Orzo salad is a dish that I frequently make to take to the lake for picnics on the dock. It’s easy to make and uses several ingredients that I grow in my garden. I’ve served this to several different groups and each one was very complimentary of its taste. (See below for an easy…
This summer’s June 29 derecho did a real number on our house, landscape, and lawn. Our house is back to normal, thank goodness, but our yard is still a mess. We’ve been waiting on a tree service to remove two trees that could cause future damage before we begin to repair our lawn. Last week they…
Last fall I saved a picture of an $89 pillow from Wisteria with the hope of making a version of my own. I also admired a copycat version from 517 Creations. Didn’t she do a marvelous job? My challenge was to make a version of these pillows using supplies I had on hand. I made covers for…
Mr. SP, Mama, and I spent a quick weekend at the beach. My students come back to school this week, so it was nice to have once last getaway before the madness begins. When we arrived on Friday evening it was sunny and pretty. After settling in, we walked down to the beach. Had we known that…
A late summer centerpiece was needed for my kitchen table, so I shopped my house to find something unique to use. I found a Fresca bottle holder in my basement in the area where I store flower vases and thought it would make a great centerpiece. My grandmother used this to carry extra flowers to…
There’s not a lot blooming in my yard right now. This summer’s heat has really taken a toll on my landscape beds. One plant that blooms like clockwork in late July and early August in one bed is the Magic Lilly (Lycoris squamigera) also known as Surprise Lillies or Naked Ladies. This photo was taken…
It’s kind of ironic that I waited until back-to-school time to do my summer mantel, but that’s what happened. We enjoyed my Patriotic Mantel most of June and all of July but a change was needed for August. I pulled out three fabric covered panels that I made several years ago out of the drapes…
Need a quick and easy appetizer to take to a party or to share with your family? Sweet Cider Mustard Dip is sure to be a hit! This dip is sweet with a kick of heat. It’s a perfect dip for pretzels. The great thing about this recipe is that it requires very few ingredients and takes…
Let’s just say that Mr. SP and I aren’t quick DIYers. We started renovating our upstairs bathroom in January, it’s now August, and we are still working on the project. My last update was in March and a bit of progress has been made since then. Here are the links to my previous posts if…
Several years ago Mr. SP replaced the flooring in our bathroom with tile. We’ve been very happy with the tile but don’t like that the white grout that we used won’t stay white. Over the winter Mr. SP noticed a product at Lowe’s called “Grout Refresh” and wondered if it might work on our not-so-white…
When I make cookies I tend to make either chocolate chip or peanut butter. This weekend I decided to make a recipe that I haven’t made in a long while. White Chocolate with Orange Cookies are a mouth watering cookie, much enjoyed by us and a few of our friends. **(See below for an easy to…
My dining room table has sported the same centerpiece since the weekend after Easter, vintage blue Mason jars on a large silver tray. I loved the look but it was time for a change. Last summer I crafted a simple ruffled runner using a drop cloth and fabric with a blue Hawaiian print. I made…