Buying Birdseed Locally Buying birdseed at a local store is often the easiest, most convenient choice, particularly on short notice when one type of birdseed may run out at the feeders or a new bird with different feeding habits decides to visit. Furthermore, purchasing local seed helps support local businesses, and consumers don’t need to pay delivery fees or processing surcharges. On the other hand, not all local stores will offer the widest possible variety of birdseed, and quantities may be limited, particularly in fall and winter....

Unless you have personally witnessed the construction, your house could be any age. Or could it? To make sense of it all and verify your instincts, you need to be an architecture sleuth. Here are some ways you can do it. Identify the Visual Character of the Building The first “private eye” skill to hone is your power of observation. Detectives look at everything, every piece, before forming theories about how they fit together....

Here are some tips for training your lawn to grow in arid, high desert conditions and survive temporary droughts with minimal use of water. Water Correctly In a dry climate, watering correctly means watering less. Weaning a lawn off of its over-reliance on water the first and most important step to a more water-efficient lawn. The common method of automatically watering a lawn each morning is poor practice, as it essentially trains a lawn to need this gulp of water each day....

Vinyl Tile These are often the ideal option for dealing with even high-use bathroom conditions. Relatively inexpensive, they can usually be purchased for a few dollars per square foot or less, and they are available in literally hundreds of different colors, patterns, and faux-natural looks. They are also highly durable and are resistant to almost all stains, water damage, and physical harm. There are a few drawbacks to the use of these materials....

Tree peony shrubs work well as hedge plants or as borders along a driveway, path, or property line. They typically reach only about 4 or 5 feet tall, making them more of a symbolic barrier or border than a privacy screen. Once their spectacular blooms have died, the green-leaved shrubs provide an attractive backdrop for other plants. They grow best in climates with hot summers and cold winters, making them great plants for much of the eastern, midwestern, and western United States....

If you’ve ever traveled abroad, you’ve probably encountered a bidet. While not common in the United States, these toilet attachments are becoming increasingly popular in modern American bathrooms. After a trip abroad, my husband raved about them, so I jumped on the chance to try the Tushy Classic Bidet attachment on our toilet bowl. Do bidets attachments live up to the hype? Does the Tushy Classic create a “private spa oasis” as promised?...

Cleaning Uses Ammonium hydroxide can be found in the bathroom, floor, glass, carpet, metal, upholstery, and all-purpose cleaners as well as starches, disinfectants, and stain treaters. Most household ammonia contains 5 to 10 percent ammonium hydroxide. If you are unsure if your cleaner contains it, just look on the label of your product. Other Uses In addition to ammonia being used as a food additive and in the manufacturing of some products, such as pharmaceuticals, it can be found in a variety of products spanning several industries....

Distinguishing between vermiculite and perlite (and knowing when to use one rather than the other) can really pay off. Here’s how vermiculite and perlite differ, and how to know when to use each. What Is Vermiculite? Both vermiculite and perlite are made up of small, granular-type pieces, but a close examination will reveal how they differ. Vermiculite is a silvery-gray, flaky material sold by the bag at home improvement stores....

Wall Tile vs. Floor Tile: Major Differences The distinction between wall tiles and floor tiles boils down to its ratings for slipperiness and hardness. Coefficient of Friction (COF) rating: COF ratings are one thing that helps define which type of tile goes on walls or flooring. Every ceramic or porcelain tile has a certain COF rating. Floor tiles must have a minimum level of friction for them to be safe to walk on....

Keep in mind that American Colonial architecture is also a broad-based umbrella term that encompasses a number of architectural styles that reflect the multi-cultural influence of early settlers to the U.S. These include saltbox-style homes, Georgian, Cape Cod, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, and Dutch Colonial, among others. History of American Colonial-Style Homes The American colonies were settled by immigrants who brought their own architectural aesthetics and building know-how with them across the Atlantic....

Defining Birds It may not seem important to specifically define the general term “bird” but in doing so every birder can gain a greater appreciation of the animals they love to watch. By understanding the similarities all birds share, we can better notice, appreciate, and enjoy the individual characteristics that make each bird species unique. When we notice those differences more easily, we become better birders and are well on our way to seeing hundreds or thousands of the world’s unique bird species....

Arbors consist of two or four posts with a simple slatted roof (often arched, but not always). The sides of an arbor can be open or covered with lattice or trellis work for a more enclosed effect and to help vines better attach. Arbor Building Basics When designing an arbor for your yard, consider repeating the architectural details of your home. This will help tie together the house with the landscape....

This large circuit breaker is known as the main breaker, and it plays a crucial role in the electrical system by offering the means of disconnecting power to the entire circuit breaker panel and hence shutting off power to the entire house. The Difference Between Breakers The main circuit breaker is really no different than any other breaker, but it is designed to handle the large amperage load of the main feeder wires bringing electrical power to the house....

Often built on a concrete slab, these homes are typically only a single level (a split-level ranch will have multiple levels, but we’ll get to that later) and feature an open floor plan. For many homeowners, the ease of having everything on a single story and the focus on indoor-outdoor living makes ranch homes highly desirable. Plus, you can often build out and expand the home fairly easily, making it a popular choice for anyone with a lot of land....

Prior to the region’s designation as part of the United States, it was inhabited by the Pueblo Indigenous people who lived in Northeastern Arizona and Northwestern New Mexico. Their cultural and artistic influence is still felt and seen throughout the region, though many of them lost their native dwellings when the American government took possession of their land. The first “American” settlers of the Southwest were those who came to the area for mining, and who later helped build the railroads: that is to say, immigrants from countries as far afield as Italy, Ireland, Mexico and Scandinavia....

Home goods retailer Living Spaces, known for notable collaborations with designers like Joanna Gaines and Nate Berkus, just published a survey outlining the most popular design style by state, according to Google. Their experts compiled the preferred interior style of each state and gave their insight as to why, along with recommendations on incorporating the style into your home. Find out which design style is the cream of the crop in your state below....

The Tuscan style uses rustic, sunbaked finishes characterized by crumbling stone patios, simple and solid furnishings with elegant wrought iron accents, terra-cotta tiles, textured wall finishes, detailed murals, faux finishes, and trompe l’oeil designs. The Tuscan style is wonderful for bedrooms because of the warm, earthy colors and traditional elegance combine to produce a restful and exquisite space; here are some great ideas and photos on how you can create this style in your bedroom....

When Baby Birds Arrive Spring and summer are baby season in the bird world, and many birds raise multiple broods of demanding hatchlings. As young birds grow, it can seem heartless when adults push them out of the nest and encourage them to set forth on their own, but parent birds always have the survival of their chicks in mind. No matter how tempting it may be, birders should avoid interfering with baby birds except in dire circumstances....