Between the mud of March and the showers of April, how do I keep wood floors clean and shiny? — J.K., Rutland, VT Floors are like health care — prevention is key. First, you need to decrease the amount of dirt and moisture that are tracked in. Put mats (the bristle type collects the most […]
Living
Gardens
September Gardening Projects
The end of summer is a great time to putter around the garden, gradually doing end-of-summer chores and activities in the mild weather, once peak growing season has passed. Here are six September gardening projects. Harvest Seeds If you planted open-pollinated and not hybrid flowers or veggies earlier this year, September is the time that […]
We pulled into a parking spot near a huge red barn and silo. Perched along a couple of rows on the hill beyond were a series of attractive houses, one after another clustered together. It was like entering a beautiful Alpine village. We were arriving at what’s known today as Cobb Hill in Hartland, Vermont, […]
Jo Diggs, a Maine quilt and appliqué artist, brings a painter’s eye to her startling fabric landscapes.
During the 1990s, a New Jersey couple walked through more than 50 New England homes before deciding to purchase this 1779 Georgian Colonial in beautiful Francestown, New Hampshire. Time goes on, though, and now they’re looking at retirement communities—but not before writing us one of the funniest ‘House for Sale’ letters we’ve seen in a […]
Gardens
How to Plant a Sensory Garden
Although most gardens are first and foremost designed to be visually appealing, when stimulating all the senses is made a priority and incorporated a garden plan, the end result can be a very therapeutic and delightful experience. Read on to learn how to plant a sensory garden in your own outdoor home space that will […]
I was at a friends house recently and she had these adorable bird feeders made from tea cups and saucers in her garden. I was smitten– as someone who loves to feed backyard birds, I knew I wanted to make a bird feeder of my own. My friend’s bird feeders were made with tea cups– […]
Homes
The Farm at Stone Acres
Stewarded by multiple generations of the same Connecticut family, the landscape at Stone Acres is a gracious reflection of the property’s storied past. Christian Careb was 15 years old when he landed his first job at Stone Acres, a gentleman’s farm in Stonington, Connecticut. The year was 1978, and Chris was just getting the hang […]
Gardens
Plant a Night Garden
By transforming your flower garden into a magical nighttime wonderland, you can get the most out of not just the summer days, but the nights as well. Night gardens are an easy way to delight the senses and indulge in your garden in an entirely different fashion. What better way to enjoy a summer night than […]
How To
Engraved Wooden Spoons
Pyrography is the art of burning images and designs into wood. A pen with a metallic tip is heated and then used to “draw” onto a wood surface. Pyrography can be used to create wood plaques or wood blocks, engrave signs, or make freestyle designs on any wooden object. Decorating wooden spoons with pyrography is a relatively fun and easy project. […]
Despite their size, or lack thereof, the creepy-crawly and winged variety of pests can do serious damage to your garden before you even know they’re there. It may be tempting to seek vengeance with a toxic chemical solution, but first consider a more natural approach like companion planting — the pairing of beneficial plants. When […]
How To
Crafts: Custom Picture Frame
Plain picture frames cost a lot less than fancy ones, so buy a plain frame and decorate it yourself. If you have some white household glue or a hot-glue gun, you can attach all kinds of trinkets to the face of most frames to create a custom picture frame. Here are four ideas to get […]