It can be a bit delicate to ask a furniture shopper: "Oh, sir, um, maybe, ah, you'd like to see something a bit, hmmm, sturdier?"

Walking partner: I am looking for a walking partner. I live in the Conway area. Call 222-8279.

A friend from Charleston called a few days ago to tell me that she is finally able to get rid of the Bradford pear in her front yard. She lives in a covenant-restricted community, as do many of us in coastal South Carolina.

Even more difficult than the talk about the birds and bees with my daughter was the conversation I had with my mother about her wishes in the event she became too ill to speak for herself.

In 1992 I bought a buffet that was at least 50 years old. There's a brass emblem inside a drawer that says, "Henry C. Steul & Sons, Inc., Buffalo, New York." Can you tell me something about the manufacturer?

It may seem like an oxymoron to recommend going green as a gardening goal, but area plant and environmental experts say there's a lot we can do to create a more environmentally friendly landscape.

Small steps are all it takes to make a big difference when it comes to going green at home.