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Thursday, May 23, 2013
 
Close to home with Mary Beth Breckenridge

Getting my hands dirty

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 27, 2012

Building a straw-bale house is dirty work, but somebody has to do it. One recent Saturday, that somebody was me. Read about my experience here.

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Chemicals deserve caution

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 24, 2012

If you're cavalier about the chemicals you use around the house, you could be risking your life.

I was reminded of that by a brief in today's paper about a warning from the Centers for Disease Control on the use of certain chemical strippers in the bathtub refinishing process. The strippers, which contain methylene chloride, killed 13 people from 2000 to 2011. At least one of them was a do-it-yourselfer.

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Looking back

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 22, 2012

I happened upon this post in the blog A Little Yellow Ranch while I was researching a story and got a kick out of the photos from a vintage Sherwin-Williams brochure. Since the company is based in Cleveland, I'm guessing the houses were photographed in Northeast Ohio. This one looks at lot like Garfield Heights to me, but I suppose it could be any of a number of Northeast Ohio neighborhoods. Look familiar to anyone?

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Magazine cites Peninsula for old-house appeal

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 21, 2012

Peninsula has been named one of the best old-house neighborhoods by This Old House magazine.

The Summit County village was the only Ohio community included in this year's list of 61 neighborhoods. It also won special honors as one of six editors' picks, chosen as the best area for lovers of small towns.

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Duct Tape Guys stick Akron appearance

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 19, 2012

The Duct Tape Guys are bringing their act to Akron next weekend. They're be the headliners at the HBA Akron Home & Flower Show, opening Friday at the John S. Knight Center downtown. Read more about them here.

 

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Honored plant isn't problem-free

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 16, 2012

I was a little surprised to learn today that the Perennial Plant Association has named Jack Frost brunnera its 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year.

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A little house love

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 14, 2012

The Petersiks, who live in Richmond, Va., write about the ongoing renovation of their 49-year-old house, the second home they've redone. They share the pitfalls and pride of their DIY undertaking, along with projects you can steal and peeks into other people's remodeled homes. You can even take a quick look back at the changes they made to their first home, a transformation worthy of those TV home-improvement shows.

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Home decor consignment shop opens in Stow

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 8, 2012

Consigners Collection, a new furniture and home decor consignment shop, has opened in Stow.

The store opened Jan. 23 but will celebrate its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The event includes refreshments and a raffle for a gift certificate.

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Landscaping trend takes food production out of the vegetable patch

By Mary Beth Breckenridge Published: February 7, 2012

Grow food in the front yard? Sure. Edible landscaping is a hot trend in sustainable gardening.  http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/breckenridge/edible-landscaping-takes-food-plants-beyond-bounds-of-vegetable-patch-1.263040

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Close to home with Mary Beth Breckenridge Archives