CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Marin Plank truly had no interest in birds when she gave her husband a camera- equipped bird feeder for his birthday. But by Christmas, she had become so obsessed with it that mos...

Metro Creative Services Homeowners may think they have to tear down walls or build room extensions to transform their homes with renovation projects. But small projects can yield impressive results, a...

Metro Creative Services Homes are often characterized as sanctuaries for their inhabitants. When a home is warm and welcoming, it can be the perfect place to relax and get away from the hustle and bus...

Metro Creative Services The dawn of a new year marks a convenient time to turn over a new leaf. Much attention is paid to individuals’ intentions to eat healthier and exercise more at the start of a n...

Family Features With colder temperatures and dreary skies, it can be easy to feel a touch of the winter blues. However, there are some ways you can freshen up the inside of your home, no matter what t...

Some homeowners gaze out their windows and see lush and beautiful gardens. Others would like to see lush and beautiful gardens but instead are greeted by overgrown, dead or otherwise messy landscapes....

I see you, sitting there by the fire with your cup of hot cocoa (or wine). Don’t get too comfortable. You might think you can rest on your laurels now that there’s a break in the mowing, weeding, sowi...

Our gardens may be preparing for their winter slumbers, but that doesn’t mean we have to rest: It’s time to make free shrubs! The easiest way to propagate woody plants like dogwood, forsythia, hydrang...

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, it’s natural to focus on the big meal. But have you thought about how you’ll handle that mountain of Thanksgiving leftovers that often follow? Rather than l...

Deborah Reinhardt has fond memories of her mother and grandmother cooking in aprons dusted with flour or other signs of that day’s meal. And then there were the special occasions. “Grandma, especially...

Dreaming of a beach vacation? My guess is you’re picturing a palm tree. Fantasizing about life on a remote island? You’re probably envisioning a walk among birds of paradise, cannas and bananas. Nothi...

Iplanted my garlic last week, and after tucking the 30 plump cloves into their bed, my thoughts turned to protecting them from freezing temperatures and stealth animals that dig them up every year and...

If you’ve been pining to plant a tree, now is a great time. The season’s cooling temperatures and still-warm soil mean less stress on newly planted trees, which allows them to direct more energy into ...

Get your apron on: New research suggests that you should start your Thanksgiving preparations more than four weeks in advance. A recent survey of 5,000 Americans, conducted by Talker Research for the ...

Cleaning up the garden — or “putting the garden to bed” — has traditionally been a fall endeavor. In recent years, however, as information about the migrating or hibernating habits of birds, pollinato...

There is something undeniable about a day at the pumpkin patch: The crunch of leaves underfoot, the children laughing as their parents try to capture the joyful chaos with pictures. But beyond the Ins...

After 20 years of growth, some of the ever-widening, 40-foot-tall Leyland cypress trees running along my backyard property line are blocking the walkway. A simple trim is not an option because only th...

Now that she’s working from home, Kendra King takes an early afternoon nap on most days, typically for about 20 to 30 minutes. “A lot of times, I don’t go in with the intention of taking a nap, but in...

DEAR ABBY: My girlfriend, “Jessica,” thinks I’ve cheated on her because I didn’t come home right away after being given the day off. My grandparents were away on vacation. When they go away, they want...

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m reaching out for your advice regarding my elderly neighbor, “Mrs. Thompson.” Over the years, we’ve developed a good connection, and I’ve gladly assisted her with tasks like fetchin...