Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
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Safety may not be on the minds of people when they gather equipment and cleaning supplies to clean their homes, but even seemingly innocuous items can be dangerous. The National Safety Council warns that accidents and deaths often occur when least expected - including when doing chores around the house. The online safety advocate SafeWise says that more than 160,000 Americans die as a result of an accident every year, and household injuries account for 75 percent of those deaths. It’s important to be careful when cleaning around the house, a...
A day outdoors soaking up the sun’s rays is many people’s idea of the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. On such days, a periodic retreat indoors into an air conditioned home can offer some much-needed relief from the heat. HVAC systems are worth their weight in gold during the dog days of summer. Of course, such systems must be replaced from time to time. Learning to recognize the signs of a fading HVAC system can help homeowners replace their units before they cease working, saving everyone the uncomfortable ordeal of being stuck at...
Outdoor living areas provide a great way for homeowners to spend more time outdoors doing the things they love. That includes watching their favorite shows. Many homeowners take televisions designed for indoors outside when hosting game watches or movie nights under the stars. While such televisions can function outdoors, unless they’re specifically designed for outdoor use, chances are they are not protected against the elements. Special enclosures built to protect indoor televisions can do just that, but homeowners also can consider televisio...
A pristine lawn is a source of pride for homeowners. Even the most well-maintained lawns must confront challenges in a given year, and no challenge is more daunting than drought. Homeowners may feel helpless when drought strikes and begins to transform their lawns from green sources of pride to off-color eyesores. Learning to identify signs of drought stress and what to do about it can help homeowners get their lawns through dry periods. Signs of drought stress The lawn care experts at TruGreen...
The value of the right lighting in a home is undeniable. Lighting can instantly transform a room and create the ambiance homeowners are looking to establish. Though it might be mostly seen as a way to create mood inside a home, lighting also can do much for lawns and gardens. Backyards have come a long way over the last several decades. Once reserved as play areas for children and stomping grounds for the family dog, backyards have become oases for homeowners and their families. Outdoor living...
Lighting in a home serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. It's easy to maneuver around a well-lit home, reducing the risk of slips and falls, and the right lighting can help homeowners create their desired ambiance, which typically changes depending on which room you're in. When choosing lighting for their homes, homeowners must walk a fine line between appearance and functionality. A fixture in the foyer that instantly impresses visitors likely won't prove as awe-inspiring if it's...
Remote working has become popular in recent years, but the "working-from-home" economy bloomed exponentially as the world was forced to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom, as of summer 2020, 42 percent of the United States labor force was working from home full-time. The need for home office spaces has increased as more people work from home. Many people have retrofitted various spaces around their homes into areas to get work done. More organized...
Many homeowners relish any opportunity to retreat to their backyards, where they can put up their feet and relax in the great outdoors. That retreat-like escape is made even more relaxing when sitting around a fire pit. Fire pits can be found in millions of suburban backyards across the globe. Fire pits have become so popular that a 2016 survey of landscape architects conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects revealed they were the most sought after outdoor design element. Fire...
Summer barbecue season has arrived, and this season may be an especially active one. Many summer barbecues were called off in 2020 as the world continued to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. But as the number of fully vaccinated adults rises across the United States and Canada, outdoor gatherings like backyard barbecues are much safer than they were a year ago. That bodes well for backyard barbecue enthusiasts who can’t wait to cook their favorite foods over an open flame. Since so many backyard gatherings were canceled last year, now may be a g...
Lure away pests with a dish of sugar water or slices of fruit for insects that feed on sweets and nectar, or a slice of sandwich meat for wasps and yellow jackets. Put this dish a distance from your party. But keep your patio clean. Sweep up and clean away any spilled foods and beverages. Install a patio ceiling fan to blow away mosquitoes and flies. Keep your mulch 12 inches away from the home’s foundation and entertaining spaces, or use inorganic mulch. Citronella oils, garlic, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, marigolds, and other pungent a...
Perennials can add color and vibrancy to any garden. One of the more desirable components of perennials is that they come back year after year, meaning homeowners do not have to invest in a gardenful of new flowers every year. That can add up to considerable savings. Perennials often form the foundation of beautiful gardens. Annuals only grow for one season, produce seeds and then die. However, perennials die back to the ground every autumn and their roots survive the winter. So the plants reemerge in the spring, according to The Farmer’s A...
Summer is a season to relax and enjoy the warm weather. Basking in the summer sun is a great way to relax, but only when the temperatures are safe. Summer heat waves can compromise the health of human beings as well as their pets. Gardening enthusiasts also may need to go the extra mile to keep their plants and gardens from wilting under harsh summer sun. Extreme heat stress can be very harmful to plants. The online gardening resource Gardening Know How notes that some plants can withstand...
Summertime in the Cove means farmers working their fields, lush green rolling hills as far as the eye can see, and for travelers on South Market Street in Martinsburg, the pink hill of Supertunia Vista Bubblegum, commonly referred to as Bubblegum petunias, in front of the home of Mayor Richard Brantner Sr. Every Spring, Brantner makes his rounds to Piney Creek Greenhouse, Brubaker Greenhouse and Spring Farm Greenhouse to purchase more than 200 Bubblegum petunias that when in full bloom, add a...
