Why Are Homes Selling So Fast This Summer As Lockdowns Lift

The online real estate marketplace analyzed the average number of days it took for new listings on the site to switch from “active” to “pending,” which indicates the seller has an offer but hasn’t yet closed the deal. During the second week of June, homes sold in the U.S. typically remained on the market for just 22 days. In comparison, the average listing hasn’t sold that fast since June 2018....

December 16, 2022 · 3 min · 534 words · Maura Schumacher

Your Perfect Backyard Escape Awaits With This Garden Nook Plan

Plants for Creating the Garden Nook Plan 1 Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) Zones 5-9 1 Pink summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Rosea’) Zones 3-9 3 Hicks yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) Zones 4-8 3 Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis ‘Veronica Klose’) Zones 3-9 2 Fairy candles (Cimicifuga racemosa ‘Atropurpurea’) Zones 3-9 3 Foamflower (Tiarella ‘Winterglow’) Zones 3-9 3 Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea ‘Apricot Strain’) Zones 4-8 1 Beard tongue (Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’) Zones 4-8 2 Munstead lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead Strain’) Zones 6-9 2 Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) All zones 3 Oriental lily (Lilium ‘Stargazer’) Zones 4-9...

December 16, 2022 · 2 min · 215 words · Mike Ritchie

How To Grill Asparagus For The Best 7 Minute Side Dish Ever

The Best Way to Grill Asparagus? You’ve Got Options! Should you barbecue asparagus in foil, wrap it in bacon, put it in a grill basket, or simply place it directly on the grill rack? Any of these methods will work great! We’ll show you how to grill asparagus using the method you prefer. Before you get started, thoroughly wash and trim the asparagus. Then cook according to one of the methods below....

December 15, 2022 · 3 min · 543 words · Eric Haskins

How To Hang Deck Joists

Unless you plan to cover the header and rim joists with cedar or a similar fascia, select the straightest, most knot-free, and least blemished boards for them. Square the ends before measuring. Predrill all the holes for fasteners so you don’t split the ends, and take care to avoid dinging the wood when nailing or leaving protruding screw heads. If a screw won’t seat properly the first time, draw it back about 1-1/2 inches and drive it again....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 684 words · Thomas Short

How To Install A Ceiling Fan Box

The first step in adding a ceiling fan is to inspect the existing electrical box. Shut off power to the circuit. Test to confirm that the power is off and remove the existing ceiling fixture. Most building codes require ceiling fans to be mounted on special fan-rated boxes, which are made of metal or strong plastic and have deep-threaded holes for the mounting screws. The box must be mounted firmly, either by attaching it directly to a framing member or by using a fan-rated brace....

December 15, 2022 · 3 min · 543 words · Ruby Smith

How To Install A Washing Machine

In a basic laundry room, supply pipes branch off to provide hot and cold water to both the utility sink and the washing machine. The machine’s drain hose clips to the side of the utility sink, which has a P-trap that connects to a house drain line. To hook up a washing machine to hot and cold water and a drain, you’ll need to install washing machine valves. These valves look like outdoor hose bibs but point straight down....

December 15, 2022 · 2 min · 261 words · Rick Carrillo

How To Make Apple Pie From Scratch That Would Make Grandma Proud

Part of the fun of making apple pie is it allows you more flexibility than the standard frozen pie you’d buy. Do it yourself, and you can customize with your pick of our apple pie filling ideas, use your choice of apples, and choose your favorite crust. We’ll walk you through all the totally doable steps of making homemade apple pie. Just be sure to have the vanilla ice cream ready for all of the a la mode action....

December 15, 2022 · 5 min · 940 words · George Pranger

How To Make Dried Fruit Without A Dehydrator

Ingredients: ApplesStrawberriesKiwifruit1 Tbsp. Water1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice Instructions Clean all the fruit. Core and slice the apples and strawberries. I dried 2 apples, 6 strawberries, and 2 kiwis. Use a mandoline slicer to slice the apple into equally thin slices. Skin and slice the kiwifruit. Dunk the kiwi into a mixture of 1 tablespoon water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to keep them green during the drying process. Heat the oven to 275 degrees F....

December 15, 2022 · 1 min · 209 words · Leslie Timmons

How To Mix Metals In Your Home

For those of us without much design experience, however, deciding on the right combination of metals can be daunting, as is applying them within the space. There’s no perfect formula for determining how to mix metals correctly, but New York-based interior designer Courtney McLeod, of Right Meets Left Design, has several strategies for achieving a mixed-metal look you’ll love. Follow these tips, and you’ll be able to pull off this trend effortlessly....

