What's Up With That?

The $6 million Coupeville property is on 60 acres and 860 feet of waterfront. It features a safe house with bulletproof walls, 9,000-square-foot shop, three orchards, four wells and tanks that store 17,000 gallons of propane. (Eddie Hayes / Digital Tide Productions)

For sale: Bulletproof island survival ranch and supply cache

The spread on Whidbey has an escape tunnel, workshop, 20,000 gallons of fuel and a lifetime supply of TP.

The $6 million Coupeville property is on 60 acres and 860 feet of waterfront. It features a safe house with bulletproof walls, 9,000-square-foot shop, three orchards, four wells and tanks that store 17,000 gallons of propane. (Eddie Hayes / Digital Tide Productions)
Taylor Mattson, 27, an Everett High School graduate, designed two of Starbucks holiday cups for this year. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Starbucks red cup is Instagram gold for artist from Everett

Taylor Mattson, 27, designed a colorful holiday cup used worldwide in this coffee-est time of year.

Taylor Mattson, 27, an Everett High School graduate, designed two of Starbucks holiday cups for this year. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Anastasia Allison poses with samples of her Kula Cloth, a pee cloth for women to use outdoors, near her home on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Washington. Allison's invention has caught the eye of outdoor retail giant REI and will being selling them in stores soon. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Kula Cloth tries to wipe away the mountains of toilet paper

An Arlington woman’s “spiritual awakening via pee cloth” led to a popular product for outdoorsy women.

Anastasia Allison poses with samples of her Kula Cloth, a pee cloth for women to use outdoors, near her home on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Washington. Allison's invention has caught the eye of outdoor retail giant REI and will being selling them in stores soon. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
George Smith, who has been Santa Claus for more than 13 years, at his decorated home on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Don’t cry, don’t pout, mask up: Santa is still coming to town

The malls plan to have him in person and socially distanced. “We need holiday cheer,” says a mall manager.

George Smith, who has been Santa Claus for more than 13 years, at his decorated home on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A sign at a Lynnwood store on Tuesday. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)

Another toilet paper shortage? No, but hoarding has resumed

As COVID cases spike, so does demand for TP. Stores usually have a supply, but take only what you need.

A sign at a Lynnwood store on Tuesday. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)
Doris Callaghan, 100, at her assisted living home on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 in Mukilteo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Centenarian helps pick the prez: ‘If I can’t vote, who am I?’

Doris Callaghan, 100, and her avid roomies will stay up past their 7 p.m. bedtime on election night.

Doris Callaghan, 100, at her assisted living home on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 in Mukilteo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Two Snohomish County Auditor's Office workers removed the filled blue plastic tubs inside a drop box in front of the Mukilteo Library on Election Day 2018 and placed empty tubs inside to catch the next round of ballots. (Andrea Brown / Herald file)
Two Snohomish County Auditor's Office workers removed the filled blue plastic tubs inside a drop box in front of the Mukilteo Library on Election Day 2018 and placed empty tubs inside to catch the next round of ballots. (Andrea Brown / Herald file)
Puddum the guinea pig in a Halloween costume. (Jessi Loerch)

Get your guinea pig costumed for trick-or-treat — if you can

Dressing up pets is no longer just for cats and dogs. Rodents can be mermaids and superheroes, too.

Puddum the guinea pig in a Halloween costume. (Jessi Loerch)
The Blue Lagoon is a popular Iceland destination. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)

I went to Iceland for the Costco and my husband got a hotdog

On the island of 364,260, there 350 churches, 269 glaciers, many eye-popping wonders — and one Costco.

The Blue Lagoon is a popular Iceland destination. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)
Bruce and Marie Ferguson sit on a rail car set atop train tracks in their yard at home on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 in Snohomish, Washington.  The Ferguson's built in their home in 2007 to mimic a Northern Pacific train depot. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Home, sweet, depot: Train station pad yours for $1.2 million

The Snohomish house comes complete with tracks, speeder car and people looking in the window.

