Book Club Ideas & Lists
I've lost count of the number of great things to come out of my time with my friend Jessi at the Front Room Studio, but one of them is my book club. I started hosting a monthly book club because we had the space, the time, and the desire to talk books with fellow readers. No longer being in a … [Read More...]
Gift Ideas: For the Gardener…
If you've spent any time on my blog or social media, you know I moved to the country about five years ago and accidentally became a gardener. I say "accidentally," because I specifically told my family that even though my grandparents were prolific gardeners, I would not be continuing the … [Read More...]
Gift Ideas: Books…
I love books. I believe there is no such things as too many books. I think everyone should own and read more books. I love giving books as gifts as a way to shame people into reading more. If you feel the same way, you probably already know what books to give people. But maybe you need more ideas? … [Read More...]
Gift Ideas: Under $50…
The truth is I'm not a good gift giver. If you just tell me what you want, I will buy it for you! But observing you and knowing what you want? I'm so sorry, I'm gonna miss all the hints and clues. I really like straightforward conversations, please and thank you. One thing that helps me buy … [Read More...]
Honey Creek State Park, Iowa…
We went to Iowa over fall break. Let me go ahead and say, yes, it was a surprising choice, and I can see your face through the screen. It looks very similar to the faces of people I know in real life when I shared this plan. Anyway, we went to Iowa for a week, and I think you should do it too. … [Read More...]
Returning to the banks…
My children have grown up with their hands in water. They are children of streams and creeks and lakes. I have hundreds (thousands?) of pictures like these. My two girls crouched on rocks or sand or mud getting as close to the tempting water as possible. We will tell them to not get … [Read More...]
A story about sticks…
Chris and I have different opinions on sticks. Our house sits on a few acres in the country. Our trees were planted decades ago by my grandfather, as he turned the farmland he bought in 1970 into a home for his family of seven. We moved here in 2017, a few years after my grandfather died, a few … [Read More...]
Losing the light…
Labor Day weekend means the end of summer and, for a short six weeks, my husband and I can say we’re only a year apart in the age department. Until I turn 40 next month and become the cougar I’ve always dreamt of being. Just kidding. My dreams mostly involve books, good food, and very few … [Read More...]
Let’s Eat…
It's the middle of August and the gardens are overflowing. Finally, after months of watering, weeding, pruning, and whispering sweet nothings into their little plant ears, we have buckets of produce coming from the gardens. But what do we do with all of it? I love a cheeseburger and a salad as … [Read More...]
Just good dirt and some seeds.…
When we moved to my grandparents' land—land they had filled with overflowing gardens—I said I wasn't interested in gardening. It wasn't my thing. By our second summer here, I accidentally had two raised beds. The people renting a house from us moved one weekend without telling us, breaking the … [Read More...]
11 books to read this summer…
Even though my kids go back to school in less than a month, I feel like summer is just getting started. The days are still hot and sticky, the idea of cooler weather and fall leaves seems impossible. So here are eleven books you should read this endless summer. You have plenty of time. People … [Read More...]
