For many Pacific Northwest residents, cooking and entertaining outdoors is comfortable and feasible for much of the year. Sitting around a fire-pit in late October with friends is one of the greatest pleasures of fall — and who doesn’t love a barbecue turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas? Homeowners looking to enhance the enjoyment or resale […]
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Posted inPeople & Places
Ireland and Scotland — A Sense of Humor and the Wrong Side of the Road
For years, we dreamed of a life of travel. Whenever a favorite vacation was coming to an end, my husband and I would say, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could stay longer — like forever?” Well forever is now, as we embark on a multiyear travel adventure. We invite you to join us on […]
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
Home Elevates Secondhand Acquisitions to First-class Décor
Cynthia VanBuskirk of Bainbridge Island knows that when it comes to decorating a home, objects that deserve a second chance can create an impeccable first impression. For the past 10 years, VanBuskirk has haunted thrift shops and tag sales in an ongoing treasure hunt for furniture, art and other classic and carefully chosen, preowned miscellany. […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Waterfront Dining at Gig Harbor’s Morso
At the corner of Peacock Hill and Harborview in Gig Harbor, Morso’s bright, apricot-colored umbrellas on the balcony beckon diners and wine enthusiasts to come up and enjoy the view. Well-appointed planters surround the outdoor dining area, and a fire table warms diners who choose to sit outside on a chilly evening. Listed as an […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Yoga Salmon Trail
Not heaven, not quite — the Pacific Northwest is a bevy of sparkling amenities, things to do and see that capture the soul. One of those things is my “Yoga Salmon Trail” morning adventure in Belfair. It started at the new, multimillion-dollar Faith in Action building, known as the HUB. Faith in Action is a […]
Posted inGarden
Pruning Sustainably
Sustainability is not a word generally used to describe pruning practices. Wikipedia has a more accepted use of the word: “Sustainable development is the organizing principle for sustaining finite resources necessary to provide for the needs of future generations of life on the planet. It is a process that envisions a desirable future state for […]
Posted inHome
A Home for the Best of Life
An unassuming house perched on a hillside turns out to be anything but unassuming. Behind a cobbled entrance and craftsman door lies a leafy view that sweeps to the shimmering Puget Sound and snowy Cascade peaks. Throw in the ever-changing sky and cityscape on the far shore, and the view marks this a home worth […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
A Walk on the Edge for Birdwatchers
This time of the year provides some of the best birdwatching. A walk on the “edge” will produce the largest variety of bird species. Forests and heavy brush bordering fields, wetlands and other open areas create this edge effect birds are drawn to. At this time of the year, the natural food supply is at […]