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Ken and Annette were longtime suburban dwellers, but their downtown jobs and long commutes left them longing to live in the heart of the city. They found the house of their dreams during one of their long city walks -- a charming, Victorian-heritage row house. And although it needed tons of work, they bought it with an eye to moving in slowly and retiring there for good.

"Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity" -- Plato

As we transition from the fading blooms of summer into fall, don't think that all hope for color is lost until spring. There are many plants that will take us all the way into winter and sometimes beyond. Here are three favorites that come to mind.TRICYRTIS

A continuing compendium of tips and tricks from Home & Garden Television:Those with a surplus of shelves in your home, take heart. Whether they're built-ins, bookcases or decorative wall ledges, there are as many ways to accessorize shelves as there are things to accessorize them with.

Breathe Easier. Use a ceiling fan to circulate hot and cool air and save money on energy bills.X...X...XPamper Your Lungs. Choose low/no-VOC paints and stains for walls, ceiling and furniture and wash your bedding each week to cut down on mold, mildew and dust-mite accumulation.X...X...X

The trouble with tribbles is that they were born pregnant. At least that's what Dr. McCoy realized on what may be the most famous of all Star Trek episodes. Those furry little creatures reproduced so quickly they threatened to take over the Enterprise.

Q: Thanks, Ed, for all the advice you give us women along with the men. It's very important to me since I'm the only women in the house with my husband and four young boys. As you can imagine, our toilet is flushed all day long and we're tired of wasting all that water.

Go Natural:From organic hand soap to bamboo hand towels, keep the bathroom chemical-freeX...X...XEarth-Friendly Office Supplies:Utilize items like recycled computer disks and earth-friendly inks X...X...XGreen Cleaning:High-efficiency washing machines and water/energy-saving dryers are a must-have

Creating elegant candles is easier than it looks. The rich texture and patterns are created with rubber stamps, embossing powders and a little tissue paper. Candles are perfect for gift giving this holiday season or simply to decorate your own home.Supplies:Light colored pillar candleWhite tissue paperScissors Rubber stampInk pad - black

Want to know how to kill a houseplant in any one of seven easy ways? Here you go:1. Over water it. It's the number one contributor to houseplant death. Far more plants die from over watering than under watering, both indoors and out. What you should do: Stick your finger into the soil. If it's damp, hold off adding water until it's dry.