An Organic Urban Yard in Less Time Than a Sit-Com

I have my eye on two pieces of cast iron cookware. Their presence in my kitchen would make my life more complete, I’m sure, but Jim and I are attempting to evaluate the intake of stuff in our lives, with an eye toward the future. That is certainly a challenge for us modern Americans, with our roomy houses, stockpiled stores, and shopping habits. We are trying to imagine living in a smaller space (it might happen sometime) and having only the essentials (which means defining what “the essentials” are).

Meanwhile, a girl can dream. [Read more →]

Last year, I made a list of garden resolutions, but I didn’t make it public. This year, I am putting my list in writing. Perhaps this will help me follow-through on these excellent plans!

1. Stake everything. [Read more →]

The catalog from Seeds of Change was the first this year to find its way into our mailbox. The 108-page booklet is full of lovely pictures and great tools as well as handy gardening advice and a fantastic selection of seeds.

Can spring be far behind? [Read more →]

We are experiencing a serious winter in our part of Michigan this season. It’s only late December, and already the winter-we-have is approaching the awesome winters-of-childhood-memory in terms of cold and snow. I have said to Jimbo, inaccurately now it is revealed, that I would hazard that in the last two weeks, we have had every type of snow for which there is an Eskimo word. [Read more →]

We’ve accumulated a fairly good stockpile of cast iron cookware over the years. A couple of pieces were much treasured hand-me-downs. A few were also fantastic scores!– the pieces we picked up at yard sales and second-hand shops. We also have a few pieces that we purchased on sale because we had a hankering for such items, but were able to wait until we came across a great deal. Here are a few items that I would not do without– even if that meant having to buy them new! at full price!! [Read more →]