By Ron Hurtibise From South Florida Sun-Sentinel Fort Lauderdale — As hot summer temperatures descend upon South Florida, the price of relief — plunging into that cool, blue swimming pool in your backyard — continues to increase. Pool owners who depend on trichlor tablets, one of the most convenient ways to kill algae, mold, bacteria…
Instant Hot Fans Let Off Some Steam
By Ed Del Grande From Tribune News Service Q: Hi Ed: Read your previous article on filling an extra hole in a kitchen sink. You recommended a beverage faucet as one of the solutions. How could you not mention installing an instant hot unit? Please supply us with some instant info! — Freddy, Canada A:…
What To Do if You Don’t Have Enough Money To Pay All of Your Bills
It might be the skyrocketing cost of fuel and food, or perhaps you’ve lost your job or you’ve already been living paycheck-to-paycheck with no cushy emergency fund to fall back on. For whatever reason, suddenly this month you can’t pay all of your bills. You’re scared, angry, worried and overwhelmed. What are you supposed to…
Design Recipes: How to Strike Balance With Black and White
By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Black and white is a neutral color combination that can easily be dressed up or dressed down, while in many cases serving as the ideal foundation for nearly any color palette. The key, many designers argue, is striking the ideal balance for how and when to use combinations…
Best of Treasures: Photograph on Easel in Dollhouse Furniture Set Increases Collector Desirability
By Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson From Tribune News Service Dear Helaine and Joe: I am wondering what you could tell me about this set of ivory miniature furniture. I think my grandmother might have received it from a San Francisco family she worked for as a nanny around World War I. The family may…
‘Should I Call a Plumber?’ How to Diagnose—and Fix—a Plumbing Clog
The Romans are often credited with inventing plumbing, but it was the Minoans, Mesopotamians, and Indus Valley civilizations who, about 4,000 years ago, engineered the world’s first sewer systems, complete with flushing toilets. In 1652, Boston was the first U.S. city with a water system; it used hollowed-out tree trunks. In 1804, Philadelphia introduced cast…
Raccoon Distemper Transmissible to Dogs
Q: Our dogs killed a raccoon that looked rabid, and we took it away from them. The county animal services people who picked up the raccoon later reported that it had distemper, not rabies. Is raccoon distemper transmissible to dogs? What about humans? A: Distemper is widespread in the raccoon population. The disease is caused…
Announcing ‘Greener View Gardening’ Book and Videos
In two months, I will have been writing a weekly newspaper column for 32 years. During that time, I have written about books created by many garden writers. Now it is my turn. I have written a book on gardening. “Greener View Gardening” was written to help homeowners understand and care for their lawn and…
Design Recipes: 5 Ways to Embrace Modular Design
By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Whether you are looking for versatility or to create an interesting configuration, modular furniture has become a popular go-to for interior designers. Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all approach. Enter modular, in which a room can be framed or a seating arrangement created from sections as opposed…
Let Heart to Heart Caladiums Create the Unexpected in Your Garden
By Norman Winter From Tribune News Service The Garden Guy made a trip across town to chat with son James and came away giddy on one hand and grumpy on the other because I had been scooped. I am used to being the dud when it comes to comparing my plant partnerships with his, but…
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