Anyone who has welcomed a new baby to their world has heard of the nesting instinct — that desire to put in place every supply, every space, every tool ahead of the life-changing arrival. I have no new babies in my future. And yet, the urge to organize, plan, prepare is strong every year rightContinue reading “Fall Is My Nesting Season”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Scrapbooking By a Thread
You’ll find my fondest family memories on my phone Okay. Okay. I admit. I’ve got an OCD streak or two. The kitchen floor must be swept every night. Clothes drawers must be kept tidy. And after I’m done with a text thread, it’s deleted. No old messages cluttering up my phone. Well … except one. ThatContinue reading “Scrapbooking By a Thread”
The Kitty Connection
As my teen grew up and away from me, a sweet little bundle of fur brought us back together My girl slips in the back door after a long day at the end of a long week. She looks weary and defeated. Her big brown eyes are dragging suitcases under them. It’s tough to be aContinue reading “The Kitty Connection”
Even the Bricks Don’t Seem the Same
Who knew how different our home would feel as the kids grew? When I click through old photos on a whim, I am always astonished. My kids were that tiny? The floors were that messy? And the house. Is that really our dining room? Why does it seem like someone else’s? Except for the kitchen,Continue reading “Even the Bricks Don’t Seem the Same”
Saying ‘No’ to Sugar
For the last three weeks — since Ash Wednesday, on February 14th — I have eaten almost no sugar. (And, man, have those three weeks felt like three years!) I gave up sugar for Lent because, for me, it’s a real sacrifice. While I’m not much of a candy girl, I do love my cookiesContinue reading “Saying ‘No’ to Sugar”
It’s All Good …
I know there are people who live for Christmas. Folks who cannot wait to decorate and shop, bake and celebrate. I know that for many, December is the icing on the cake, the star in the sky, the best thing since sliced bread. I am not one of these people. Do I love toContinue reading “It’s All Good …”
Happy Summer!
Here’s hoping your garden is bursting with tomatoes and zucchini and green beans, cucumbers and peppers and melons. Maybe you’ve dug some potatoes. Or headed to a local farm to pick blueberries. Or stocked up at your farmers market, bringing home enough sweet corn to roast on the grill today, as well as cut offContinue reading “Happy Summer!”
Maps Make the Perfect Gift
I have two nieces graduating from high school this month so I’m in the market for a couple of memorable, meaningful gifts. Something to decorate the new dorm rooms, perhaps. Maybe a reminder of home for when they’re far away. As I begin to search for inspiration, one concept keeps popping up at every turn: maps. AsContinue reading “Maps Make the Perfect Gift”
Eating Local Is My ‘Diet.’ What’s Yours?
To any of you who’ve been reading what I write for awhile, the story of how I cleaned up my eating act is a familiar one. In a nutshell, several forces converged to push me toward a healthier, more plant-based life than I’d grown up with: my husband and I put in a garden and weContinue reading “Eating Local Is My ‘Diet.’ What’s Yours?”
Local for Lunch: Welcoming Spring
Salads took center stage for my Spring class at The Roanoke Co-op. We built salads filled with grains and proteins, interesting textures and flavors — and as much local as I could muster. We topped them with a choice of Ginger Sesame Dressing or Poppy Seed Dressing. Then we paired all those leafy greens with aContinue reading “Local for Lunch: Welcoming Spring”