Summer is the perfect time to explore new vegetables. Whether you are growing them in your garden or selecting them at the farmer’s market there is such a wide variety of options available. Marinated vegetables is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the garden abundance. You can use any type of vegetable for this side dish. So try your favorites or add in something new. You can make itRead More →
You’ve been waiting and waiting for that garden to grow. You planted and fertilized and watered and now you are finally seeing the results of your hard work. Slowly the produce starts to ripen and you are enjoying the “fruits of your labor” But then something happens. The fruits and vegetables start to ripen more rapidly and all at once you have a massive amount of produce to handle. HowRead More →
Do you have a potting bench in your garden? A place where you can plant seeds and pot your flowers? This is something that I have been thinking about for some time. While I do have a potting bench in Pinecone Cottage, I don’t really want to be dragging in potting soil and water. So I decided to create an outdoor potting bench. I’m using an area behind my gardenRead More →
Don’t you just love a good porch? It offers a great way to enjoy your yard and garden on a warm summer night or a crisp fall morning. Whether you have a massive wrap around, a full size or a postage stamp size porch, they can all provide wonderful benefits. These 6 tips for decorating your porch can help you to make the most of this space. Here are someRead More →
I am a fan of chalkboards. You can frequently find them sprinkled around my house. They include a vintage kids chalkboard, a large picture frame chalkboard and lots of small chalkboards. For some time now, I have been wanting a chalkboard sign for Pinecone Cottage. So I want to show you how to make a garden chalkboard from an old tray. I found this tray several years ago at aRead More →
As the garden season heats up the leafy greens are growing. If you are eating more luscious salads this summer you need some type of dressing for them. A homemade vinaigrette is the perfect topping for your salads. Most store bought dressings are loaded with sugar and unwanted chemicals. By making your own dressing you can create healthy, delicious options. All it takes are a few ingredients from your pantryRead More →
When I shared my tips for using vintage baskets, I suggested that you make a plant container out of them. I found a basket at a yard sale recently that I thought would make a great planter. So I wanted to walk you through the planting process for a wicker basket planter. This is a newer basket from the ’80s rather than the ’50s that I usually collect but theRead More →
It won’t be long before our gardens will be overflowing with produce. Or we’ll be visiting the Farmer’s Market and find a great buy on corn. The fruit trees will be laden with ripe fruit and the raspberries ripen all at once. The abundance of fruits, vegetables and herbs during the summer is one of the blessings of living in an agricultural area. Once the harvest season starts you needRead More →
My rhubarb is ready for harvesting. The stalks are a beautiful ruby red and they are perfect for baking. So I thought it was time for another rhubarb recipe. Rhubarb Crunch Cake is a wonderful dessert that we have been eating for many years. It was given to me by a dear friend and I am so grateful to her every time we eat it. This moist cake can beRead More →
Raise your hand if you like flowers. There’s something so special about growing flowers in your yard and garden. But if you can bring them inside, that’s even better. They offer not only something beautiful to look at, but they give off a lovely fragrance as well. A number of years ago, I began planting a cutting garden so I had flowers to bring inside without using my shrubs andRead More →