The basic elements of New Year's Eve at home are some festive lights, wonderful food and drink, and a stellar movie playlist. Set the stage with a few candles and fanciful light strings to brighten dark corners and halls. Inexpensive patio lanterns or micro lights in mason jars will brighten these areas. Aim for even
Every holiday season, the snow globe makes its appearance on windowsills and study desks. Inside are magical dioramas with miniature villages or people in landscapes. It's fun to give them a shake and image being inside the winter wonder land. Snow globes are easy to make and allow you to customize the scene to suit
Coffee is a taste experience similar to wine appreciation. In fact, many of the techniques are the same and coffee connoisseurs are referred to as sommeliers. Hosting a coffee tasting for friends or co-workers is a great way to learn about different coffee varieties from around the world and perhaps find one that you love.
Chilly autumn air signals the last opportunity to prepare your garden for winter. With some planning and proactive care, your vegetable gardens, grassy areas, and shrubs will be ready for the first warm days of spring. In the garden, harvest all the remaining plants and remnants. Clean the soil of weeds and prune perennials to
Autumn is a season full of traditions that celebrate the harvest and the coming of winter. The weather is cooler and sometimes even cold. The wind is more noticeable and leaves blow around like colourful confetti. It's also a time when your home needs one last inspection before the snow (or West Coast rain) arrives.
Log homes have a special appeal and an aesthetic that invites occupants to reconnect with nature. Living in a log home is something akin to 'art as an experience'. Log construction has evolved, from being an essential part of European and North American housing stock, to a building method that is kept alive by popular
Home siting is the process of determining how to place the house on a building lot for maximum liveability. Siting is influenced mostly by the building footprint compared to available land. In the countryside, natural features such as rocks, hills, and water can limit the number of sites. In the city, most people will build
A solar power installation is only as good as its design so it's important to work with a reputable company that has engineers on staff. A viability study is required to choose the right equipment for the needs of the property and available light. When doing an analysis, a solar engineer will look at typical
Late summer is the month to begin gathering your supplies for making delicious preserves to enjoy over the winter. Making jam and other spreads is one of the easiest things to do. You may have memories of cooking berries and pouring the mixtures into jars. Preserves don't require any fancy equipment, just some sterile jars,
Few combinations of flavours will reward as much as herbs and berries. Combine them in baked desserts, smoothies, and ice pops for a special and sophisticated taste sensation. Here are some suggestions on how to use herbs and berries to make magical treats. Herbs are very easy to grow on a windowsill using small containers.
