How to Stop Your Pipes From Freezing Without Wrapping Them All

My neighbor called me one January morning in a panic. Water was backing up into the tub and the kitchen […]

The Trick to Keeping Your Fridge Cool in a Heatwave

During the last heatwave, my fridge started running nonstop and the freezer ice cream went soft around the edges. I […]

Space Heater Safety Rules Most People Skip Every Winter

My aunt lost a bedroom to a space heater fire. Not her house, thank God, but a whole room and […]

Winterize Your RV or Camper Before the First Freeze

The first winter I owned a camper, I did nothing to prep it. Come spring, the water pump was cracked, […]

How to Keep Your Porch Plants Alive During the First Frost

I lost three potted plants to the first frost last year. Woke up one morning, and my favorite geraniums were […]

The Right Way to Store Firewood So It Stays Dry All Winter

I stacked my first firewood pile on the ground, against the house, and covered it with a tarp. It looked […]

How to Store Fresh Apples So They Stay Crisp for Months

Every fall I used to buy a big bag of apples, and every fall half of them turned mealy by […]

Fall Garden Cleanup: What to Cut Back and What to Leave

I used to do a full garden strip-down every October. Cut everything to the ground, rake every leaf, make the […]

The Trick to Keeping Pies and Casseroles Warm for a Holiday Potluck

Last Thanksgiving I showed up to a potluck with a lasagna that was warm when I left my house and […]

Fallen Leaves Can Stain Your Car: How to Stop the Marks

I parked my car under a maple tree in October and did not think about it for two weeks. When […]