Certain home renovation projects are more glamorous than others. A remodeled kitchen is sure to garner its share of “oohs and aahs,” while a newly paved driveway is much less likely to dazzle guests. A gutter replacement is another job that might not have the wow factor. But fully functioning gutter...

Busy families who do not have the time to spend an hour or more in the kitchen preparing weeknight dinners can turn to slow cookers to do the work for them. Slow cookers cook foods on a low temperature over several hours. Slow cookers do not require constant attention, making them ideal for people w...

Each winter, gardeners bid farewell to their outdoor growing spaces and turn their attention to other ways to occupy their days. Magazines and seed catalogs provide inspiration, but there’s nothing like gardening indoors to satisfy your inner gardener. Plant stands with grow lights are a convenient ...

Mental health check-in! The stretch of time between the New Year and the first spots of spring color in late March or early April can be very difficult, especially in the northern U.S. Upstate New York has seen some of its highest snowfall in several years this winter, with several intense cold fron...

“I’m Welsh.” “Yeah, my grandmother was from Scotland.” “I have some German in my family tree.” Family roots run deep into the core of our beings and dictate a lot of cultural and personal significance for many. For those of European lineage, however, that genealogical record can be a little muddy – ...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or bird flu) is a contagious poultry virus that has caused significant financial losses to the U.S. poultry industry and disruptions to the nation’s supply of eggs and poultry meat. The highly pathogenic strain, H5N1, has been circulating in the U.S. since Feb...

As snow and winter lose their charm, one thing that excites gardeners this time of year is the arrival and perusal of seed catalogs. The glossy pages filled with promises and beauty remind gardeners that spring is just around the corner, and soon, hands will be in the soil awaiting summer bounty. Br...

What’s in a name? Shakespeare’s Juliet seemed to think that names were of “little consequence” when it came to expressing true love. But for centuries before Shakespeare’s time, many cultures around the world held the naming process in high esteem. The belief that names often symbolize a person’s ch...

March signals the beginning of spring wildfire season across much of the East Coast, and the North Carolina Forest Service is urging residents to be diligent about using best practices and common sense with all outdoor fires, especially yard debris burns. “We reduce our wildfire risk by working toge...