6+ hour, 11+ min ago (430+ words) If you're stuck in a mid-week slump, then we have the perfect pick me up just for you. Who doesn't love fresh blooms as a way to signal new life and fresh beginnings. Guided by locally sourced and produced premium flowers, Daily Blooms have prided themselves on delivering only the most celebrated bouquets since 2014. Now, with their 2025 Christmas Collection embracing the festive season, these blooms are ideal for bringing cheer to any home needing a Christmas facelift. With the Christmas Collection boasting everything from Christmas Trees, to Wreaths to bundles with flowers and Christmas treats. The collection is perfect for lifting the pre-Christmas spirit high or as a present on Christmas morning. Freshen up your home with the Traditional Mini Christmas Wreath, valued at $85, so you can start the festive cheer straight from your front door. On a Vine base,…...

9+ hour, 1+ min ago (441+ words) As energy costs continue to rise, Community Resource is supporting local households to stay warm this winter. On Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, November 26, the charity is shining a light on it's work helping Shropshire residents access affordable heating, practical energy-saving guidance, and emergency grants. According to Shropshire Council: Around 17.7% of households were living in fuel poverty in 2023. Many homes are older, off the mains gas grid, and costly to heat, with nearly 75% rated D'G for energy efficiency. 33% of households lack access to mains gas, relying on more expensive fuels such as LPG, oil, or coal. Household Support Fund - Community Resource administers the Household Support Fund (HSF), providing grants to voluntary and community organisations across Shropshire. These grants help local groups support households struggling with energy costs and other essential needs. Organisations can apply for funding up until 30 November 2025. Energy-Saving Advice…...

11+ hour, 4+ min ago (919+ words) Jordan Cooper / Nov 25, 2025 Boomers are embracing new hobbies now that they finally have the time and financial freedom to enjoy them. From creative pursuits to travel fueled interests, these trends reveal a generation rediscovering what lights them up. Crafting a meaningful life in your later years hits differently when you finally have the freedom, time, and the budget to explore interests you once shelved for someday. I've noticed a trend among boomers lately. With kids grown, mortgages calmer, and careers easing into their next chapters, many are rediscovering parts of themselves they didn't have space for before. And the hobbies they're choosing say a lot about who they're becoming now that they finally can choose. People who once documented life on disposable cameras or early camcorders are now diving into mirrorless bodies, vintage lenses, and weekend workshops. And good gear…...

15+ hour, 53+ min ago (155+ words) As temperatures begin to drop across Central New York, one local animal sanctuary is facing a critical challenge: keeping dozens of animals warm as winter settles in. Spirit Animal Sanctuary in Boonville currently cares for 78 dogs and five cats, but the buildings on the property do not have sufficient heating. Right now, the only warmth in the kennels comes from a collection of small portable heaters scattered throughout the space, far from enough as the coldest months approach. The sanctuary recently received a donation of'five industrial-strength heating units, but there's a major roadblock: they have no way to install them. With dozens of dogs relying on the sanctuary for safety and comfort, staff and volunteers are hoping someone in the community can step in before winter becomes dangerous. If you or someone you know is a licensed contractor willing to…...

17+ hour, 34+ min ago (790+ words) Lauren has worked in digital media publishing since graduating from college, where she discovered a love for writing and research. Since moving across the country to rent a charming 150-year-old home with her friends, she's often had to use her research skills to figure out how to make a rental space feel like home. Say Goodbye To The Eyesore Of Garden Hose Clutter With A Charming DIY Solution Even the best landscaping can look like a mess if there is a long, tangled hose strewn about in the yard. Watering may be necessary to keep your lawn and plants healthy, but a messy hose situation is not. Plus, leaving your garden hose in a knot on the ground can shorten the life of your hose and make it less efficient. With this in mind, you it's a good idea to…...

18+ hour, 34+ min ago (1344+ words) Jordan Cooper / Nov 24, 2025 The best conversations don't come from trying to impress people; they come from actually being curious about something unusual. Ever notice how some people command a room without trying? They're not louder or flashier. They just have something to talk about that isn't work, weather, or whatever's trending on Netflix. Here's what I've learned after years of awkward small talk at parties: interesting people aren't born that way. They just do interesting things. And no, you don't need money or tons of free time to become one of them. The hobbies below cost almost nothing, fit into weird pockets of your schedule, and give you actual stories to tell. Not the "you had to be there" kind. The kind that make people lean in and say "wait, really?" Walking around your neighborhood looking for edible plants sounds…...

20+ hour, 6+ min ago (799+ words) Campaigners fighting plans for offices and homes in Brick Lane have said the development would "rip the heart" out of the area famous for its vibrant Bangladeshi community. Truman Estates and Zeloof LLP want to redevelop three sites with 44 homes and offices, but have faced fierce opposition from locals and Tower Hamlets Council. The council rejected the scheme and the development was subsequently referred to the planning inspectorate. Campaigner Deba Malique, who lives near the proposed development site, told Metro it was a threat to the heritage of the area and failed to provide the affordable housing needed as rents in London skyrocket. She said: "This development is just not appropriate for the area. We don"t need pricey offices and luxury homes here. We need affordable housing for London " not this. "Also this office space will not be cheap…...

21+ hour, 58+ min ago (398+ words) I'm sharing a'random sample'here. The author is Drew Perry, who I do not know. If you have any interest in NC (or the South) please subscribe" And then one year for my birthday " 10 years ago, maybe more " they gave me the maul. Part gag gift, but only part. They knew I'd love it, knew I'd use it. And I did, every winter, and sometimes in the summer, too, accounting for storms and deadfall and the occasional round or three I'd take from a neighbor who'd leave a cut tree at the curb. High sentimental value, in other words. We vacationed together. We ate dinner together two or three times a month. We hung out on porches. Nina and Tita, my wife, became closer than sisters. And then Nina got sick. I assumed repairing the maul would be simple: Go to…...

22+ hour, 6+ min ago (410+ words) Work has begun on the "50m redevelopment of a country house and surrounding gardens at a historical country estate in Greater Manchester. Haigh Hall has been described by the local council as the "jewel in Wigan's crown". Wigan Councillor Chris Ready said: "I got married here, and it means so much to the people of the borough, so everything has got to be checked." The newly-restored Haigh Hall will include an art gallery, an education area for children, an event space for weddings, a rooftop terrace and a restaurant. Ready said: "This is for the people of Wigan and I want the restaurant to be affordable, so I don't want "100 steaks in here. "I don't want people looking through the window at rich people eating food." Haigh Hall was built between 1827 and 1840 by the 24th Earl of Crawford before the estate was…...

23+ hour, 41+ min ago (420+ words) A short-term lets control area "may be justified" for the isles of Skye and Raasay, according to a new Highland Council report. If the zone was introduced people would need planning permission if they wanted to turn a home into Airbnb-type holiday accommodation. The report to councillors, who are due to meet next week, said new-build housing completions on the islands were transferring to short-term letting at a higher rate - 15.5% - than the Highlands as a whole. Skye and Raasay are home to about 10,500 people and tourism is a major industry with almost 800,000 visitors spending about "119m in the area, according to a recent Highland Community Planning Partnership report. In the report, Highland Council officers said: "Relative to other areas of Highland, and to Highland as a whole, there is a high rate of potential dwellings being used as short-term lets in…...