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In 1969, a nine-year-old boy named Russell Capper sent President Nixon a letter asking him to dedicate a day to grandparents, much like the national celebrations of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. President Nixon’s secretary replied to Russell, saying the president liked the idea but couldn’t declare a holiday without a resolution from Congress. Eight years later, Jennings Randolph, a West Virginia Senator, recruited members of the Senate to make Russell’s idea a reality....

Although the value of a home is determined by a number of factors, a recent study published by Zillow found that having the right front door color could boost sales by $6,449 in comparison to similar homes. The study asked recent and prospective homebuyers to score randomly assigned images of front doors painted in one of 11 colors, with the interiors the same for all participants. Scores were based on their perception of the home, their likelihood of buying the home, and how much they would be willing to pay for it....

Most clear succulents are some variety of Haworthia cooperi. One of the most beautiful, and most popular, is Haworthia cooperi var. truncata. Its leaves are plump, round, and almost completely translucent, like large drops of water. This distinct succulent is native to South Africa, and only grows about three inches tall and wide, making it a great desk or windowsill plant. You may be able to see tiny green veins in its clear foliage....

Test Garden Tip: Before you start the actual planting, place your plants into the suggested garden plan while still in their pots to get a preview of how the bed will look. This way, it’s easy to rearrange the plants as needed without extra digging. Plants for Creating the Heat-Loving Garden Plan 12 Pink dahlia hybrids (4 clusters of 3 each): Zones 8-11* 3 Red dahlia hybrids: Zones 8-11* 3 Spike speedwell (Veronica ‘Sunny Border Blue’): Zones 4-8 3 Yellow dahlia hybrids: Zones 8-11* 10 Asiatic lily (2 clusters of 5 each) (Lilium ‘Landini’): Zones 4-8 10 Asiatic lily (2 clusters of 5 each) (Lilium ‘Sunny Crown’): Zones 4-8 2 Snowbank boltonia (Boltonia asteroides ‘Snowbank’): Zones 4-9 5 Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii): Zones 4-9 3 Purple moorgrass (Molinia caerulea arundinacea): Zones 4-9...

With paper, decoupage medium, and some hot glue, you can turn the plastic eggs into a gorgeous spring decor piece—and no one will know you made it with dollar store items. It’s an easy DIY that lets everyone know you’re excited about the arrival of the Easter bunny. Working an egg at a time, use a small paint brush to lightly coat one section of the outside with decoupage medium....

Plants for Creating the No-Fuss Sun-Loving Garden Plan 1 New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’): Zones 4-8 3 Thread-leaved tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’): Zones 4-9 2 Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’): Zones 3-9 1 Hollyhock (Alcea rosea): Zones 3-9 3 Blazing star (Liatris spicata ‘Floristan Weiss’): Zones 4-9 1 Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Zones 5-9 1 Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’: Zones 3-10 1 Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Zones 5-8 The back layer of this vignette is built with hollyhock, butterfly bush, and Russian sage....

“Dave wanted a home that exudes authenticity and timeless European charm,” designer Robin Rains says, “an old-world-style home that feels like it’s been here for centuries.” Although Dave couldn’t pluck a stately villa from the Tuscan countryside and drop it into his lot in the rolling hills of Kentucky, he could do the next best thing: create a new home with all the charms of an old-world masterwork. Architect Ron Farris set the tone with an exterior shaped from a simple palette of stone, slate, and weighty timbers....

Drawer dividers are also a good way to keep things from becoming jumbled. They ensure you can quickly find what you need in the morning and reduce over-purchasing since everything is easily visible.

* If you don’t own a cocktail shaker or muddler, use a large glass jar with lid and a wooden spoon to mash the tomatoes. Virgin Muddled Mary For a nonalcoholic version, make as directed through step 3, omitting the vodka. Stir in 1 1/2 ounces lemon-flavored sparkling water.

How to Choose Among Gray Color Paints Before you pick up a gallon of paint, take into consideration these tips for choosing the right shade of gray. Consider Undertones and Lighting To make the gray paint selection process easier, consider your paint’s undertones and test the shade before committing. Undertones are the warm or cool colors added to paint to provide complexity and nuance. While they might not jump out at you initially, they often make a surprise appearance on the wall....

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened ½ cup butter, softened 2 teaspoon vanilla 5 ½ cup powdered sugar Praline Sauce 3 tablespoon butter 3 tablespoon brown sugar 2 tablespoon whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla

Finely Furnished Traditional bedrooms should always look collected, so forgo matched bedroom sets. Freely mix polished furniture finishes with pieces wearing primitive patinas. Cherry, walnut, and mahogany bedsteads, dressers, bedside tables, and armoires are good fits for traditional designs, but heirlooms with varying finishes are always welcome additions. Choose wood, iron, or brass bed frames sporting curved headboards, four-posters, canopy frames, sleigh-like forms, or carved designs. Consider upholstered headboards done up in velvet, brocade, or linen fabrics and nailhead trim....

Tip: For a lighter recipe, use reduced-fat soup.