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…
House to Home
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…
Prioritizing Home Improvement Projects
I love scrolling photos of English cottage kitchens with beautiful stone floors, spacious bathrooms with clawfoot tubs and large patios complete with an outdoor kitchen. One day I plan on having some of that in my home. Before we can get to the fun and exciting renovations, there are some projects we have to take…
Lower Your Grocery Bill with These Five Easy Tips
Grocery expenses slowly crept up this past year. Many of us have had to increase our budget to allow for the cost increase. It might be tempting to sacrifice quality ingredients for lower quality foods, but there are better ways to lower your grocery bill. You don’t have to eat unhealthy foods to save money…