Tips for Harvesting Herbs The best time for harvesting herbs is in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the afternoon sun has sapped the plants’ color and fragrance. For the health of the remaining plants, leave a few inches of stem on each as you make your cuttings. And never harvest more than one-third of the plant at a time. How to Dry Herbs When growing herbs in your garden, your aim is to give the plants the water and sunlight they need to thrive....

Use these annuals to fill in any blank spaces in your landscape as your garden transitions from summer to fall. 1. Pansy This popular cold-tolerant plant’s cheery, edible flowers come in just about every color, including red, orange, yellow, white, purple, and blue. Pansies are often grown as annuals, especially when used in container gardens, but they’re actually short-lived perennials that are hardy in Zones 6-11. They’ll survive the winter in these regions if planted in the ground, blooming again the following spring....

Create Seamless Horizontal Connection Many homes have garage spaces that connect on a horizontal plane with the rest of the house—the garage sits to one side while the house occupies a multi-storied space to the other. To better integrate the garage with the house, choose a paint and material combination that relies on repetition from one horizontal space to another. For example, this home’s pretty green window and door trim carries from living space to garage....

How to Design a Cornish Hen Menu Start by preparing your Cornish game hen recipe. (If you’re really in a hurry, try butterflying your tiny bird before cooking. With more surface area exposed near the heat, it will roast even quicker.) After roasting, slice each bird in half and allocate one half per person to feed a family of four. Then round out your Cornish hen menu with a few (or all, if you’re feeling ambitious!...

There are local services that can help you maintain a clean, safe dryer vent. However, in order to reap the benefits of their service, you need to have your dryer vent cleaned before a disastrous fire strikes. Heed these signs, provided by Dryer Vent Wizard, that could indicate a clogged dryer vent. 1. Your Dryer’s Auto-Shutoff Kicks In Most modern dryers come with an auto-shutoff feature. This safety measure will shut off your dryer mid-cycle if it’s trapping excess heat and moisture....

What is No Mow May? The idea behind No Mow May is to leave your lawn alone for the month of May. This allows lawn flowers to bloom and feed hungry native bees emerging from hibernation when other flowers are scarce. Several studies done in areas of Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Massachusetts have shown that lawn flowers can support a high diversity of bees and other pollinators. I learned about No Mow May when I was looking for ways to make my own yard more bee-friendly....

Make the most of every square foot of your front porch by styling a hangout that elevates your home’s curb appeal, provides endless enjoyment, and leaves a lasting impression on anyone who steps foot on it—the mail carrier included. These front porch furniture ideas will help you create a welcoming outdoor space that’s as beautiful as it is functional. 1. Maximize Space on a Small Porch Less space doesn’t have to equal less style....

For a more classic pumpkin cookie try our Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin cookies

You can shop major discounts on popular items like this All-Clad nonstick frying pan set for 20% off and this Barefoot Dreams throw blanket for $59 off. Smart kitchen tools, like utensil and knife sets, are discounted by up to 40%, and there are lots of candles and essential oils on sale, too. If your home could use a quick refresh for spring, keep scrolling to check out nine can’t-miss deals at Nordstrom before they’re gone....

While decorating homes with evergreens during winter actually dates back to the Romans, Druids, and Vikings, the Germans are credited with displaying the first Christmas tree in the 16th century. In 1846, the tree went viral (well, the mid-1800s version of viral) when Queen Victoria of England decorated a tree as a nod to her husband’s German heritage. When an illustration of the royal family standing around the tree was published in newspapers, having a Christmas tree became the hottest new interior design trend....

The Best Choice Products Adjustable Zero Gravity Lounge Chairs come in a set of two, and they’re on sale for just $60 each. The best-selling chairs are made from a durable fabric and a weather-resistant steel frame. Some of the most standout features are the reclining back and elevated footrest that allow you to find your most comfortable lounging position: Simply lean back up to 160 degrees in the chair, turn the side knob to lock your spot into place, and release the knob when you want to return to an upright position....

Amy Elbert attended Northwestern University. She also graduated with a B.A. in History and English from the University of Iowa.

Normally you need an Ancestry account to view your family tree and map your genealogy, but the company has made it free for anyone to use this service. The only information you have to enter is the name of a grandparent and a place they may have lived. I entered my maternal grandfather’s name and the state he lived in and found my first female relative who was eligible to vote: The 19th Amendment was passed when my great-great-grandmother was 41, so she was able to vote for the first time in the 1920 election....

½ cup packed brown sugar ⅓ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup oats ¼ cup butter Cream Cheese Topper 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened ⅔ cup whipping cream ⅔ cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoon raspberry jelly

Classic Art Deco Materials Many of the materials used in traditional Art Deco rooms and furnishings also lent inspiration to hallmark colors of the period. For example, polished or inlaid hardwoods with unusual graining or patterning – ebony, zebrawood – were often used in furnishings and fixtures, which led to deep, dark browns and shades of black on focal-point pieces. Designers from the Art Deco period also relied heavily on metals such as bronze, brushed steel, and nickel....

To Serve Salad on Oranges: Peel and section 6 oranges over a bowl, reserving the juice. Arrange orange sections on chilled dinner plates. Top with meat and beet slices; drizzle with the reserved orange juice and the dressing. Sprinkle with parsley.Nutrition analysis per serving: 362 calories, 27 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 15 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 68 mg cholesterol, 6 g fiber, 21 g total sugar, 10% Vitamin A, 95% Vitamin C, 644 mg sodium, 9% calcium, 18% iron...

1 ½ cup sour cream 4 Roma tomatoes, diced ¼ cup finely chopped chives Pizza Dough 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup warm water (113°F) 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (or 2 packets) 2 tablespoon olive oil, plus more to grease bowl 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting