Gardening & Home Projects

My husband has always been a complete DYI person. Remodeling a couple of homes? Yep, did that. Build a 30×30 foot shop? Yep, did that. Rebuild an antique car by taking it down to nuts and bolts and putting it back together? A bit challenging, but yes, did that. Cleaning gutters, painting, indoor and…

If you’re a woman over 60 buying a home in South Florida or anywhere else, you’ll have plenty of decisions to make. One that often gets overlooked is the flooring. Many buyers focus on the kitchen, bathrooms, or the view from the lanai, which are all important. But flooring is something to consider, as well…

When you live in a city, you might not have much room for gardening. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have the space for it at all – your apartment probably has a patio, a balcony, a fire escape, or even a tiny concrete garden. If that’s the case, you’ll only need the right tools and the knowledge of which plants…

Spring 2026 was one for the record books! Yes, it was very dry in April, and very wet and unexpectedly chilly in May. But climate conditions were not the cause for alarm. The issues of concern were my noticeably diminishing stamina and body resilience while completing all the same gardening chores I’ve done at my home for the last 15 years…

When you go for a walk in the woods or on a beach, do you collect feathers, stones, acorns, branches, shells, driftwood, sea glass or pine cones? A dry twig or branch with its beautiful asymmetrical structure tells a story of growth, of the weather, of heaven and earth. A single feather evokes the picture of a bird navigating on a mild breeze underneath a blue sky…

I find shopping my home extremely rewarding: looking in drawers and cupboards for sleeping treasures waiting to be brought to life. In using what is already around me, I get to detect new potential in forgotten objects. I also believe in reinventing myself continously…

With the unseasonal warm weather for mid-March in the west of England, I was excited to be out in the garden. Due to a recent operation there were so many tasks left undone, and I was keen to get moving. Spring wasn’t going to wait for anyone!

I tried for years to get Tristan Gooley on my podcast Your Outside Mindset where I speak with guests about how spending time outside and noticing new things makes you feel better about yourself and the world around you. Gooley is in great demand…

Research shows that houseplants can improve concentration and productivity. They can also reduce stress and anxiety and have a mood-boosting effect. So, it’s perhaps unsurprising that many people who start off by caring for a single houseplant, often…

Gardening is good for the mind, body and spirit. But you don’t need a large garden, strong back or 365 days of beautiful weather to add some fresh greenery and color to your life. All you need is a bit of time, some spring flowering bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses…