• Faith - Family - Herbs

    Giving Thanks in 2020

    Thanksgiving was different this year. We exchanged dishes with my daughter’s family but enjoyed the meal in our separate homes. My granddaughter made a delicious bundt cake and dinner rolls. Another granddaughter made the cranberry sauce. I made my traditional cornbread stuffing. We all had a wonderful meal. In the…

  • Faith - Flowers - Gardening - Herbs

    Saving Seeds with Hope

    The leaves are falling. Red gold and bronze. I have been raking the leaves, thankful for the outdoor activity. My miniature rose bush has surprised me, continuing to bloom even though we have had some nights of frost. The bright red blooms bring joy. The garden has been put to…

  • Flowers - Gardening - Herbs - Nature

    New Ideas for the Garden

    With lots of time at home I have been able to focus attention on gardening. My neighbor and I have shared tips and little plants across the back fence. I am looking forward to garden produce. This year I have added mushroom compost to the garden to help break up…

  • Flowers - Gardening - Herbs

    The Colors of Calendula

    Calendula is a bright sunny flower and a herb. It has been called poor man’s saffron. The petals of the flower can be added to rice. The flowers can be dried for tea. I have enjoyed seeing the range of colors of that the flower displays from bright orange to…

  • Herbs - Nature

    Thoughts of Spring on a Cold Day

    It’s cold outside. Our thermometer reads -5 degrees. We have almost a foot of snow on the ground and when I went outside to take a picture my fingers became stiff in minutes. It is winter but spring will come. I have begun receiving seed catalogues. My thoughts turn to…

  • Herbs - Recipes

    Rosemary and Tansy in the Garden

    Spring seems to be on hold as cold temperatures persist in Illinois. But I am beginning to think about my herb garden. I recently read that Tansy is a deterrent for Japanese beetles. I have seeds to plant, hoping that it will help get rid of the throng of beetles…