I love feeding the birds in the winter. We set out several different types of feeders in the backyard and get a variety of birds: blue jays, black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, four different kinds of woodpeckers. It’s a pleasure watching their dance. The woodpeckers go for suet and the ...
“Mom, I used to pull all-nighters to get projects done,” my older daughter said matter-of-factly. “We are going to finish this.” I wanted to take a break from reorganizing our cupboards. My daughter was behaving more like she was my mother. “But I’m tired,” I whined ...
A sticky substance on plant leaves, plant stands, and the floor are often the first clue alerting gardeners to a problem. If a closer look reveals bumps on the upper and lower surface of leaves and stems, it means scale insects have moved in to dine on your houseplants. Severe infestations can ...
Gardening catalogs are arriving in the mailbox and my inbox is flooded with emails from seed companies touting the newest vegetable cultivars. I’m starting to get the itch to get my hands dirty, but my garden is covered in 6 inches of snow. What can a gardening addict do? Grow microgreens ...
One morning my eyes snapped open at the sound of a familiar rumbling engine outside my window. I glanced bleary eyed at my alarm clock. The time was 5:25 a.m. I thought my neighbor was snow blowing. However, the sound was directly under our window. I usually do not jump up at such an ...
The beginning of a new year finds many gardeners preparing for the growing season ahead. Clearing space to start seeds indoors, inventorying seeds and supplies, and ordering seeds, plants, and more are usually part of the process. While organizing, you may uncover seeds from past seasons. Do ...
As many of you know, we are fans of celebrating the 12 days of Christmas. We often prepare special meals, set our table with dishes from the past and present, and each evening enjoy the timeless holiday classic of sitting in the presence of the lighted Christmas tree while enjoying some quiet ...
As we all experienced, 2020 was a year for the history books in many ways. Back in October of 2020, we had an unseasonably early storm. The snow blanketed the region with several inches of snow, which melted to form a layer of ice. I recall walking like a penguin to put my work bag and ...
Approximately 40 percent of American make a New Year’s resolution. In the hopes of maintaining long-lasting change, it is common for people to empty their pantries of tempting foods, lace up their jogging shoes, buy a yearly planner or trade sugary drinks for big bottles of water. These ...
Ringing in the New Year is filled with resolutions that usually involve dieting and exercise. Gardening is a great way to help accomplish those two resolutions, while also improving your mood, reducing blood pressure, managing anger, maintaining flexibility and much more. So, gather anyone ...
Trinity Health’s Nutrition Services Department will offer a cooking class, “Healthy Swaps,” Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Trinity Health Community Conference Room at Town & Country Center. The class will focus on creative ways to make meals more nourishing by switching ...
Holidays are filled with new plants and decorations that often find our houseplants relegated to any out of the way available space. Be sure to keep your houseplants looking their best with proper winter care. Make sure houseplants receive sufficient light now and throughout the winter. The ...
As I rose from my office chair after a day filled with Zoom meetings, I felt like the Tin Man with stiff joints in the “Wizard of Oz.” Fortunately, my joints didn’t creak and squeak audibly. A can of oil was not necessary. I walked slowly to ease the stiffness from too much ...
A year ago, who would have thought that our lives would be dramatically changed in the first quarter of 2020? As I sit down to write this column on the Eve of the Winter Solstice, I think of the long, long year we all have endured. There is a long list of the many things we miss doing due to ...
Dress up your holiday meals with a centerpiece crafted from greens, colorful stems and seed heads collected from your garden. Or purchase fresh materials you need from your favorite garden center or florist. Most gardeners spend some time gathering a few blossoms and creating a bouquet or ...
“Just 1 cup before bedtime,” the text message said. “Take off your huge stomach.” I read it to my daughter. “Your stomach isn’t huge,” she responded teasingly. I’m not sure I liked her emphasis on “huge.” At least she didn’t restate the message to say “massive” ...
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 ...