Lien On Me

By Peter G. Miller CTW Features

QUESTION:

All over the country, inventory is down, prices are up and banks are issuing more mortgages. Here’s a look at what’s driving the real estate resurgence

By MADHUSMITA BORA CTW Features

The advent of spring has unleashed a new lease on life for the housing market. Sales are up. Inventory is down. Prices – which have been hovering at the bottom for a while – are now slowly rising. So are bank-issued mortgages.

Police up drunken driving and seatbelt patrols for holiday weekend

by Jessica Whitfield Medill News

Drunken drivers and car commuters not wearing seatbelts are more likely to get caught this holiday weekend and all summer long.

UNCOMMON OMELETS

by Jane Dunne THE CULINARIAN

To me, the idea of cooking a decent omelet in a Ziplock bad was pretty preposterous. Then, too, the idea of a banana omelet didn’t appeal at all. But then I tried the omelet in a bag and let me tell you, it totally works. And the more I thoug…

Museum of Science and Industry debuts revamped Smart Home

By Lauri Harvey Keagle lauri.keagle@nwi.com, (219) 852-4311

On the surface, the design elements of The Museum of Science and Industry's Smart Home exhibit are urban retro chic, with sleek industrial lines and vintage objects blending with state-of-the-art technology.

A beautiful garden starts now: Memorial Day means gardening for many

By Melinda Myers Special to the Times

Get out the shovel and trowels — it's Memorial Day weekend and that means gardening for many. Spend a bit more time getting your garden off to a good start and reap the benefits all season long. Proper planting and post planting care means le…

Plastics get playful

By Kim Cook For the Associated Press

Next time you're having a backyard barbecue or going mod with some new furniture, thank science.

Submit your club's garden walk information

It's that time of year again for Northwest Indiana's highly anticipated garden walks, and the Times wants to publicize your event. If your organization has a garden walk scheduled, please send the information to Karin Saltanovitz, features ed…

Herbal Healer: What is Saigon cinnamon?

By Ted PanDeva Zagar Times Correspondent

This wonderfully aromatic herb is just one member of the Laurel family, a botanical clan numbering upwards of 4,000 representatives. Saigon cinnamon’s cousins include sassafras and avocado.

Why do some trees weep?

Lee Reich For the Associated Press

Why do some trees weep?

New Products for May 24, 2012

Compiled by Philip Potempa, philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

Berry good

Chicken Osso Bucco

by Jane Dunne THE CULINARIAN

I love classic Osso Bucco but, frankly, with veal shanks now out of sight in price, I’ve started making it using meaty chicken thighs. Wow, is it good! Chicken takes half the time and costs a fraction of the original.

The latest report on the residential market shows greater emphasis on green features by both consumers and construction pros alike

CTW Features

They’re of higher quality, and they save consumers money.

For some, ‘location, location, location’ means ‘schools, schools, schools.’ Here’s how school districts play into the purchase process

By Marilyn Kennedy Melia CTW Features

What makes some homes sell quickly? Often, it’s not the amenities of the home itself; it’s the school district in which the property stands.

O'Hare quarantine station keeps eye on travelers

by Will Mendelson Medill

Health officials will keep a close eye on foreign and domestic travelers alike during the upcoming NATO summit, as part of the standard precautions conducted by O’Hare International Airport’s quarantine station.

Partial-Payment Problems

by Peter G. Miller CTW Features

QUESTION:

Porter County Parks and Rec and Grow NWI launching community garden

By Philip Potempa philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

This year, Porter County Parks and Recreation and Grow NWI decided to introduce the development of the 2012 Sunset Hill Farm County Park community garden on Saturday, May 19, as part of the Spring Out to Sunset event, one of the park's larges…

Wildflower Walks

The community is invited to join a Lake County Parks Naturalist on a Wildflower Walk on Friday, May 25, and Friday, June 15, at 9:30 a.m. at Gibson Woods, 6201 Parrish Ave. in Hammond. More than 300 species of native plants are found in Gibso…

Herbal Healer: What is bell pepper?

By Ted PanDeva Zagar Times Correspondent

Often considered a vegetable, this familiar edible is actually a fruit. Another interesting fact is that the red bell pepper is nothing more than a ripened green bell pepper that has been maturing longer on the vine. The emerald-hued pepper s…

Upbeat spring decor to revive our interiors

By Kim Cook For the Associated Press

In home decor, there's just something about spring. When life's renewing itself outdoors, we feel the urge to revive our interiors, too.

New Products for May 17, 2012

Compiled by Philip Potempa, philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

Soaking sensation

Silver dollar plant can pay off in beauty

Lee Reich For the Associated Press

Whoever said that money doesn't grow on trees was right. It grows on a small, bushy plant.

New rule on FHA loans requires borrowers to pay down in-collections debt before obtaining a federally backed loan

by Erik Martin CTW Features

If you’re thinking about applying for a mortgage loan from the Federal Housing Administration – or refinancing your current loan – you may soon have a new roadblock. If you owe more than $1,000 in debt that’s in collection, an FHA loan will b…

How Do Owners Refinance?

By Peter G. Miller CTW Features

QUESTION:

Advantages of a New Home

Imagine what it would be like to live in a brand-new home designed and built just for you – with every detail selected for you, by you.

