MailTribune.com Headlines: Lifestyles

Spice up your life: ways to reuse leftover jars at home

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:30 EST

We all have them: leftover jars from spaghetti sauce, mustard, jams. Sure, you can recycle them, but can't you use them for something?

Soil additives play big role in gardening

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:30 EST

While teaching a gardening class recently, it came to my attention that many people are confused about the kinds of soil texturizers and their functions. Let's take a look at a few, so we're aware of materials used and why they're important.

Eco-home project tackles green-building myths

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:30 EST

AKRON, Ohio — Home builder Lance Schmidt hears it all the time: Green building costs more.

A Good Night's Sleep

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:30 EST

If you've tossed all night because you were hot, restless or uncomfortable, read on.

Rockin' with witcheties and oompalumps

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:47 EST

Have you ever seen the masked witchety? How about the oompalump? Living deep within the marsh, oompalumps can be a challenge to see.

Oregon survey finds record number of snowy plovers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46 EST

SALEM — Population numbers for a threatened shore bird on the Oregon Coast are looking up.

River Outlook: Nov. 19, 2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45 EST

ROGUE - The upper Rogue is a bit slow for summer steelhead now that the chinook spawn is over and the steelhead are less apt to be so myopically interested in single salmon eggs.

Ocean Outlook: Nov. 19, 2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45 EST

COASTWIDE - Small-craft advisories, hazardous sea warnings and gale-wind warnings are in effect across the Oregon Coast into the weekend.

New whitewater rule will require life jackets be worn

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:44 EST

The Oregon State Marine Board is taking public comment on proposed rules that will require boaters to wear personal-flotation devices when navigating rapids classified as Class III or higher.

Lake Outlook: Nov. 19, 2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:44 EST

AGATE - The lake remains low, but fishing is fair for the 500 large rainbows and 150 trophy rainbows stocked there recently. The fish are widely spread out. No motors are allowed, so trolling is out. Wind-drifting worms works well.

Hunting Outlook: Nov. 19, 2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:43 EST

JACKSON - Late-season bow hunters should focus on lower elevation areas, especially around oak grasslands. Tree stands and antler-rattling are good bets now, especially when set up on game trails.

Hunting camps mean Dutch-oven cooking

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:43 EST

Fall means hunting season, which means the time for serious camping is at hand. Aside from a coffee pot, cooking in hunting camp demands only one thing: a good Dutch oven.

Going wild in Oregon

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:42 EST

If you'd like to get out in the wilderness, but aren't quite sure whether you've got the know-how, you need to find someone who can give you a hand, or at least point you in the right direction.

Coho Cowboy

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:41 EST

The latest run of phantom salmon are making their way up the Rogue River, their presence so well hidden that local anglers can go their entire lifetimes without as much as hooking one. Ever.

Chetco reopens despite falling chinook numbers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:39 EST

BROOKINGS — Chinook salmon anglers will be on the Chetco River for the first time — though not for long — beginning today after rains washed away a persistent emergency fishing closure there.

2009 Wild Bird Photo Contest underway

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:39 EST

The 2009 Oregon Outdoors Wild Bird Photo Contest is under way.

Get Out: Nov. 19, 2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:23 EST

Sierra Club hikes

Gobble, gobble: Want leftovers after Turkey Day?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:39 EST

I've volunteered to make Thanksgiving dinner this year for a group of friends. I consider myself capable in the kitchen, but I've never prepared a meal of this size before. How much should I buy to feed a group of 10 to 12?

Students are rolling in dough

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:31 EST

A combined exercise in architecture and art, gingerbread houses take shape in a Phoenix classroom.

Handling a vegetarian Thanksgiving

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30 EST

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, you're probably giving some thought to your menu.

Pedometers can help weight loss

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:39 EST

What if there was a small, inexpensive device that was proven to boost your fitness, help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure? Would you use it, especially if doing so was nearly effortless?

Food Quiz

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30 EST

Macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among older Americans, can be regulated by diet, according to Tufts University research published in the journal Ophthalmology.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Don't wait passively for a cure

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30 EST

So maybe we're not all slackers. Maybe it's not all in our heads, as many employers, psychiatrists, friends and even family members have implied over the years.

Cancer linked to body fat

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30 EST

Newly compiled data suggest that "excess body fat alone is responsible for more than 100,000 cancer cases in the U.S."

Many Americans need more sleep

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30 EST

That extra hour of sleep last weekend doesn't begin to make a dent in tired for most Americans.

