Dear Monty: We are considering buying a home in a homeowners association. The agent calls it an HOA. We have heard both positive and negative reviews about the concept. Are homeowners associations a good idea? Monty’s Answer: There are many homeowners associations. Estimates vary, but the U.S. Census Bureau has published data on the number…
14 Ways to Use Coffee Filters That Don’t Involve Coffee
It was a dumb mistake. I grabbed the biggest package of coffee filters—a pack of 1,000—only to discover much later that I’d picked up the wrong size for my coffeemaker. Coffee filters aren’t expensive, which is probably the reason I didn’t bother returning them to the store. I suppose I should have tried, but I…
Djokovic Lands in Serbia as Questions Arise Over French Open
BELGRADE, Serbia—Novak Djokovic returned home Monday after being thwarted from defending his Australian Open title only to face a new predicament: He could be barred from the French Open this year, too, if he’s still not vaccinated against COVID-19. A plane carrying the No. 1-ranked player touched down in his native Serbia, closing at least…
Winter To-Do List for Gardeners
The North American landscape is almost entirely dormant. Just because the landscape is dormant doesn’t mean gardeners have to be. Now is a good time to visit your local botanic garden’s greenhouse. It is warm and full of beautiful green plants. Many gardeners also love bird-feeding and birdwatching. Now is a good time to build…
Why the Current Flight to Small Towns May Save America
A friend of mine decided to shake the dust of the city off his feet last year and migrate to a more rural area. Reflecting on the move, he seemed surprised at how much he’s enjoying the change. My takeaway from our conversation was that his life was fresh and new now that he had…
Fast, Efficient Cleaning Hacks to Add to Your Bag of Tricks
Tuck these ideas into your bag of tricks and you’ll have your home spick-and-span in no time. Clean Your Cabinets With Your Vacuum Use your vacuum’s brush attachment to pick up dust and crumbs inside. Outside, concentrate on the area around the hardware using a cloth dampened with warm water and Murphy Oil Soap. Use…
The Magna Grecia Estate Is the Epitome of Corfu Elegance
Corfu. Just the name evokes visions of paradise. Here, elegant villas line perfect beaches kissed by the aquamarine of the Ionian Sea. Island life in this part of Greece is graced by both epic beauty and ancient myth. Surrounded by such an ideal setting, the Magna Grecia estate, for sale via Sotheby’s Greece (price on…
The Well-Behaved Pet: Sit, Stay, Good Pup!
Pet training is all about building a strong relationship. To your dog, you are the pack leader and the center of their universe. With patience and love, your fur baby can be the envy of the dog park. Be Patient Even Sara Carson’s Super Collies from “America’s Got Talent” were once rambunctious puppies; training a…
How to Clean Up Storm-Damaged Trees
Question: The recent storm winds blew lots of small dead branches off my soft maple. Should the tree be pruned? I did not think the tree was dying, but now I am wondering how healthy it is. Answer: Silver maples, honey locusts, and many other trees will lose a lot of small branches during a…
Contagious, Deadly Parvovirus Persists in Environment
Q: Our pit bull puppy died of parvovirus. How can we prevent parvovirus in our next puppy? A: Instead of choosing a puppy, I recommend you adopt an adult dog whose parvovirus vaccination is up to date. Vaccination is very effective at preventing parvovirus infection, nicknamed “parvo,” and all dogs deserve protection from this common,…
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
- May 2025
- April 2025
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- September 2013
- July 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- December 1
-
Meta