It is no secret. The holidays are not necessarily “the happiest time of the year” for everyone. This can be particularly so for aging seniors who may feel isolated during Christmastime due to limited mobility, diminished health or lack of contact with friends and family. There are, however, a number of simple yet meaningful ways […]
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Posted inFood & Entertainment
Party-Planning Pizzazz
When friends of Katie and Glenn Eberling open their mailboxes and find a personal, creative, original invitation to a Christmas party, the holiday season officially begins. The couple have been holding Christmas gala parties for several years to kick off the Christmas season, always early in December and with a hand-addressed, mailed invitation. “Our party […]
Posted inCommunity News
From Dying Wood to Beautiful Sculptures: Exhibit Features Intricate Wood Sculptures
Bremerton sculptor Alan Neweberg breathes new life into old wood — creating semi-abstract, large-scale, highly finished carvings from fine woods such as black walnut and clear fir. As tall as 9 feet, the sculptures — geometric pieces with straight lines and hard edges — suggest human or animal subjects. Some pieces take their inspiration from […]
Posted inGarden
Cold Frames, Cloches, Hoophouses
As cold weather arrives, gardeners’ thoughts turn to the best approaches of protecting their overwintering crops and tender ornamentals. Simple structures can benefit gardens year round. The Winter Garden What a treat it is to venture out into the garden in the coldest months of the year to discover some treasures for the dinner table. […]
Posted inAt Home
Vacation Destinations Where You Can Stretch Your Dollar in 2017
Getting more out of a vacation starts with finding ways to stretch your travel budget. To help, travel deals publisher Travelzoo recently unveiled the top six destinations where Americans will find the strongest deals in 2017. “We predict three trends will influence travel deals next year. Increased choice for flights, a strong U.S. dollar and […]
Posted inHome
Utensil Holders
Maybe the least minded of kitchen items, yet maybe the most useful of vessels — the utensil holder. Being the least notable of kitchen devices means some design mistakes can be made. A while back I had a blast writing about midcentury kitchen utensils. At the time, I had old kitchen utensils of every color […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Identification Guidelines for Bird Watchers
The late Roger Tory Peterson developed an identification system for birds that eventually earned him the title “dean of birdwatchers.” When first introduced, these guidelines were designed to aid in the identification of birds seen from a distance. They evolved into an all-encompassing system that allows birdwatchers to identify birds overhead, off in the distance […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Good for Body and for Planet — Clean and Green
There isn’t much that Laura Kneib can’t make by hand. Clothes. Butter. Wood boxes. Pottery. Growing up in a family that made anything from their own clothes to herbal remedies has taught her two things: You make everything you use, and then you reuse. She recalls her parents going “senging” — harvesting ginseng — on […]
Posted inAt Home
Planning for Safety in Your Remodeling Project
It’s exciting to think about a remodeling project and all the fun things you will do. And while safety is not something that most people would say is unimportant, you’d be surprised at how many ways safety can become an issue. A first step is permitting. Simple enough, but many people often see building permits […]