Country Living's resident country vet, Dr. Robert Sharp, give you a head's up on canine health and behavior queries you might not have already known.
1. You can leave your dog alone -- for a while
Dr. Sharp says: Every dog handles solo time different, and the amount of time left alone truly depends on the pet's age, temperament, and activity level. However, I'd say an acceptable home-alone stretch is three hours for a puppy and six hours for an adult. When you know you'll be away longer, investigate doggie-day care options of ask a friend to come by and take your pet for a walk. And anytime you leave Fido alone for a few hours, provide a fun distraction: Food-dispensing toys and Nylabones will keep him engaged -- and busy paws are happy paws!
Plus: 20+ more dog behavior questions, answered! »
2. Dogs never outgrow their need for vaccination.
Dr. Sharp says; Though it's a common and unfortunate misconception, dogs -- even older dogs -- always need to be protected. To determine which
Blog Posts by Country Living
Front porches and back patios are our favorite spot to relax in the warmer months. Make an outdoor room your favorite escape, too, with these decorating ideas.
Read More »from 12 Beautiful Porch and Patio Ideas
Tudor House Patio
Clematis and confederate jasmine climb a brick wall adjoining this Alabama house's back patio.
Plus: 24 more porch & patio decorating ideas »
Garden Shed
This backyard garden shed offers extra outdoor living space, courtesy of a porch strung with Pawleys Island hammock. The lanterns and cushions are by Pottery Barn.
Plus: 70+ design ideas for your living room »
Oceanfront Patio
Colorful Adironack chairs from Charleston Gardens brighten this beach house's terrace.
Front Porch
This California home's front porch is decked out with gliders from Grandin Road.
Plus: 90+ beautiful bedroom ideas »
Garden Workstation
This circa-1900 oak woodworker's table was drafted into service as a potting station, then hung vintage pails and watering cans on this cottage's exterior wall.
Boathouse Deck
Adironack chairs and7 Fun Sewing Projects (Even If You Don't Sew!)
By Country Living | At Home – Fri, Jul 27, 2012 11:05 AM EDTWhether you're a decades-long sewer or new to the craft, check out these ideas for fun projects using a needle and thread.
Read More »from 7 Fun Sewing Projects (Even If You Don't Sew!)
Denim Skirt Patches
Give an old skirt a fly new look with a pair of denim patches (5"W x 7"H patches, $1.89 for two; createforless.com). Place patches, wrong sides down, atop parchment paper and iron out any creases. Pin the patches together, wrong sides facing out. Next, download, print, and cut out our bird template. Place the bird shape atop the patches, and trace around it with a fine-point Sharpie. Using sharp scissors, cut out both patches at once, then separate. Topstitch all the way around each patch, close to the fabric's edges. To turn the patches into pockets, pin them to your skirt, as shown. Working atop the first stitch and removing the pins as you go, sew the pockets in place by stitching around the bottom of each bird, from the point of the beak to the tip of the tail. Backstitch at each end to finish your fine-feathered design.
11 Ways to Prep Your Home for Houseguests
By Country Living | At Home – Thu, Jul 26, 2012 11:58 AM EDTInterior designer Bunny Williams shares 11 ways to make your summer houseguests feel right at home.
1. Set Out Throw Pillows
Throw pillows should serve more than just a decorative purpose. A layer of cushions instantly corrects the problem of a too-deep sofa. But avoid over-accessorizing a shallow one-remember, people need space to sit.
Plus: 10 easy party planning tips »
2. Offer Light Reading
Stock guest rooms with good reads and encourage visitors to take books home with them.
3. Keep Lighting Dim
Everyone looks (and feels) better in low lighting. So consider installing dimmers on your overhead fixtures, especially in the dining room.
Plus: 10 amazing dining room makeovers »
4. Offer Storage Space
Give visitors an obvious spot to stow coats and bags. A row of pegs or hooks in a foyer does the trick.
Read More »from 11 Ways to Prep Your Home for HouseguestsInside Musician Neko Case's Amazing Vermont Farmhouse
By Country Living | At Home – Mon, Jul 23, 2012 11:53 AM EDTLeave the McMansions to run-of-the-mill rock stars. Indie musician Neko Case put her inimitable stamp on a historic Vermont farm, with quirky salvage, bold new finds, and more than a few heirloom seeds.
