One of my favorite pair of pruners for heavier garden work is my ratcheting pruners. They are also known as ratchet hand pruners, and make light work of heavy tasks. It does not matter if you have one small hydrangea bush or a yard full of garden beds. At some point, you will need to …
Many homeowners have smaller yards, but would still like to enjoy the benefits of homegrown vegetables. For them, gardening with raised garden beds may be the answer. Vegetable gardening normally requires large plots of land in order to get good harvests. But this is not always possible in today’s world. This is where raised garden …
If your mailbox has seen its better days, like mine had, it might be time for a mail box makeover! Nothing creates a first impression in your front yard more than a well detailed and maintained mailbox. Unfortunately, mine was an eyesore and needed a lot of TLC, so I recently spent the afternoon giving …
Follow my 30 tips for a great vegetable garden harvest, and you will be bringing in baskets of fresh vegetables all summer long this year. Do you have a great vegetable harvest, or is yours just so so this year? Summer is that time of the year when vegetables are starting to really show up in …
This summertime hot dog and fresh vegetable stir fry could not be easier to prepare. During the summer time I am always looking for simple recipes that are easy to make and lend themselves to outdoor eating. All that is needed when it is done is to add a side salad and serve dinner on …
This recipe for green beans with garlic and mushrooms is the perfect way to make a vegetable the feature on a summer dinner plate. I love summer time cooking. It gives me a chance to make vegetables the star item in my dinner time menu. Have a steady supply of beans all summer long! Green …
Do you believe that the birth order of your siblings plays a part in family dynamics? I come from a very large family of 6 children, born and raised in Maine. I am the oldest, with 3 middle sisters and two younger brothers. When I learned about Middle Sister Wines and their varieties of wines, …
This year, we spent the summer on a garden make over. I thought it would be fun to share the tips that I learned during the process. It’s that time again. Time to transform one of my garden beds that just won’t seem to keep to a single design. I call it my “what will …
This Caprese Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad is simple to make and is the perfect way to showcase the tomato and to add some color to your dinner plate. For me, there is nothing quite like the taste of garden fresh tomatoes, especially those that you have grown yourself. My tomatoes have just started growing this …
My latest project is this old book case garden make over that adds color to my garden bed and becomes a great place to store garden tools. I love to re-purpose tired and dilapidated old furniture and household goods. It is fun to think outside the box and come up with a new way to …
Gardening in the summer months can be a challenge. These 5 tips for a flourishing summer garden will help to get the best out of your plants, both outdoors and inside. If you’re late to the game on spring gardening, no fear. There’s still time to create a beautiful, vivacious garden at home. Given the …
This cement blocks Plant Shelf project is the perfect way to show off a collection of plants and to add a focal point to a garden bed. I love recycling old materials into something new. A big collection of cement blocks got a new lease on life today. This not only saves me money but helps …
These musical planters are a whimsical way for me to ring in the sounds of the South West. I have a new garden bed which has a South West Focal point as a seating area and I have carried the colors of turquoise and terra cotta through the garden with both accent pieces, planters and …
These DIY hose guides are a great way to keep your hose from trampling your plants. They can be made for a fraction of the cost of a retail set. I have really large garden beds in my front and back yard. Some are easy to manage as far as the hose goes and others …
If you are just starting out into the world of vegetable gardening, the last thing you will want to do is choose hard to grow vegetables. My list of the best Vegetables for beginning gardeners will help you to choose those with the greatest chance of success. If you don’t have room for a large …
Join me for a trip down the Pottery Highway. Seagrove, North Carolina is located about an hour and a half west of Raleigh and featured the largest group of working potters in the USA. All around this small town, for about 30 miles, one will find Pottery Studios and stores that showcase the work of …
Follow these tips for cooking with mushrooms to ensure that every meal in which you use them as an ingredient will turn out perfectly. Mushrooms are one of my favorite vegetables. They are a member of the fungus family and have been used in recipes since the early Roman and Greek times. Mushrooms are very …
Making sandwiches is more than just adding a piece of meat between two slices of bread. There are endless recipes and these tips for making a great sandwich will show you how to make yours special. Every since the 18th century, when the 4th Earl of Sandwich (as legend has it) spent 24 hours at …
These clever gardening hacks will make light work of garden chores and many recycle common household items into useful garden products. A win-win any day! I love to write about clever ideas that gardeners can do to make their garden chores easy. Sure, it is easy to throw money at a project, but with a …
These 15 money saving BBQ tips will trim the fat on your grocery bill but still make sure that your gatherings are something for your guests to remember. It is finally that time of the year again. Memorial day, the Fourth of July, and Father’s day are just around the corner. This means that the …
My husband and I recently finished this budget front yard make over in an afternoon. I love the way it turned out. I am all about gardening on a budget. With the amount of garden beds that I have, (8 and counting!) I have to be. I had a neglected Pine tree garden that was …
This DIY Yard Sale Shepherds hook make over is my latest project and adds a nice touch to my new seating area. I love to go to antique fairs, yard sales and flea markets. There is something really special about finding old things to re purpose or to add to a collection of vintage items. …
This Orange Tuna with Black Bean and Corn Salsa is one of my family’s favorite fish recipes. Tuna is a favorite fish in our house. We love the texture of it, and it takes only seconds to prepare (good quality tuna can be served rare, so it takes just a couple of minutes on each …
This recipe for vegetable spring rolls is perfect for your vegan friends but will also tempt the most ardent meat eater. I served them as a party appetizer recently, along with a table full of meat dishes and the dish was the hit of the party. Be sure to make the dipping sauce, it makes …
Do you like the taste of Caribbean flavors? If you do, this Caribbean dry rub is for you. The rub is a delicious blend of both savory and sweet spices that will give your burger an island kick. It adds a delicious flavor to any burger, particularly those made from ground pork or chicken. We …
This Mex-Italian Burger is a blend of two of my favorite cuisines for one great barbecue taste. We love grill time at our house, and nothing is better on the grill than a home made burger. They put any fast food burger to shame and are simple to prepare. This Mex- Italian Burger combines the …