Holidays

A century of valentines

Sylvia Muse will turn 100 years old on Valentine's Day.

Christmas greetings

If you feel like you've gotten fewer Christmas cards this year, the numbers bear that out. The tradition seems to be taking a little hiatus as some people turn to electronic means of keeping in touch.

Christmas in a cat's eyes

If you look closely at the photo Christi Weber shot of her cat, Miss Kitty, you can see the white lights of a Christmas tree reflected in her yellow-green eyes.

Brownback encourages volunteerism by example

TOPEKA — Sam Brownback and members of his family regularly do volunteer work at the Topeka Rescue Mission, but with Brownback about to take office as Kansas' next governor, a couple of hours there with family and staff members became an opportunity to promote volunteerism.

More churches schedule earlier Christmas Eve services

If this is the most wonderful time of the year, then tonight must be the most wonderful night. And those who stay up the latest, celebrating Christmas in church at midnight, say that's the most wonderful of all.

20 sites accepting real Christmas trees to chip into mulch

Christmas tree recycling started Wednesday in Sedgwick County, with 20 locations accepting real Christmas trees — minus all decorations — for chipping into mulch.

Pair wins Eagle's parody songwriting contest

It started as a goofy plan to entertain themselves on a road trip to Omaha.

Do you see what I see?

As I've driven through the winter-barren countryside lately, the most dominant presence has been hawk after hawk expertly balanced in trees and sometimes on signs or posts.

Newton family builds Christmas village for 30 years

"I'm surprised she got us to do it," her daughter, Teresa Lee of Wichita, all grown up now, says of the original project. "I was in junior high, and my brother was in high school."

Try decorating your tree in a new old-fashioned way

One of my favorite traditions during the holidays is to learn about other people's traditions. I am always amazed by how many of them revolve around the Christmas tree. This year, reimagine your tree, blending old traditions with new ideas to make it a fresh and glorious tribute to your family and your home.

Gardener's almanac

How dry we are _ I'm thirsty just thinking about the wicking, howling winds we had last week and no moisture in the form of rain or snow for a long time. Be sure to get the hoses out on an above-freezing day and give things a deep watering.

Poinsettias boring? Take a closer look

Sitting between Red Glitter and Shimmer Surprise — red Christmas flowers in stereo — I'm having a hard time imagining that poinsettias were only recently considered potentially boring.

Donations flow, but not enough to meet rise in need

The demand for toys for children in need in Wichita has spiked this Christmas — so much so that Toys for Tots is able to give kids only one toy each instead of the two they received last year, and the Salvation Army is reporting "a huge deficit" in the toys it needs.

Enter The Eagle's Holiday Pet Photo Contest

Pet owners, it's time to dig out those Santa hats and reindeer ears and snap pictures of your pets for The Eagle's 11th annual Holiday Pet Photo Contest.

O Christmas tree, how needly are thy branches

It did my heart good when a friend told me this week that she and her husband had bought a real Christmas tree this year after three or four years decorating an artificial one.

The annual trolley tour of Christmas lights in College Hill will be Dec. 12, and tickets will go on sale Monday at Traditions, 3220 E. Douglas.

Enter Eagle's Holiday Pet Photo Contest

Pet owners, it's time to dig out those Santa hats and reindeer ears and snap pictures of your pets for The Eagle's 11th annual Holiday Pet Photo Contest.

O Christmas tree, how needly are thy branches

It did my heart good when a friend told me this week that she and her husband had bought a real Christmas tree this year after three or four years decorating an artificial one.

Traditional wreaths get workover

Wreaths definitely aren't limited to evergreens with red-ribbon bows. Flip through magazines and catalogs, and you'll see them constructed from myriad objects. CB2 includes instructions on how to make them out of mini disco ornaments or clear glass bubbles or "fauxballs" (fake snowballs). Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma have featured mixed herb wreaths in recent years. Some are fashioned from gourmet iced sugar cookies or ears of corn.

Collectors' house on holiday tour today

A couple of landmark houses in Riverside will be stops this afternoon on the Project Beauty Holiday House Tour.