There’s something so satisfying about pulling out all my pretties and actually getting to use them. I love the idea of using my best china and silver for every day, but I’m too lazy to wash the dishes by hand all the time. Every once in awhile though, it’s worth it! Setting the table with special dishes, silverware, and linens fills me with an unreasonable amount of joy. I’ll admit I’m not really that great at making fabulous table settings–I just love all my pretties and the memories they represent. I am definitely not a minimalist and with two hutches filled with china, silver, linens, and the like, the most…
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Easy Avocado Toast
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…
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Tea Party for 1…
There are some days where the only thing to do is have a little tea party with yourself. When I am feeling drab or a little flat, nothing cheers me up like a little tea party. I’m not talking about a teabag thrown into a mug–I mean a full scale fancy teapot, bone china cup, loose tea, sugar, cream, and maybe even something tasty to eat all on a pretty tray. I know it sounds like a lot of work especially if you are already feeling a bit low, but there is something about taking the trouble to do something that makes you feel special.
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Pound of Flesh
This is something I have been thinking about for some time, and while it may not seem to fit with some of the other topics on this blog, I feel like it is an important part of “learning contentment” and living my “best life” whatever that might mean. I wrote this last summer after seeing a picture of myself that jolted me into reality and was so much more upsetting than I expected. I began to think about why I was so distraught. I needed to try to stop the cycle of beating myself up and learn to be content in my own body and headspace. For everyone who has…
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Drying Herbs From the Garden
There is something immensely satisfying about drying your own herbs. Over the last few years, I have focused more on herbs in my garden rather than vegetables because for me, the rewards are so much greater. I have limited space in my raised bed so I’m very choosy about what gets to come back year after year in that space. The beauty of growing herbs is that they can also be planted right alongside my flowers and shrubs and be perfectly happy. Rosemary and lavender thrive in my borders and make up the hedge between the sidewalk and my property. Chives have pretty purple blooms in the spring, golden creeping…
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Knitting, Netflix, & Hand Warmers
Let me start by saying that I am a completely amateur knitter. I do things my own way and am not by any stretch a perfectionist when it comes to knitting or sewing or probably most things. So with that disclaimer out of the way, I can share the perils of combining knitting and Netflix. I know there are many knitters that can combine these 2 things with ease and come out with a perfect knitted item. But alas, I am not one of those knitters. The Perils of Combining Knitting & Netflix I decided to make a pair of fingerless gloves or hand warmers for my daughter. I pulled…
