I came to the Avocado Toast party pretty late in the game. I thought it sounded weird especially as I’m not a huge fan of savory things for breakfast, and I’m a picky eater in general. But on a trip to New York City a few years ago, I tried it for the first time. I was trying to be more broadminded in my food choices on that trip and not too much of a pain for the friend I was traveling with. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved it! I can’t recall the type of bread or even the toppings, but I immediately came home and…
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Table Manners ~ Lessons from the Past
Table manners and etiquette tips from the past can be as useful today as they were 100 years ago. I have a couple of useful table manners tips from various sources and time periods ranging from the 1850’s to the 1960’s. Some of the advice will sound strange and formal to our uber casual sensibilities, but I think if we dig a little deeper to find the core purpose behind some of these guidelines, we’ll be able to apply the principles to our modern manners. If our actions are rooted in the desire to promote the comfort, convenience, and pleasure of those around us, we will invariably be on the…
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Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe
I was in the mood to do a little baking this weekend, so I pulled out mom’s pumpkin bread recipe. I haven’t made it in ages and I completely forgot how delicious it is. I’ve tried several other recipes from all over the internet, and nothing compares to mom’s. This recipe is pretty nostalgic for me–my mom would bake pumpkin bread using this recipe every holiday season during my childhood. It had been awhile since I made it myself, so I had forgotten some of the nuances of the recipe. This recipe makes plenty of pumpkin bread! I usually use a combination of standard 8×4 bread pans and mini loaf…
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Why Manners Still Matter
How to Not Be a Jerk – Etiquette Tips for the Holidays People are jerks. I’m sure most of us have been both on the receiving end of rudeness and, unfortunately, the giving end. It seems like the difficulties of this year have given people license to behave with appallingly bad manners and a lack of common decency towards their fellow human beings. Taking a peek at some of the etiquette and manners wisdom from years gone by can help us to reevaluate some of the habits that have turned us all in to a bunch of mean girls from high school. “Fanny Reaching” as described in the Oregon College…
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Autumn Garden Chores
Autumn brings a host of gardening chores–most of them involve cleaning and clearing away of dead plant materials–not the most fun in my opinion. But, it’s worthwhile to get your garden all ready for winter. Of course, your fall garden chores will depend on your climate and your garden, but here’s a few tasks I took care of last weekend that helped me feel more ready for winter… Planting Tulips & Glory of the Snow Bulbs Though I can’t say that I actually enjoy the act of planting bulbs in the fall–digging around in cold wet soil is not my idea of a good time. But the rewards are so…