Home remedies, Part II

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:30 EST

Last week I introduced my passion of the moment — home remedies. I have more information to share. Lots more.

'In Good Hands'

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:03 EST

It's time for a new fashion statement for Kassidy Jones. The petite 9-year-old is trading in patriotic stars and stripes for a retro floral motif on the rigid plastic orthotics that support her legs from feet to knees.

AMC's 'Prisoner' remake not very telling

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

The 1960s have been very, very good to AMC, whose Emmy-winning "Mad Men" transformed it from a cable channel known exclusively for classic — and sometimes not-so-classic — movies to a player in the realm of original series.

Officials to restore bluesman's birthplace

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

JACKSON, Miss. — The mystery surrounding bluesman Robert Johnson's life and death feeds the lingering fascination with his work.

Sugar Ray Robinson book packs a wallop

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

The boxer Sugar Ray Robinson was a man of glittering skill and deep complexity. So complex, in fact, that several writers — including Robinson himself — have tried and failed to render a full portrait.

Courage when it counted

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

Sitting on the couch in her apartment near the Washington National Cathedral this summer, Chinese author Nien Cheng said: "I don't want you to write about me. When I die, you can write about it. I will die soon."

Queretaro, Mexico

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

QUERETARO, Mexico — There are plenty of reasons to visit Queretaro, but it's the instability and conflict and violence that finally won me over.

Must plays leave not a rack behind?

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

Mary Z. Maher once lived upstairs in the home of Jocelyn Herbert, the English set and costume designer. Herbert was a seminal exponent of spare, nonliteral design, working with Beckett, Ionesco, Osborne, Olivier, Gielgud.

The power of attraction

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 EST

Eli Finkel was still an undergrad when he realized "somebody could spend his life asking questions about relationships, trying to find the answers to those questions and then teaching interested young minds about the research."

Backyard Recycling 101

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:27 EST

CORVALLIS — You can start a recycling factory in your own backyard by re-thinking the leaves at your feet and withered tomato plants in the garden as valuable organic materials.

Curtains make the windows: Try a simple linen treatment

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

Hanging curtains on bare windows is a quick way to dress up a space as well as add softness and warmth.

What weather? Curl up with a gardening magazine

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

Wouldn't you like to have some fresh ideas, month after month, for projects and plants to try in your garden or home landscape? All sorts of garden magazines offer color photographs of model gardens, articles on topics ranging from specific plant...

Home (security) away from home

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

This holiday season, many travelers will be able to keep a close eye on home.

Perennial vegetables need care to survive the winter

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

EUGENE — Perennial vegetables can survive winter's freezing temperatures with a little extra care before winter cold sets in.

Keep your house humming along

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

Taking the time to do a little preventative maintenance on household items is far less costly than having to replace a soiled carpet, broken vacuum cleaner, kitchen pot or scratched TV.

Gardening conference shows shift in lifestyles

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

Threats of rain and scudding clouds accompanied attendees to the Master Gardener's Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens conference last Saturday, held for the first time in Medford's new RCC/SOU Higher Education Center.

Young boy's hunt 'was the best thing ever'

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:07 EST

GRANTS PASS — Ethan Swiger and his grandfather drove the Josephine County backroads together Nov. 1 looking to usher the 12-year-old boy into one of the family's more passionate of pastimes.

It could change your life

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:05 EST

It's time again for bird lovers and nature photographers to show their stuff. We're kicking off our annual wild bird photo contest today, which could be your ticket to adventure and fame.

Hunting Outlook: Nov. 12, 2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00 EST

JACKSON - Late-season bow hunting opens Saturday. Hunters should focus on lower elevations, especially around oak grasslands. Tree stands and antler-rattling are good bets now, especially when set up on game trails.

Doerner Fir Trail

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:59 EST

Short family hikes this time of year can be difficult.

Chetco closure makes Oregon anglers antsy

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:59 EST

Continued low-water conditions on Southern Oregon's Chetco River likely will mean that an emergency closure will remain in effect through the weekend to protect wild fall chinook salmon from too much fishing pressure.

'Adopt a drain' Saturday to help Bear Creek fish

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:58 EST

The Oregon Stewardship program plans a Saturday afternoon work party to expand its "Adopt a Drain" program aimed at curbing polluted runoff from the Interstate 5 viaduct in Medford from flowing into Bear Creek.

Whale Watch training to start soon

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:57 EST

Training for volunteer whale watchers opens Dec. 5 and 6 in Newport for the winter Whale Watch Week that runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

Alone on the mountain

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:55 EST

Nov. 4 brought the opportunity that my son, Reed, and I had been waiting for — the perfect day to climb the 9,495-foot giant that locals call Mount Pitt.

