I haven’t been posting much lately. I have all kinds of things I want to share with you, but with summer in full swing I’m prioritizing kid-time and project-doing. Speaking of projects…as I was walking around my kitchen a few days ago, I had to laugh. It was such a perfect snapshot of the total…
Archives for 2015
Dark Cherry Chutney Canning Recipe
When the Washington State Fruit Commission asked if I would be a 2015 Canbassador for preserving local, sweet, amazing Washington-grown fruit I lept at the opportunity. You see, as a local Washingtonian, I already believe the fruit being grown by our orchardists throughout the state is the best in the country. This isn’t just hometown pride talking. Washington is…
DIY Sunburn Soothing Comfrey Cubes
When I was nine, my parents took my younger sister and me to Disneyland. It was the kind of vacation every little girl dreams of – Main Street Parade, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, pictures with Minnie Mouse, and a teeth-rotting amount of cotton candy. I know, because there is visual proof of all these activities, carefully…
Easy DIY Tonic Water For The Best Gin and Tonic
There’s only one cocktail I make deliberately light on the booze, and that’s the Gin and Tonic. Is there a more perfect summertime drink? Refreshing, charmingly straightforward and with the added bonus of warding off both malaria and scurvy – the G&T is a classic for a reason. A Gin and Tonic has four ingredients: gin,…
A Year Under The Sun: Solar Review
We just passed the one year anniversary of our solar power system going live. How do things look after a full year? Pretty good. First some numbers, then let’s talk about how we got there. When A&R Solar installed our system, they estimated it would produce 5,200 kWh of electricity per year. Based on past usage, that…
Ten Simple Steps To Prepare For Canning Season
I don’t know about you, but I am feeling a little behind in my canning planning. If you are too, worry not! If we follow these ten simple steps, we’ll both step into preservation season calm and prepared to tackle those bushels of tomatoes and pickles and corn. I was just chatting with my friend and mentor Margaret…
What I Believe
I believe at the end of the day you need family, fresh vegetables, a long walk and something you’re working towards to be satisfied. I believe we are in control of far, far more than we typically act on, and far, far less than we typically worry about. I believe that rats in a cage…
The Garden In May – Photo Tour
Time for a photo tour! It’s always fun to see what other people are growing, so here’s a tour of my garden. Just click your way through. Do you have photos of your garden somewhere on the interwoobles? Post a link in the comments and let’s all be nosy virtual neighbors.
Top 20 Tips Every Gardener Should Know
I’ve handed out a lot of gardening advice in the 4+ years I’ve been writing here, but some tips are just so timeless I find myself coming back to them over and over. Here are 20 tips I think every gardener should know.
The Life Changing Magic of Folding Socks
On of the great joys of my recent Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up experience was learning how to fold socks. Yes, I know what you are thinking: “What a sad life that chick must have if folding socks bring her joy.” But just wait! When you see how I fold my socks now, you might become a happy-sock-folding…
Carrot Soup with Green Curry and Coconut Milk
This soup didn’t make the final cut for the book. That’s not, I hasten to say, because it’s not absolutely delicious and easy. But we already had a curried soup, and two seemed overkill, so this Thai-flavored smooth and creamy carrot soup ended up on the cutting room floor. When I was cleaning out the…
Updates From The Homestead
I feel like the last several weeks have just been a wild ride of revelation and ducklings and craziness. I want to invite you over to have a big piping mug of coffee or an herbal cocktail, and I want to just talk, because everything is happening faster than I can reasonably chronicle it on…