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While there will be pipes and toilets to work around, the room or home has no baseboards, door trim, cabinets, exterior door casing, or doors. But when you are remodeling a completed home or room, you run into obstructions all the time. One common scenario is when your new tile meets the door casing or trim—the vertical trim running along the sides of the door opening. Do you cut the tile to fit around the casing or do you cut the casing to fit against the top of the installed tile?...

When to Harvest Rhubarb Rhubarb is commonly thought of as a plant to be harvested in late spring, and this is possibly due to the popularity of its use in dishes made with strawberries. Strawberries also begin ripening in mid to late June, and the two are prepared together in things like strawberry-rhubarb pie, or strawberry-rhubarb jam. But rhubarb can actually be picked through the middle of autumn and right up until you put your garden to bed for the season....

Asparagus spears are the straight young shoots of the plant, with scale-like tips. Wearing gloves is recommended for handling young shoots, as contact dermatitis is likely. In late summer, female plants produce red berries that are toxic to humans. Later in the season, the foliage matures into an airy, light-green fern which changes to a golden color in the fall. This perennial is typically planted from roots, or crowns, in early spring....

Remember that this is an invitation, not an order to be there. Of course, the person wants you to go, or they wouldn’t have asked. However, if something else prevents you from attending, there is nothing wrong with declining. The key is to let the person know whether or not you can accept the invitation as soon as possible and in a polite manner. How to Politely Decline an Invitation Here are some tips on how to turn down an invitation in the most polite way:...

As etiquette expert Karen Cleveland reminds us, wedding registries—once the main source of a family’s dishes—have evolved with time: “Traditionally, the bride would build her registry with her mother and possible mother-in-law, [but] her spouse wouldn’t likely be involved,” she says. “The days of agonizing over a pattern of fine china are over, replaced by registries that are refreshingly practical.” Plus, as Cleveland notes, “Not only do many couples already live together before they marry [and] need less, there’s also a movement towards filling our homes with items that we can use every day....

If full-strength or concentrated chemicals in liquid or powdered form have been spilled on clothing, handle the fabric only while wearing gloves to prevent absorption through the skin. These clothes should be discarded. No amount of washing will remove the residue to make these garments safe to wear again. If you have new clothing that has a strong chemical smell, don’t be surprised. Many clothes manufactured overseas are treated with formaldehyde and other chemicals to prevent mold, mildew, and insect damage on their slow boat ride to America....

You also need them to open your doors and drawers if you have a frameless or full-overlay cabinet, since your fingers won’t fit in the reveals of the cabinet for operation. They are available in a plethora of styles and finishes that can enhance the design of your kitchen. So how do you make your selection? If you are remodeling or building new, choose hardware last. After you have all of your materials chosen, use these tips to guide you toward the right cabinet hardware for your kitchen....