Bruce and Marie Ferguson sit on a rail car set atop train tracks in their yard at home on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 in Snohomish, Washington.  The Ferguson's built in their home in 2007 to mimic a Northern Pacific train depot. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Travis Gilbert hugs his 15-year-old dog Abe on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Arlington, Washington. Abe, deaf, nearly blind and old, went  missing and was found barely alive 12 days later at the bottom of a deep hole in the woods by PUD linemen. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

The tale of old Abe, 15, a blind, deaf dog missing 12 days

The dog’s odyssey landed him at the bottom of a “Silence of The Lambs” pit. A PUD crew saves the day.

Travis Gilbert hugs his 15-year-old dog Abe on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Arlington, Washington. Abe, deaf, nearly blind and old, went  missing and was found barely alive 12 days later at the bottom of a deep hole in the woods by PUD linemen. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Blisters and bonding: A father and son hoof it for 40 miles

Blisters and bonding: A father and son hoof it for 40 miles

Fred Sirianni of Marysville and his son, Jake, walked 19 hours from New York City to Connecticut.

Blisters and bonding: A father and son hoof it for 40 miles
Charlotte Daphne-Celeste Buzard Simmons-Otness sleeps in the arms of her parents, Mark Buzard and Oriana Simmons-Otness. The baby was born Aug. 19 in Everett and given six names. Her first three initials are CDC. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)

This pandemic newborn has 6 names, but you can call her CDC

Meet Charlotte Daphne-Celeste Buzard Simmons-Otness of Whidbey Island. Her mom’s initials are ORCAS.

Charlotte Daphne-Celeste Buzard Simmons-Otness sleeps in the arms of her parents, Mark Buzard and Oriana Simmons-Otness. The baby was born Aug. 19 in Everett and given six names. Her first three initials are CDC. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)
Georgia Gerber’s 12-foot sculpture is a whale of a piggy bank

Georgia Gerber’s 12-foot sculpture is a whale of a piggy bank

“Hope the Whale” hopefully can do for Langley what “Rachel the Pig” did for Pike Place Market.

Georgia Gerber’s 12-foot sculpture is a whale of a piggy bank
Not all who wander are lost, but we definitely were and are

Not all who wander are lost, but we definitely were and are

The pandemic freed us from our desks and opened our eyes to the Everett around us.

Not all who wander are lost, but we definitely were and are
Twins Leslie Davis, left, and Lyndsay Lamb stage a house in Everett as seen on “Unsellable Houses” on HGTV. (HGTV photo)

Twin-sister stars of ‘Unsellable Houses’ get a second season

The hot HGTV show, in which dated Snohomish County homes get revamped, will expand to an hour.

Twins Leslie Davis, left, and Lyndsay Lamb stage a house in Everett as seen on “Unsellable Houses” on HGTV. (HGTV photo)
‘Lobster Girl’ is on a roll at this Whidbey Island food truck

‘Lobster Girl’ is on a roll at this Whidbey Island food truck

The New England classic sandwiches are sold by the highway in Freeland. It’s next to a pot shop.

‘Lobster Girl’ is on a roll at this Whidbey Island food truck
Who’s that 20-foot masked man? It’s the anti-virus Muffler Man

Who’s that 20-foot masked man? It’s the anti-virus Muffler Man

The fiberglass statue has social distanced atop a building in downtown Everett since 1983.

Who’s that 20-foot masked man? It’s the anti-virus Muffler Man
Bold mural turns Everett street into a funkadelic district

Bold mural turns Everett street into a funkadelic district

Check out the city-centric ship montage with an airplane wing, seagull, Funko crown, hockey stick.

Bold mural turns Everett street into a funkadelic district
The ‘Sub Man’ knows what customers want before they walk in

The ‘Sub Man’ knows what customers want before they walk in

Wai Eng opened his shop 35 years ago. Once he gets to know you, he knows what to make you. Cash only!

The ‘Sub Man’ knows what customers want before they walk in