This year's unprecedented toy recalls give new meaning to the term "educational toys. " The recalls since June of more than 4 million toys... Read more…
The hip-looking Method Omop starter kit features a nontoxic, microfiber mop that promises "a floor so clean you could eat off it. " The marketing materials... Read more…
Nancy Smith, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., sometimes shut her eyes to the mess as she passed through the long hallway that connected her garage... Read more…
Q: What are the advantages of down pillows? Are they hard to clean? A: For softness, nothing is better than down pillows. Filled with the delicate... Read more…
I love my dogs. I also love nice furniture. Alas, I was convinced we couldn't all live together. All day, while I work in my home office... Read more…
Q: Our toilet has a noise like water running, but it doesn't flush. It just kind of seeps, and my water bill has gone up. Our plumber thought a... Read more…
Halloween arrived this week, and once again Linus, that lovable cartoon character in the late Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" series, watched for the Great Pumpkin. Surprising as it might seem, there are people who actually do devote their lives searching each year for the Great Pumpkin. Read more…
Q: I planted several staghorn sumacs on my back rockery a few years ago. They're really beautiful this fall but are sending up suckers everywhere... Read more…
Before we know it, autumn will turn to winter. We'll be turning too — to planting bulbs for next spring, making plans for next season... Read more…
It is said that a garden bench never rests its owner, but a nice fall day might be the ideal time to sit for a few minutes and consider... Read more…
Saturday, October 27, 2007 Poison plants have a well-deserved place in history. Shakespeare was well aware of plant poisons. Juliet drank a potion of belladonna to feign death, and an infusion of henbane poured in his ear was the death of Hamlet's dad. Read more…
STom Minifie is a collector who counts Americana, vintage electric fans and early advertising among his passions. But his love for lighting... Read more…
No matter how much we do individually to go green, we can always use a little help. And who can help us the most? The companies that make... Read more…
What does your garden say about your personal style? Whether you know it or not, your garden declares, in a whisper or maybe a shout, your... Read more…
When my favorite comedy troupe, Culture Clash, did its take on the legend of Zorro, the show was full of laughs and loaded with atmosphere... Read more…
Q: How should I store coffee? A: After coffee beans are roasted, their flavor and aroma gradually begin to diminish. Once the beans are... Read more…
Q: Does caulking expire in the tube? A: Word on the street is that after 18 months, it should be used quickly or tossed. Because I am such... Read more…
Q: What are the nicest holiday gifts you can give a friend? A: Opportunities to give gifts present themselves all year long, and surely... Read more…
Q: What's the best way to vacuum a carpet? How often should you vacuum, and can you do it too much? A: The more foot traffic you have, the... Read more…
Clutter is a hotly negotiated currency in many homes, especially when one family member's treasure looks like junk to another. Clutter conflicts often develop... Read more…
"Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day" edited by Brangien Davis with Katharine Wroth... Read more…
A few brave readers in the ghoulish Halloween spirit sent us pictures of their pumpkin creations. Here are a few of the cleverly carved... Read more…
"Extreme Pumpkins" by Tom Nardone HP Trade, $13.95 Tom Nardone is provocative, outrageous, contrarian. No, he's not a comedian holding forth... Read more…
'Honey, we've got grapes this year!" I looked up just in time to catch my husband gathering Virginia creeper berries for what would've been a sickening snack. As fall progresses in Central Texas, fruits designed to lure wildlife can prove too tempting for children, pets and even middle-aged men. Read more…
The owners of design stores across the country talk about what sold well and what sank this year, and which new products they?re pinning their hopes on. Read more…