throw a Wine Party with Wow
Wine, food and music. These are the key elements of any great party and as the height of party season, you’ll want to get your party A game dialed in. First and foremost is wine. Select a few different bottles to complement the food you’ll be serving as well as to provide enough variety, so […]
Posted inAt Home
6 Tips for Avoiding Charity Scams
Charitable giving is a significant part of many people’s lives and budgets, especially during the holiday season, and individuals are often eager to give back and lend a helping hand to those in need. Unfortunately, not every organization seeking a donation is exactly what it claims to be. If you’re not careful, you could wind […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Gifts for Foodies
As societal trends move away from accumulating dust catchers and personal possessions, gifts of experiences and consumables become more appreciated. Fall and winter also bring attention indoors to warm and cozy kitchens fragrant with aromas of good things to eat. Those who love to cook frequently search out interesting ingredients to add to their creations, […]