I don’t know about you but my life has been crazy busy this season. There are so many activities going on….year end school, graduations, weddings, sports activities and work projects. The busyness seems endless and stress seems inevitable. For me, I have one child who just graduated from College and a second one who is getting married in September. I recently hosted a Bridal Shower in my backyard for her. Read More →
My husband is not fond of mayonnaise so I have never fixed a traditional style of coleslaw. However, I enjoy eating a variety of salads and using shredded cabbage is easy and nutritious. My cilantro is finally at the picking stage. That means that it’s time to use some in my favorite refreshing cabbage salad. This salad makes a great side dish for tacos, burgers or even sandwiches. Honestly, IRead More →
You spent a relaxing day at the park, hiking the hills or working in your backyard only to find that you have become a tick feast. Ticks are definitely not something that we want on ourselves, our kids or pets. My husband and I have recreational property in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Washington and we are frequently exposed to these pesky creatures. I want to share a few suggestionsRead More →
One of my favorite early morning activities is to walk through my garden. The plants are still moist from the night air and the fragrance floating on the breeze is heavenly. As I walk past my herb bed I like to run my hands over the various plants to help release even more of those wonderful smells. Herbs add so much value to your garden. All sorts of bees andRead More →
I like the rhythm of the seasons in my home and garden, especially when it comes to preparing foods. I try to eat seasonally whenever possible so you will find plenty of recipes with rhubarb, strawberries and asparagus in the spring. One of my favorite strawberry recipes is a pie-like dessert that we call Strawberry Pizza Dessert. Originally I made this in a medium size spring form pan but overRead More →
I am crazy about little flying critters like bees, birds and butterflies. They provide such joy to the garden, spreading pollen and cheering me with chirping and buzzing. However, it is a little too early for massive amounts of bees and butterflies in my neck of the woods. So this time of year I like to make my own flying beauties to spread some smiles. How to make paper butterflies:Read More →
My husband and I made it through the snowiest and seemingly ‘longest’ winter on record in our part of Eastern Washington without getting any major illnesses. Now as the weather is starting to warm, the spring flowers are blooming and it’s time to work in the yard…I have come down with a cold. Unbelievable. One of the things that I like to prepare when anyone is sick with a cold,Read More →
I have wonderful friends who are always sharing great ideas. Last summer one of those friends shared that she was growing a salad bowl. She was not filling a salad bowl with greens instead she was growing her salad in a bowl. A huge outdoor metal bowl to be exact. Spinach, kale and a variety of lettuces filled her bowl. The nice thing about growing your greens in bowls isRead More →
Not long ago I saw some beautiful pictures of Butchart Gardens in the spring. They reminded me of a wonderful trip that my husband and I took to Victoria BC a number of years ago. I had a good laugh when I remembered the breakfast that we enjoyed at a quaint downtown restaurant. We ordered a large platter of Bubbles and Squeak and set about to devour it. About halfwayRead More →
The gifting season is almost here…Easter, Mother’s Day, Graduation and Weddings. It seems like the gift list is never ending and I’m always trying to come up with fun and unique ideas for gifts. I enjoy giving gifts from my garden although not every gift that I give is garden related. I do try whenever possible to slip in a garden inspired idea from bouquets to meals. However, early springRead More →