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Home & Garden Blog Articles (page 3)

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Exploring the Caves of Western, PA

Exploring the Caves of Western, PA

by Chris Petry You don’t have to be Batman to enjoy hanging out in a cave. After all, they include some of the richest, most geologically diverse, and downright fascinating natural rock formations on the planet. Or, should I say beneath it?   According to National Geographic, there are four different types of caves. First, there’s the coastal cave. Coastal caves are tunneled

Shark!

Shark!

by Chris Petry As we head off to the beach in droves, let us not forget the formidable threat that lies just below the surface of the water: human beings. Gotcha. I bet you thought I was going to use your captive time to rail against the dangers of the ever-popular, prehistoric, razor-teethed denizens of the deep we call sharks, but no! This article will not cater to the fear and paranoia that

10 Hiking Trails Near Pittsburgh

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10 Hiking Trails Near Pittsburgh

by Chris Petry There are two types of people in this world. Numero uno: you’re #SaltLife. You like nothing better than the feel of warm sand between your toes, lying on a beach towel with a dry martini, and gazing at the ocean tide with a primordial longing, as if called back to the place where life itself began. Then there’s numero two-o: You can think of nothing more refreshing th

Memorial Day

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Memorial Day

by Chris Petry Memorial Day is often recognized as the beginning of summer (though technically speaking June 21st claims that honor), and that means sweaters are tucked away until late fall, the kids are in their last week or so of school, and the smell of your neighbor’s barbecue begins permeating the air.   There’s certainly something magical about summer. Unless you&rsq

The Value of Disconnecting

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The Value of Disconnecting

It’s 2023. We (the world) are hopelessly attached to our smartphones, tablets, and virtual assistant technology. The thought of leaving home without our iPhone is almost as terrifying as waking up in a room full of clowns. If we didn’t have Alexa on standby, how would we know a package had been delivered? Open the door and look? No thank you!   Jokes aside, it’s easy to se

The Pests of Summer

The Pests of Summer

by Chris Petry With April showers come… house centipedes? Yuck! It’s an inescapable fact: when the snow and ice melts and temperatures begin to reliably double the freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius) bugs will become an unavoidable part of daily life. From warding off fruit flies to avoiding hornet’s nests in the corners of outdoor structures, you&r

Dig This! Gardening Tips Spring 2023

Dig This! Gardening Tips Spring 2023

by Chris Petry Confession: I do NOT have a green thumb. I did at one time. Or perhaps it was the kind of pure dumb luck only an 8-year-old could muster that allowed me to grow a 40lb pumpkin one summer. Problem is, I never matched my efforts and I’m willing to bet there are a number of you reading this right now that fall squarely in my camp. Or worse, you scouted out the perfect plac

Hockey Mom of the Year: Jessica Webb

Hockey Mom of the Year: Jessica Webb

by Chris Petry On behalf of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty and Stouffer Realty and The Pittsburgh Penguins, it was a great honor to recognize Jessica Webb as Hockey Mom of the Year at last night’s Penguins vs. Blackhawks game.   Jessica was, of course, our Hockey Mom of the Month for February, 2023. A Greensburg native, Jessica is the current President of the

Why Do We Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

Why Do We Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

by Chris Petry It’s okay, admit it. When you read the headline, you immediately thought, “So we have an excuse to gorge ourselves on red meat, potatoes, and enough Guinness to drown a water buffalo?” While that’s a perfectly acceptable way to celebrate, let’s take a moment to look a little deeper into the true origins of the suitably-commercialized commemoration fr

Home Maintenance Checklist: 10 Things To Do For Spring

Home Maintenance Checklist: 10 Things To Do For Spring

Daylight savings and the first day of spring are just days away! Finally, we can look forward to bright blooms, chirping birds and… um, you know, spring home maintenance. It may not smell as sweet or sound so pleasant, but preparing your home for the new season is important! If you’re ready to prepare your home for spring, but not sure where to get started, we’ve compiled jus