This Dutch Colonial known as the Amityville Horror House recently went for $1.15 million.

The house is a homebuyer’s dream. It’s elegantly appointed. It has an exclusive address and a waterfront view. It sold in just 70 days.  Too bad it’s haunted. But despite its reputation, the Dutch Colonial known as the Amityville Horror house recently earned its latest owners a pretty penny with an asking price of $1.15 million. So let’s look at some of the other benefits of living in a home where things go bump in the night. Here are six reasons why living in a haunted house isn’t so bad:

Built-in home security. Why invest in a home security system or rely on a dog that will get you sued when he bites the home intruder? Keep the liability (and decibels) to a minimum with an army of the undead working for you. They won’t …

Hummingbirds – the supercharged tiny flyers of the bird world – are preparing to head south to warmer climates as summer wanes. That means now is a good time to put a feeder outside your home for some cheap outdoor entertainment while helping the little guys get energized before migrating.

With wings beating from 70 to 200 times per second – depending on whether they are flying, diving or hovering in mid-air -  all that turbo action needs to be fueled with a diet of sugar-rich nectar and the occasional insect, which is essential for protein. They also need a balanced diet for the occasional brawl since they are jealous defenders of what they believe to be their “territory.”

I learned this within days of putting a feeder outside my home with the hope of attracting the hummingbirds I had seen

About the Author: Christine Huard

Christine Huard is a San Diego-based writer …

How to Avoid "Losing It"!

Parenting has been the greatest joy in my life, but it has, at times, also been the greatest challenge. I would imagine this is true for just about all parents, probably particularly so for stay-at-home moms who rarely get a break, like I was when my own three children were newborns, toddlers, and preschoolers.

The day-to-day toil of keeping our house and taking care of three children whose needs seemed to be all-consuming – just as I would take care of one child’s need for a bottle, the next would need a diaper changed, one would need a snack, and another would need consoling for an “owie” with a kiss and a Sesame Street Band-aid – was often more than I could handle. Honestly, I’m surprised I wasn’t more overwhelmed than I was.

But not all moms (or dads!) will admit moments of feeling overwhelmed, …