Tag: Lifestyle

Staying Healthy at the Coldest Time of the Year

A solar term is a period of about two weeks, based on the sun’s position in the zodiac. Solar terms form the traditional Chinese calendar system. The calendar follows the ancient Chinese belief that living in accordance with nature will enable one to live a harmonious life. This article series explores each solar term, offering…


It’s the Little Ways We Save That Add Up

It’s amazing how saving a little here and a little there can add up to big savings. Each of these great reader tips doesn’t really save much on its own. But added up over time? In a way that changes your attitude and keeps you focused? That can really make a difference. Don’t believe me?…


‘Preppers’: Survival Classes Help People Prepare for the Worst

As a former U.S. Army Ranger, Jeffrey McCaskill once taught survival skills to soldiers. Now, the 58-year-old North Vancouver resident leads the Ready to Thrive Survival School to help prepare civilians for urban and wilderness survival. “I’ve been in places abroad where the economy’s collapsed before my eyes. I know how people act. I know…


Two National Wildlife Refuges Just a Day Trip From San Francisco

Just a day trip beyond the San Francisco Bay Area are two national wildlife refuges (NWRs): the San Luis NWR in Los Banos and the Merced NWR. They are easy to tour and provide a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. Located in the northeastern part of the San Joaquin…


Cast Iron Jalapeño Cornbread

Few things make for a better dinner during the coldest days of winter than a big, hearty bowl of chili. Whether you prefer your chili without beans, with only beans, with chicken, beef or over spaghetti, this dish is the definition of comfort food. But after you eat a few spoonfuls of chili, it’s nice to have a little something-something to break…


By Linda Gassenheimer From Tribune…

By Linda Gassenheimer From Tribune News Service While looking for a warm and inviting winter meal, I thought a hot bowl of soup would be perfect. I love the welcoming smell of homemade soup. The best part is this soup is made in one pot and takes about 20 minutes from assembling the ingredients to…


A Reset in Cancun

When I arrived in Cancun, Mexico’s subtropical paradise on the Yucatan Peninsula, I thought my hotel looked familiar. Sure enough, near the glistening pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea was the very spot where I bought a cloisonne bracelet back in the 1990s while on a business trip with my husband. A lasting memory was the…


Install a Floating Floor

The planks of a floating floor don’t need glue or adhesive like a traditional flooring material because they lock together creating a tight bond between the tongue and edge of the planks. They are laminate planks installed over a dense resilient foam that makes it soft underfoot and prevents the planks from flexing when rolled…


Preparing Your Home for a Long Winter

By Katie Laughridge From Tribune News Service After the Christmas trees come down, the house always feels a little bare for a week or two, so I like to use this time to incorporate a few additional elements to keep my home feeling cozy all season long. I love these five tips to help you…


Troubleshooting a Masonry Fireplace

Every winter, I get quite a few emails from readers who suffer from smoky fireplaces. Just a month ago, one of my amateur radio friends reached out to me with the same problem. After asking him some questions and looking at photos he provided, I was able to solve his primary problems. I saw reasons…