Now that winter is here, I like to have several natural remedies on hand in case our household comes down with a cold, flu or sore throat. And since we generally don’t do refined sugar in our household, we started making our own “cough drops.” This is a great way to hide often bitter-tasting herbs  read more …

When I had my baby boy in July, I dreamed of all of the crocheting that I would do for him.  Many stolen moments were spent with crochet hook in hand and yarn in my lap.  As the colder months approached, a stack of hats and sweater vests for him grew into a full wardrobe of  read more …

I love the pace of our days when the holidays are around the corner and the temperatures dip extra low. My family and I just seem to slow down, reflect, and come together more. Even amidst the hurried pace that the holidays can bring, we all seem to be in sync with one another. In  read more …

It is a simple joy to knit wool socks. What better way to provide warm clothing for your family to wear in winter? It seems that everyone can appreciate a pair of wool socks—they’re warm, they stay warm when they get wet, and they’re oh-so-comfortable to wear. And, lucky for me, they’re my favorite things  read more …

With a new nephew on the way this past summer, I knew that I wanted to make oodles and oodles of goodies for him to wear and to keep warm.  A few weeks before his arrival, I decided that a wool bunting would be perfect for keeping him cozy and helping to stabilize his temperature  read more …

Bread truly is a fundamental food for my family. Every morning, we have toast; often sandwiches for lunch. If it’s a soup night – and at least twice a week it is – bread is a familiar companion at the table. Bread is a ready snack in the afternoon, and (with honey) a nice way  read more …

As a child I remember drinking many different concoctions meant to “heal” — magic marker soaked in water, toasted teddy-bear (really!) and even dirt mixed with dew. Until early last year I assumed every child went through that “stage”. Last April, however, my perspective changed. I was busy doing gardening, cooking, writing and other tasks  read more …

I used to buy granola at the local Farmer’s Market where my sister and I sold our handmade goods. It was very yummy, but expensive. I had really been wanting to try to make it for myself ever since I first tasted it fresh.  The following recipe is one that I created several years ago.  read more …

A perfect way to celebrate the sun’s slumber on solstice eve is with the lighting of candles. In our family, we enjoy many little rituals that herald the flow of fall into winter and spending the evening by candlelight is one of them. Here are two luminaries, made from recycled cans, with fall and winter  read more …

This recipe developed many years ago from a desire to make a holiday fruitcake, but one full of good things and real dried fruit; not those green and red things one finds in a typical fruitcake (what are those, anyway…?) I began with a recipe I found for a honey-sweetened, carrot quick bread and went  read more …