While the days of winter aren’t necessary “long” if measured strictly in terms of daylight hours, they certainly can feel lengthy. The arctic winds whipping around New England (not to mention the rest of the winter wilds lashing the entire globe) sequester many of us living in the Northern Hemisphere to the indoors. If you’re…
Image from Lynne Harty There are few things that offer a more healing balm for the body, soul and mind than a hot bath and a warm mug of tea (well, a trip to Tahiti or a 2-hour massage might come close, but baths and tea are a bit more accessible). Step gingerly into the…
I’m one of those rare souls who really, truly enjoys all aspects of housework. From polishing the furniture and vacuuming our one rug, to mopping the kitchen floor, I fall into a Zen state of tranquility and bliss whilst tidying my home. I’ve long been this way, going so far when I was but a…
Image by Lynne Harty Ah, winter. The season is officially upon us, with its massive snow storms (more on the way, Northeasterners!!!) creating icy fingers and toes and the need for multiple layers of clothing. And while it is a season filled with joy (it is, after all, the time of holiday celebrations, sledding and…
I love the holiday season. I really do. The smell of pine resin in the air, the crackle of the wood stove, the cocktail parties and white lights in city trees and mulled cider. I love wearing cardigans and scarves, donning snuggly boots (these beauties are en route as I type!) and flannel p.j.’s at…
Brrr!!! I don’t know where you are, but here in the mountains of western North Carolina, it’s cold. Seriously cold. Dangerously cold. And while I can layer up in wool and flannel, bracing most of my body from the ravages of dry, frigid weather, I can’t hide my face. My face takes it straight on,…
A large part of the scintillating magic of the holiday season is its smells. From the intoxicating spiciness of gingerbread cookies to the resinous aroma of Douglas and Fraser fir trees; from the crystallized wetness of freshly fallen snow to the smokiness and sulfur of wood stoves and fireplaces, we can’t help but get caught…
Image from Good Life Zen. I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for emotionally evocative commercials. Folgers’ ad about Peter, the older brother returning from Africa and sharing a cup of Joe with his little sister — I’m looking at you. (Sheesh, I even got choked up just uploading the YouTube video!) Publix ditty about families…
Image from Style File The thing about becoming a new parent that no one tells you and that creeps up on you and takes you completely by surprise is just how time consuming these tiny beings can be. Pre-Huxley, Hubs and I were all “surely we won’t become those people that don’t shower until 5:00…
Image sources, clockwise from top left: Fiber Farm, Joyful Stars, Hatchtown Farm, Twist Collective, Silver Moon Studio I’ve long been a fan of those stories detailing what I’ll call the “mid-life about face.” You know, those tales about the former lawyer who leaves her practice to start a goat farm in Vermont. Or the ex-judge…
Image above: Lampshade before tea staining I’ve long been a fan of color. While I know that an all-white room, a set of stark white dinnerware or even a simple white T-shirt appeals to many, it has never been my cup of tea (no pun intended). When my family vacationed in Florida two summers ago…
Image above from Scumbag Clothing I’m a firm believer in the “something in, something out” ethos. In other words, if I pick up a new shirt, I’ll comb my closet for a garment I haven’t worn in some time and get rid of it. If my husband comes home from T.J.Maxx with a set of…
Image above from The Cheap Gourmet I love ritual. The dates and things and places that usher in change and signal the passage of time, that we pine for each year. Growing up, one autumnal ritual my brother and I looked forward to every year was the pumpkin ice cream made fresh at Bergey’s Dairy…
Image above from Natural Home In my mind, the stretch of days from the Autumn Equinox to New Year’s Day is officially known as “Party Time.” With harvest festivals ushering in the celebrations and then continuing on through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice and New Year’s Eve, September through January present numerous opportunities for…
Image above from ifood Whether you associate apples with the biblical symbol for temptation or a penchant for keeping doctors away (if consumed regularly!), apples have a long and storied history in both popular culture and culinary repertoires. And there’s no better time to enjoy these orbs of crisp bliss than right now. The season…
*Image from Science Daily. As the days become shorter, cardigans and scarves begin returning to wardrobes, seasonal apples make their welcome reappearance (we stopped at an orchard and picked up a bushel of Cortlands yesterday, along with apple cider donuts-the best!!!), and leaves begin to color, crinkle, and fall. Parallel with all this crispness and…
*Image from All About You. Growing up, my mom was continually redecorating our surroundings. Although we moved rather frequently, once we were situated somewhere, it wouldn’t be long before my older brother and I would come home from school only to hear mom’s inevitable “What if we moved the couch to the other wall and…
I have a confession to make. I’ve been simultaneously pursuing two diametrically opposed sides of my personality for some time. On the one hand, there’s the compulsive dispatcher, continually searching high and low for little used or unused objects filling up space in my house. Strappy black stilettos I never wear? Begone! Ceramic bowl gathering…
Growing up, I moved around-a lot. From my calculations, I attended four elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools, all before age 18. My mom was an adventurous sort, and moving just kind of became what we did. As a young adult, the inclination towards periodic relocations stayed with me. I moved off…
It’s no secret that it’s been warm lately. And now that it’s August, it’s official. The heat is on. My normally active 2 year-old puppy and 4-year old German Shepard would rather hide in the darkest part of the house, directly underneath the ceiling fan, than chase rabbits. Our 5 cats are having a hard…
