We love to watch our pets roam freely, to see the smile on the dog’s face when we remove the leash and let him run in the field. Mine makes huge circles around me, like the true circus Rat Terrier that he is. Nature, cats and dogs go hand in hand. Hmm, hand in paw. [...]

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An Arabian shepherd found his goats dancing joyously around a shrub with bright red berries. Shepherds are very observant. It did not take long before he determined that his goats had surely eaten some of the berries, which in turn caused the euphoria. A taste promptly confirmed his theory. Within a short period of time, the [...]

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You have heard of Out-Sourcing, but have you ever heard of “Outdooring”? This, it turns out, is a new trend in backyard and poolside living; no outsourcing required. In fact, it is a great opportunity to bring “locally-made” back into one’s environment. Home life is no longer limited to the enclosure of a house. Had [...]

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I began the previous blog post with intentions of reviewing architectural traits that ensure the resilience of buildings in the case of natural occurrences such as earthquakes. Inevitably, the human aspect of the topic took precedence over technicalities. Nevertheless, we wonder. How safe are we? Do we truly build with nature in mind or mostly [...]

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The word “Farmhouse” conjures up images of wide floor boards, old plumbing, treasures hidden inside the walls, creaking staircases and ancient trees – Ha! If they could only speak – discarded farm equipment over yonder in the field and perhaps even a ghost or two. The Farmhouse has seen a lot of living. It has [...]

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The “Green Movement” dates back further than we think. Environmental philosophy was an intrinsic element of intellectual thought dating back to the 1830’s. Zoom forward to 1970, and you may recall the legislative fervor, made obvious by the media, that earned nature increased visibility in the midst of all our modern concerns. This is especially [...]

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When form follows function, lifestyle unfolds in perfect harmony with the surroundings. Stand in any room and it is almost as though every architectural line unravels from your position, firmly grounding you in the moment while extending your awareness toward the softness of the light and the beauty of nature beyond; defying the confines of [...]

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Securing the services of a qualified home inspector can be costly, but if you have your heart set on a home, it can give you a significant advantage against far more expensive surprises in the future. This is true for brand new homes as well, for they do not have the benefit of the test [...]

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A new season is upon us, one that often draws us closer to home, evenings in front of the fireplace with a good glass of wine or lazy mornings with a good book. Whether you like turning real pages, as I do, or have become a proficient Kindle screen scanner, you know the power of [...]

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At this time in American history, we most often acquire things because we want them, rather than merely acquiring things we need. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but our perspective has changed radically, in a relatively short time, and this affects how we perceive practical things of all shapes and sizes, from [...]

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