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Snow and ice. Cancelled flights. Unhappy travelers. Over the winter, we've seen the news reports of hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded in airports, unable to get to their destination. It's a terrible way (stressful, uncomfortable and expensive) to spend a few days.  A traveler is at the mercy of Mother Nature and the airlines. Christmas Day 2010 brought six inches of snow to us here in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. With the cold temperatures and snow, my husband and I decided enough was enough , so we went online and booked a trip to warm Hawaii for January 11-18, 2011. Of course, we experienced another winter storm on the day we were supposed to fly to Hawaii! The ice closed the airports and flights were cancelled.  We were not going to Hawaii as planned—but, when—and at what cost to rearrange our flight and hotel? We typically book our flights and accommodations separately. We booked the Hawaii trip as a combined flight and hotel package through American Airline...

Nicole and Chris It is a wonderful thing when two people are perfect for each other. Chris Cameron and Nicole Guinn are engaged! Nicole, originally from Alaska, is a MD (anesthesiologist—organ transplant surgeries) at Duke Medical Center. Our son, Chris, is a contract archaeologist as well as a general partner with the investment management company, Arbor Lea Partners, LP. We are so pleased that Nicole will be part of our family! Richard and I are thrilled for Chris and Nicole and wish them all the happiness in the world. Words and photos by Freda Cameron , Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel .

Best Perennial in a Leading Role Agastache 'Cotton Candy' Agastache 'Cotton Candy' never stopped blooming from April until frost. Gotta love it! Healthy and robust, I tried pinching it back, cutting it back and leaving it alone. No matter what I did, this agastache was happy all through the first growing season in my garden. Ignored by deer and rabbits,  agastache is loved by bees and butterflies. This variety survived more than 90 days of 90 degree temperatures with little water! Agastache 'Cotton Candy' from Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. Best Perennial in a Supporting Role Creeping Perennial Heliotrope 'Azure Skies' Once again, heliotropium amplexicaule 'Azure Skies' from the Southern Living® Collection is the best ground-covering perennial that never stops blooming, rewarding you with  Six Months of Bloom from One Perennial . The growth habit is low and it quickly covers several feet of ground. Cut it back to keep it from getting leggy, or l...