In today's Hamilton Spectator Go section, my story on the Cowboy Cave of Claude Lizotte.

Lizotte's Ancaster backyard in a western theme park. He's built all the pieces, the saloon and general store. 

He's built all the pieces, the saloon and general store. The graveyard is filling up.

The graveyard is filling up. bit.ly/1uIDBot

He has half an acre and started building the Cowboy Cave three years ago.

http://www.thespec.com/living-story/4877873-kathy-renwald-say-howdy-to-the-cowboy-cave/

It's so great to see downtown Hamilton neighbourhoods being discovered by people who love old houses, walkability, and the proximity to music, art, good food and trails. Dylan Hudecki, Skye Collins and their young family love the pulse of their Strathcona Neighbourhood. Like many young couples, their house is a centre for creativity rather than consumption. Surrounded by art, photos, handcrafted furniture, their house holds the personality of those who live in it. In the basement, Hudecki's music studio captures the organic vibe of a 60's coffee house. Young families committed to living downtown, and involved in civic issues add a lasting vitality to the core. My story and Scot Gardner's photos are on the Hamilton Spectator website. bit.ly/1jP4HFa

The piano was a freebee from a neighbour.

The famous photo wall, friends, family, they all are captured by the camera and continue to have a presence at meal times.

A corner of the kitchen just for the kids.

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The basement music studio, for composing and jamming.

Story and photos at the Hamilton Spectator. bit.ly/1jP4HFa

A closer look at the worker's cottage home of Phyllis Tresidder

Design consultant Phyllis Tresidder of Hamilton revived an 1870's worker's cottage with flair and respect for the simple design of the house.

Tresidder worked with Patrick Lees owner of PLG Construction of Hamilton (plgconstruction.com) on the five month renovation which touched every room in the house.

The bathroom is sensational with dramatic Waverly wallpaper.

Ikea shelving is used for all that is useful and pretty.

Phyllis Tressider uses the spare bedroom as a den and office. She consults in both interior design and garden design.

The living room and dining room are generous in size. 12 people can sit for dinner.

The renovation took five months and the one floor cottage is a perfect size for an empty nester.

Rooms in the worker's cottage are a lovely proportion.

A Global View. Working on my next Hamilton Spectator story on collectors. This collector has globes and wedding cake toppers on display at home.

Grade school globes in a beautiful display in the home of a collector.

Mansions and mills on Mary Street North in Hamilton. Did you know about the rich history of one of the city's oldest streets. Look for my story in Thursday's Hamilton Spectator Go section.

The aging gems of Hamilton. I'll be writing about them in this Thursday's Hamilton Spectator.

Medinilla could be your next favorite plant. I write about it in the Hamilton Spectator Go section today. You can find more info at www.medinilla.ca

Working on next home feature for Hamilton Spectator.

These beautiful things are in a house in Waterdown that used to be the OPP station in the 1950's. Quite a change.

Peonies, perennials, and trees. My January 6 column in the Hamilton Spectator.

Some great plants and fine gardeners coming up in my garden column in the Hamilton Spectator this Friday January 6th.

Modern, uncluttered kitchen in the home of the couple who own interLight on Ottawa Street North in Hamilton. My story was in the Hamilton Spectator yesterday, but can be viewed online.

Sleek, modern kitchen, but sized sensibly for people who like to cook, but don't want to take too many steps.

Working on my next home story for the Hamilton Spectator Go section. Mid-century modern and loving it.

I will be profiling more Hamilton homes in future editions of the Hamilton Spectator.

Coming up in the Hamilton Spectator-cool modern in Hamilton.

Also in a future edition of the Hamilton Spectator-Mid-Century Modern in Dundas.

A modern kitchen in a Victorian house in Hamilton. Open shelves, stainless steel counters, a fridge covered in outdoor vinyl with image of the Mona Lisa. Under shelf lighting warms up walls and illuminates cooking tasks. Design by David Johnson, find more in my article in the Hamilton Spectator online, in the Go section.

Creative living in Hamilton-that's my feature in the Go section of the Hamilton Spectator today. Hamilton has a fantastic stock of Victorian homes. Here's one that is a showcase for art.

I am writing about Philadelphia and gardens in this Thursday's Go section of the Hamilton Spectator.

I am writing about plants that will survive in an office, in today's Go section of the Hamilton Spectator.

How do you live in a city that drives you nuts?

Is Hamilton any worse than any other annoying mid-size city? Probably not. I think what grinds away at us is that it has such potential. There is the physical beauty, the proximity to fine places-Toronto-Niagara-Buffalo, the affordability, and the character of the place. It's irritating and frustrating, but Hamilton is not bland. A positive trend is the blossoming of new media coverage. Raise the Hammer, and CATCH have been slogging through the muck in the city, now OpenFile Hamilton adds additional coverage of the good and the bad in the Hammer. Online content will have to fill the gap as the Hamilton Spectator continues to slim down. I went to a buy-out party for the latest group to leave. To say goodbye to Paul Wilson, Barb Brown, Gary McKay and John Kernaghan makes for a very sad Saturday night. But as my late neighbor Gil Simmons would say, press on. Hamilton it's nutty and nice but not to be ignored.

Just finished a video on Gage Park tropical greenhouse for the Hamilton Spectator website. Even though I worked in TV all my career-shooting and editing my own video is still a work in progress.

Amalfi amaryllis with pure pink flowers on sturdy stems. I am writing about them in this Thursday's Hamilton Spectator.