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A lot of plants come into our homes in December, and whether their stay is good or bad depends on you.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, January is National Radon Protection Month. A radon test kit is a perfect, economical and easy-to-use gift for every homeowner whether or not the home has been tested in the past.
In fashion and design, alternative materials that emulate high-end looks are trendy for their lower prices and lower maintenance. And, thanks to advancements in design and technology, it’s often hard to differentiate from the real thing.
Each year, Americans festoon their homes and businesses with holiday decorations of varying sizes, shapes and colors. But for some people, all that festive fluff is overwhelming.
What happens to a home when it is not properly maintained? After a while, things tend to start falling apart, don’t they?
In the 1980s, dhurrie rugs from India, with their bright colors, geometric designs and sturdy flat weaves, were all the rage. In 1983, one of the first things my husband and I selected for our new apartment in Washington was a $499 red and white 9-by-12-foot dhurrie rug from the Kellogg Collection. I wish I still owned it.
I think it’s likely safe to say we don’t usually think about mistletoe except during the holidays (unless you live in Oklahoma, where it is their state plant). In the 18th century, mistletoe was hung during holiday festivals and men would steal kisses from women under it. One berry was removed for every kiss received. When the berries were gone, so were the kisses. Yet beyond this timeless tradition, I suspect most of us take for granted the backstory to this fascinating and very real plant.
Tradition claims that it was the bubonic plague in the 14th century that inspired the creation of beer steins. Many people had noticed that there were more deaths in filthy places in town than in clean sections, and that there were clouds of insects along with the illness in Central Europe.