Home and Garden
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When turning attic into living space, attention to quality is keyApr 10, 2009 11:00 pm - Other than the basement, the attic is the part of the home most often adapted to new uses. So I suppose the attic will soon be given a new name. Once remodeled, a baseme...
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Craftsman restores barns using time-honored techniquesApr 10, 2009 11:00 pm - A carpenter constructs; a craftsman creates. Dan Otto is a craftsman. He appreciates the beauty of the wood, the textures, the hues, and the grains that are brought to l...
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Floral rules are ephemeral, but here are some basic guidelinesApr 10, 2009 11:00 pm - Consider these tips and opinions when you buy or make floral centerpieces. Drawback: Grocery store flowers might not be fresh, especially if they are not refrigerated. E...
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It's pansy time, aka viola, violetta,; popular cool-season annualApr 03, 2009 11:00 pm - Whether it's known as a pansy, viola or even violetta, flowering plants in the Viola genus are classic cool-season annuals; plants that can tolerate light frosts and con...
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Old houses can be green and lovableApr 03, 2009 11:00 pm - Who knows why some of us really like old homes and others don't waste a thought, much less a tear, even when something extraordinary is pulled down? I am firmly in the c...
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Frog ponds help endangered species close to home
Apr 03, 2009 11:00 pm - When you hear about animals in danger of extinction, you probably picture exotic places from nature shows. But Brent Brock saw the problem closer to home when he returne...
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It's spring and flowers bloom! But not without a lot of effortApr 03, 2009 11:00 pm - If you're holding your breath waiting for the redbud or magnolia in your yard to bloom, imagine what Todd Pope went through. Pope, manager of the Oswego/Naperville branc...
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Personal touches trump 'rules' of tasteApr 03, 2009 11:00 pm - In the questions readers and clients ask, I can often detect a reluctance to introduce pieces they like but feel "don't belong" in a setting done in a certain style. I a...
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Vegetable gardens can please eye as well as palate
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Save money through others' bad fortuneMar 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Here is some very bad news that could save you money. Due to the condition of the economy, Bright Hope, one of the stores that carries crafts made by people in developin...