Instrumental inspiration

Ingenious transformation tipples the ivories

Since I’m responsible for this (and darned proud of it), the least I can do is tell the tale, beginning with this email I received last weekend from Dale Wolaniuk: "Hello Laurie. We have never met, but I religiously read your . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Vinegar, tea tree oil should rescue outdoor cushions

Question: We have a set of four nice, thick outdoor chair cushions that we have treated well for 15 years. They are never left outside at night and are often stored in our shed during summer days when not needed. . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Function and elegance with a view

Huntington Homes design covers all the bases

There are many instances in life where it takes exceptional skill to make a difficult task look easy. Take building a luxury home. With expectations high, a builder must come up with an original design that provides their client with a . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Get the most out of your Parade experience

The 2021 Fall Parade of Homes is well underway! Over the past week, people have been out and visiting many of the great show homes on display across Manitoba. Thank you to all of our visitors who are following our safety . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Updated and ready to go

Forward-thinking floor plan, extensive remodelling offer flexibility and style

Over the past year-and-a-half, debate over whether to buy a new or resale home has escalated to a new, more urgent level. With the pandemic dictating they spend more time at home working and studying, families are now looking for more . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Net gain for gardens

Gimli operation redirects fish-processing waste into composting

Dave Grant is a retired Manitoba conservation officer who spent the last 14 years of his 34-year career in Gimli where he resides today. Gimli is home to many third- and fourth-generation fishermen and commercial fishing families. With Gimli’s large . . .

Posted: 2021-10-16

Trailer the perfect addition to 'toolbox'

But do your homework before you hitch one up

There’s nothing that frustrates me more than a task that cannot be completed due to the lack of proper gear. At the beginning of my career as a builder and renovator, this resulted in an unrelenting pursuit for all the . . .

Posted: 2021-10-16

Cosy time in the caboose

Rustic heat, storm windows will help stave off winter's chill

It’s getting to be "snug as a bug in a rug time, " or as we say here at the Mustardosa, "toasty as a moose in a caboose!" I’ve now moved from restoring the outside of this dear old 1905 CNR . . .

Posted: 2021-10-16

Get your hard-boiled eggs cracking

Question: I make my own hard-boiled eggs. Lately, when I try to peel them, it just turns into a mess. Large chunks of the egg white stick to the shell, the membrane sticks to the egg white, and it just . . .

Posted: 2021-10-16

Proper vents, soffits key to winter attic airflow

Question: I have a second home north of Montreal, on the slope of a moderately sized mountain. About 19 years ago, we had the roof shingles redone, and the contractor at the time replaced our ridge vents with three regular . . .

Posted: 2021-10-16