Astilbe is one of my favorite perennials for a shade garden. There are not many plants that really like the shade that also flower beautifully, but Astilbe is one of them. Astilbe colors could even be called the stars of a shady garden. Astilbe makes a wonderful border edging plant for a large garden bed. …
This cute coffee pot terrarium is the perfect bit of household plant decor to have nearby when I have my morning cup of coffee. It puts me in a good mood for the day just to look at it! Using recycled items in my DIY projects saves me money and also helps our environment but …
These burlap tea bag jars are the perfect way to store my special tea bags. Their romantic look seems to be just waiting for me to reach in and start a new memory! This DIY project is easy to put together with a few basic supplies and a couple of hours of time. Burlap is very …
If you go to the big box hardware stores around the holidays and during the winter months, you will most likely find African Violets for sale in a lovely variety of flower colors. Even though African Violets can be somewhat picky about care, they are still one of the most popular indoor plants grown. Keep reading …
For me, there is nothing quite like the taste of an Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Beef Stew. Ah – the joys of using a slow cooker. When the weather is cold and you are looking for something comforting for dinner, bring out your crock pot. Cooking beef this way ends up in the most amazingly …
I thought it would be nice to start an Osiria Rose Photo Gallery. If you love growing perennials, it may be worth trying to find this Osiria rose, in spite of its reported growing problems. Osiria Rose is a hybrid tea rose that was first hybridized in Germany by Mr. Reimer Kordes of Germany in 1978. …
Peeling onions is something that many cooks do on a daily basis but the job brings along tears. Do you know why onions make you cry? There are many types of this versatile vegetable and most will make you cry when you chop them. Find out about the onion varieties here. Onions are easy to grow …
Are you thinking more about your overall health and fitness? These 11 food and drink substitutes help me with my weight loss, and also have other beneficial effects for my general health. I had a scare late last year that had me in the hospital for a few weeks worrying about my heart and my …
This recipe for Pan Seared Halibut with a Butter Dill sauce is a perfect way to serve this delicious fish, whether you are a gourmet cook or still finding your way around the kitchen. The sauce is mild but very flavorful and is made before the fish is cooked to make sure that the whole …
This Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge has everything that you want in a fudge recipe. It’s crumbly, peanut buttery, chocolatey, and deliciously tasty! If you like fudge with texture this is, hands down the best-tasting fudge ever! If you love Reese’s peanut butter cups, you will want to dive right into this pan as soon …
This (less than) 30 minute pork stir fry is my latest international recipe, It is so easy to do and tastes just wonderful. This is such a busy time of the year with all the holiday preparation, cooking and shopping to do. To combat this, I am always looking for quick and easy dinner meals …
These Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers fill the comfort food need but keep health in mind at the same time! The cold temperatures that we have been experiencing lately have made me looking for some new “comfort food” creations. There is nothing quite like tucking into a hearty meal when you are chilled to the bones. …
Setting up a pretty festive table does not have to be stressful. Just follow these 15 easy holiday party ideas to make entertaining a joy. Entertaining this time of the year is so much fun. It is the time for trimming the tree and decorating the house (don’t forget to use Christmas plants!) It’s also …
‘Tis the season for fudge, brownies, and truffles. These Fudge Brownie Truffles combine all of my favorite tastes in one delicious brownie-flavored bite. They are so tasty that they’ll deserve pride of placement on your holiday dessert table. The holidays give me an excuse to cook up a batch or two of my favorite treats. I know …
Cleaning a Dry Erase Board and eraser can be a challenge, depending on how long the marks have been left on it. A dry erase board can be a useful household tool for keeping the home organized. Fortunately, I have just discovered an easy way to to the job! Keep reading to learn how I …
Today’s project uses some old barnboard-style wood to make an easy and very inexpensive Thanksgiving Centerpiece for our dining room table. My husband and I are in the middle of renovating our kitchen and other areas of our home, so we have a lot of bits and pieces of wood that are just lying around …
This delicious sausage garlic Parmesan pasta recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes, and I can also make it for my family at a cost of less than $10. What is not to like about that? My family loves any recipes that have pasta in it, and I love coming up with new ideas …
Biltmore Estate Gardens are a highlight of a visit to this iconic estate in Western North Carolina. The gardens, while not classified as a Botanical Gardens per se, is a fabulous place to see plants of all types. My husband and I recently spent several days in the mountains of North Carolina with our daughter. …
ThisDIY Cutting Board Holder that fits neatly behind my cabinet door and holds my wire racks too!. Are you looking for a place to put your cutting boards? I have been storing mine on my counter tops, but I have been wanting to de-clutter the look in my kitchen lately, so I came up with …
This DIY Grocery Bag Dispenser Tutorial gives me a place to keep my used plastic bags and is super easy to make, too. Are you a grocery bag hoarder? I have always been one. They have so darn many uses, that it is a shame to just throw them away when you come back from …
It’s time for some apple pie oatmeal bars! They are packed full of flavor and are a perfect choice for enjoying the cooler autumn days. Apple desserts (like these apple crumble baked apples) just scream fall! It’s fall, y’all! For me, that means three months of nonstop baking, decorating, and general holidaying. I just …
This pantry closet makeover tutorial will show you how to make a tiny kitchen closet into a mini walk in pantry. My kitchen is small. It’s a gallery kitchen with very little counter space, so I am always optimizing it for extra storage. The pantry is the size of a small closet and every single …
Decorating your yard with creative metal yard art can add a wonderful touch of whimsy to your outdoor garden space! I recently spent a week in a lovely cottage in the mountains of North Carolina. It was a great get away with my husband, daughter and her boyfriend. We spent the time driving around the …
This no carve autumn leaf pumpkin project is fast and easy to do and looks great when done. Carving pumpkins is a lot of fun, especially when you do it with children, but it is also messy. Fortunately, there are many alternatives for a carved pumpkins that will still set a fall theme around your …
This 7 bean soup mix is the perfect cold-weather recipe. It is rich and hearty and has a lovely spicy herb blend to give the soup a lot of flavor. Cooking with dried beans is so popular that they even have their own National Day. January 6 is celebrated each year as National Bean Day. …
Learn how to season cast iron cookware in just minutes with these easy tips! Cast iron cookware is my new best friend. My daughter has raved about the benefits of cooking with it for years and I only started using it recently. It is important to season cast iron cookware before using it, though. It’s …