Life

Animal Chaplain Shel Graves has her dog Lily pose for a photo in her home office on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Is your dog or cat grieving? There’s an animal chaplain for that

Chaplains offer spiritual care for beings of all species: “Absolutely, animals do feel grief and loss.”

Animal Chaplain Shel Graves has her dog Lily pose for a photo in her home office on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lily of the Scheherazade variety with red-white flowers from the Oriental-Tubular (OT) hybrids group. Decorative plant in the garden

Great Plant Pick: Scheherazade Orienpet Lily

What: Once mature, this giant lily makes a stunning presence in the garden. Reaching 6 to 8 feet in height, the leafy stems are topped… Continue reading

  • Jul 17, 2024
Lily of the Scheherazade variety with red-white flowers from the Oriental-Tubular (OT) hybrids group. Decorative plant in the garden
Crape Myrtle

Hardiness, hotter summers helping colorful crape myrtles find homes here

Many are hardy enough, but we were never hot enough. In recent summers, however, I’ve seen them blooming in local gardens.

Crape Myrtle

I scream, you scream, we all scream for … glace? Well, in France, yes.

This ice cream vendor toy, which sold for $1,800 at auction, reminds us of France’s role in popularizing the summer treat.

The 2024 Ford F-150 full-size pickup. The Platinum trim is shown here. (Photo provided by Ford)

2024 Ford F-150 is a cornucopia of varieties

2024 Ford F-150 is a cornucopia of varieties

The 2024 Ford F-150 full-size pickup. The Platinum trim is shown here. (Photo provided by Ford)
The 2025 Lexus UX 300h is the luxury brand’s smallest and most affordable SUV. (Photo provided by Lexus)

2025 Lexus UX 300h gets more horsepower, keeps great MPG

The luxury brand’s smallest SUV is available only as a hybrid.

The 2025 Lexus UX 300h is the luxury brand’s smallest and most affordable SUV. (Photo provided by Lexus)

Dresden detour: Spend a day strolling this vibrant, historic German city

While its streets paint a portrait of its highest highs and lowest lows, Dresden today is in an era of cultural rebirth.

  • Jul 13, 2024

My Apple Vacations voucher doesn’t work! Can I get a refund?

A travel advisor offers Cathy Balsewich an expried $200 credit at a hotel in the Turks and Caicos. Who is responsible?

  • Jul 13, 2024

Show, don’t tell: Mindful parents set kids up to learn through experiences

How might the decisions I make for my children today set the stage for their skills, knowledge and attitudes as adults?

Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This Whidbey rental is like walking onto a state ferry

This 5-bedroom beachfront Airbnb has rooms patterned after “The Parent Trap,” “The African Queen” and the ferry Tokitae.

Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Photo Credit: Erik Kabik Photography/ erikkabik.com

Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Everett’s Music at the Marina kicks off with Nite Wave tonight, and Harry Connick Jr. comes to Chateau Ste. Michelle this weekend.

  • Jul 11, 2024
Photo Credit: Erik Kabik Photography/ erikkabik.com

A real moose would gobble up your garden. Not this life-sized replica.

This zinc figure, which sold for $3,328 at auction, might even spook other wild creatures keen on eating your plants.

Great Plant Pick: Smooth hydrangea

known as smooth hydrangea or hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ — is an exceptional selection of an Eastern U.S. species. It is one… Continue reading

  • Jul 10, 2024

Snohomish County PUD takes risk of wildfires seriously. You should, too.

Already this summer, wildfires have burned acres of timber in Spokane, Yakima, Chelan and British Columbia.

  • Jul 10, 2024
Beautiful Pink and Blue Hydrangea Flowers in the Garden on Sunny Summer Day

Take your summer garden to new heights with long-blooming hydrangeas

Old-fashioned mopheads and lacecaps abound, but newer cultivars bloom more and longer. Here’s how to shop for these shrubs.

  • Jul 10, 2024
Beautiful Pink and Blue Hydrangea Flowers in the Garden on Sunny Summer Day
Fallen soldiers are remembered during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Everett, Washington, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Take in the Fourth of July in all it’s star-spangled glory, then catch country artists in Monroe and a boys chorus in Edmonds.

  • Jul 4, 2024
Fallen soldiers are remembered during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Everett, Washington, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Left to right, the McCaffery family including Ruby, Chellce, Tyler and Jay pose for a photo at Ruby's Espresso in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

New owners, dress code for ex-Hillbilly Hotties coffee stands

Longtime patrons of a Snohomish County bikini barista chain have been asking: “Why are you wearing clothes?” New management wants to be family-friendly.

Left to right, the McCaffery family including Ruby, Chellce, Tyler and Jay pose for a photo at Ruby's Espresso in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A rider falls off a bull during the Timberbowl Rodeo in Darrington, Washington on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Mud, sweat and steers: Cowboys cling for dear life at Darrington rodeo

Check out a photo gallery from the finale of the two-day Timberbowl Rodeo over the weekend, in the valley near Whitehorse Mountain.

A rider falls off a bull during the Timberbowl Rodeo in Darrington, Washington on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ hybrid powertrain produces 304 horsepower. (Photo provided by Lexus)

2024 Lexus RX 450h+ has a 37-mile electric drive range

The latest RX hybrid is a plug-in available only in the Luxury trim.

The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ hybrid powertrain produces 304 horsepower. (Photo provided by Lexus)
A close up macro portrait of a honey bee sitting on a helenium moerheim or mariachi flower collecting pollen to bring back to its hive. The useful insect is searching the entire red flower.

‘Episode 3 — Revenge of the Gardener’: Let’s put this perennial saga to bed

And by bed I mean a flower bed with plenty of sun, because these pollinator-friendly perennials have some bloomin’ to do.

A close up macro portrait of a honey bee sitting on a helenium moerheim or mariachi flower collecting pollen to bring back to its hive. The useful insect is searching the entire red flower.