It's that time of year again, when the fuzzy socks are working overtime, the heat is cranking and somehow lots of homes are still freezing. That's because a lot of that heat leaks out of the house — and the colder it is outside, the faster the warm, inside air leaks out. There are ways to ...

“There’s a pale moon waning as the blackbirds dot the sky, but the crows are my friends and I wave to them a-passing by,” – Otis Gibbs A crow floats down into the wintry scene. His presence cracks the moment like a light bulb dropped on the kitchen floor. He looks lost or out of place ...

“No animal, according to the rules of animal etiquette, is ever expected to do anything strenuous, or heroic, or even moderately active during the off-season of winter.” — Kenneth Grahame There are actually a few requirements of all animals during the stresses of winter — to find ...

I've been growing herbs in the garden long enough to know they don't require much. Just water, sunlight and my best intentions. In the garden, herbs are forgiving plants. They aren't fussy about soil pH, almost never need fertilizer, and can power through if you occasionally forget to water ...

“As I walk on through troubled times, my spirit gets so downhearted sometimes, so where are the strong and who are the trusted where is the harmony, sweet harmony,” – Nick Lowe By JOHN PEPIN Michigan Department of Natural Resources Is there an escape, a place to go on this side of ...