I’m not of Irish descent, but like many Americans, I enjoy observing St. Patrick’s Day. We always have my homemade Irish soda bread to accompany my oven-roasted corned beef and cabbage dinner (future post idea!). I didn’t experience soda bread when growing up. In fact, my college roommate from a very Irish family introduced it to me. It wasn’t for many years later that I made it myself, following my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook, and eventually tweaking the recipe so much, I created my own.
Continue readingLike reacquainting with an old friend, time spent at my local art museum always invigorates me. Even better is a visit during the annual floral exhibit that ignites my spirits as New England transitions into spring. I took advantage of the Flora in Winter at the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Massachusetts as a calendar catalyst to celebrate the start of March and my intention to jump into spring mode. It was just what I needed! To help you get on board with the arrival of spring, join me as I tour world-renowned art pieces juxtaposed with interpretive floral displays.
Continue readingI love visiting charming New England seaside towns during the off season, and a few days stay in Rockport, Massachusetts didn’t disappoint. Seriously, by taking a wintertime visit to Cape Ann you can truly appreciate quintessential New England without the crowds. The highlights of a girls’ getaway with my sister were soaking up the natural beauty of the coast on a relaxed timeline. We enjoyed up the harborside area of Rockport on foot and explored Gloucester with short car-ride excursions.
Continue readingI’m feeling energized and inspired with the new year ahead to make some positive changes as part of my annual goals. My biggest priority this year is to “lighten up,” which impacts many aspects of my life. I’m obsessed with my one one-word theme: dandelion. I chose this word to visually symbolize what I want to achieve this year: to feel lighter in mind and body. When trying to figure out my word, I was searching for the antithesis of words like weighty, heavy, substantial.
Continue readingIt’s the truth. When I sleep at night, I often find my thoughts stray to adventures across the pond. It may be a slightly outdated version of London today, but the city I remember comes to life in my dreams. If I close my eyes, I can still vividly recall the nighttime city sounds when I lived there many years ago. How I long for my next visit.
Continue readingI’ve been deeply contemplating my 2024 goals over the past week. On the last day of 2023, I had an epiphany on my one-word theme to set the stage for the new year. Perfect timing! Before I get ahead of myself, let me explain my process with defining my goals that has evolved over the past few years. Now, I commit my goals in writing and track them in a daily journal. I no longer make New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, resolutions are usually short lived, unsuccessful and frustrating.
Continue readingLooking back at the holiday season from last year, I thought this blog post was worth resharing. Perhaps it’ll help inspire you as you prioritize what’s most important and how you spend your time. I can only hope I’ll look back at the end of this season and feel the same sense of holiday contentment as I did last year!
Continue readingPerhaps you have a favorite Thanksgiving you’ll cherish forever or a stretch of years when it was most memorable. Maybe it was the years your grandparents hosted or after you got married and carved out your own traditions. For me, it was a long stretch of time when the women in my family would gather on Thanksgiving Eve to bake pies with Mom. So. Many. Pies.
Continue readingWe all know how the memes start flying around social media when pumpkin spice hype starts too soon. I totally get it. Pumpkin spice is a fall weather friend; I won’t partake in it anytime close to the last divine days of summer. We’re definitely in the peak of autumn. IT’S TIME! Gimme some pumpkin spice!
Continue readingI credit my time living in the United Kingdom for acquainting me with this rustic French dish. Before then, I had never heard of ratatouille nor considered combining summer garden vegetables together to make this hearty side. I can recall it served several different ways including with a Sunday roast dinner, a vegetarian stew in a crock or a spread on crusty bread. Through my experiences living in England, I discovered ratatouille and came back home knowing it would be something I’d make on my own.
Continue readingIn my New England garden, the optimum period to pluck hydrangea blooms to dry indoors is when summer turns to fall and before it frosts. For the best vase drying results, patiently wait until they’ve already started to dry on the plants. From there, the rest of the process is simple. I turn my dining room into a drying station where I’ll collect specimens at the end of the season when I don’t mind cutting the glorious buds from my flower garden.
Continue readingAs I promised, I’m sharing my first-year beginner experience growing vegetables and herbs in galvanized steel raised garden beds. Overall, I’m thrilled. I’ve learned so much. I loved the anticipation watching vegetables I planted grow. I will consider this year my starting point. Even if it was the wettest summer in recent history which compromised the growing season, I’m ready for more. I’m already planning to invest in more raised beds next year.
Continue readingThe time is here to make basil pesto at my house. While later than usual due to weather conditions and a delayed start planting, I can’t get through summer without sharing my traditional basil pesto. Every summer, I make sure to plant plenty of basil to make at least one giant batch (usually two) to gift to family and friends and stow in the freezer.
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