We are all more focused on being more intentional with how we spend our money. Often the best way, isn’t one major shift but small changes made over time. If those choices are healthier and better for the environment, then that is a definite win. Learning to save money on laundry can do just that….
House to Home
Curtain Calls
My favorite thing to purchase at thrift stores are vintage fabrics. I instantly visualize them as the most luxurious drapes, cushions or perhaps a tablecloth. Unfortunately, most of these beautiful fabric have yet to fulfill their destiny. Why? Well the thought of sitting in front of the sewing machine once filled me with anxiety. Oddly…
How to Make Elderberry Syrup
During a morning walk I saw these clusters of small berries in different patches on the side of the road. The leaves looked like Water Hemlock but those don’t produce berries. I also remembered reading that elderberry plants resemble hemlock. After taking pictures of the plant to double check, I confirmed they were elderberries. I…
Corn Casserole: A Potluck Favorite
Growing up my family was very involved in our church. It very much felt like an extension of our family. It was a wonderful part of my childhood and I have many cherished memories. We moved when I was fifteen, more than thirty years ago, and I can still picture the people that left an…
Planting A Fall Garden
By the end of August most of us start to lose our enthusiasm with gardening. The sun is scorching and there hasn’t been much rain at all in the last couple months. That doesn’t seem to stop the weeds and garden pests from thriving. I have canned all the green beans and tomatoes I want…
Peach Perfect
When my family immigrated to America, we moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. My parents had worked long hours and sacrificed to buy a small farm. As grateful as we were, it was at times lonely to be so far from family and friends. It was especially hard for my mother to leave my grandmother. They…
Ancestral Connections
Seasons in our lives come and go. It is the way of things. We are left with our memories of the past and dreams for the future. As we age, those dreams are for our children. The women in my family have been plagued with melancholy for generations. This sadness only visits in stillness but…
A Peony for Your Thoughts
The garden is slowly coming back to life. Tiny green leaves are budding on the limelight hydrangeas I planted last year and I am relieved. The best surprise was that the peony tubers I planted last year but never grew actually sprouted this year. My winter blues have been replaced with elation as I prepare…
Romance In Everyday Living
In the busyness of our routines, we can lose sight of the beautiful parts of our lives. Seeing the romance in everyday living is about focusing on the special, often over looked parts of our day. Then searching for ways to make more moments special whenever possible. The older I get, the more I find…
Sourdough Irish Soda Bread
After a few warm days the weather has turned chilly again but the kitchen stays cozy with the woodstove going. Saint Patrick’s day is almost here and I always get a little excited for it. The days are getting longer and the winter blues are starting to slip away. I have started spending time out…