1. Keep Safety in Mind “If we are attracting birds with food resources, it is important that we protect them when they show up,” says Becca Rodomsky-Bish, project leader of the Great Backyard Bird Count for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Because snow can make windows even more reflective, she suggests making sure your windows have screens, decals, or other forms of protection to break up reflections so birds don’t collide with them....

Before you throw together a basic structure from some leftover construction materials around the home, take note: If a doghouse is not built properly, it can pose a serious safety risk to your pet. Make sure to purchase new, reliable construction material and follow these steps to learn how to build a doghouse that’s safe for your dog. Plan Your Doghouse Before attempting to build a doghouse, you must make a detailed plan with measurements for the framework, roof, walls, and overall size based on the size of your dog....

For this project, stringers are attached to a crossbrace at the top and a toe-kick at the bottom. The landing is made of concrete pavers set in a sand bed. Stairs with 14-inch runs (tread widths) should have rises of between 5-1/2 and 6-1/2 inches. The wider the treads, the more total run the stringers have to span. When you notch stringers, you weaken them. After the notches are cut out of these 2x12 stringers, about 5-1/2 inches of uncut width is left for strength—in other words, the stringers are as strong as 2x6s....

How to Pressure-Can Green Beans Grab your pressure canner and six canning jars, and put a kettle of water on to boil. Pressure-canning green beans might seem like an intimidating process, but our step-by-step guide below makes it easy. Step One: Prep the Green Beans Start with 3½ to 4 pounds fresh green beans. Wash the beans, drain, and trim the ends, then cut or break the beans into 1-inch pieces....

Narrow Your Choices Where you live is the most important factor affecting how grasses will perform. Northern Zone In the Northern United States and Canada, where summers are moderate and winters often are cold, cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue are the primary choices. Southern Zone The Southern Zone, with hot summers and moderate winters, provides a climate where warm-season grasses thrive. St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and zoysiagrass are the most common varieties....

How to Clean Baking Sheets: 5 Must-Try Cleaning Solutions These methods show you how to clean baking sheets with DIY cleaning solutions starring baking soda, vinegar, and peroxide. Plus, learn which store-bought cleaners and tools work best. How to Clean Baking Sheets with Baking Soda A no-scrub solution is one of the easiest and best ways to clean baking sheets. What You Need Baking sodaBoiling waterSoft clothMild dish soapDry cloth...

How to Clean Wood and Wicker Outdoor Furniture Rescue dull, dirty wood or wicker furniture with these easy cleaning strategies. To remove grime, use a mild oil-based soap, such as Murphy Oil Soap, mixed with warm water. Mix 1/4-cup ammonia, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, and 1 quart of warm water for a DIY cleaning solution. Commercial wood cleaners are also effective for cleaning patio furniture, but read directions carefully. Wicker and painted woods might require diluting the solution....

How to Cook Greens As the name suggests, cooking greens are usually served cooked (though you can eat most of them raw), unlike other leafy veggies such as arugula and spring greens. Of course, you can still cook arugula and other noncooking greens (like bok choy), but they’re not considered cooking greens. Follow these two steps for cooking collard greens, turnip greens, beet greens, or any other type of greens. This basic method works for most greens and yields four servings....

How to Roast Rack of Lamb It’s surprisingly easy to make tender, juicy lamb that’s ready to fall off the bone. This lamb recipe is perfectly simple, with just a few steps to follow. Rack of Lamb Prepare the Marinade Process salt, rosemary, and garlic in a food processor until they are as finely minced as possible. Then, add mustard and balsamic vinegar and process for 1 minute. Allow Lamb to Marinate Place the lamb in a roasting pan with the ribs curving down....

1. Eliminate wasted steps. When designing a kitchen layout, think about what tasks you perform most frequently. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and energy by placing items needed to complete a task close together. For example, keep coffee mugs, coffee grounds, and all your java essentials near the coffee machine. Your groggy early-morning self will thank you. Similarly, keep wraps and plastic containers in one handy spot near a work surface for wrapping leftovers....

Earles’ first suggestion is to contact your local shelter or food pantry to see if they have an existing program you can participate in. If not, ask if they’ll accept extra baskets and find out what their clients’ biggest needs are. For their Easter basket program, Earles discovered that an actual Easter basket isn’t always the best way to go. “Instead of presenting it in an Easter basket, we give our items away in a reusable storage bin,” Earles says....

The most difficult part of fixing many common floor squeaks is determining the cause of the squeak. Some squeaks come and go with the seasons, while others are there to stay. Most squeaks are harmless, but some can indicate bigger issues hidden beneath your floor. No matter the cause of your squeaky floor, we’ve broken down exactly how to find the squeak, determine the cause, and fix the issue for good....

Freezing Green Beans Follow our step-by-step guide to learn everything you need to know about freezing green beans so you can pull them out and enjoy them any day of the year. Step 1: Trim Green Bean Ends Before getting started with actually freezing beans, gently wash fresh greens beans with cool tap water. Then, working with a small handful of green beans at a time, line up the stem ends....

Buy It: Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea ($32, Jackson & Perkins) Where to Plant Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea Like most panicle hydrangeas, ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ does best in full sun, though it appreciates afternoon shade in warmer climates in the southern and western regions of the country. Its mature height is 6 to 7 feet with a spread of 4 to 5 feet, so make sure to plant it where it will have room to reach its full size....

And hanging bunting flags is easier than you think! Simply acquire some red, white, and blue bunting fabric, and we’ll show you how to hang it. The result is a fun, festive 4th of July look for your porch. Red, white, and blue outdoor decorations are a must-have for summer, and this one is so easy. How to Hang a Bunting for 4th of July Follow these simple how-to instructions to hang your patriotic bunting on your front porch (or anywhere outside!...

How to Grease and Flour a Pan Cakes that will be removed from the pan call for a greased and floured pan; recipes that are served in the pan simply call for greasing. If your recipe doesn’t call for a greased pan, skip this step. Step 1: Brush pan with shortening Using a pastry brush ($11, Bed Bath & Beyond) or paper towel, brush solid shortening evenly over the bottom of the pan, being careful not to leave any uncoated, shiny spots....

If you’re pouring new steps, allow for the thickness of the brick and the mortar bed when you compute the unit rise. A computed unit rise of 6-1/2 inches, for example, finished with 2-1/4-inch-thick brick, would leave room for a 3-7/8-inch-thick concrete base. This thickness is probably strong enough for mortared steps but may not satisfy local building codes. You may have to change the number of steps to provide a thick enough base....

Choose Your Charcoal Grilling Method and Prepare Your Charcoal Grill Direct grilling is best for items that grill in 30 minutes or less, such as tender, thinner, or smaller ingredients. The food cooks over an intense heat source with the lid closed, so the hot air circulates directly up and around the food. Flip halfway to ensure even cooking. For direct cooking on a charcoal grill, use enough briquettes to cover the charcoal grate completely with one layer....

This lucite towel bar is absolutely stunning with every decor style. Its clear acrylic bar is subtle and modern, while its accented braces add glam. Learn how to make your own by following the instructions below. Spray-paint ceiling mounts desired color and let dry. Mark on the wall where you want the mounts to go. Spray-paint ceiling mounts desired color and let dry. Mark on the wall where you want the mounts to go....

If you’re wondering about the difference between butter and shortening, we’ll explain. Butter usually has around 80% fat, while shortening is 100% fat, which can make a difference in how flaky your crust is. Butter generally contains some water, which evaporates while you bake, and can result in a flakier crust. Shortening, on the other hand, usually makes a crust that’s a little less flaky but can hold its shape better when you’re adding decorations....