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Pine is a lightweight, inexpensive wood that can be stained to look like more expensive species. If you’re planning on staining pine, specify “clear” or “stain-grade” pine—wood without knots that stains more uniformly. If you’ll be painting the trim, specify “paint-grade” moldings—they’re less expensive and may contain joints or knots that would stand out if stained but disappear when painted. Poplar is also an inexpensive wood that machines smoothly but lacks pine’s attractive grain; it is generally painted....

Loosestrife Care Must-Knows For best results, plant loosestrife in well-drained, consistently moist soil and full sun. The former, if nutrient-rich, will fuel the perennial’s rapid growth and extended bloom times. The latter will lead to the best foliage colors and prevent plants from flopping. For varieties with variegated or gold foliage, full sun may bleach out some of the leaves, especially in extreme southern exposures. If that’s your worry, plant loosestrife where it will be sheltered from the sun in the afternoon....

Once the lotus breaks dormancy and starts shooting out leaves, lower the pot into the pond. Place bricks underneath, if needed, to raise it to the right level: 6 to 12 inches below the water surface when sitting on top of the pond’s muddy bottom. Eventually the tuber will send roots into the soil and stems will emerge. If you want to naturalize lotus plants in a larger pond, anchor the tubers directly in the muddy bottom near the edge of the pond where they can easily spread....

1 cup powdered sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon eggnog Eggnog

Follow our tips to make an ice ring at home to keep your punch bowl cool for hours. And if you don’t have the tools (or the time) to make a large ice ring, we’ll show you how to make other flavorful ice molds from items already in your kitchen. How to Make an Ice Ring For your mold, you can use a 10-inch bundt pan or a fluted cake pan ($13, Walmart)....

Spiced Wine Jelly Prepare as directed, except use Merlot for the rosé and omit the peppercorns. Add two 3-inch cinnamon sticks and 5 whole cloves to the wine with the pectin. Use a slotted spoon to remove and discard the spices before filling jars. Cardamom-Orange White Wine Jelly Prepare as directed, except use a sweet white wine (such as Gewurztraminer) for the rosé, use orange juice for the lemon juice, and omit the peppercorns....

While you can make this wreath with fresh foliage, we recommend using faux or dried materials so you can hang it up year after year. Plus, using a mix of faux materials is an easy way to keep the cost down, so you can make your own wreath for much cheaper than a store-bought version. This is the perfect fall afternoon craft, so grab your greenery, a simple grapevine wreath, and start arranging....

¼ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 2 tablespoon finely chopped green onion 1 teaspoon wasabi paste 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel 2 teaspoon lemon juice Sesame Ginger Sauce ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard 2 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoon water ½ teaspoon toasted sesame seed ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger Ancho Pepper Sauce 3 dried ancho chile peppers; discard stems and seeds.* ½ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 2 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon snipped fresh oregano ½ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon salt

⅓ cup sugar ⅓ cup water ⅓ cup honey 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 inches stick cinnamon 1 whole clove

¾ cup powdered sugar ¼ teaspoon almond extract 2 teaspoon milk

2 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 package active dry yeast ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup warm water (120° to 130°F) 2 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel ½ teaspoon ground coriander ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger