Nature’s Valentines Are All Around You I’ve always loved beach combing or staring at the ground while hiking to see what treasures may be underfoot. My rewards have been varied—from a delicate shell to an ancient flint tool. But my favorite things to spot are heart-shaped stones. I found my first on my property in Texas. The… Continue reading →
The Perfect Way to Steep Your Tea! As we inch our way towards the Winter Solstice, the days get darker and colder. Because I work at home, I can’t turn my heat down too low during the day, but I do keep it at 66º—hence I get chilly, especially when doing sedentary tasks. A hot drink… Continue reading →
Make It for Yourself or to Give as a Gift This handy apron is made from cotton fabric remnants or repurposed cotton fabric and the legs of old blue jeans. Four pockets can hold everything from garden gloves to plant markers, sharpies and your phone. The flapped pocket secures with velcro to keep your phone… Continue reading →
Repurpose Old Pillowcases into Handy Stuff Sacks When traveling I like to have a place for my dirty clothes, and hate mixing them with clean ones when it’s time to pack up for home. Hotels often provide plastic bags for this purpose, but I bring my own when camping or staying on the cheap. Since… Continue reading →
Bring Color and Natural Fragrance to Your Home When the bees take over my lavender plants, I know the blossoms are ready to harvest for drying. I wait as long as I can, so the bees can have their fill of pollen. My lavender attracts a variety of pollinators: honeybees, three different bumbles, sweat bees, and a… Continue reading →
Handmade Gifts Mean So Much! My favorite Mother’s Day gifts from my daughter were those she made herself—usually as part of a school art project. A hand-painted vase on my bathroom windowsill, a tiny hand-print cast in concrete in my garden, a ceramic-framed mirror in my bedroom—remind me of her on a daily basis. I… Continue reading →
Delight with this lovely native “shamrock.” If you live in the Pacific Northwest, a pot of Oxalis Oregana makes the perfect hostess gift for a St. Patrick’s Day party. This PNW native is the closest thing we have to a shamrock and grows like the “weed” it is. You can find Oxalis Oregna, a member… Continue reading →
saving precious artwork when space is at a premium When my daughter was born in 1995, I bought some acid-free scrapbooks and boxes to store those precious paper mementos that come with childhood. Now, filled with finger paintings and Crayola masterpieces, they sit on closet shelves. As my daughter got older, her artwork improved; some hang… Continue reading →