Nearly all pre-retirees want to age in place in their homes, and they're relying on home-health tech to do so

By Barbara Ballinger CTW FEATURES

For baby boomers who have come to expect the best, they’re now thinking about making their older years the healthiest. Many have or will design or remodel their existing homes with universal design principals to make aging in them more practi…

Men proving that juice cleanses aren't just for women

By Will Mendelson Medill Reports

Men who hear about the juice cleanse claims from their girlfriends, wives or fiancees are now trying it for themselves.

Better than ever: Orchids are now a favorite and accessible bloom with a long-lasting bonus

By Philip Potempa philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

Debbie Lilly, owner of Debbie's Designs Floral in Crown Point, remembers the days when this week meant a table loaded with orchid corsages, stems firmly poked in tiny vials of water, and encased in plastic cubes.

Gardeners need a sense of humus

By Lee Reich For the Associated Press

Let's pay homage to humus. As the garden gets into full swing, it's a good time for such tribute, because enthusiasm can be parlayed into action.

Versatility makes duct tape a craft favorite

By Jennifer Forker For the Associated Press

Duct tape — not so good for sealing ducts but great for patching or mending lots of other things — has become a superstar in the crafting world, available in all kinds of vibrant colors and patterns, such as zebra, camouflage and tie-dye.

St. John Garden Club Meeting

St. John Garden Club will have their monthly meeting on Monday, May 14, at 6:00 p.m. It will be held at the St. John Public Library, 9450 U.S. 41. The speaker for the evening will be organic farmer Andy Vasquez, who will be speaking on "To Be…

LCMGA Graduates Volunteer

After 14 three-hour educational sessions from January through April, 42 new Master Gardener interns graduated recently after an intensive study of plant science, soils and plant nutrition, plant diseases, insect management, landscape planning…

Herbal Healer: What are mustard greens?

By Ted PanDeva Zagar Times Correspondent

A member of the highly touted cruciferous family, mustard greens bring most of the same benefits to the table that we find in cousins cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, collard greens and bok choy.

New Products for May 10, 2012

Compiled by Philip Potempa, philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

Feeling bubbly

Coexist in style with the sports gear in your home

By Melissa Rayworth For the Associated Press

Can we get through the spring and summer sports seasons without our homes ending up in total disarray?

Agents: What is Their Role?

By Peter G. Miller CTW Features

QUESTION:

The NAHB’s Housing Affordability Pyramid offers a look at how many U.S. households can afford homes in various price ranges

It might not come as a shock, but it's worth repeating: As household income increases, so does the amount of home that household can afford.

Now’s the Perfect Time to Upgrade/Downsize

by Michelle Krueger Times Homes Columnist

More than just a place to live, your home is where you live your life, spending time with loved ones and creating memories.

Final Weekend for Spring Showcase

While the emphasis is always on quality and value, in order to compete in today's competitive real estate market, home builders are more focused than ever on delivering new construction with the most bang for a buyer's buck.

Inventory is low, but buyers are out there. Here is how sellers can best position their listing to the market

By Marilyn Kennedy Melia CTW FEATURES

The law of supply and demand is so basic to economics that even a kid running a lemonade stand gets the concept: More buyers vying for limited inventory pushes prices up.

Native Plant Sale

Native plants are adapted to the local environment, so they are easy to care for, and require less water and fertilizer. The Gibson Woods Wild Ones 12th Annual Native Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. The sale …

Mother's Day Flower Sale

The Lake Central Gridiron Club is holding a Mother's Day Flower Sale in the Lake Central parking lot (8400 Wicker Ave., St. John) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. Hanging baskets and flats will be available for landscaping or Mother'…

Flavorful landscapes: a growing trend

By Melinda Myers Special to the Times

Nothing beats the flavor of a fresh-from-the-garden tomato. And the good news is, you don't need much space. Many gardeners grow food in containers or mixed in with their flowers, shrubs, and other ornamental plantings.

Herbal Healer: What is paracress?

By Ted PanDeva Zagar Times Correspondent

Originally from Brazil, paracress thrives today in the tropical regions of East Africa and India, courtesy of the Portuguese explorers who spread a variety of plant species across the globe several hundred years ago.

Spring's hot color for homes? Tangerine Tango

By Sarah Wolfe For the Associated Press

Bold, dramatic and invigorating, Tangerine Tango is dancing its way into home decor trends in 2012 with a punch of reddish-orange panache.

New Products for May 3, 2012

Compiled by Philip Potempa, philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

Better than candy

Living large in a small space

By Kim Cook For the Associated Press

Small may be in when it comes to homes, but that doesn't mean it's easy to decorate.

Making a splash: Kitchen and bath trends customized to fit the family

By Philip Potempa philip.potempa@nwi.com, (219) 852-4327

Michelle Bagull of Schererville, wonders if the name for the traditional rooms known today as "the kitchen" and "the bathroom" will one day change.

CELEBRATING CINCO DE MAYO

by Jane Dunne THE CULINARIAN

I'll use any excuse to make some south of the border food - and what could be more excusable than Mexico's upcoming national holiday, Cinco de Mayo? Here are two Mexican "takes" on other cuisines. While not classic, they sure hit home runs. T…