River Outlook: Nov. 12, 2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:55 EST

ROGUE - The upper Rogue is still pretty good for a mix of bait, plug and fly-fishing for summer steelhead, while the middle Rogue continues to be a good place for catch-and-release fishing for wild summer steelhead, and the lower Rogue bay has slowed for...

Lake Outlook: Nov. 12, 2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:55 EST

AGATE - The lake continues to be very low, but fishing is fair for the 500 large rainbows and 150 trophy rainbows stocked there recently. The fish are widely spread out. No motors are allowed, so trolling's out. Wind-drifting worms works well.

Ocean Outlook: Nov. 12, 2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:55 EST

COASTWIDE - Small-craft advisories are in effect today, and forecasts indicate that early-morning jigging for black rockfish and lingcod should be good.

Get Out: Nov. 12, 2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:16 EST

Sierra Club hikes

Tasting room offers a wide variety

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00 EST

South Stage Cellars of Jacksonville is a wine-tasting room with a difference. It showcases wines made by several Oregon wineries using grapes grown by Don and Traute Moore of Talent.

Since you asked: Scalloped potato secret in the sauce

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00 EST

Why does the sauce for scalloped potatoes sometimes curdle?

'Pine mouth' lingers for days

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:58 EST

Andrew Telzak got a great deal on pine nuts at an Asian market and whipped up a batch of pesto for friends. It tasted great. But for days afterward, nothing else did.

Small steps pay health dividends

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:21 EST

If you're ready to take control of your health, start by washing your hands for 15 to 20 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.

A favorite recipe for limeade pie

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:25 EST

Limeade pie is a favorite of many cooks. Donna Lesser of Tampa, Fla., has been making it for 30 years. She says it's a great last-minute dessert. This limeade pie whips up quickly, but you must consider about a two-hour refrigeration time before serving.

Health Tips

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:25 EST

It's no myth: There is such a thing as healthy fat. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — when eaten in moderation — can reduce bad cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Milk may not be as good as advertised

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:25 EST

Milk has long been regarded as a nutritional mainstay, vital to building strong bones, particularly among Western cultures.

Learn, then teach

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:25 EST

Lately I've been trying to read anything I can about home remedies — especially those that help ailments common to those of us over age 60.

Where no fans have gone before

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:29 EST

Terry Erdmann and Paula Block became Trekkies almost by accident.

All aboard for the war

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:25 EST

There was a time when going to war meant stepping on a train.

Winter Vacation Homes

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

Winter is a traditionally slow season for vacation home rentals.

New colors to late-night TV

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

LOS ANGELES — In the blink of an eye, late-night TV is shifting from a white men's club to the start of a rainbow coalition.

The Killers slay audiences with live shows

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

NEW YORK — When the Killers started out, they wanted to raise a ruckus like their favorite rock stars did on the road: Frontman Brandon Flowers heard of the legendary exploits of Led Zeppelin and David Bowie and wanted to emulate those experiences.

Best sellers

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

1. "Tempted (House of Night Novels)" by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Press)

Memoirs — they just keep going and going

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

When browsing online or in a bookstore, one might easily conclude that every third person in the country is actively engaged in writing or reading a memoir.

'Imperial' loss

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

SAN FRANCISCO — William T. Vollmann hardly looks like one of the most ambitious authors of his generation.

Even at the grown-up age of 40, 'Sesame Street' remains a kid at heart

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

Big Bird is leaving Sesame Street!

That's life: rise of the machines

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:55 EST

It used to be that cars were no big deal and everybody had one, and computers were mysterious devices accessible only to a specialized priesthood.

'Winter Dreams, Summer Gardens'

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:26 EST

The whole world seems to have caught green fever in recent years, and the Jackson County Master Gardener Association is no exception.

Organizing expert offers two seminars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:06 EST

Deniece Schofield, author of four books on home management and organization, will hold two workshops Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon and 7 to 9 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 1122 Morrow Road, Medford.

Raking is about doing what feels good

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:06 EST

You could be called the lawn Luddites.

Brand-new baby? Take your nursery back to the basics

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:06 EST

Once upon a time, the ideal for a child's room was a cozy haven filled with sturdy push-pull toys, handmade dolls and a few baskets of dress-up clothes.

Spare room? Turn it into some spare change

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:06 EST

MINNEAPOLIS — Last year, Lori Gordon lost half her nest egg but gained a new friend about half her age. That would be Brooke Thalacker, the teacher and aspiring school counselor who now rents part of Gordon's home.