Read More »from Inside Musician Neko Case's Amazing Vermont Farmhouse
By the Piano
Neko Case does much of her composing in the kitchen, at an old piano she rescued from a nearby frat house. The alcove's mirrored tile, along with the white version covering the walls is by Artistic Tile. As for the border up top? Pratt & Larson custom-made that tile, dubbing the color "Neko red."
Plus: 20 Reasons Why Country is Hot Right Now! »
Living Room
An Anthropologie sofa, upholstered in Josef Frank fabric, and a Heywood-Wakefield coffee table furnish the living room, painted in Behr's Elm Bark.
Customized Kitchen
With the exception of the late 1700's beams, Case started from scratch in the kitchen-transforming the space with custom cabinetry, counters of locally quarried Danby marble, and a refurbished 1950s stove. The floor tile is by Daltile; the stools cameSee impressive before-and-after photos, and get inspired to remodel your own space with our kitchen makeover tips.
Read More »from 5 Amazing Kitchen Makeovers
basic white and wood kitchenBefore: Clean But Basic
When a pipe burst under the sink, this homeowner knew it was time to remodel. Outdated appliances, dark wood cabinets, and a boring light fixture were swapped out to brighten and lighten up the space.
Plus: Try these 12 quick makeover projects »
After: Unified White
To ensure that the new bottom cabinets matched the old upper units, the homeowner painted both with Benjamin Moore's Linen White -- a move that lightened up the whole kitchen.
Laminate countertops were removed in favor of Ikea's affordable oak option -- which cost just $800 total and can be sanded down when cooking blunders occur.
Before: Uninspired Space
The counters and cabinets in this kitchen needed a chic update, but the vintage stove had too much charm and potential to get rid of.
Plus: Fantastic deals! Check out these 50 finds for less than $50 »Ferris wheels, 4-H, even fine wines -- these five all-American festivals rank above the rest.
See more from CountryLiving.com:
America's Best Antiques Shows »
America's Best Farmers Markets »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Read More »from America's Best State FairsCheck out our coast-to-coast antique fair guide, so you can find innumerable vintage treasures this summer and fall!
See more from CountryLiving.com:
America's Best Farmers Markets »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Read More »from 10 of the Best Antique Shows in AmericaInside the Pioneer Woman's Bedroom Makeover
By Country Living | At Home – Thu, Jul 5, 2012 6:03 PM EDTWhen Ree Drummond-or as you may know her, the Pioneer Woman-set out to transform her family's attic into a bedroom for daughters Alex, 14, and Paige, 12, the girls had one rebellious request: no cowgirl themes. So Drummond sought an urban counterpoint in Manhattan designers Cortney and Robert Novogratz, who fashioned a retreat that's a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll.
BEFORE
The room was previously an unused storage space in the attic.
Plus: Check out these quick and easy summer crafts »
hanging bedAFTER
1. Move over, monograms! Instead of relying on embroidered initials, the Novogratzes personalized the girls' room with full-fledged portraits by artist Linda Mason.
2. Adopt an ageless approach to bedding. The designers bypassed typical tween motifs in favor of sophisticated separates, including crisp white sheets and blankets in fresh cranberry and tangerine hues. Quirky throw pillows pile on extra charm.
3. Get into the swing of things with a hanging bed. The
Read More »from Inside the Pioneer Woman's Bedroom MakeoverCountry Living's editor-in-chief, Sarah Gray Miller, shows how she transformed a former eyesore bathroom into a fabulously frugal retreat.
Read More »from 7 Budget-Savvy Bathroom Makeover Tips
Tip 1: Color-in every sense of the word-comes from one-of-a-kind finds. The real room-changers: a funky $200 neon liquor-store sign and a horse rug, nabbed for $10 at Lincoln Auctions in Coxsackie, New York. The other vintage treasures, from stools to artwork, set me back no more than $50 a pop at local.
Tip 2: A chandelier lends delightfully unnecessary opulence. Sure, a standard light would serve the required purpose, but this over-the-top Brocade Home pendant positively sparkles.
Plus: 11 white bathrooms you'll love »
Tip 3: Splurge on the Small Stuff. This tub cost only $200 at Kingston, New York's old-fixture emporium Zaborski's. To upgrade it, I forked over around $300 for new chrome supply lines and a European-style hand shower. Worth every cent, these details function like a stunning pair of shoes, elevating the whole outfit.
Tip 4: Warm
