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Upcycled Life: Floating candles

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 9, 2021

Upcycling materials for holiday decorations is a great way to opt out of single-use decor. These floating candles made out of cardboard tubes will be sure to impress your wizard-loving friends. Find toilet paper or paper towel tubes and cut them to your desired length.

News > Home and garden

Ask the Builder: Installing plumbing drain pipes

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 9, 2021

I’ve always loved doing plumbing because it’s a very interesting three-dimensional challenge to install drain, waste and vent piping in a new home or a large remodeling job. Because I was also the lead carpenter and builder on my jobs, I was able to think ahead.

News > Home and garden

Pandemic projects: Logan Neighborhood resident expands pollinator garden and beneficial insects join the buffet

Thu., Oct. 7, 2021

A garden is a living thing and if properly planted and maintained it should attract other living things.That’s certainly true in Sue Orlowski’s pollinator garden.

News > Home and garden

10 tips for stunning vignettes

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 2, 2021

The successful decoration of a space often hinges on the proper selection of the appropriate accents and accessories. Often, this is greatly influenced by not only what pieces are selected, but also how various objects are placed or grouped together. Enter the vignette.

News > Home and garden

In the Garden: The season’s coming to a close, but there’s still work to be done

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 2, 2021

Just because this is my final garden column for the 2021 growing season, that doesn’t mean you get to rest on your laurels. No, there are still plenty of things that need to be done. Earlier this year, I wrote about my favorite British gardening program, “Gardener’s World.”

News > Home and garden

Ask the Builder: Pressure washers can cause irreparable damage

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 2, 2021

Do you own a pressure washer? I’ve had no fewer than five of them in my lifetime. I must say they’re amazing machines when you use them correctly and on surfaces that won’t be harmed by the powerful blast exiting the nozzle at the end of the cleaning wand.

News > Home and garden

Water Cooler: Needle drop: what’s normal and when to worry

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 30, 2021

Although evergreens are known for their ability to stay green and vibrant year round, evergreens still transition into the colder months just like deciduous trees. The most noticeable way they adapt is by dropping their old needles.

News > Home and garden

Candles in funky and interesting shapes add visual interest and fun to your home decor

Sat., Sept. 25, 2021

It can be intimidating and expensive to add art to your home decor. Sculptural candles – which exploded in popularity during the pandemic – are an easy, low-stakes alternative. These objects have become increasingly common on store shelves in the past several years.

News > Home and garden

Ask the Builder: Roofing 101: Tips for an expert installation

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 26, 2021

I have no clue how many new roofs are installed in the U.S. each year, but it's got to be in the hundreds of thousands. Perhaps a new roof is in your future or in the next few years. If so, you'd be wise to read up on the topic at askthebuilder.com before it's time for you to meet with a roofer.

News > Home and garden

In the Garden: Harvesting season’s lessons to help next year’s crop

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 26, 2021

I don’t think anyone could have anticipated this summer’s record-breaking high temperatures, but there are a few changes I will make next year. One of them includes applying a thick mulch to the soil surface in every vegetable garden bed and around annual and perennial flowers.

News > Home and garden

Ask the Builder: Do-it-yourself wiring isn’t for amateurs

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 18, 2021

Tim, it’s a very long story, and don’t think I’m crazy. I’m building a new home and wondering if I can install all the electrical wiring myself. It’s not a big home, but it’s got all the things going on you’d normally have in a home, including quite a few three- and four-way switches.

News > Home and garden

In the Garden: Flowers that can stand the heat and flourish

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 18, 2021

While much of my garden was struggling through this summer’s heat and dry conditions, there were many flowers that came through it like champs. Everywhere I looked, I was greeted with colorful blooms that repeatedly reassured me, “We’ve got this.”

News > Home and garden

Storage items to help you corral clothing clutter

Sat., Sept. 18, 2021

Let’s face it: Most of us have too many clothes. Even before the pandemic made loungewear everyday attire, did we really need all the sweaters, skirts, T-shirts and pants that we have crammed in our closets and drawers? Probably not.

News > Home and garden

Upcycled Life: Eraser stamps

Sat., Sept. 11, 2021

You know when you are cleaning out the drawer of school or office supplies and you find several old eraser nubs? Or petrified erasers on the end of perfectly good pencils? Using pink eraser bits for art is a slightly more sophisticated version of what I did in elementary school.

News > Home and garden

In the Garden: Dahlia’s worth the extra effort needed to overwinter tubers

Sat., Sept. 11, 2021

This summer, I grew dahlias for the first time in years. The flowers have been gorgeous, and they did well considering all of the challenges thrown their way. First, the quail nibbled the new sprouts as soon as they came up. I caused another problem by planting sunflowers.

News > Home and garden

Ask the Builder: Considering a textured kitchen ceiling? Not so fast

Sat., Sept. 11, 2021

“We had a kitchen addition put on our home about 10 years ago. As with any project, decisions were made by us that we slap our foreheads about now. My wife insisted on a smooth ceiling with no texture whatsoever. Easier to clean, she said.

News > Home and garden

In the Garden: Flea beetles a recent problem for area gardeners

Sat., Sept. 4, 2021

When I was doing the research for “The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook,” I knew flea beetles are a huge problem in many parts of the country. In my nearly 20 years as a Spokane County Master Gardener, I have never been asked for suggestions on how to control them.

News > Home and garden

Ask the Builder: Modern building methods may not always be the best

Sat., Sept. 4, 2021

I’ve been wanting to write about this for years. The topic has been a burr under my saddle, but I needed to base the column on proof, not speculation. That proof arrived recently in a desperate phone call from my son-in-law. He and my daughter are building a new home in Maine.

News > Health

Water Cooler: How to keep your athletic shoes fresh

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 5, 2021

Whether you’re a tennis shoe owner with a large, pristine collection or with one ride-or-die jogger, it’s important to know how to keep your shoes clean and in good shape through their life. Here are a few maintenance and cleaning tips to make sure you get the most out of your favorite athletic shoes.

News > Home and garden

Water Cooler: Grow your own microgreens

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 2, 2021

Microgreens have been the buzz of the “superfood” scene for the past few years. Like all widely marketed superfoods, they tend to be a bit pricey. Luckily, they are easy and affordable to grow at home. Microgreens are actually a fantastic crop for beginner gardeners, especially those who want to start with something low maintenance that requires a minimal amount of space.

Latest Stories

Upcycled Life: Floating candles

Ask the Builder: Installing plumbing drain pipes

Pandemic projects: Logan Neighborhood resident expands pollinator garden and beneficial insects join the buffet

10 tips for stunning vignettes

In the Garden: The season’s coming to a close, but there’s still work to be done

Ask the Builder: Pressure washers can cause irreparable damage

Water Cooler: Needle drop: what’s normal and when to worry

Candles in funky and interesting shapes add visual interest and fun to your home decor

Ask the Builder: Roofing 101: Tips for an expert installation

In the Garden: Harvesting season’s lessons to help next year’s crop

Ask the Builder: Do-it-yourself wiring isn’t for amateurs

In the Garden: Flowers that can stand the heat and flourish

Storage items to help you corral clothing clutter

Upcycled Life: Eraser stamps

In the Garden: Dahlia’s worth the extra effort needed to overwinter tubers

Ask the Builder: Considering a textured kitchen ceiling? Not so fast

In the Garden: Flea beetles a recent problem for area gardeners

Ask the Builder: Modern building methods may not always be the best

Water Cooler: How to keep your athletic shoes fresh

Water Cooler: Grow your own microgreens

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