Mike McCarthy | Editorial Director | Log Home Living

That is, show me the MONEY when it comes to YOUR photography... Here's the idea: A photo contest! Now that most of the country is blessed with fall foliage painted in lovely hues of red, orange and rust, let's share those images wit… Continue

Oh, those long-ago heady days just before the official start of summer... June 18, to be specific. That's when I posted a headline here that said: "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Economy?" I defaulted to my optimistic mode and read the economic tea leaves, which, at the time, looked pretty damn good. Unemployment was low. Gross domestic product was robust. And, hey, who ISN'T optimistic when summer is about to… Continue

I've always loved this holiday---indeed, it's my favorite. The 4th, appropriately enough, is the most democratic of holidays. If you adore freedom, no one gets excluded. We will watch our hometown fireworks surrounded by long-time friends and family. Earlier in the day, I'll march with the Little League team I coach in the local parade; then we'll head over to the firehouse, where local fire departments compete to hit targets with their fire hoses from 50 yards away----the kids stand safely beh… Continue

It turns out the boogeyman lurking in the economic shadows may in fact be a...toy poodle. A story in today's Washington Post notes that, while some consumer prices are up (gas, food), the U.S. economy is humming along nicely. Unemployment isn't what it was during previous recessions (and it's debatable whether we're even in a recession), and our gross domestic product, while not exactly buff, is at least fairly robust. So, what gives? Why are folks scared? And to bring it closer to this forum,… Continue

For me, the idea of a getaway is pretty simple: I don't need what I call the "Gucci Rustic" trappings of a mammoth home---plasma TVs and granite everywhere. Give me simple materials. I also like clean, open lines when it comes to design, and a communal space that leads to outdoor areas is es… Continue