We are now in the thick of the holiday season and it seems that we have no time for others. Our busy schedules are packed with shopping, decorating, wrapping and baking. Who has time to be nice to a neighbor or an elderly relative? But now more than ever you need to reach out and show kindness to your neighbors. We all have these mile-long to-do lists that seem toRead More →
Thanksgiving is only days away and soon the work of Christmas begins. You might have plans for major shopping this weekend with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. But for me, I am going to spend the weekend setting the stage for the season to come. And you can too as I share my 5 tips for getting ready for the holidays. Although there is no such thingRead More →
I’m a big fan of vintage style. And I love decorating with vintage containers. I use them in my garden and in my home. Let me show you a few ways you can use vintage containers in your decor as well. With the weather turning cooler, the gardening season is winding down. But I’m still using vintage containers in my garden. They’re a great way to show off your autumn displays.Read More →
The news these days is always negative and it seems that everywhere we turn people are down and discouraged. So I decided that I needed to spread a more positive attitude to counteract the negative. I’ve learned a few things and wanted to share some tips on how to be more encouraging. Do you frequently catch yourself getting sucked into people’s negative attitudes. This can snowball and pretty soon youRead More →
Autumn is the perfect time to go on a picnic. The weather is cooler but not yet cold. The changing colors of the leaves are so beautiful and inspiring. And you get to spend time outdoors with friends and family. But do you ever struggle with getting out the door? You intend to go on a lovely picnic but can’t seem to make it work? I want to share myRead More →
Usually when I talk about porches I am referring to the porch on Pinecone Cottage. But today I want to talk about the porch on the front of my house. It’s very sad looking right now and needs a redo. By this time of year the flower pots are looking scraggly and it’s time to add some cozy to my furnishings. Do you need a fall update for your porch? Read More →
I walked out to the garden a few days ago and my heart sank. Changes that signaled the end of the growing season were everywhere. I had been out of town for about 3 days and in that short time it was evident that the seasons are changing. Autumn can be a wonderful time of year with all it’s colors and crispness. But I don’t like losing the garden. AndRead More →
It’s feeling like Autumn… well, just a little. The mornings have a crispness to them. The sun hangs at a lower angle, which diffuses the light differently. And the garden is slowing down. Definitely not as many zucchinis growing in the autumn garden. So what’s a gardener to do when the season is slowly changing? Embrace it! Every season offers some enjoyment and beauty in the garden. As we moveRead More →
I have to face the truth…how about you? I am a procrastinator. I’m not really sure why, but I know that it’s a habit that I want to break. I have been procrastinating at hanging pictures back on the wall after our paint job. I have been procrastinating at going through my paper piles and I have definitely been procrastinating on dealing with all the zucchini we are growing. WhatRead More →
Although I’ve alluded to my recreational property in some of my posts, I’ve never shared about it directly. So I thought it was time to talk about my cabin. Because Secret Springs is a big part of my life. It’s a place that we retreat to most weekends during the summer. When we first bought our property, we pulled a trailer up to it and that worked for a fewRead More →