Labor Day is always fun around our house! We enjoy the last summer holiday—or is it the first autumn holiday? Really it is about celebrating family, friends, and our wonderful country. We live in a wonderful country—flaws and all—and I love America. Labor Day is a family time for us. We put Neal at the grill and turn him loose! …
When the first wave of cool winds blows, I am ready to start my fall baking. I must have my staples on hand: cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, bags of nuts, and delicious fall fruits for additional opportunities to be creative. My latest concoction was a fruit cobbler that I literally threw together to use fruit that was ripening too …
I love hospitality trays, especially when I am the guest! Does that sound selfish? I hope not because I love seeing people use their creativity to prepare for guests. I have been in homes of friends where a tray is always ready to go and so creative. My friend Dell has a tray on every bed in her home. She …
Neal and I are always planning a trip away to escape from the summer heat of the South. In fact, we planned the most exciting trip to Montana this year only to find that when we arrived, it was 98 degrees with the heat index into the 100s. That is absolutely my luck to take the oppressive heat with me. …
When my sweet little granddaughter Amelia told me that she wanted to learn to sew, my heart skipped a beat as I replied, “that is wonderful.” She is almost 5 years old, so we will start on the things she can do now. It will be a couple of years before she can operate a sewing machine. The journey of …
Those three words just send chills down my spine! When I was a child, our school year went from the Tuesday after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day. Is it just me, or have school years gotten longer and longer with the passing of time? Back to school for me meant Mom would start sewing school clothes in …
I must confess that I am already counting the days until fall. But my late summer garden is always beautiful. Years ago I discovered the American Beautyberry. I first learned about this interesting plant when Neal and I were seated at a lovely table in a café where a small branch of the shrub was in a small vase. The …
We love reading essays written by Ann Dorer. She captures the South like no other can. The first time I met Ann was at an afternoon tea at my house that I hosted for my niece Beth. Ann’s daughter, Kate, is friends with Beth and was one of our honored guests. We let the young girls sit in the dining …
This time of year I long for icebox desserts. We had one that was a family favorite while growing up, “Lemon Icebox Pie.” When Mom made this delicious dessert, it was a special day. When I was grown and ready to make treats for my own family, I called Mom to ask for the secret family recipe only to find …
I love winter, and as I write to you, it is over 100 degrees here. My first conversation this morning was about my longing for cold weather, Christmas trees, and hot apple cider by the fire. Christmas in July has become a celebrated time here. For truly in Editorial Land, we are having Christmas in July. As I walk through …
