Page 23 - Home & Garden

Many people pair the word warmth with wool, however when it comes to Merino Wool there is a lot more to the equation then warmth. The women's Floral Scroll sock is a perfect example of how warmth and breathability come together to complement one another and regulate the temperature of your feet. Being that it's spring, it is important to have a sock that not only keeps your feet warm but also keeps them cool and dry. These socks are made in the United States and are constructed with merino wool, nylon, and elastane blends. These socks aren't your typical outdoor sock. With a fun floral design, this lightweight sock is bound to meet your needs. PLUS if for any reason your Smartwool product does not preform to your satisfaction, you may return it for a replacement, which makes for a carefree buying experience. With this sock being only $9...

If you've been lucky enough to live during spring in the Northwest, then wherever you go you know how to look for those flashes of bright green and red, to listen for the hovering buzz barely heard over the breeze. What's the best practice for keeping these moveable colors at your feeders year round? Find out below. Get Prepped Early Expect the hummingbirds to come back to us here in the Northwest from mid-April to mid-May. Have your hummingbird feeders set up and ready for the return of the birds so they know early on where they can get the goods (this being nectar in the Stokes Select® hummingbird feeder, of course). In Washington you might even get lucky and keep Anna's Hummingbird through the winter. Here is a starter kit feeder you might use to bring you more hummingbirds. Double Down on Attraction Set up your Stokes Select® hummi...

I walk several miles every day between my job as an inventory specialist at North 40 Outfitters in Omak, coaching soccer, working around the house or off playing with the family. It's an active lifestyle and though sometimes a little tiring, it sure is rewarding. And what makes it more so? Nothing like a good pair of comfortable, sturdy socks. Fox River socks are made in Osage, Iowa and you can feel the American difference the minute you get them on the Westerner is designed to be worn with western style boots and give that added comfort of a great sock (perfect for my job and comfortable enough for the soccer field). I have been using the thicker winter socks from Fox River for some time now and have really been impressed by how comfortable they are and how well they are made. They keep my feet dry and wick sweat well, plus the cush...

Want your horses to have good feet, stand for the farrier and keep healthy year round? Follow the simple steps below, provided by local Montana farriers. Regularity for your Horse's Feet Keep your horses on a 6-8 week schedule, and, if possible, let your horse go unshod with regular trims so you can get a balanced, natural shape before the spring preseason kicks off. Handle their feet regularly, pick up their feet, put them down and clean them out: once more, handle feet regularly. Want to read the full review about these safety glasses you see in the video above? Cleanliness in your Horse Pens Not only should you have a clean area for your farrier to work when he comes, your horses should also have clean water, clean feed and clean pens before he gets there. Cleanliness translates to hoof heath. When it's wet and boggy, your ho...

Bully Tools  "For many years I would buy a rake, hoe, shovel, or some such tool. Many times I would return to the store the following spring to show them the rake with the handle that pulled out from the head, the broken shovel, or the bent hoe. I admit that I am a bit tough on tools but, jeez, they should be tougher than that. I got so exasperated. When I got the opportunity to sell Bully Tools I was excited because I AM a tool user and I could see that these tools are built DIFFERENTLY than others. Hold any American Made Bully Tool up against any foreigner (just about all other brands are made in China, Mexico, etc.) and you see and feel the difference. Use a Bully Tool and you won't be back next year to replace it! Check out our selection of Bully Tools online here. Attached are some pics from the (unfinished) project I built with a ...

As winter begins to loosen its grip in the northwest, the faint sounds of springs are steadily increasing at all North 40 Outfitters locations. Spring sounds indoors? Yes, spring arrives with the welcoming sounds of baby chicks as we get them settled into their temporary homes. Here's the selection of Nutrena NatureWise feeds we carry online. The peep, peep, peeps will gradually increase over the next few weeks as we reach the peak of Chick Days intermingled with laughter from kids and adults alike. It's a great way to welcome the new growing season, and one that we strive to work hard at, keeping our feathered friends at their best health so they can ultimately make it home to be successful egg layers and meat birds. Chickens have always been part of our culture for as long as I can remember (which is about 20 years). Taking care of c...

