Yesterday, I walked to the dentist (about a half mile) and experienced twenty or more different kinds of wet conditions on the ground. At that time of day, it was raining on top of an inch or two of snow. Some was slushy, some was puddles on top of snow, some was untrodden snow (my
Whether you are a renter or an owner, the fear is there. Is your wall about to pour ice water into your living space? Where do you look for leaks? Which icicles are a problem? Theory: Water is, literally, mindless. All it wants to do is get to earth. Water will go down by the
December is full of holidays. People from cultures throughout the northern hemisphere developed customs to celebrate the point where days are the shortest and then begin to lengthen. That’s when the coldest part of the winter months still lies ahead, but the light is returning. Some cultures call solstice “midwinter” since light is returning. This
My neighbor’s tree overhangs my yard. It drops leaves every fall. Can I make my neighbor rake them? It is best for the environment that no one rakes the leaves. But, if someone is raking them, it’s you. My neighbor’s tree is making my yard too shady. Who is responsible for cutting it back? If
It is not clear to me whether sellers are getting more money for their old houses with wall insulation. I doubt that they are. Buyers who value sustainability lean towards new construction, which will be much better than even the best retrofit of an old house. But, insulation is not that expensive because of MassSave programs that
Summers in the real estate business used to be more smelly than they are in the current market. Sellers and their agents have gotten more diligent about getting summer smells out of the house before putting it on the market. Well, most of the time. But not always. Houses collect and hold odor in the
Weeds are not just plants in the wrong place! Last week, I wrote about Japanese Knot Weed. It’s a bad, bad weed that damages buildings. There’s another baddy that has been plaguing local gardens for years. It grows very fast. The thing that matters the most is that it is harmful to pollinators, especially monarch
There are a lot of invasive weeds in Massachusetts. Knotweed is the worst. It is spreading along waterways and is often seen along the community trails. It is all over the Alewife Reservation and other preserved areas. Knotweed is one of many plants that spread underground and pop up along cracks in sidewalks and asphalt.
Does your house need some fresh air? Does your dinner needs some fresh flavor? Today, I welcome Elizabeth Shields back to provide more information about herbs in your home. If you're looking for a way to add some fresh flavor to your recipes, there's no need to look any further than your own backyard (or
Today, a guest post from Kathleen Anne Joven Nialla from Mighty Dog Roofing. As a homeowner, you can prevent damage to your roof, do some work yourself, and leave some repairs for the professionals. Here’s how to tell the difference: One of the components of a house that is absolutely necessary is the roof. It