FamilyOlympicCelebration

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

Family Olympic Celebration Are you one of those people who obsessively watches the Olympics? I am.  Every two years, I find myself rearranging my schedule and converting our kitchen island into my makeshift office so that I…
Summer Fun: A New Garden, Hunting for Stones, and an Island Trip

Summer Fun: A New Garden, Hunting for Stones, and an Island Trip

Summer Fun "What did you do over the summer?"  It is a frequently asked question as kids get ready to head back to school.   For some of you, this may be a bit early to ask this question, but my kids started school a…
flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)

Drought Tolerant and Beautiful: Flame Acanthus

Do you like colorful flowers and hummingbirds? If so, you may want to consider adding flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)  to your garden. This is a fairly new addition to my garden and the local hummingbirds…
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Drought Tolerant Fairy Gardens

The popularity of fairy or miniature gardens is evident with whole Pinterest boards dedicated to them as well as nurseries having entire sections filled with fairy garden furniture and accessories. During a recent visit to California, I…
Gardening In a New Climate: Putting Your Own Personal Stamp on Your Garden

Gardening In a New Climate: Putting Your Own Personal Stamp on Your Garden

For those of you who have found yourselves in a new place without a clue how to care for your garden, this post is for you. In my last post, we talked about six things to do before you make any changes to your landscape. Today, it's time…
Michigan

Gardening In a New Climate: Steps to Take Before Making Changes to Your Landscape

Have you ever moved to a new area with no clue what type of plants you have or how to care for them?  Well, your plight isn't unusual - people find themselves in this situation often. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take to…
Michigan

Gardening In a New Climate: Steps to Take Before You Make Changes

Have you ever moved to a new area with no clue what type of plants you have or how to care for them?  Well, your plight isn't unusual - people find themselves in this situation often. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take to…
Summer Garden Adventures With a Twist

Summer Garden Adventures With a Twist

Summer is a season filled with warm weather (or hot if you live in the desert) and brightly colored blossoms. While I usually enjoy the view of my summer garden from the comfort of my air-conditioned house, this year I've experienced a twist…
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Can It Forward: Making Nectarine and Blueberry Jam

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*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support in this way. I love to can fruit, and so I was very excited when the publishers…
magnifying glass just for kids.

A Dime Store Magnifying Glass and a Whole Miniature World at Your Doorstep

Do you remember exploring your backyard as a child?  I do. I loved smelling my dad's roses, digging into the soil for worms and hoping to find some interesting bugs (not spiders).  My mother would give me a little margarine tub…