All Entries in the "BLOGS" Category
Moving – the big investment
In 2013, the Bank of Montreal went on record stating that almost 50 per cent of Canadians would be moving in the next five years. Officially, I’ve joined that half of the population. We sold the cottage and bought a farm! Now I use that term very loosely as it doesn’t have a barn (but […]
My Mixed Bag Column
As I come off my own deadlines, it’s time once again to meet the Times deadline. Here’s a collection of things that have happened since my last column. Special Events Bylaw Wanted, dead or alive. Mostly wanted dead. But probably still alive. Since my last column, there was a groundswell of panicked social media response, […]
Three simple changes to save water and money on your lawn and garden
I was recently asked at a speaking event why I’ve been so vocal about not liking grass in the yard. The reason I’m not a fan of grass is not the plant, but the homeowners that care for it. Grass requires more time, money and resources than anything else we can have in our outdoor […]
Drought draining funds at Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
Letter To the Editor: This severe drought has had an impact on our local wildlife and Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre is feeling the strain. Our native wildlife are struggling to find food and water which leads them to be hit by vehicles, and easier prey for cats and dogs. We have exceeded the number of […]
Wanna do something? Not anymore!
Council has stepped in bylaw doo-doo again. I don’t know why, since they seem to invest a lot of talk into weaseling out of their own restrictive bylaws to allow good things to happen. Like making exemptions for three-storey buildings, and trying to find a work-around so a long-time store owner can put up a […]
Transform your home’s ugly patio
Recently I took on the weekend project of transforming the small patio on the back of my in-law suite for my mother-in-law. We decided that while the patio might be okay in some ways, having a large deck with a pergola all made from a low maintenance material like MicroPro Sienna, was a significant improvement. […]
Humane Society bids Franco a fond farewell
A Sheltered Life – photographs, and stories, as told to Maggie Haylock-Capon, by Liza, resident greeter at the Loyalist Humane Society. File photographs by Alan R. Capon and photos by Gilles Robert. (If you are unable to adopt a cat or kitten, there are many other important ways to help the LHS. Donations of Javex […]
Installing an outdoor room at end of season can be a bargain
For the last 10 years, the term ‘Outdoor Room’ has been used by realtors and homeowners to refer to any type of seating outside. The truth is, you can’t assume that if you have a deck or a patio, you have an outdoor room. Even better, installing an outdoor room at the end of the […]
If you can see your neighbours, they can see you
For many years, that five-foot fence with the piece of lattice on top combined with a few strategically placed trees was the default method for creating privacy from the neighbours. Then houses started to change. Bigger houses on smaller lots became the norm. More square footage on the inside meant that houses were being built […]
Sheds – more than a spot to store your shovel
The garden shed has made an amazing transformation over the last few years. No longer are homeowners satisfied with a little wooden shed in the back corner of the yard. Sheds now have to look good, as they are becoming a focal point in our outdoor living spaces. There are two reasons why this is […]
