By Katie Laughridge From Tribune News Service Spring is in full swing, and with it comes a host of opportunities to bring together family and friends in your home. But what happens once you get them all around the table? And what are the makings of a great tabletop? Building a tablescape is a challenge…
Be Ready—Pipes Can Burst in Any House
You might think that everything is rainbows and unicorns at my house. After all, I’m a home improvement expert. What could go wrong? Answer: the exact same things that go wrong without warning at your home. Several nights ago, a disaster unfolded in my home in the middle of the night. It actually started hours…
Mom ‘Unschools’ Her 3 Kids, Teaches Them to Learn From God, Nature, and Their Elders: ‘God Has Got Them’
An “unschooling” mom of three from Hawaii who places faith, nature, and the community at the helm is sharing her family’s journey from an abusive past into freedom, and how her kids are thriving by building their character and relationship with God. Maui, Hawaii, natives Haley Celeste Miller, 31, and her husband Travis Okano, 32, met…
Waterfront Excellence
Those with large families who enjoy entertaining, and insist on only the finest of all things, will be intrigued by this South Florida estate. The interior of the home is as striking as the exterior, with double iron and glass doors opening onto the two-story-tall living room, with a mezzanine-level walkway above leading to bedrooms…
More Bacteria on Human Beard Than Dog Fur
Q: I grew up with dogs, but my husband wasn’t as fortunate. We now have a dog—and a toddler who loves to hug him and bury her face in his fur. My husband worries that this is unsanitary, while I say it’s fine because our dog is healthy, takes monthly antiparasitic medication and sees his…
When the Ship is Sinking, Get Everybody In the Lifeboat
Dear Mary: My wife and I made a terrible mistake and bought a house that I don’t think we can afford. We dumped all of our money from the sale of our last home into it and now we have run out of money. It is not even close to being done. My wife is…
Add Another Doorbell Chime in Large House
Dear James: When I am on the back deck or even sometimes in my kitchen in our big house, I have trouble hearing the doorbell ring. Can I add another ringer to the doorbell?—Keith S. Dear Keith: Even in a smaller house, it can be difficult to hear the doorbell chime (technical term for ringer)…
Gardening on a Shoestring Budget
If anyone can spend way too much money on a “frugal” project, it’s me. Wanting to become a suburban gardener, with dreams of baskets overflowing with homegrown tomatoes, squash, and blackberries, I launched into the world of square-foot gardening. Within days, I spent several hundred dollars on special soils, organic compost, raised gardening beds, and…
Azalea Care
Q: What do you need to do to prepare a flower bed to plant azaleas? A: What kind of azaleas and where are you located? Azaleas are members of the rhododendron family. There are over 900 species and hundreds more natural and man-made varieties. Some are native to swamps and some to dry woodlands. Others…
If Your Home Smells Funny, Check These 7 Problem Areas
You know that ultra-fresh, citrus-kissed scent that greets you when you walk into the lobby of a luxury hotel? Do you ever wish your home could smell like that and start looking into how to make your house smell good? You may fantasize about your home having a signature scent that makes it feel like…
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