Whether sheltering industry, victualers, an antique shop or a family, it's all grist for the mill

For two centuries, starting before the Revolutionary War, it was a grist mill, then a popular local restaurant before becoming an antique shop. Now the Grist Mill in South Amherst is a stunning private home. Huge hand-hewn posts support low ceilings above mellow wooden floors, covered with bright Oriental rugs.

Get Growing: Easy and elegant ideas for Thanksgiving decorations

Pumpkins, gourds and chrysanthemums are the traditional decorations for Thanksgiving. You can hollow out a small pumpkin, set a vase inside and arrange flowers for the dining room table. Consider adding some herbs such as rosemary or lavender. An assortment of gourds is a simple alternative. At the CISA dinner earlier this fall, each round table had a centerpiece of an uncarved pumpkin surrounded by artfully arranged carrots, apples, pears and other fruits and vegetables. Simple, easy and effective.

Real Estate Matters: As mortgage rates drop again, is it time to refinance?

Mortgage interest rates have fallen below 5 percent again, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. "This comes at a time when house price declines are moderating and consumer demand for prime mortgages at commercial banks has picked up," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.

Gardener's Checklist

Plunge pots of unplanted trees, shrubs and perennials in a vacant area of the garden. In simplest terms, plunging means digging a hole in the ground, sticking the pot in, and then backfilling around the pot with soil. This can also be done with balled and burlapped plants and with bare-root plants.

Got sleep? Bedding trends to fight insomnia

If you've tossed all night because you were hot, restless or uncomfortable, read on.

Going to the mattresses

By Josh Noel Chicago Tribune

Race-car beds apparently aren't just for kids anymore.

Get Growing: Time to 'force' paperwhites for holiday bloom

Bulbs won't be flowering outside in our gardens for many months but we can enjoy spring flowers inside if we "force" bulbs into premature bloom in the winter. The most popular, and easiest, bulbs to force are paperwhite narcissus. They can be grown in bowls of pebbles with water, not even requiring soil. From "planting" till bloom is only four to six weeks, depending on the variety and household conditions.