It’s finally time. Asparagus season is here and the newly harvested vegetable is starting to trickle into the stores. This bright spear is only available locally for the next month or 2 and we eat it in everything. We grill it, steam it, roast it, bake it, stir fry it and even microwave it. These yummy stalks are the star of my Soup of the Month for May… Asparagus, ChickenRead More →
It’s time to get the herb garden growing. I have plans for a creating a new Kitchen Garden this summer but it’s not going to be ready for this season. So I’m planting herbs in my old bed one last time. Some of my herbs are perennials such as the sage, lemon balm and oregano. Others need to be seeded directly or grown in containers and transplanted. I use bothRead More →
This year we had to say goodbye to an old friend. The huge tulip tree in our backyard died last year and we had to take it down. We planted that tree the first year that we moved into our home 28 years ago. It started as a twig and it grew into a beautiful but massive shade tree. Our kids and family grew up under the shade of thatRead More →
I live in an agricultural area and that means that when you drive outside of town you will see crops growing. Many of them are easy to identify such as corn and wheat. But oftentimes I will see some plant that I am not sure what it is. Especially if it’s in the early stage of growth. And inquiring minds want to know! Sometimes the farmers will post labels alongRead More →
You can always tell that it’s spring when the rhubarb is growing. If you harvest it in small batches, you can oftentimes keep it growing into the summer. This way you can make it last for quite awhile. My rhubarb go-to recipes include Rhubarb Pie, Rhubarb Cake and Rhubarb Jam. Today, I’m sharing Rhubarb Sauce made 3 Ways. These are my favorite recipes for Rhubarb Sauce. The first is theRead More →
Decorating your garden should be more than a chore. Terracotta and outdoor pottery work perfectly fine, but it’s fun to incorporate something unexpected. Using vintage containers in your garden can be just the thing. Over the years, I’ve used a variety of old containers to grow bulbs and flowers. Using vintage containers in your garden is a great way to add some character to your decor. The vintage containers IRead More →
I’m a flower girl! What I mean is that I love, love, love flowers. I try to fill my yard and home with flowers. Especially flowers that I can cut to bring inside. And I’m a little old-fashioned. Some of my favorites are old-style flowers like peonies, lilacs, and daffodils. Each year I work to create a vibrant spring garden and you can too. April is the month that we’llRead More →
May Day is coming soon. Do you celebrate this holiday each year? This is a time to celebrate spring and to look forward to the warmer months of summer. It’s also a great time to surprise your friends with a May Day gift. May Day festivities are a part of many cultures. Parades, may poles, bonfires and dancing are ways people celebrate world wide. In the US, May Day celebrations oftenRead More →
It’s time for a new soup of the month. We are now into April so I wanted to share another soup with you! I hope that you have been enjoying trying the new soups each month. This month I will be making a delicious Seafood Chowder. It is still early in the growing season. That means that we are not yet getting a large variety of new fruits and vegetablesRead More →
When I started blogging last year, I knew nothing about how to blog. It took me 4 weeks to send my first post because of fear. But I overcame that fear and hit publish. And I have continued to hit publish. Today, I am celebrating 1 year at Pinecone Cottage Retreat! The past year was amazingly full. Here is a list of some of the major things that occurred inRead More →