Life is what you make it.
Winter days can be cold and stormy with treacherous, ice-covered roads. The last thing I want to do on such a day is leave my house. Better to stay inside by the fire and leave the roads to the snowplow and salt truck drivers. Before winter rears its ugly head or -- depending on your… Continue reading Fast Fix Cupboard Chili
The garden has always been my domain. When I met my husband, his definition of gardening was to mow the lawn on Saturday. A foundation planting consisted of a few shrubs surrounded by a bed of mulch covered black plastic. Anything that grew between the shrubs, or in his lawn, was a weed to be… Continue reading The Surprise Gardener
I'm not sure when I first heard about the Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) program, but it was many years ago. At the time, I was working full time and taking on another project would have been more than I could have handled. But I loved the idea of it. With its… Continue reading Living with Parkinson’s Disease: Becoming an OSU Master Gardener
I began learning about gardens even before my first day of school. We lived in a typical middle-class neighborhood crowded with houses on small lots. There was a small yard for me to play in. There was also a sunny patch of ground behind our garage. This was where my mother chose to plant her… Continue reading My Gardening Roots
Each year, I see dozens of requests for holiday help on social media. Particularly from those people who have kids. While there are many good-hearted folks willing to help, it’s often impossible to sort out the needy from the scammers. The closer it is to Christmas, the more overwhelming that task becomes. Even the kindest… Continue reading Hard times holiday: Making a merry Christmas when you have nothing to give.
Is there anyone who does not love a Pecan Tassie? These are a favorite at cookie exchanges and the first to disappear from holiday cookie trays. My family did not discover them until fairly recently but once we found this recipe, these treats soared to the top of everyone's list as a holiday "must have."… Continue reading Pecan Tassies
I can't begin to bake an apple pie as good as my mother's. I've tried. Oh boy, how I have tried! But there is something she does that makes her crust perfect and her filling superb. Never have I been able to match it. But while I can't make a pie as good as Mom's,… Continue reading Cranberry Walnut Apple Pie
Humans are not logical creatures. We commit to spending tens or hundreds of thousands to buy houses or condos, or to rent apartments. We spend thousands more to furnish them. We choose just the right paint colors. We choose just the right sofa, chairs, draperies, area rugs, lamps, bedding, and dinnerware patterns – both everyday… Continue reading Life in the 1960s: When Families Had “Company”
Home at the WhackyShack 