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’s almost apricot season. These seasonal little gems are such an wonderful treat. But they come and go fast. You can find them at the grocery store all summer long, but if you are growing them in your backyard once they start to ripen, they need to be picked daily so as not to become over-ripe. And then you can make Easy Apricot Cobbler. We didn’t always have an apricotRead 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 →
I’ve been working on a new craft project. One that I can use outdoors to decorate my garden for the season. I enjoy making banners, garlands, and bunting, but typically they don’t do well outdoors. So I decided to make this oilcloth bunting for my garden. Oilcloth is water-resistant and therefore can handle the moisture from the sprinklers. This fabric is actually made from vinyl with a cotton mesh backing.Read More →
School is winding down, vacations are scheduled and the days are definitely getting longer. As summer rolls around, we spend more time outdoors in our yards and gardens. We have company over more often and many times these get-togethers will occur on the spur of the moment. Here are some tips for easy summer entertaining to make your summer life less stressful. 6 Tips for Easy Summer Entertaining… Keep ItRead More →
When my husband and I first got married I didn’t know how to cook. I was still in college and had not lived on my own long enough to learn how to cook anything but the basics. My new best friend was Betty Crocker. I taught myself to cook using that one cookbook that we got as a wedding gift. What does this have to do with June’s Soup ofRead 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 →