Home and Garden

If you have a stand-alone unit, unplug your freezer and vacuum and dust the coils and area around the unit as you did with the refrigerator. Have coolers and ice on hand to store your frozen food while you clean. Check for out-of-date items and disca...

If you have a stand-alone unit, unplug your freeze...

Do dig a shallow hole about 4' by 4' by 2' (surround with cinder blocks or chicken wire, if you like), or use a compost bin. Layer with leaves, branches, and twigs (“browns”), then with grass and plant clippings (“greens”). Water and mix so it’s mois...

Do dig a shallow hole about 4' by 4' by 2' (surrou...

Finding the Best ServicesWe’ve all been there: An anniversary creeps up on you or your sister-in-law has a new baby, and you need to send some flowers—stat. To help you find beautiful arrangements that last, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute e...

Finding the Best ServicesWe’ve all been there: An ...

Living RoomFor a fast way to perk up a porch before a party, relocate pots of lush flowers. In a limited palette, like the pink and white blooms here, the collection feels cohesive, not chaotic.Climb the WallsLiven up a plain patio wall with a sun-se...

Living RoomFor a fast way to perk up a porch befor...

Mirror Miracles Put a long mirror above a double sink to utilize space and help create light in the room. Optimal Lighting Optimize natural light with a large window and mirrors. At night, light some candles around the tub and sink in. White Out Crea...

Mirror Miracles Put a long mirror above a double s...

1. Decide which style works best For a more casual and comfortable look (think Shabby Chic), try a relaxed cover. For a tailored, clean silhouette, go with a fitted cover made from a stretch fabric. 2. Pick the perfect size You'll need to measure len...

1. Decide which style works best For a more casual...

Asparagus Arrangement What You'll Need: • Small can • Spring asparagus (approximately one pound if using a 32-ounce can) • Two strong rubber bands • Raffia • Pansies and grape hyacinth or your favorite flowers (approximately two dozen total)Direction...

Asparagus Arrangement What You'll Need: • Small ca...

Grime on Leather Gloves I love the way a pair of bright leather gloves add a touch of color when I'm wearing a dark winter coat. The only problem is light-colored gloves seem to get dirty much more quickly than dark brown or black gloves do. To get y...

Grime on Leather Gloves I love the way a pair of b...

Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables to grow and eat. Biting into a fresh picked baby carrot is a marvelous way to take a break from vegetable gardening. Thin by pulling and eating the baby vegetable making room for the rest to grow larger....

Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables to ...

Spinach is a fairly easy vegetable to grow, however you need a rich soil that contains a lot of organic matter. This vegetable grows better is cool weather, so if you plan to grow during the summer months plant it between taller growing vegetables so...

Spinach is a fairly easy vegetable to grow, howeve...

We all love to eat fresh picked peas. They are a cool season crop that grow and mature quickly. This vegetable is easy to grow and a joy to eat. There are two types: shelling and edible pods. The shelling variety is where you open the pod and eat the...

We all love to eat fresh picked peas. They are a c...

Swiss Chard is probably the most popular leafy green vegetable after spinach for cooking. It is easy to grow and will do well during the spring and summer months. This vegetable can be direct seeded or transplanted. I like to transplant this vegetabl...

Swiss Chard is probably the most popular leafy gre...

Squash is a warm season crop and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some common winter varieties are pumpkins, butternut, buttercup, spaghetti, and dumpling. Some summer varieties are patty pan, green and yellow zucchini. They do well during lon...

Squash is a warm season crop and comes in a variet...

Scallions often called green onions or bunching onions are easily grown. Start your transplants sowing 5-10 seeds per transplant container. Transplant them out together and in a few weeks you have an instant bunch of onions for your salad or other re...

Scallions often called green onions or bunching on...

Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable in the garden. They are direct seeded and germinate very quickly. You will need to thin so plants are 1 inch apart. They mature in approximately 30 days and do not last long once they mature so harvest them ...

Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable in the ...

Potatoes are one of the most used vegetables around the world. This vegetable is grown from stem cuttings called seed pieces or seed eyes. They are really a potato that contains a couple of eyes where the new growth sprouts from. This vegetable takes...

Potatoes are one of the most used vegetables aroun...

Peppers are a warm season crop. They are divided into 3 groups: sweet, mild and hot based on their degree of hotness. This vegetable needs a lot of sun and heat to produce well. They can be seeded directly however they need a long growing season, so ...

Peppers are a warm season crop. They are divided i...

Onions like a cool temperature to start and then need heat to form a large bulb. This vegetable is grown from sets, seeds or transplants. Sets consist of small dry bulbs that are grown and harvested the previous year for the purpose of being replante...

Onions like a cool temperature to start and then n...

Lettuce and salad greens are very popular in home gardens. They are fast and easy to grow in garden beds or containers. Lettuce is divided into two types, the head and leaf varieties. Heading types take longer to mature and therefore need a longer co...

Lettuce and salad greens are very popular in home ...

Leeks are in the onion family and need similar conditions to grow their best. They need cool temperatures, rich soil and lots of water especially early in their growth. This vegetable is grown from seed and then transplanted to your garden. The seed ...

Leeks are in the onion family and need similar con...

Kale is a cool season crop that will overwinter well, in fact the flavor will improve after a frost. It can also be planted in early spring to be harvested in the summer. If you have a shady area (4 hours of sun) in your garden, this plant will do we...

Kale is a cool season crop that will overwinter we...