All posts tagged: Yards

A truce appears in the ‘Hands Off Our Yards’ wildfire landscaping wars

A truce appears in the ‘Hands Off Our Yards’ wildfire landscaping wars

Sacramento officials came to Southern California this week for the first public meeting since they issued new proposed rules on how people in fire-prone neighborhoods will be allowed to landscape their yards. In contrast to prior proposals from the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, many who attended were … OK with this one. “It is a reasonable compromise,” Beth Burnam, who holds leadership positions in multiple local environmental and fire safety organizations, told the board. “Do I like everything? No. Can I live with it? Yes.” Under the proposal, residents would not be allowed to plant anything within a 1-foot “Safety Zone” around the home, including beneath roof overhangs; two feet from windows, vents and doors and five feet from decks. Elsewhere within a 5-foot buffer around the home, known as “Zone Zero,” grass and dispersed plants up to 18 inches tall would be permissible. Trees would also be allowed, but would need to be trimmed away from walls and roofs, and residents could install only noncombustible fencing against the house. Any sheds …

People Who Put Up Bird & Squirrel Feeders In Their Yards Usually Share 11 Rare Personality Traits

People Who Put Up Bird & Squirrel Feeders In Their Yards Usually Share 11 Rare Personality Traits

People who put up bird and squirrel feeders in their yards usually aren’t doing it just for decoration or entertainment. Taking the time to feed backyard wildlife tends to reflect rare personality traits such as empathy, patience, and genuine concern for small animals that many others overlook. It’s an unassuming, often overlooked habit, but it says a lot about how someone feels responsible for the living things sharing their space. More than anything, keeping feeders stocked shows a deep love for animals and a natural instinct to nurture. People who do this regularly tend to notice their surroundings more closely, appreciate quieter moments, and stay committed to caring for something outside themselves. Here are the rare personality traits many of these bird and squirrel feeders share. People who put up bird and squirrel feeders in their yards usually share 11 rare personality traits: 1. They’re open-minded and curious about the world around them Rido | Shutterstock People who put up bird and squirrel feeders tend to stay curious about what’s happening outside their window. They …

‘The Whole Nine Yards’ star Amanda Peet reveals breast cancer diagnosis

‘The Whole Nine Yards’ star Amanda Peet reveals breast cancer diagnosis

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Amanda Peet has revealed the heartbreaking events that unfolded in the weeks after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The 54-year-old actor, known for roles in The Whole Nine Yards and Your Friends & Neighbors, wrote about being diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in August 2025 when both of her parents were receiving end-of-life hospice care, in a vulnerable essay published in The New Yorker. In the article, titled “My Season of Ativan,” Peet explained that she attended a bi-annual check-up to monitor her breasts when her doctor discovered a tumor. “For many years, I’ve been told that I have ‘dense’ and ‘busy’ breasts — not as a compliment but as a warning that they require extra monitoring,” she wrote. “I had been …