Mustard continuing to donate his ORGANS

St. Vital Museum latest recipient of the gift of music

G’day. We begin with some great news! I’ve rehomed another gorgeous pump organ, this one a true beauty that the dump will never get its evil clutches on. It was donated to me by a lovely lady who wanted to see . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Stopping air leakage in older homes always a challenge

Question: I’m wondering if you could offer a practical solution for an issue which is a real problem in very cold weather. I had the basement, with a poured concrete foundation, insulated with foam a while ago. This was . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Basement beautification boasts new feature wall

Cabinets and cupboards add flair and function

Another planned ‘squeeze-in’ job wound up kicking off my run of interior projects this fall. Much like a recent kitchen facelift, the cupboard elements were ordered well in advance, allowing a delivery date a few weeks before a possible . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Freeze chocolate for no-static shavings in cappuccino

Question: I have a block of Callebaut chocolate which I shave for sprinkling on cappuccinos etc. I have tried a potato peeler and a handheld grater for this purpose, but both cause static electricity shavings everywhere! Is there anything . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Award-winning 2023 plants announced

Keep your options open when selecting the right ones for you

Each year there is a flurry of announcements that reveal the names of plants that have been selected as award-winners or plants of the year for the following year. I’m always interested to learn which plants have been selected . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Condo living is all-good in Charleswood

Loaded apartment-style unit large and luxurious

One of the biggest issues that people have with apartment-style condominiums, especially high-end ones, is that they don’t live like a single-detached family home. Consequently, empty nesters looking to downsize to a luxury condominium often end up disappointed when a . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Complete family home in Prairie Pointe

Parade of Homes: Efficient design loaded with thoughtful features

Ask any home builder about a “new” plan and they’ll tell you that the plan really isn’t entirely brand new. Rather, it may be made up of the best parts of different plans, or be a smaller version of a . . .

Posted: 2022-11-05

Striking powers of observation

Renowned photographer Dennis Fast captures beauty in our own backyard

Dennis Fast is an internationally recognized wildlife and nature photographer. His compelling photographs of landscapes and wildlife species from many different places around the world show a unique recognition of and appreciation for all of nature. Fast’s work has been . . .

Posted: 2022-10-29

Doozy of a deck done in a drizzle

Last outdoor build of the season turned out nice, but there was ice

Typically a deck can be completed in a single week and most of my summer season exterior build projects are booked at weekly intervals. Two full weeks, however, were allocated for this behemoth of a 46-by-44-foot deck. This job was . . .

Posted: 2022-10-29

Try alcohol and water for streak-free glass

Question: What is the best way to get mirrors and glass doors clean and streak free? Carol Answer: Into a spray bottle combine one-third cup rubbing alcohol with two-third cups water. Clean with a soft, excellent quality microfiber cloth. Question: A . . .

Posted: 2022-10-29