Wishes granted with beautiful new porches

There is no better feeling than the sense of accomplishment that comes from a completed project, especially when it exceeds the client’s expectations. Netty Aptekman’s wish list was short — she wanted a back deck that would allow her to . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

Secret to professional-looking cheesecake

Question: I am having a dinner party and would like to make cheesecake for dessert. Can you tell me if I can quadruple my cheesecake recipe and bake the cake in a large rectangle pan? Love your books! — Brittany Answer: Not a . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

You just can't beat homemade

Getting my hands on a coveted condiment has reminded me...

Paradise! I just rediscovered the source of the most delicious mustard on the planet, and now have three jars in my fridge to enjoy before stocking up again. I speak of none other than Esther’s mustard — hot and sweet, homemade . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

Chimney smell sweeping through home

Question: How do I stop my wood-burning fireplace from smelling like smoke in humid weather? A faint smoke smell would be OK, but this is obnoxious. It seems worse when the air conditioner or even the washer and dryer are . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

Premature yellowing a sign of stress

I spoke to a client not long ago who asked me why yellow-leaved trees are not available in commercial tree nurseries. The person remarked on how beautiful they looked. I suppose that person got tired of looking at normal trees . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

A frosty harvest

Autumn doesn't have to mean the end of homegrown goodness

Vigorous and flavourful plants are yielding in Manitoba gardens. You’ve waited for the fresh, crisp taste of homegrown veggies but is the clock already ticking on the remaining days in the growing season? Hardly, says Niki Jabbour, award-winning author of The . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

The berries that make gardeners blue

Beautiful, healthy fruit hard to keep happy -- and safe from pesky thieves

Loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and other good things, blueberries are the trendy health fruit of summer. This isn’t hype: have you ever seen a sick catbird? If you don’t net your blueberry bushes, the catbird will clean you out, taking fruit . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

Even artichokes are purple now

Is every common vegetable going purple? Purple broccoli, purple cauliflower, purple carrots and purple bok choy now have pride of place in the seed catalogue kaleidoscope, along with the more customary purple cabbage, lettuce and beans. I say the more . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

Doubling upon design

A&S Homes took an award-winning layout and gave it an innovative update

Some new home models are singular in design conception — while others are a compendium. It would be fair to say the San Danielle sits in the latter category, says A&S Homes’ sales representative for 48 Eaglewood Dr. in Prairie Pointe, . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29

A perfect place to start

Condo with superb floorplan suitable for first-time homebuyers

If you’re a young couple looking to purchase your first home, the local real estate market is a tough one to crack. With good starter homes costing in excess of $250, 000 — and other factors such as the government-imposed stress . . .

Posted: 2017-07-29