Category: HOME

12 Skills to Pass on to the Next Generation

A few years ago, I came across an old photo of my great-grandmother. She’s standing on the rickety, wooden porch of what could only be described as a decrepit shack, holding a bucket of milk and pouring it into a contraption to separate milk from the cream. Also on the porch with her are two…


Wide Open Spaces

Located less than an hour’s drive from downtown Houston, this sprawling, 1,408-acre ranch property is a great place to raise a large family and entertain. The property features an 11,347-square-foot, four-bedroom, 11-bathroom (five full, six half) main residence with a two-car garage; a three-bedroom, three-bathroom guest house; an eight-acre lake; several outbuildings; 3 1/2 miles…


Good News for Shoppers: Prices Dropping on These 13 Grocery Items

You don’t need me to tell you about skyrocketing food costs. Over the past couple of years, a trip to the grocery store to pick up eggs, milk, or butter has been breathtaking. The financial strain on consumers has become nearly unbearable. But now the price of some food items is starting to recede. The…


How to Repair Plaster Wall Cracks

Dear James: I have an old house with plaster walls and many cracks that need to be repaired. How can I fix these so they stay fixed and are invisible?—Julianne T. Dear Julianne: Many older houses were built before drywall panels existed, so plaster was one of the few interior wall options. Since your house…


Keep Laundry Pods Away From Pets and Children

Q: My cat Milo is a “dog cat”: He comes when I call, fetches small balls, and loves to play with toys. Last week, I caught him batting around a laundry detergent pod. Should I let him play with those things, or are they toxic? A: Laundry detergent pods are so dangerous to pets that…


Should We Water Our Plants in a Drought?

Q: As you may know, many of us are in a moderate drought this summer. My husband and I have been discussing how much we need to water our landscape and lawn. We live in the upper Midwest, and we normally get summer rain in thunderstorms. July and August are usually the dry months, not…


The Science of Shopping

Don’t look now, but that man who just walked into the store behind you is not here to shop. He’s a shopping anthropologist on assignment. His employer just landed a big contract with this store. They want to know what makes you tick, and why you do the things you do. Once they have this…


Is The Theory Behind MLS Still Valid?

Dear Monty: My neighbors are trying to sell their home. They have used two different agents and have yet to be successful. There have been three showings in six months. They reduced the price because they wanted to sell. The second agent told them three months ago that the price was right and nothing with…


6 Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes From Ruining the Party

Just as you are about to indulge in some well-deserved downtime on the patio with friends or family on a lazy summer evening, you hear that familiar whining buzz or feel a little nip on your exposed skin. Then, suddenly everyone is slapping and smacking themselves and running for cover. You can keep mosquitoes from…


Healthy H2O: Home Water Filtration, Simplified

Mother Nature has the ultimate water filtration system. Called the hydrologic cycle, it’s powered by the sun and circulates water from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere (evaporation), where it’s converted back into liquid via clouds (condensation), and is returned to the Earth as rain, snow, and hail (precipitation), all filtered by the sun’s UV…