You know the answer, yes? That's right, you need to clean out those cupboards that are the handy stash spots for all the canned goods, bags of rice, boxes of pasta, dribbles and dabs of baking chocolate, spices, baking soda, five types of flour, etc. and etc. And the other point: sort the items … [Read more...]
Trees After An Ice Storm
Ice storms leave trees and shrubs, cars and roads all coated with a layer of ice. Sunday morning we woke up to a beautiful scene with trees all sparkling under a layer of ice and yesterday they were even prettier with a bit of snow. This is Sunday morning. Can you see the ice at the tips of … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Memories – Happy Times with Family
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. What's not to like? There's no commercialization, no massive gift-buying or home decorating frenzy, just a calm, quiet holiday spent with family. When I was in my teens we would visit my grandparents in Appleton, Wisconsin over Thanksgiving. Midland to … [Read more...]
Being Poor in Spirit – Every Day We Long for Grace
Twice lately the gospel readings at Mass have been Matthew 5, the Beatitudes, once on Sunday and once for my father-in-law's funeral. Listening to this while mourning Dave's Dad made me think about what these passages mean. I've been puzzled by the beatitudes, just what does it mean to be … [Read more...]
Milkweed Puffs – Seed Pods Beaking Open Indoors and Out
Last time I walked out back the milkweed seed pods were bursting open, sending white downy fluffs everywhere. The milkweed flowers are a light dusky rose lavender color and they bloom in big flower heads. The plants are about 3 feet tall and will grow even where it's pretty dry. Our field … [Read more...]
Bunny Wars III Rabbits 3, Kathy 1 Losing Despite Mr. Hawk
My last post I claimed we were slowly winning the war against rabbits eating my flowers. Despite losing almost a third of my peonies and all our nasturtiums, I thought we had found a cure for the bunny infestation. Dave got some pellets that are supposed to get taken up into the plants to make them … [Read more...]
What A Surprise! Finding Beauty in Wide Open Fields and Hills In Our Backyard
When we were house shopping we had several criteria: location, layout, quality, setting and price. We found houses that met one or two of these but all five together? Elusive! Setting is the most intangible. We wanted someplace that felt like a home, that had something pretty to look at … [Read more...]
Enjoying the Arts! Art Hop in Downtown Kalamazoo
We're lucky in Kalamazoo to enjoy a community that values art. Every June the Kalamazoo Institute for the Arts puts on a major art show in Bronson Park with quality fine art and fine craft, plus there are exhibits at the KIA and the local colleges, Western Michigan and Kalamazoo College. In … [Read more...]
Dave’s Easiest Yummy Sour Cream Chocolate Cake and Cupcakes – So Easy and So Good!
Dave wanted to make something yummy for his pilates class to help the instructor celebrate her birthday. Of course that meant he had to make something for us to eat (or watch me waste away for lack of chocolate). This is his favorite, sure-fire hit chocolate cake that is incredibly easy. This … [Read more...]
Fall Is Here: Closing Up the Swimming Pool for Winter
Fall arrived last week but it's still warmish here, low 70s in the day and 50s in the night. However, 50 degree nights are too cold to enjoy an unheated, above ground swimming pool. Dave closed up ours. This is the third fall we've lived here. The first year we moved in October … [Read more...]