December 15, 2022 · 3 min · 607 words · Jenny Evans

How To Organize Canned Goods In Cabinets Pantries And More

One of the best ways to prevent canned goods from spoiling is by placing them in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Storing them in a reach-in or walk-in pantry, within kitchen cabinets, or inside drawers are all ideal locations. Now, let’s look at options for organizing canned food within these spaces. 1. Try the Stadium Seating Method “Stadium seating” is one of the best ways to organize cans....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 717 words · Albert Haase

How To Paint Behind A Toilet Without Removing The Tank

While a counter or hanging cupboard can be moved, a toilet is a fixed object that isn’t fastened directly to the wall, so there’s typically a space behind it that’s difficult to reach with a standard roller, or even a paintbrush. This awkward gap is sometimes completely ignored during a bathroom paint job, just because it’s so hard to reach, and not many people will notice an unpainted patch behind the toilet....

December 15, 2022 · 9 min · 1711 words · William Flores

How To Plant And Grow Jade Plant

Jade plants should be kept out of reach of pets since they can be toxic to animals. Jade plants can also cause people to become ill, though they’re not harmful to humans like animals. Where to Plant Jade Plant Jade plant tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. But for the best-looking plant possible, make sure it gets full sun to encourage a dense display of thick, succulent leaves. Grow jade plant indoors since outdoors, they require very hot temperatures....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 784 words · Charles Vivier

How To Plant And Grow Star Jasmine

Star jasmine is a fast-growing woody vine that can scramble up a trellis or fence, making it a great choice for creating a living screen. Its twining stems anchor themselves to structures and move upward rapidly. Plant it at the base of a pergola or arbor to create a fragrant roof on the structure. Encourage the vines to climb up the support posts by twirling the young stems around the base of the posts....

December 15, 2022 · 3 min · 440 words · Ann Wyatt

How To Plant And Grow Wishbone Flower

Colorful Combinations Long-blooming wishbone flower brightens a shade garden by putting on a nonstop display of color from spring until frost. Most often found in shades of blue, the blossoms also come in pink, purple, white, and yellow. The glossy green foliage acts as a verdant backdrop for the plant’s showy blooms. A fun fact: Once the stamens are pollinated, they typically break in half, just like the wishbones of Thanksgiving turkey fame....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 795 words · Harold Spicer

How To Plant Cherry Seeds And Grow A Tree Of Your Very Own

Types of Cherry Trees Favored for their sweet, tart, and tangy flavors, cherries are a natural fit for baked goods or just eating them fresh. There are two distinct types of edible cherry trees: sweet cherries and sour cherries. Each has their own uses in the kitchen, providing very different flavor profiles. Sweet cherries (Prunus avium), also known as wild cherries, are native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. They’re also found growing across much of North America and parts of Australia....

December 15, 2022 · 3 min · 585 words · Tim Albright

How To Start An Embroidery Project

How to Start an Embroidery Project Supplies Needed Cotton fabricEmbroidery hoopEmbroidery threadEmbroidery needleWater-soluble markerScissors Basic Embroidery Supplies Here are all the supplies you’ll need to grab before getting started. Your local crafts or fabric store should have these items, or you can order them online. Fabric: A solid-color cotton or linen works best for embroidery projects. You won’t need much for one project; a general rule is to add four inches on either side of the diameter of your embroidery hoop....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 671 words · Alexandra Lee

How To Stencil A Wall

How to Stencil a Wall Supplies Needed StencilPaint in two colors (Better Homes & Gardens Interior Paint colors in Canyon Ridge and Sun Bleached)Paint rollerPaint trayStencil paint brushPainter’s TapeLevelPaper towels Step-by-Step Directions “The stencil wall was inspired by trending graphic wallpaper, but by using paint and stencil you can customize it to your specifications and decor,” Jessica says. Here’s how you stencil a wall to recreate the look of this project....

December 15, 2022 · 2 min · 362 words · Wanda Flagge

How To Use A Compost Tumbler

Compost bins and tumblers work in the same way. They allow microorganisms to transform kitchen scraps and garden wastes into a nutrient rich soil amendment. They require both “brown matter” (high in carbon), such as straw, shredded paper, sawdust, and pine needles, and “green matter” (high in nitrogen), which includes vegetable and fruit waste from the kitchen, fresh seed-free weeds, and fresh grass clippings. The ideal ratio is about three to four parts brown to one part green....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 798 words · Otis Fredette

How To Use An Air Fryer For Tasty Crispy And Healthy Foods

How Does an Air Fryer Work? While it might seem like magic, there’s a simple explanation for how air fryers work. As you know, rather than using hot oil to fry your food, air fryers technically don’t do any frying at all. Instead, the high heat (from a coil close to the food basket), combined with a fan that circulates the air evenly throughout the unit, creates a texture close to what you find in deep-fried foods....

December 15, 2022 · 4 min · 819 words · Wilburn Robinson

Jamaican Jerk Pork Loin

2 tablespoon jalapeno pepper jelly 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple ½ cup chopped mango or papaya ¼ cup chopped star fruit (carambola) ¼ cup sliced green onion 2 tablespoon snipped fresh mint

December 15, 2022 · 1 min · 32 words · Jenny Gritton