Plant a seed, get a tree or shrub

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:05 EST

Planting seeds is a satisfying way to grow trees and shrubs, and gives you a special affection for the plants.

Grow your greens all winter long

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:05 EST

Eating fresh greens from the garden all summer and fall has spoiled me. I'm not willing to settle for buying those bland, expensive greens from the supermarket all winter.

Whitehorse Hot Springs

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:34 EST

There couldn't be a more remote mud bath in Oregon than the Whitehorse Hot Springs.

Trail champs ready for Lithia Loop

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:33 EST

In only two years, the Lithia Loop Marathon in Ashland has gone from a new race that needed to prove itself to a national championship event.

Starbucks brews trouble for camp-coffee traditions

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:24 EST

Tuesday might steep in infamy as the day the tradition of camp coffee died.

Ski, snowboard swaps slated at NMHS, SOU

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:24 EST

November is a great month to get ready for ski season without spending a ton of dough — and you can help local students at the same time.

River Outlook: Nov. 5, 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:22 EST

ROGUE - The upper Rogue is good for a mix of bait, plug and fly-fishing for summer steelhead, while the middle Rogue continues to hold its own for summer steelhead and the lower Rogue bay continues to hold a few chinook and virtually no pressure.

Ocean Outlook: Nov. 5, 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:22 EST

COASTWIDE - Small-craft advisories are in effect today, and some stiff winds and big swells are forecast to continue into the weekend. The seas have been rough all week, and that has kept ocean angling down to almost nothing.

Hunting Outlook: Nov. 5, 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:20 EST

JACKSON - The general rifle season for bucks closes Friday evening for adults but remains open through Sunday evening for juveniles who have tags but have not filled them.

Lake Outlook: Nov. 5, 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:20 EST

AGATE - The lake is very low, but fishing is good for the 500 large rainbows and 150 trophy rainbows stocked there recently.

First hunt may be the last for 12-year-old

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:18 EST

BAKER CITY — Matea Huggins isn't even a teenager yet, but already she's the star of a hunting tale that would enchant listeners at any Oregon campfire.

Agreement continues access to timberlands

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:18 EST

A new police-patrolled travel-management area will help keep about 680,000 acres of Southern Oregon industrial timberlands open to public access for hunting, fishing and other pursuits over the next five years.

'Epic' float to the sea

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:17 EST

Waking in a sleeping bag to a cold, bone-drenching rain on the fifth day of their nine-day raft trip down the Rogue River, Sam Jackson and his two childhood pals wondered whether this adventure would match up to what it looked like on paper.

Get Out: Nov. 5, 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:16 EST

Sierra Club hikes

Books to get you baking

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:37 EST

Colder weather is an invitation to turn the oven on and start baking. Eight new books about baking offer recipes for everything from warm bread to trays of crunchy cookies; cakes five layers high or in a loaf; plus pies, tarts and popovers.

Memories of a San Francisco treat

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00 EST

After a week in San Francisco, my husband met my flight, and as we headed out to the freeway asked if I'd like to stop somewhere along the way for a bite to eat. I told him what I really wanted was to get home and knock around in our own kitchen.

Questions are the answer

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:03 EST

It is my absolutely favorite holiday. I like every aspect of it — the before Thanksgiving list-making, the opportunity to shop in places of the grocery store I usually do not visit, and the sense of well-being that abounds.

Healthy reading

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:22 EST

"The Kind Diet" (Rodale Books, $29.95)

Adult allergies usually don't go away

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:15 EST

WASHINGTON — When D.C. Council member Marion Barry swelled up after eating shrimp-and-crab soup recently, he abruptly joined the ranks of an estimated 12 million people in the United States with food allergies.

Say cheese?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:15 EST

I've been thinking a lot about cheese lately.

Coyote Creek scarred, but recovering

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:07 EST

For the desperate mining boys too late for the California gold rush, Coyote Creek wasn't that far away.

Keeping a long story

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00 EST

Gary Smith writes very long stories for a living. They run 8,000 words. He crafts four of them a year for Sports Illustrated. He is a throwback in what we will call for the millionth time the Age of Twitter.

Traveling in a swine flu environment

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00 EST

Last spring, thousands of travelers canceled trips to Mexico after a swine flu outbreak there emptied beaches and resorts.

DVD set returns Kuralt to the 'Road'

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00 EST

Way back in the 20th century, a CBS TV reporter named Charles Kuralt set off in an RV with no particular place to go to see what was happening there.