I've been using this blog for over 5 years, not much of late but still returning. Over the years my mother-in-law was an important force in my life. She encouraged me to write my 3 books Cooking Fun, Crafting Fun and Homemade Fun. These books reflect a common understanding we had about life in American society when she grew up. As a young girl,I was at the the tail end of this generation of Americans who lived life a bit more simply day to day than we do now. We shared recipes, stories, values, and friendship. She died in March... Continue reading

I made a stew last night. As I chopped the carrots, celery, onions and garlic; cubed a pound of lean round steak, it felt like I was partaking in an ancient ritutal of my European ancestors. I added herbs, parsely, a little olive oil to brown the meat in our aging cast iron dutch oven. I put it on at 6:00 and it was ready at 9:30 (our Friday night dinner hour these days). Stew. A peasant food so rich in nutrients and simplicity that it seemed a bit absurd that one would buy any packaged food at all for... Continue reading

It's important to always bookmark images when doing geneological research.I have to go back and track this woman because I forgot to bookmark. This woman, Ellen Applegate, struck me as so sincere and kind, but also like she has seen some things in life that forced her to be strong. She lived to be 82 years old. Continue reading

It's always a fun surprise to come across a photo of a relative on the internet. Thanks to some geneological minded relatives, these people continue to live. I just found these of my grandmother's sister Inez and photos of her husband Edwin. They were from the same small town in Pennsyvlania. I have never seen this photo of Inez. More on her...and the family. Continue reading

The holidays are still lingering in our home. We haven't had the heart to take the tree down and the boxwood wreath about the mantel still holds a space of green against the white wall. If you touch a leaf it crumbles so for now until end of the month we will leave it on the wall in its elegant shape and let the holdays fade gently. Our place is old, 100 or so years, and is the parlor floor of one what once a grand townhouse. It's quiet as well, one might forget we are in one of the... Continue reading

Well, December 1st. Where did you come from? Just seems like it was summer then fall. Here are some photos from my iphone of where my eyes have been over the past several months. We are joyful for the Christmas holiday season. Joyful. Can't wait to fill our home with Christmas magic and all the beauty and nostalgic fun that happens once a year. December 1st, welcome. 'Tis the season to be jolly! summer flower Chicken for sale at agway tea drinkers barefoot and muckboot in kitchen random graffiti on road east side pumpkins Hurricane Sandy day after NYC treasure... Continue reading

This was a funny bit of blog advertising from Where Women Cook. Read here for Susantainable Forest Initiative. Continue reading

House Wren, Charlotte Lyons The above art came from one of my favorite places in blog world, House Wren Studios. If you need a creative jolt or a little sparkle of inspiration I suggest visiting. Begin anywhere. Happy Autumn. Continue reading

This fall is going to be a writing one for me. I still respond to "going back to school" as an opportunity to start fresh after a long, lazy summer. G found these cool notebooks at Muji. She likes that they are thin, less wasteful than the fat notebooks at Staples, and that they fit in her backpack without adding bulk. I like the color coding and the new notebook look. I'm excited for fall! Are you? Continue reading

Next summer I want to go back to Paris. I hear that if you don't put it out there then it just won't happen, so I just did. Lots more on Paris here. Continue reading

I can't believe summer is unwinding. In NYC it has been a dog days of summer all month. Hot, humid, summer. Luckily, quite luckily in fact, we were near the cold waters of Maine, cool wild lakes of upstate New York, and our own brook so I can't complain. Now we are into fixing up a teenager's room. I found these and really liked (we have small spaces here in the city so maximizing wall space is important. Found these ideas here. Continue reading

I'd like to think this was a special commission for My Little Hen but it was just another hen lover. Erica Hill has great photos. Love. Continue reading

A toasted marshmallow.(Do you say roasted or toasted?) It's part of vacation. I only do this in the summer, sometimes over a grill, more often around a camp fire. I like them golden brown and melted inside. G likes hers burned black. In Crafting Fun I have a little instruction for toasting marshmallows just the way I like them. Since summer and toasting marshmallows are timeless summer fun, here's a way to get them nice and brown. If you want them black just stick them in the flames and let them burn. Check out this for more: National Roasting Marshmallow... Continue reading

We participated in the great American habit of a summer vacation. We stayed in a 1940's cottage situated on a glacial lake which is spring fed by cool crystal water. The mountains which surround us filled the air with the scent of balsam. Constellations filled the dark night sky and the occasional shooting star was used for a summer wish. Traces of daylight remained well past 10:00 P.M. and we captured the the longs days of summer that I recall being endless as a young child. Continue reading

Making mocha frosting for a Father's day cake. Looking out the kitchen window at summer this weekend. Continue reading

A last second gift wrap embellishment. Paper flowers from Homemade Fun and a pluck of a peony petal to make it simple and special in a homemade way. Off this went to a party for G's friend so I could only snap a quick shot (not super great). Always, always gift wrap in a homemade way, especially for kids and teens. It charms, it teaches DIY in a most obvious and creative way, and it is made from the heart. Continue reading

"My brother Frank, Ray in the middle, and Calnol." "It was voting day" Continue reading

Fountain Farm, Townville PA 1910 Continue reading

I found this family portrait on the internet. The woman standing in the middle (from right) is my great grandmother Cora. I just adore the picnic table and dinner set out of doors. Don't you? I'm hoping for many an evening meal outside this summer. Continue reading

Speaking of horses, I found this good luck shoe that would be fun to have around. Continue reading

We are pretty horse crazy around here. I was always horse crazy but by the age of 10 years old I was over the moon. In fact, my passionate horse crazy love as a girl lead me to write about and draw horses. This spark of creativity probably had a huge influence on my future career as a designer and writer. I didn't own a horse but I sure tried to get one. My imagination was in overdrive for several years scheming to get a horse. I can remember it all. It's called working on a dream, something all kids... Continue reading

I REALLY LIKE THIS BOWL BY KEITH BRYMER JONES. This bench, which I saw here, would be great for any creative space. I'm definitely in the mood to spruce up my home. Continue reading

but now !! Spring! May flowers!/gardens. Continue reading

I love this feather collection box. Made by L’Atelier d’exercices. It would be easy to use an old cigar box to make something like this....hmmm. And these cutie pies from Ferse Verse should be on everyones list. I would wear them on my jacket or sweater all week long. I saw these wooden pins bird pins.Love the colors. Made by Le Petit Pig. Continue reading

We had 2 rounds of egg dyeing this weekend, one for the barn's easter egg hunt and one for the family.I was assigned the last minute easter egg dyeing for the barn. Couldn't wait. I set up my station in my favorite window that gets the most saturated eastern light in the morning. The light, the colors, the texture,all reminded me how fun it is to create something,anything,without a road map,or an audience in mind. I just loved the sweet frenzy of making 24 eggs as quickly and as beautifully as I could. I had nothing in the world in... Continue reading