  Going into spring with temperatures varying, it can sometimes be difficult to find a sock that fits my needs. As someone with sensitive skin, I was skeptical about that dreaded "wool" word, especially for $20. However, the Margarita sock was so soft and comfortable it was hard to believe it was 71% merino wool, combined with nylon and elastane. I noticed almost immediately how cool my feet felt, the merino wool is great at regulating body temp and absorbing any moisture.  These socks can hold about 1/3 its weight in water and still keep its warmth in cold weather and breathability in warmer conditions. They are lightweight and thin enough to wear with any dress shoe, western boot, or just plain ol' sneaker.  Perfect for everyday wear, whether you're hitting the slopes, trekking back country trails or simply going to work, these ...

Eggs. From baking to breakfast, we use eggs in just about everything. Three years ago, I bought some baby chicks and decided to see why this whole "Urban Chicken" industry was growing so fast. I started out with fourteen baby chicks, brought them home, and set up our brooder kit that had the walls and post for a brooder heat lamp. I first set it up in my garage worried the little buggers needed to be inside rather than just in the barn outside. Here's a brooder kit we sell online that can help keep you in getting your new chicks established. I also realized that they eat and drink a lot  and keeping electrolytes in the water and keeping it clean was a bit tough. Once they started developing their feathers, they became almost self-sufficient. Meat & Layer Birds: Differences to Learn As I did some research, I found that meat bird...

It starts like this: we were going to be out on the boat in the middle of a lake with absolutely no cover. The night before our trip I decided that I needed some kind of rain gear so that I wouldn't be completely miserable if it did rain. I talked with some of our clothing sales people at North 40, and they were talking up Frogg Toggs like it was the-be-all-end-all of anything rain gear saying how lightweight they were and how breathable they were and, "Oh yes, they are completely waterproof." You can check out our selection of Frogg Toggs online here. Well, what got me wasn't the fact that they are completely water proof but that they are breathable. I remember the days of the vinyl rain "slickers" and how they might keep the water off of you, but you're no better off because you are trapped inside of a plastic bubble sweating as much...

I was privileged to field test a pair of MSR Evo snowshoes last week on an overnight hike to Tiffany Mountain, elevation 8200 in a sub-range at the eastern edge of the North Cascades about 25 linear miles northwest of Omak. I got a ride from Omak and began my walk up the North Fork of Salmon Creek from the mountain hamlet of Conconully. Low clouds and fog which overhung the Okanogan, seemingly for weeks, gave way to sunshine at Conconully, elevation 2300. I changed into a new pair of Merrell snowboots that were on clearance at North 40, and donned the Evo snowshoes at the Tiffany Lake Trail #373 trailhead, elevation 4800, a mile or so beyond Salmon Meadows, at about 2PM. The snow was paltry, maybe two feet, and was very rotten, making for some deep postholing and slow progress. I have snowshoed for about 25 years, usually several times ...

Did you know that the average person will walk anywhere between 70,000 and 120,000 miles in their lifetime? If you do the math, that is almost halfway to the Moon or 4 times around the Equator. That is walking up and down the Empire States building's 1,576 stairs 5 times a day. Better yet, how about a realistic perspective for the everyday working class? In a typical 40-hour work week the average person can put in about 15,000 steps a day which is 75,000 steps or 37.5 miles a week. Most importantly these steps are made on or around hard surfaces such as concrete, blacktop or tile even rooftops with a lot of intermittent standing. Starting to sound familiar? For a visual aid, I ask you to look at your work shoes or boots. I worked as an Assistant Manager in our Moses Lake store from 2009: 2010 and then Manager of our Havre store from 201...