Last week I was in Pennsylvania (anyone surprised! LOL) for the Buyers Wholesale Show at Valley Forge and I found this beautiful Robin's Egg Blue Mitten Box - I thought it would look nicer than the shelf...
Growing Moss on Garden Pots
I've already written about my love for repurposing objects like bowls, pots and pans as plant containers. One way to integrate these finds into the garden is to encourage a natural layer of moss to grow...
Herbed Tilapia Recipe
This is a fast and easy summer dish. If you'd prefer, you can cook it on the grill instead of in the oven; just coat the fish with a little olive oil and butter, and clean/oil the grill.Baked Tilapia...
Time to get our drink on!
And what better way than with the very British "Pimms Cup".The anglophile in me would naturally glom onto this summer staple of the highbrow set. Wimbledon proudly sells 80,000 half-pints each year. What...
Weekend Thoughts
A few thoughts for this warm weekend.How to Treat Mosquito BitesMosquitoes are coming out in force around my house. To help reduce the irritation of a mosquito bite, rub any of these household, garden...
Lime Balm Tea Recipe
Lime Balm makes a light refreshing tea that will settle your stomach and help you relax. With its natural lime aroma, it's tasty both hot and cold. Although you can find dried lemon balm at your local...
How to Grow Lime Balm
Lime balm (Melissa officinalis ''lime") is a perennial herb that shares many characteristics with its cousin lemon balm. It is as easy to grow but has a distinct limey fragrance.Growing Lime Balm in...
Midweek Thoughts
For a wonderful photo of St. Johns Wort, visit Earth and Tree. Hedgewitch has a delightful blog and makes clay jewelry too. Her clay impressions of herb leaves are stunning little gems. I own one myself.If...
Make Organic Herbal Shampoo
Making your own organic herbal shampoo is simple and inexpensive. Best of all, you can tailor it to meet your own needs and tastes.Organic Herbal Shampoo RecipeTwo cups of distilled water1 1/2 tsp. Soapwort...
Make Lemon Furniture Polish
Smarten up your kitchen cabinets or wood furniture with baby oil. Just wipe it on, leave it for a few minutes, and then wipe off the residue. Make it part of a maintenance program by prepping your...
Strength in Numbers
"In union there is strength" AesopThis year, 2009, is my 20th year in business. The...
AIDAN IS ONE!
Our youngest grandson, Aidan, turned one on Saturday and we went to his party - it had to be one of the hottest days this week as well - man it was hot! But we all had a wonderful time.Unfortunately their...
The Summer Solstice and Other Sundry Sunday Fare
I hope you enjoyed this morning's Summer Solstice. It was early, so the possums probably beat you to it! Today will be the longest day and shortest night of the year. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere,...
Plant Your Own Saffron Spice
Growing your own saffron (Crocus Sativus) is easier than you think and can add some spicy and refined taste to your dishes. Pound for pound, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world.Don't confuse...
What is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is water that has been evaporated and then cooled back to a liquid. During the process of transforming into a gas, chemicals and microorganisms are left behind and the final product is...
How to Fry Zucchini Blossoms
For a taste of the subtle pleasures of a spring garden, try fried zucchini blossoms. You won't find these in the grocery store. They're a special reward for the vegetable gardener. So enjoy one of...
How To Make Rose Wine
Making your own rose wine can be a hoot. It takes a while, but like making beer, especially if you like to experiment with the recipe like I do, you never know quite what you're going to end up with.The...
Hands of Hope
This beautiful setting is the gardens surrounding the pool at Vicky Wauterlek's home, founder of 'Hands of Hope'.Annually she opens her gardens along with several other generous homeowners in the bucolic...
Grocery Store Vegetables and Herb Seed Sources
I take a perverse pleasure in finding ways to recycle grocery store produce and grow it in my garden. You'd think I'd stop being so tickled and indulge my curiosity some other way than by sticking a...
Dandelion Salad Recipe
Where dandelions are concerned, if you can't beat them, eat them.Adding a few dandelion greens to your favorite pasta salad is a fast and easy way to give your salad some nutritional muscle.Dandelion...
Dandelion Tea Recipes
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is good for you, and even if you hate it in the yard, its bitter taste can be addictive. Remember, when you drank your first beer or glass of wine, you probably thought...
let's think of something else for the moment....
Imagine this for a moment; you are a new blogger, you collect pictures for months, the thrill of a lifetime...............yes, for me it was...............Eddie Ross is in town and he has accepted an...
WHAT I BOUGHT
I did a lot of business shopping last week in Pennsylvania but you must know by now I always save a little money for something fun!We purchased a birdhouse from Primitives By Kathys about 3 years ago...
How to Make Dandelion Wine
I was delighted by an article I read yesterday on The New York Times website feed. It's entitled: The Joy of Less. If you have a second, take a look.It seems that many of my gardening adventures,...
Drying Tea Leaves
Harvest young leaves in spring and process for different teas.Black Tea - Taken from new growth in spring.Bruise leaves by rubbing them between your palms. They should discolor to a reddish brown.Spread...
Growing Tea Plant
Originally tea was produced from the Camellia sinensis plant, a variety of camellia. Tea has been cultivated in China for centuries (2009 estimates put it at around 5,000 years).Standard teas, not herbal...
Make Lavender Oil
You don't have to buy essential oil to get the fragrance and benefits of lavender oil in your bath, sachet, and even in your cooking. Use your fresh lavender buds to make an olive oil infused mixture...
Pepper Growing Tips and Tricks
Peppers don't take up much space in the garden, but provide a good per-plant harvest and can be used in lots of different ways. You can also employ some creative preservation methods that will offer...
HOME FROM PA
This past week I was in Lancaster, PA for a round of shopping, checking on the motel for THE GATHERING and attending a Graduation party....all went great! Well, all except the weather...RAIN EVERYDAY...
Scenes of the Beach
Momma and Baby down by Damon PointBoardwalk Shops filling up!New Fire Station Going up!New store with a cool fa...
