Solar panels power a home, storing power to alleviate peak-usage charges. (StatePoint)
With a growing number of homeowners looking to save money on power bills and help the environment, rooftops across America are taking on a new look, as more homes are dotted with solar panels. But it’s important to ask the right questions before installing them on your home. “While… Read more »
Anjulie Pfeifer wanted her office at Jewish Family & Children’s Services to feel homey. (Micheal Romero)
Visiting counselor Anjulie Pfeifer’s office is like visiting grandma’s house. Or going to a hipster coffee shop. Or seeing Smokey Bear’s cabin. At least that is what her clients at Jewish Family & Children’s Services say when they walk across the threshold of her office. Scenic paintings line the… Read more »
Barbara Russek’s success with roses took her by surprise.
Even as the menorah shines its brightest these last three nights of Hanukkah, our eight-day Festival of Lights is starting to wind down. Presents have been opened and latkes savored. Hanukkah 5779 will soon become a sweet memory. So, what are your plans for the rest of December? How… Read more »
Keep heirlooms, important documents, and prescription medicines with you, rather than in the moving van. (Shutterstock.com)
You’ve hired a moving company, and you’re preparing for the big cross-country move. There’s no better time to go through your things. While there are many things you’ll need to remember to pack, there are also a few things you won’t want to pack. Here are the top five… Read more »
The Industrial Development Authority of Pima County announced a new partnership Monday with Trio, an independent mortgage financing company based in Washington state. The goal is to expand access to affordable financing to qualified Pima County residents to promote homeownership through a Lease-To-Own program. “Some of our residents need… Read more »
Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ (Courtesy Colorblends)
Arizona and Israel have some climatic and botanic similarities. Israel is lovely in spring — the hillsides covered with a plethora of bright flowers. Israel has a Mediterranean climate, with rains in the cooler winter months, followed by months of no rain, similar to Arizona. While some of the… Read more »
Yellow is a lively hue that represents youthfulness and joy. (Family Features)
(Family Features) Just as filling your plate with colorful foods is typically good for your body, filling your kitchen with color can be good for the soul. In fact, color is an important element in interior design not only for its aesthetic value, but also because it can shape… Read more »
This season, take your design vision to the next level with easy DIY projects that enhance neutral room settings using colorful home accents, wallpaper and lighting.
(StatePoint) If you are looking to elegantly redesign the spaces in your home, consider taking your cues from the latest trends in the luxury market. Neutral color palettes and soft, soothing shades, such as gray, taupe and cream are on the rise among today’s luxury homes and adding touches of… Read more »
This artist’s rendering of the ‘Gan Tikvah’ or ‘Garden of Hope’ at night. The garden is scheduled to open at the Tucson Jewish Community Center in 2019. (Photo: Barbara Grygutis Sculpture LLC)
It is forbidden to live in a city that does not have a garden or greenery – Mishnah Kiddushin 4:12 Gan Tikvah, the Garden of Hope, will be a contemplative oasis designed with the concept of intentionality, and a healing extension from the Tucson Jewish Community Center Sculpture Garden.… Read more »
The author planted Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) in her yard for the monarchs, but it is also popular with native bees. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Modern life has sped up and now not only must we humans multi-task, but so must our landscapes and gardens. We aren’t just growing a vegetable or flower garden anymore. Now gardens have multiple purposes like supporting pollinators, engaging children, providing supplies to create beauty products, or decorating our… Read more »
A faucet with hands-free technology is a relatively inexpensive upgrade. (StatePoint)
(StatePoint) From smart thermostats to remotely controlled showers, connected homes are all the rage for today’s homeowners and those looking to make a purchase, providing easy opportunities to boost your profit when you sell. Over half of millennials (57 percent) believe that smart home technology is a good investment… Read more »
Manufactured stone veneers offer some of the best returns on home renovation investment. (StatePoint)
(StatePoint) Early spring presents an excellent opportunity to get outdoors and spruce up your home’s exterior. But if you have limited time and resources, it’s important to prioritize the focus of your efforts. For guidance, consider Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report, which shows that not all remodeling… Read more »
Tucson Organic Gardeners, a nonprofit organization, will present “Growing Mushrooms” at its free monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. Third Street, in the Geneva Room. The doors will open at 7 p.m. to allow participants to browse free literature… Read more »
This water garden at the home of Tucsonan Gail Barnhill might serve as inspiration for art contest participants.
Tucson students can design the garden of their dreams as participants in the Pima County Master Gardeners Student Art Contest. Master Gardeners are university-trained volunteers who serve as community educators, working with the UA Cooperative Extension. The contest is open to Pima Country residents, ages 5-18, in four categories:… Read more »
Never again have wilted parsley for karpas (greens) on your seder plate. Instead, grow your own with free seeds, “borrowed” from one of several Pima County Library branches. This Seed Library was among the nation’s first circulating seed concepts, opened in 2012. Now, libraries across the country have adopted… Read more »
(Jeffrey Schwartz/Fotolia.com)
(StatePoint) Millions of wild birds are killed each year flying into windows, including private homes. Birds face other dangers, too, in your yard, whether they are migrating or flying locally. Everyone, but especially those who enjoy having birds visit their yards and gardens, should take steps to make their… Read more »
(Robin Stancliff)
Living in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, we are surrounded by many textures and colors. Think for a moment of the vibrant yellow palo verde blossoms, blaze orange from the desert bird of paradise, vibrant fuchsia from bougainvillea, or the endless shades of blue from sunrise to sunset of our… Read more »
(jolopes/stock.Adobe.com)
(StatePoint) When it comes to busy families, things have a habit of becoming scattered quickly. Here are five ways to keep everything and everyone organized, all the time. 1. Centralize information. Hang an erasable calendar or family to-do list in a high-traffic area of the home where everyone can… Read more »
Books make a great gift because they contain the precious gift of knowledge. Here are eight gardening books for all types of folks, whether they garden outside or indoors, or just cook with vegetables that others grow. To start off — who doesn’t like a cookbook? “The Renee’s Garden… Read more »
Spiced lamb and butternut squash burekas
By the time Sukkot arrives, and we are three weeks into nonstop Jewish holiday mode, some people might be a little tired of cooking. I don’t blame these people one bit. But Sukkot probably is my favorite holiday of the season to cook for — I love sitting outdoors… Read more »
