One thing you’ll definitely want to do before carving: Protect your work surface. Whether you’re carving your jack-o-lanterns indoors or outside, you’ll want to put down some newspaper to keep the sticky pumpkin insides from getting everywhere. Doing the work on newspaper also makes it easier to roll the paper up with the pumpkin guts inside when you’re done. How to Clean Out a Pumpkin for Carving Supplies Needed PumpkinThin serrated knifeLarge metal scoopSmall knife...

Discover the best quinoa cooking options whether you’re in a hurry or have some time. How to Cook Quinoa 3 Ways No matter which strategy for cooking quinoa you choose, start by rinsing the quinoa. Place uncooked, dry quinoa into a fine-mesh strainer. Rinse well under cool running water. Drain well and proceed via one of the three quinoa cooking options below. How to Cook Quinoa on the Stove Quinoa cooking on a stove top is a cinch once you know the ideal quinoa water ratio....

Stripping Fresh Herbs Thoroughly rinse fresh herbs under cool water. Blot dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner. Remove tiny leaves from herbs such as thyme by holding onto the stem with one hand and stripping the leaves into a bowl using the other hand. Snipping Fresh Herbs To cut larger clean and dry fresh herbs, place leaves in a measuring cup or bowl and snip them with kitchen scissors, using short, quick strokes....

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about navigating the market right now to get the best deal on your dream home or make a successful sale. 1. Weigh supply and demand. The market is on track to become more balanced—but there’s still a high demand and low supply. We’re currently in uncharted territory when it comes to the housing market, an uncertainty that goes back to the Great Recession of 2008, when the building industry was negatively impacted, says Chris Masiello, CEO and president of BHG Real Estate the Masiello Group....

Also, when perennials are overgrown and crowded, they often won’t bloom as much, so dividing will help reinvigorate the flower show. However, not all types of perennials appreciate being divided. Here’s what you need to know for success. When to Divide Your Perennials While you can divide most perennials any time from spring to fall, those two seasons are best. Dividing can be stressful on the plants—and they’ll recover better from the shock in cool, moist conditions....

A pocket door hangs on carriers that travel on an overhead track. The door slides between split jambs inside the wall. A bumper at the frame’s rear or the door’s side keeps the door from sliding too far into the wall. Guides on the floor keep the door from rattling inside the frame. For a successful installation, there must be room for the pocket door to travel inside the wall....

The steps that follow show a sliding patio door. If you are replacing a patio door that operates smoothly, you may not need to alter the rough opening. However, if the old door was difficult to operate, check the rough opening carefully. After the rough opening is prepared, you’ll need about four hours to install the door. Make sure you’re comfortable measuring, sawing, fastening, and leveling. Project tip: A set of hinged patio doors installs much like a slider but also has some of the challenges of hanging a standard exterior door....

Choosing Your Window Air Conditioner Window air conditioners come in a variety of sizes and with a wide range of features. While many features—such as fan speeds, filter alerts, and sleep mode—will depend on your cooling preferences and needs, there are a few key things to pay close attention to when purchasing you unit to make sure it’s right for your space. To get started, measure your window and shop for units that fit within its dimensions....

Bonus: More Pretty Trimwork Ideas What You Need Measuring tool (yardstick, ruler, measuring tape, etc.) Level Chalk Beadboard panels Circular saw Hole saw Construction adhesive Brad nailer Nails Trim Paint, for trim (optional) Finishing nails Caulk Step 1: Establish the Beadboard’s Top Line No matter the age of your home, floors tend to settle and shift, even by fractions of an inch. Those small increments can impact both the visual appearance and the installation of beadboard....

How to Make a DIY Witch Costume Supplies Needed Two 31x20-inch pieces of linen fabric (amount will vary by size of the child)20x20-inch piece of contrasting fabricSewing needle and thread1 yard string¾ yard of black feltBlack headband Step 1: Cut the Dress Enlarge and trace the pocket pattern onto paper and cut out. Cut two pockets from the contrasting fabric for this witch Halloween costume. Then sew the pockets onto one piece of linen fabric (for the dress), leaving edges raw....

How to Make a Book Bin Supplies Needed ¾"x4’x8’ Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Table saw or portable circular saw and straightedge Four clamps with at least 16" of jaw capacity Wood glue (optional) Cordless drill/driver Countersink drill bit #8x1½" flathead screws (46) Wood putty Spackling knife Sandpaper or sanding block Tack cloth Paint Paintbrush or paint roller Wallpaper (optional), we used Dalmation Spot from Livettes Wallpaper Four legs Four leg mounting plates...

Editor’s Tip: To water wreath, place wreath on ground and gently water with a watering can. Depending on weather temperatures, you may need to water the wreath 1-3 times a week. Let dry a few hours to overnight before hanging.

Choose a combination of annuals and perennials, and transplant the perennials into your garden at summer’s end. Attract hummers with tubular flowers (lantana, salvia, pentas) that hold nectar-promising appeal. Hummingbirds have heightened awareness to colors in the red to yellow range, but nectar itself is the biggest draw. Bees are drawn to purple and blue nectar-filled flowers (agastache, lavender), and they join butterflies in their penchant for pollen-heavy blossoms (bidens, cosmos, zinnia)....

Materials You’ll Need It’s probably easier than you think to make a rain barrel by upcycling an inexpensive plastic outdoor trash can with a lid. Here’s the list of tools and supplies you’ll need: 1 plastic outdoor garbage can with lid (the larger it is, the more water you can collect)1 brass spigot1 tube of watertight sealant1 roll of Teflon tape1 threaded pipe union fitting (or 2 rubber washers, 2 metal washers, and 1 nut)Power drill and bitBox cutter or utility knifeLandscaping fabric or fine mesh screen...

Editor’s Tip: Doors come in standard sizes of 80-inches tall with varying widths. We used the smallest standard size—24-inch by 80-inch—but if you want it to be smaller, try narrow closet door panels or use canvases in the size of your choice. Look for an unfinished slab door, which will be unpainted and won’t have any hardware on it. This is also usually the cheapest option. Now you’re ready to mount your door triptych!...

Our Best Burger Recipes Once you know the secrets to making the juiciest burgers, try our best burger recipes. Crowd-Pleasing Burger Recipes Beef Burger Recipes Best Alternatives to Beef Burgers Make a Smashed Burger

See more Thanksgiving place setting ideas. What You’ll Need: Small pumpkinsKnifeFork or spoonScissorsFloral foamGrocery store bouquet WaterMini chalkboard signsFloral wireChalk or chalk marker Step 1: Prep pumpkin Use a knife to cut a circle around the top of the pumpkin, then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. When the pumpkin is clean, cut small pieces of floral foam and set inside the pumpkin; cut these so they’re shorter than the height of the pumpkin....

Mistake No. 2: Picking the wrong pot There are an almost unlimited selection of pots and containers to choose from. However, you should avoid any without drainage holes in the bottom so excess moisture won’t build up in the soil. Also, remember that clay pots are a natural material that breathes, so they will dry out faster than ceramic or plastic pots. Use clay pots for plants that don’t mind life on the dry side, such as succulents or cactus....

Test Garden Tip: Many plants that have gray or silver foliage have excellent drought tolerance. These include the santolina, lamb’s ear, lavender, and Russian sage growing in this garden. Test Garden Tip: When plants need watering, do so early in the morning or late in the day to reduce water loss from evaporation. Test Garden Tip: Confine plants that require more moisture to containers so you can target a smaller space for any extra watering instead of having to water your entire garden....