Purple will reign in 2018.
Home and Garden
Q: I have a 5-year-old Thomcord grape and I was wondering how to prune it properly. I am using it to shade a chicken coop.
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” — Hal Borland (1900-1978), American author, “The Tomorrows — December 30,” Sundial of The Seasons (1964)
Fresh basil, rosemary and onions.
Q: I have small children in my house, and one of them grabbed onto a staircase spindle as he was rushing down the stairs. The spindle snapped, and I need to repair or replace it. Tell me how.
Q: Is it a good idea to work coffee grounds into the soil in flower beds? Does it help?
There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee to start the day, especially on cold winter mornings. Aw, heck, who am I kidding? Every morning, no matter the season, is a good day for coffee.
Recently while shopping for a client in one of our more exclusive furniture showrooms, I noticed a familiar local entertainer — famous for being one smooth and fashionable guy not only in song but in personal style, as well — purchasing two very shiny brass retro-styled lamps that certainly harkened back at least several decades.
Q: You mentioned that male asparagus plants produce more than female asparagus plants. How do you tell the difference?
It took a decade to find a perfect location in Las Vegas, and locals are elated that the long wait is over, just in time for the holiday season. Crate &Barrel officially opened Nov. 16 at Downtown Summerlin, anchoring a home and restaurant lineup along Festival Plaza Drive.
Q: We have a new puppy and we need to add a pet door for him. I really don’t want to cut a hole in the wall for the door. Anyway, I saw a pet door insert that fits into the sliding glass door, so that there is no cutting necessary. Is this type of door a good idea?
DEAR GAIL: I just bought a 15-year-old home, and it’s in dire need of a new kitchen. My main problems are storage and countertop space. The island/breakfast bar has the old-fashioned upper cabinets. I need more storage, but I know those uppers must go. I’d also like more countertop space as I have very little besides the island. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. — Colby
Q: I have had a large poinsettia since last Christmas. Is there a way to encourage blooms this year? It seems I read somewhere to put it into a dark place without water for a period of time. Anything you can tell me will help.
Geometric designs, from floor to ceiling, add rhythm and classic style with simple shapes that easily create sophisticated living spaces.
“It’s a small world after all. It’s a small, small world,” lines from a song written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.