open me
The old box said, “stored December 10, 1995, at 4:30 pm” “open me someday” so 27 years later, on December 10 at 4:30, I did just that. Most objects in the box were ordinary things like candlesticks, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and creamers, and ashtrays. There were a few long-forgotten surprises, like the fourleaf clover in the chicken box and the teeth, but before I sent them off to a thrift store, I...
Curtain Call
I say you still have a chance to make the best tomato pie, tomato jelly, tomato salad, or the absolute best tomato sandwich this season. Make it all, then make a sandwich for yourself to savor. Here is how Dave and I approach the classic summer dish. Mediterra* sourdough bread (and never get this pre-sliced, you can do it!) Slab bacon (peppered, cook in a skillet, crisp) Hellmann’s mayonnaise 2 tomatoes thick sliced 2 slices...
Rock it
I love rocks! Stacked, painted, love to look at old rock walls here and around Pennsylvania. A few years back my family was traveling near Tunkhannock PA and we stopped at a tractor show to take in the sights. Next to the show grounds ran a mountain stream. We walked in and picked up a bunch of beautiful flat rocks. I used to stack them outside, but then one day Lucy and I started making faces out of them and some shells, (love them...
Take a minute and ________.
Tucked in a corner of our outdoor space, we have a couple of chairs where you might sit for a minute to talk, or relax, or write on our dream board. It was originally made for a party but we noticed it was always changing so we left it up and now it is part of our landscape. People of all ages use it. Sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it is thoughtful. I am sure there are a million different ways you could make one, ours is made out...
Seeing a red (or white, or blue) flag
I was planning a 4th of July party at my house and needed just the right thing to fill an area along a gravel pathway. Dave and I wanted our guests to walk our paths and discover the all the areas people could go. Earlier that week I noticed my neighbor was doing some landscaping, and in the yard were those little flags to show utility lines. That was it!! Found them online, inexpensive and come in lots of wonderful colors, the guests...
STICK IT
You don’t need a green thumb to have a colorful outside space, my family says I have a black thumb and I am always trying to prove them wrong but I also like to have a backup plan just in case! Here is an idea that doesn’t need watering, never gets bugs and blooms all year round. Take an odd number of sticks (odd numbers look more natural) look for ones that have smooth bark or bark that can be pulled off. Cut them to a size you like...