I don’t recall exactly when the switch occurred, but sometime in the mid- 80′s, our house went from being a butter-eating domain to a margarine-eating one. I can’t really blame my mom, as margarine was all the rage back then. Right along with Jazzercise and “Just Say No,” consuming margarine was de rigueur health-wise at…
The growing season is revving up for many of us. Seeds are being sown, vegetable starts are going into the ground and greenmarkets are reopening, showcasing their earliest offerings of the year. Among those newly emerging crops are members of the allium family. From ramps (SO good in mashed potatoes!) and garlic to shallots and…
Now that it’s becoming warm again, I enjoy an early evening ritual most days — the alfresco cocktail hour. Whether it’s a glass of rosé paired with a bit of sharp cheddar and green olives or a mocha stout partnered with salty pretzels, I like to pour myself a little something and hang out on…
When you’re a full-time stay-at-home writer and your spouse works at home as well, the specific feeling of certain days of the week can get a bit wonky. What might feel distinctly “Monday” to someone else can feel like any day to us. In fact, we often lose track of what day it is, working…
It was during a visit to my mom’s house this past Saturday that I saw the photo. I don’t have any recollection of viewing this particular image before, but there it was. On full display, for all the family gathered to bear witness, was irrefutable proof that since quite a young age, I’ve been a…
A number of stories involving peas floated around my house growing up. There’s the tale about my older brother, who, as a toddler, squirreled away a storehouse of the tiny green orbs in his cheek during a feeding, only to expel them, cannonball-style, at my parents later. There’s also the story my mom would tell…
It’s official. Spring has come to the mountains of western North Carolina. A jaunt around our property this past Monday provided all the proof I need that the season of buds and birth and renewal is here to stay. One of my favorite things about this time of year is the return of herbs. From…
Image above: My older brother, my Pop and myself, circa ’78, Virginia Beach, VA. I love bodies of water. From churning oceans to still ponds, tidal pools and placid lakes, if there’s water involved, I’m a fan. Having just returned from a visit to Florida’s Gulf Coast, my water passion feels especially fervent. My younger…
I’ve kept calendars and day planners for the last 14 years. As an order-craving person, my calendars and planners keep me on task, on time and on schedule. Bills are paid, writing deadlines are met, doctor’s appointments are kept and the dogs get taken in for their annual, all on account of my fastidious devotion…
Historically speaking, my morning cuppa has been of the Camellia sinensis variety. From Earl Grey to lapsang souchong to genmaicha and all points in between, I’ve long been a tea drinker. Since becoming a mom four months ago, however, the tide has been turning. Each morning, I find myself moving further and further toward the…
During the summer and autumn months, you can find me stirring, boiling, filling and jarring some sort of canned good just about every week. A profusion of jams, preserves, pickles and more come out of my kitchen, owing largely to the abundance of produce available. When winter rolls around, however, my output slows. Area farmers’…
Around my house, I’m always looking for ways to keep things out of the trash. Whether that means recycling, reducing or reusing objects in new ways, if it can stay out of the bin, I’m thrilled. Just as Kate’s new Treasure Hunting column shows ways of re-imagining items, I’m always trying to give new life…
I have a long history of dabbling in “healthy” diets. Vegan, vegetarian, macrobiotic, grain-free, raw — I’ve done them all for varying lengths of time. When I discovered I was pregnant last year (auspiciously, my little man emerged from “the great beyond” on Valentine’s Day!), I just knew I was going to be the healthiest…
Mesh feeder from Songbird Garden When you or I learn that a storm is on they way, we fortify our pantries with provisions, make sure extra blankets and batteries are on hand, and stock up on candles and bottled water. We tune in to the Weather Channel, hang on to the words of local meteorologists,…
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,…
