For me, Labor Day signals the start of fall. Now I know the official date for the first day of fall is not Labor Day, but here in the South, Labor Day has always been the day all things change. Yes, I am talking real change. First of all, no self-respecting Southern girl would ever wear her white shoes after …
Many of you have been so gracious to write and ask about the move into our new home (aka life apart from Sister!), which began in May. We are still unpacking strange boxes of unknown contents. So, it’s like a really interesting Christmas present from a distant relative. One of my favorite things about our new home is my garden. …
This week, our city is in full back-to school mode. All I can say is I am thrilled I am not going back to school. I really don’t understand this middle of August routine they have created, as we used to go back to school the Tuesday after Labor Day. My grandchildren are going back this week and I know …
Autumn is almost here, which also means its almost time for all things pumpkin spice. I love, and I mean LOVE, all things pumpkin spice! It has been a favorite flavor of mine for years and I still wonder why I cant get it all year long. Actually, last year I wrote a whole blog post on the subject, and …
Autumn is the season that steals my heart year after year. With the warm tones and cooler weather, I savor almost every transition, with the exception of the loss of our favorite summer blooms. The vibrant colors and beautiful arrangements bring life to our homes, which can feel lost with the season change. What many people don’t think to do …
Today is my soapbox day. I usually don’t like to rant but today is a good day for this. I don’t know where “no problem” came from in our world today, but when I was growing up, when someone said “thank you”, the reply was “you are welcome”. It seems today the common response to “Thank you” is “No Problem.” …
Summer is one of my favorite times of year for bringing people together. The vibrant colors require a certain feeling of happiness and need for cheer. Spread your summer cheer with a casual centerpiece. The centerpiece is a great way to anchor any tablescape, as long as you incorporate consistent textures and tones. Without overshadowing the rest of your setting, …
It’s that time of year again, when the bells are ringing, the snow is falling and the children anxiously wait for Santa to arrive. I’m only teasing! Although, here in the Hoffman Media office it sure feels like Christmas while we finalize each wonderful holiday issue. Like every year, we couldn’t help but spread the holiday cheer with our wonderful …
I love a good strawberry dessert. I remember my Grandmother Norton’s strawberry ice cream that she made in the freezer of her refrigerator. She had a small aluminum loaf pan that she used for her ice cream. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the whole recipe. All I know is that it had sweetened condensed milk and strawberries and that it didn’t …
Hydrangeas are one of those flowers that will forever fascinate me! There are so many colors, shapes and sizes. I have even watched friends change the colors of their beautiful blooms by putting iron in the dirt, how crazy! Before planting her first hydrangea bush in 1989, Wendy White was never much of a gardener. In the years since, her …
