Along with bread-baking and closet reorganizing, another nesting trend on the home front is “cottagecore” style. “The cottagecore aesthetic swarmed the internet this year with its revival of traditional ideals and the glorification of a simple yet charming cottage lifestyle,” says ...

“What’s that smell?” I thought to myself. I was just a child at the time. I decided to investigate. I followed my nose into the kitchen and found my dad and uncle huddled at the kitchen counter. They were enjoying saltine crackers spread with Limburger cheese. They were relishing ...

Tis the season to be decorating for the holidays. Colorful poinsettias, holly plants with spine-tipped leaves and fast-growing amaryllis bulbs brighten our homes. Anytime that I mention poinsettias, the question arises as to their toxicity to people and pets. People widely assume that this ...

Once again, we are starting to stir things up for Christmas. What comes to your mind when you reflect on preparing for Christmas? As a child, a big part of getting ready for Christmas for me was dreaming. Yes, dreaming, of what the tree would look like, what part would I have in the church ...

“What would you like for Christmas?” I asked my husband a few years ago. “I just need new undershirts,” he replied. He grabbed a package from the rack in a store and tossed them in the cart. I wrapped them up and tied those cotton undershirts with a bow. “Oh, look - ...

When I started in Extension many years ago, I took a cutting from a co-worker’s Christmas cactus. The plant grew extremely well. In fact, it has taken over the top of my file cabinet and frequently gets pinched when I shut drawers. The plant loves to be left alone and it has rewarded me ...