Turning Leaves from Lawn to Compost
Instead of burning, bagging, or racing to get your leaves raked to the curb in time to be sucked up by a giant vacuum, why not compost them?
Bright Future for Retirement-Age Living
If the thought of aging and needing care down the road makes you cringe, you are not alone. With nearly 20% of Michiganders at age 65 and older, that’s almost two million people in the same boat. On the bright side, Michigan offers a few unique communities to make the later years enjoyable for living independently or with assistance.
Old Plaster Walls?
Plaster wall repair, for example, is not completed in the same way that you’d handle drywall repair. With some know-how, simple plaster cracks can be seamlessly repaired, restoring walls to their original grandeur.
Bavarian Blacksmith Experience
Decades later, Josh A. Weston became the fan-favorite champion on the History Channel’s Forged in Fire and appeared in several seasons. Today, he shares his forging talent and enthusiasm with the public at the Bavarian Blacksmith Experience in Frankenmuth.
Regional Feature: 42 North Custom Homes
Greg England and Ben Van Dort, co-owners of 42 North Custom Homes in Holland, and developer/designer Dennis Jacobs had a simple goal for their project on Lake Macatawa: to make a splash by razing a traditional 1940s home and replacing it with a three-story Modern Contemporary.
Red Light Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work?
There’s plenty of research on therapy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The often-prescribed long walk in the sunshine or use of a lux-light box can alleviate feelings of depression, sadness, and fatigue. But there’s another therapy worth considering: RLT – red light therapy – garnering attention for not only helping with SAD, but also improving the look of aging skin, and it’s worthy of consideration.
Focus On: Heilman’s Nuts & Confections
From the old bones of a remodeled Sinclair gas station, Heilman’s Nuts & Confections has been serving the Kalamazoo community with delightful treats since 1988. Carefully curated nuts from the US and Brazil are roasted on the premises, and a wide selection of handmade white, milk, and dark chocolates fill several glass cases.
Regional Feature: Black Birch Design + Build
At the suggestion of a neighbor, the family hired Black Birch Design + Build, owned and operated by principals Justin Roberts and Matthew Chaperon, to fulfill their vision for an Adirondack Craftsman-style cottage.
Camping in the Round – in a Yurt!
Tent camping is fun if you remember how to set it up, can crawl in and out with ease, and the weather forecast is calm. But there’s a unique and more comfortable way to camp – in a yurt. Open the door, walk in, set your gear down, and off you go!
When the Ants Come Marching In
In Michigan, carpenter and odorous house ants seek water-soaked wood below pipes, drains, dishwashers, showers, and leaky roof shingles for nesting sites. Have a washing machine with a leak? Better check the floor underneath. Was there an ice dam over the winter that caused a leaking mess in a wall? Hire a contractor to expose the soaked wood completely, replace it, and fix the reason for the ice dam.