Paris is often referred to as the “City of Light” because it was a place of enlightenment (education, philosophy) in the 18th century. But during December, Las Vegas becomes the real city of light as Strip casinos and homes throughout the valley burst forth with holiday decorations that rival Disneyland’s Main Street.
Remember Clark Griswold installing his colorful house decorations in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”? Clark made a number of mistakes (he attached every single light line with staples), all for comedic effect. But in real life, those mistakes are not funny.
Living in England as a student and traveling to other countries in Europe always left me marveling at the wonderful history and architecture found in those historic countries. The respect shown for styles from the past and the great lengths they’d go to in order to restore and preserve beautiful buildings and furniture always left me wondering why it wasn’t quite the same back in the USA.
The holiday season is upon us again. How will your household practice giving in a green way?
Q: My son and I are thinking of landscaping his front yard in December. Will plants and trees survive when planted that time of year?
As the time nears to gather around the table with friends and family for holiday get-togethers, a well-set table can create a long-lasting memory.
Dear Gail: We want to redecorate our master bedroom and don’t know where to start. Do we buy things as we see them? Or is there a specific order? — Patricia
Q: My wife started complaining about a lack of hot water, so I ventured out into the garage to check out the water heater. It is an old water heater, but I took the door off and peeked inside and discovered there was no flame. Following the instructions on the tank, I re-lit the pilot, but as soon as I let go of the button, the pilot light went out. I originally thought a breeze may have blown it out, but now I don’t know what to do.
Q: Can I prune fruit trees now, or do I need to wait until they are dormant in January? Will you be giving fruit tree pruning classes again this year?
It’s an incredible time for blank space. Walls that begged for print or texture can now be swathed in rich patterns and luxurious materials that can quickly be put up and taken down as your design tastes evolve.
“Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.” — Hal Borland (1900-1978), American author and journalist, “Autumn on the Doorstep — September 13,” Sundial of the Seasons (1964)
Q: I live in North Las Vegas and want to plant both a red Bartlett and a Keiffer pear but have limited space. I read about planting two trees in one larger hole. Do you recommend this method?
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, and everyone will be resetting clocks and physically adjusting as the dark of winter beckons. And now is a good time to investigate several innovations in home lighting before the sun starts setting at 4:30 p.m.
Q: I have a light set in my backyard that is plugged into an electrical outlet that has two silver flaps to cover the plugs. The system works fine except that I get very nervous when it rains. My fear is that the water will run into the electrical outlet and zap the system. Are my fears unfounded?
Q: You wrote about some kind of blanket to wrap your plants with when it gets cold in winter to keep frost from /harming them. Can you tell me where I can buy them?
