Functionality is important when designing the interior spaces in a home. Homeowners who redesign their interior spaces can emphasize functionality to help reduce clutter and create a more efficient and even calming space. Laundry rooms may not be the most glamorous rooms in a home, but they do get l...

We ate supper every evening as a family, sometimes joined by drop-in visitors or extended family. Mama spent many hours preparing home-cooked meals and there was usually plenty to go around, but sometimes, when it looked as if we would be short a helping or two, Mama would excuse herself from the ta...

Decadent treats and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. Couples typically exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day, and those gifts are often accompanied by something sweet. A survey from Statista found that 44% of respondents intended to purchase candy and sweets for their significant other on Valentine’s Da...

AMBOY, NY – The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center would like to announce its program Snowshoe Wanders, happening Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22, from 3 - 4:30 p.m. If a person is able to walk, they can learn to snowshoe; there are snowshoes to fit all ages. A pair of snowshoes opens up a plethora ...

A 50th birthday is often viewed as a milestone moment in an individual’s personal and professional life. Upon turning 50, some adults might have felt as though they could see the light at the end of their professional tunnel, but that that’s not necessarily so in the modern era. According to the Pew...

In our family there is usually a story attached to the foods we eat – not always a good story, but at least a memorable one. Growing up, our palates were not very expansive, leaning mostly towards Dad’s likes and what was available at the time. We always had a garden with a wide variety – corn, peas...

Many people have a passion for baking. Baking can be a rewarding hobby and fill a home with an aroma that’s unique, welcoming and instantly identifiable. There’s no shortage of options when the desire to bake arises. Homemade bread is a go-to among baking enthusiasts, who can whip up a loaf of this ...

Reading is a beloved pastime that’s having a moment. A number of variables have helped to renew people’s interest in reading. BookTok, a popular subcommunity on the social media platform TikTok in which users create videos to recommend and discuss books, is one such variable. The BookTok trend has h...

As we continue to push through the darker half of the year, many of us notice that the lessened daylight has an impact on our mental and physical health. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2024), two in five Americans report a worsening in their overall mood during winter months, exp...

Homes are often characterized as sanctuaries for their inhabitants. When a home is warm and welcoming, it can be the perfect place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Though no one wants to imagine danger lurking in their homes, certain areas of a home, including the b...

The TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of backyards, public parks, school yards and other green spaces, predicts 2026 will be a year of purpose, precision and pet-friendly landscapes. The era of the purely aesthetic lawn is over; the future is about the high-performance, consc...

Tax season, which begins in January and ends in April with the tax-filing deadline (tax day falls on April 15), can be a stressful time for people in the U.S. Individuals and businesses are required by law to file their income tax returns with the federal government and either await a refund or pay ...

The Virginia Egg Council used the American Egg Board’s 2025 campaign, “Meant to be Broken,” in last year’s search for the best egg recipes that would be appropriate for holiday entertaining, gifting or enjoying. Sixteen local fairs across Virginia hosted preliminary competitions throughout the summe...

Winter has officially arrived, bringing unique challenges in caring for houseplants. At this time of year, we experience less intense and fewer hours of sunlight. For most indoor plants, the lack of daylight signals a special kind of dormancy called quiescence. During this period, plants conserve th...

Getting outside in winter reduces stress, improves mood and helps with social connection and physical health for both people and pets, reminds the TurfMutt Foundation. But TurfMutt, which champions the year-round care and use of backyards, public parks, school yards and other green spaces, urges pet...