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This trio of deer planters is a great way for do-it-yourselfers (and animal lovers) to add a little wildlife to the yard this summer. Perfect for plants and flowers on the porch or patio or even indoors, they're guaranteed not to eat the greenery. Each planter is built from just 14 pieces cut from standard lumber, plus wooden balls and buttons for the noses and eyes. All three sizes are constructed following the same five basic steps, so once the first is done the others are especially easy – so easy the whole family can help.

A perennial favorite from coast to coast (and everywhere in-between), Adirondack chairs are as American as apple pie. Characterized by distinctive good looks, built-in comfort and solid durability, the design is named for the region in upstate New York where it originated. Like any classic, a well-made Adirondack chair can be pretty expensive. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, however, the design is simple (and inexpensive) to make, so there's no reason to pay high prices.

When Jason Peterson set out to find a new apartment, he knew it wouldn't be easy. Peterson, who is 31 and uses a wheelchair, anticipated the difficulty in finding a unit that would meet his physical needs. "I know from experience finding wheelchair-accessible housing is almost like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow," he says.

When Stephanie Love and her fiancé Adam Godwin walked into the 1930s midtown Coeur d'Alene home last fall, she knew she'd found the house she was looking for. "As soon as we had a walkthrough, my head was spinning," she said. "I was decorating it before we even bought it."

The dogwood trees around this area outdid themselves this year. There were huge pink and white clouds everywhere! The most popular dogwoods found in local gardens are the Florida dogwoods (Cornus florida) that are native to the forests of the eastern U.S. As a young plant, its branches grow quite upright and with age they begin to grow out horizontally, creating a beautiful layered structure that makes the tree interesting year round. The tree holds its leaves in tight, curved clusters along the top of the branch, adding to the textural interest especially when the wind shows off the grayish white underside of the leaves. In the fall, they turn to subtle but striking shades of red and burgundy. The trees can grow to 20 feet high and wide.

Wearing a lace shirt and a winning smile, Theresa Groves looked at ease among the shawls, handkerchiefs and tablecloths. All made of lace, of course. A retired teacher, Groves is a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Organization for Women Educators. In 2005 she won the organization's regional scholarship to study a subject of her choice, and thereafter give programs. She chose to study lace at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. For two weeks she spent her days at the textile study room, poring over trays of finished lace from all over the world, classified by technique, countries of origin, and dates of production.

Everywhere I go these days, it seems I encounter canines in need of boot camp. It's not their fault, of course: Getting a sound foundation in puppyhood is paramount if your dog is to be a well-adjusted canine citizen. So, in the spirit of self-improvement, here is my list of 10 puppy musts:

Dear Collector, The enclosed photo is of a key-wound tank complete with rat-a-tat machine gun and gunner. The only clue to its manufacture is a "Pat's Pend'g, Mar Toys" of the hatch.

One of the delights of moving is discovering new things about a house or garden as the seasons change. I hadn't noticed the tall shrub in the backyard near the fence until the blooms appeared. And when the beautiful lilac bloomed it was a delightful surprise. I snipped one of the fragrant blossoms and looked around for a vase to hold it. Coincidentally I'd just unpacked my collection of vintage "hand" vases – pottery pieces made in the shape of a woman's hand holding a vase. They'd been stored in a box in the garage since the move and I'd almost forgotten about them. A new flower and an old vase. My favorite way of doing things.

FRESNO, Calif. — Household chores don't always have to be laborious. Mops with disposable or washable pads can make cleaning floors quick and easy, and there are many to select from. "When I started about four years ago, the only ones I remember were the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet," says Richard Zavala, a sales floor team leader at the Target store in northwest Clovis, Calif. "There are just so many now."

Patrice Lynn knew Spokane was home when she discovered her namesake was born here. The day she arrived, Patrice chatted with a woman at church. When Patrice told the woman her name, the woman's eyes brightened. "Like Patrice Munsel, the opera star?" the woman said. "You know, she was born in Spokane."

Good watering is all-important to a good garden, and long, slow watering has many benefits. A soaker hose might seem like the ideal way to accomplish this watering. You lay the porous rubber hose on top of the ground or bury it a few inches, turn on the faucet and let water weep out.

It rained last night. There is nothing more nourishing to the garden than a good spring rain. And there is nothing more satisfying to the gardener than to see life coming to be after a gentle soaking rain. A warm spring rain brings clarity to life all around. The air is filled with the happy chirping of song birds and the loud quarrels of turkeys on the hills. Pine trees change to a darker shade of green. The garden grows several inches overnight. All around, life bursts from everywhere, up from the ground, down from trees, from every pore of the earth itself. The rain cleanses the last remaining memory of a long winter and heralds the coming of a warm season.

"This is a hobby that once you get started, it's hard to give up," said Jim Miller, confessing his passion for beekeeping. President of the Inland Empire Beekeeping Association, Miller has been a hobbyist beekeeper since 1995.

The tomato and pepper plants have been in the stores for weeks. When is it really time to plant them? Also I always have trouble getting them ripe at the end of the summer.