Originally posted on Porch.com Evan Dunn For those who appreciate a good glass of wine, having the right storage makes pouring a nice glass of vino easy. A wine cellar will provide you with a place to organize your favorite bottles for easy access and stylish organization. Before wine lovers can celebrate this new addition, it’s important to decide what type of cellar you want. Whether it’s a secret stash of wine under the kitchen counters or a custom wine bar, you need to pick a spot where your wine will be stored. Think about the location, functionality, and aesthetics of your new wine cell ..read more

Animal Chatter By Iris Winston The commitment should last a lifetime Shortages of toilet paper, flour and puppies have been three indicators that people were spending much more time at home through the pandemic. As the various lockdown periods since March 2020 continue more than halfway through 2021 and beyond, suppliers seem to have responded to the demand for inanimate objects such as paper products and baking materials. But what is happening to dogs? Most animal shelters and rescue societies have had very few dogs available for adoption for some time. That’s good news for the dogs if the ad ..read more

By June Coxon Pandemic sparks creative idea for anthology featuring local youth writers Although COVID-19 restrictions have changed the way we live, making times difficult for everyone and harming many businesses, others have been inspired to think creatively and start new projects. One such project has resulted in several local young people becoming some of the youngest published authors in Ottawa. It was creative thinking in August 2020 that led the Ottawa Police Blues FC and BAICO Publishing Ltd. to launch a writing contest for young people aged eight to 14. The result is a co-published 115 ..read more

Be aware of computer risks The Internet provides a wealth of resources, including information about health issues, genealogy, retirement planning, and programs geared specifically towards seniors’ needs. Unfortunately, the Internet can also contain traps in disguise. An entire segment of our population is now being targeted by schemers and con men who use scare tactics and all kinds of cleverly designed means of deception to bilk and defraud some of our most vulnerable population — seniors. Here are five tips for staying safe online from the new book Cyber Crime Fighters: Tales from the Trench ..read more

By Stephen Johnson I have always been interested in art but have never taken the time to learn more about the subject.   I thought visiting the Beyond Van Gogh exhibit at Lansdowne Park was a good place to start. The first thing I noticed about the Van Gogh exhibit was how the venue for the exhibit had been completely transformed.   The Aberdeen Pavillon has hosted many events including professional hockey, cattle shows, and farmers’ market.   To the best of my knowledge, it has never housed a major art exhibition.   The organizers of Beyond Van Gogh hav ..read more

There is a new way to cross the Ottawa River this summer. I was eager to try the zipline but there was only one problem, I am deathly afraid of heights. I was glad I could live the experience through our son, David. We started our experience by checking in at the Interzip offices located on the Gatineau side. David was provided with a helmet and gear while I signed all the appropriate forms. We had some time before David was scheduled for his zipline. We walked around the site and enjoyed the stunning views of the Ottawa river. My wife, Sandy and I also checked out the best vantage points wher ..read more

VTMN Packs Make it Better and Easier than Ever to Take Your Vitamins When it comes to vitamins, “knowing your ABCs” can get confusing. Are you taking the right supplements, in the right formulations, for optimal wellness? It’s hard to be sure, especially since shelves at supermarkets and big box stores are full of a dizzying array of products and brands. What about the ingredients? The quality? The efficacy? At a time when, more than ever before, we’re all focused on being and staying healthy, this matters. A lot. Thankfully, there’s good news. A new Canadian subscription vitamin company remov ..read more

Animal Chatter By Iris Winston Photo: parrotpartners.org Not always a fit for domestic pets If you are thinking about owning a parrot as a pet, think again. Or, at least think long and hard and be fully aware of the commitment and complications of parrot ownership. As with the adoption of any animal, the commitment is for its lifetime. With a dog, that is probably 13-plus years. With a cat, it is more like 15 to 20.Parrots live much longer, anywhere from an average of 50 to 70 years in captivity. The larger the bird, the longer he is likely to live (unlike dogs when the smallest dogs generally ..read more

Birding By Brian Morin Nature’s colour parade Mother Nature was the original creator of the spring fashion show, but she did things a little different. Rather than focusing on female attire, her emphasis was on how good the males look in their effort to attract a partner. For the most part, songbirds have the most colourful families, although some ducks would give them a run for the money. It is hard to top a male Wood Duck when it comes to a vivid splash of colour. For some, this is considered the most beautiful duck in North America, handsomely dressed for a gala event. Others might whisper ..read more

  Description: What type of heater is best for the baby’s room? Find the answer in our post! We’ll arm you with knowledge, save a lot of your time and headaches, and prevent you from buying the wrong product. Scroll down! Naturally, you want to keep your little one warm and comfortable, especially during the cold winter months. But what if the central heating system doesn’t seem to do the job well? Lots of parents use space heaters to keep the temperature in the right zone – between 68° and 72° F. However, is it safe to use a room heater for a baby? There is no quick answer! Anyway, you ..read more