A wood burning fireplace (or wood burning stove for that matter) is a wonderful item to enjoy during the fall and winter months. The snap and crackle of burning wood. The orange glow through the fireplace glass. The warmth that permeates the room. A wood fire feels homey and comforting. Yet as fires are built […]
DIY Eggshell Candles
There is something about special events that bring out the DIY’er in me. It doesn’t matter if it is birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays… the stash of materials come out of the drawers and closets while the dining room table is turned into a workstation. But it gets even better. Since I have a flock of […]
How to Make Recycled Gift Boxes
With the holiday season coming up, gift giving is on my mind. But in addition to the gifts, do you give the wrapping a second thought? What if you are trying to be green? What if you have limited funds? Well, there is something you can do. You can make your own recycled gift boxes. […]
10 Life Lessons I Learned from my Chickens
As someone who grew up with chickens (my parents raised them for both meat and eggs), chicken chores fell on my shoulders. Sure, while my friends were watching TV or riding their bikes, I was cleaning out nest boxes, gathering eggs, and carrying buckets of feed to refill the feeders. After a hiatus of not […]
Beyond Castile: A Soothing Soap
As a soap maker, I regularly create bar soap. In the basement I have a collection of oils, butters, containers, and tools for making soap. But lately, I have been in a rut and found myself making batch after batch of castile soap. Now there is nothing wrong with castile soap (in fact, I am […]
Fall Beehive Checklist
For beekeepers, fall signals an end to all of the work of summer. But for those who live in regions that experience winter, there are still a few more tasks to do before settling down with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace. Remember, you actions now will help your bees survive the […]