Until recently, families that routinely sat down together for meals were the norm. But for several decades family meals have become increasingly rare as life’s pace and pressures have become increasingly frenetic. Two-career households, kids with a bewildering array of activities and distractions, plus the ease and availability of fast food, seemed poised to plunge […]
Special Issues
Posted inSpecial Issues
Saving personal energy by living downtown
Joan Walters has been around the world, and it shows in her spacious downtown apartment. Nearly every square foot of wall, door or floor features a different artifact – perhaps a tribal mask, a statue or a book – from her travels to Peru, Ecuador, Japan, Italy and other far-flung places. “I’m an art lover; […]
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Renewable resources for your residence
“A lot of people tell me they’d like to get off the grid,” says Bob Croteau, renewable program coordinator for City Water, Light and Power. “That’s really one of the worst decisions you could make because it is extremely expensive to do so and it leaves you having to make serious lifestyle changes.” There are […]
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Hardwood floors set the tone in today’s contemporary homes
In the wide open spaces we find in today’s contemporary homes, every centimeter counts and the floor’s role is more important than ever – it is the room’s focal point and the element that sets the tone. The timeless natural beauty of wood gives decors one-of-a-kind personality immersed with warmth and a signature style. And […]
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A pool for all seasons
With the passage of Labor Day comes the end of sizzling heat, but never, it seems, exactly on time, at least if you have a swimming pool in your backyard. Our pool closed one week after the summer-ending holiday, just in time for some of the year’s warmest weather. Why would anyone close their swimming […]
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Planning to plant a tree
Most tree and shrub species can be successfully planted in the fall, from October until the ground freezes, or in the spring. At these times of the year the tree is dormant or going dormant. Before you select your new tree, be sure you know where you’re going to plant your purchase. Ask yourself the […]
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Your basement need not be damp and drab
Homeowners hoping to spread their wings around the house are increasingly heading downstairs to create more living space. Whether it’s for a home office, a home theater room, a playroom for the kids, or even a laundry room, more and more homeowners are turning their dark, damp and dreary basement into a brighter, more functional […]
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Creating more usable space in your home
Smarter use of existing space can transform a home into a more pleasant living area. Combining smaller rooms or areas, dividing larger rooms, finishing an attic or basement, converting one room into a year-round “indoor porch” – all are possible projects to improve your home’s comfort level and value. Here are a few suggestions about […]
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The Nightingale of Andover
Though her name is more associated with nursery furniture today, Jenny Lind was without a doubt the most remarkable singer of her day, a celebrity of celebrities whose admirers included Queen Victoria of England, Harvard’s Edward Everett, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, orators Daniel Webster and Henry Clay, and German composer Felix Mendelssohn, who called Jenny […]
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A magical ride
It happens every year on one of the first crisp days that hint of autumn: bicycle riders from near and far converge on Springfield only to disburse into the corn-filled countryside pedaling and eating their way around a 100-mile course or, in most cases, a smaller portion of the course. On Sunday, Sept. 8, the […]
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Zip through the Shawnee National Forest
As the temperatures come down, the energy level goes up, making a trek to Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour just right. My friend Rose and I headed south in late July and want to come back in the cool of fall. Marc and Candy Miles worked on the Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour (SBCT) zip line for […]
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Down by the river
Skip the freeway and take a drive. The trip from Springfield to Quincy via Interstate 72 takes a couple hours, but spend an extra 20 minutes and head out Jefferson Avenue to the hinterland, then take U.S. 24 through Beardstown, across the Illinois River and into some of the most scenic country in the region. […]
