By Bobbi Pike As I sit tucked in my new home in Alberta, I can’t help but think about all the changes and adventures we have experienced in the past year or so. A little over a year ago, we packed ourselves and our three pups into our SUV and, following the footsteps of many…
By Dillon Collins There’s nothing quite like a home-cooked meal, and few do it better than Bonita Hussey. “For me, it’s all about bringing out those recipes. I never really thought in a million years that my homemade bread recipe was going to turn into hundreds of recipes available online,” shares the Upper Island Cove…
We’re not all blessed in the culinary department. If you’re feeling the furthest from Julia Child or Jeremy Charles when it comes to mealtime, you’re not alone. With these worries in mind, Downhome polled our staff, readers, and combed some of our favourite websites for some handy, need-to-know tips to make life easier in the…
There were no questions in the inbox this month, so I figured I’d share some thoughts on how we feel about our surroundings and, in turn, how our surroundings make us feel. I answered a similar question this time last year, and I’m thinking it’s a good time to revisit it. The question then was:…
Q. Any tips on outdoor decorating? We recently moved into an older home that needs a little exterior TLC. We love to entertain, and I’d like the space to be inviting, colourful and cosy. Do you have any advice on how to increase the curb appeal of my house? Congratulations on your new (older) home….
By Kim Thistle ‘Tis time for someone else to pick up the reins. I have run out of steam, and I’m embracing retirement with a vengeance. I will leave you with these pieces of wisdom from a lifetime of gardening: Grow your own garlic. It’s easy to grow and will keep the vampires at bay….
By Kim Thistle There are all sorts of reasons to grow in containers. You may live in an apartment or condo where your balcony is the only place you have for growing. A physical disability may also be a limitation. Age and arthritis can play a big factor. Toddlers and young children are more interested…
By Andrea Maunder The first mention of “shortcakes” is in an English cookbook from 1588, but we can thank our neighbours in the northeast US, for that glorious combination of sweet strawberries, fluffy whipped cream and tender biscuits we now know as Strawberry Shortcakes. The dessert became popular in the early 1900s as a way…
Let’s make a Christmas arrangement using mostly foraged and recycled materials. I like the natural look, but I also like to reduce my consumption of things that will be thrown away at the end of the holidays. Here’s a step-by-step of the greens and branches that I cut on my property with a few photos…
Let’s be clear. I can count the number of pumpkins I have grown on less than one hand. Well, that might be exaggerated, but I am certainly not a pumpkin grower extraordinaire. The pumpkins I have grown are the small sugar variety, a delicious sweet fruit perfect for soups and breads. My grandchildren don’t live…
