Feeling a bit crafty during this holiday season? Want to put your personal touch on some easy, inexpensive decorative items? Trying to find a non-messy craft for the children? Look no further: felt is the material for you. Felt, made from fibers matted together, has been used functionally and decoratively since as early as the…
Lucky Bamboo, botanical name dracaena, is tough and resilient. It does not require direct sunlight, allowing you to add a bit of green life to those windowless rooms. Lucky Bamboo will grow in a vase or a planter with rocks and is maintained by adding or replacing the water twice a week. When roots are…
My mom fondly remembers this dessert from Christmas seasons when she was growing up. It’s a light, delicate finish to a holiday meal. 2 egg yolks, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon plain gelatin 1/2 cup cold water 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped 2 egg whites, beaten until…
Plan to do a little decorating for Halloween? Perhaps you’re even having a costume party for this spooky holiday? As with most decorating schemes and party themes, keep in mind that less is more. Instead of searching for your “same ol’” decorations, pick your favorite Halloween character – pumpkin, ghost, spider, scarecrow, bat- and focus…
Adore daffodils? Love tulips? As with most groups of plants, bulbs come with their own set of special considerations. Bulbs are not for the impulsive gardener and they won’t supply instant gratification. Some bulbs are perennials and will multiply while others will bloom only one, maybe two years. Investigate details about specific bulbs by asking…
If you like to do a little decorating for Halloween, but don’t want things to get too scary, try these cute ghosts. There are many easy, inexpensive ways to add ghosts to your porch, table centerpiece, and cookie jar. Ghostly Treats 12 peanut-shaped, peanut butter cookies 8 ounces white candy coating mini chocolate chips Melt…
What is more comforting than the image of cookies and milk after school? Or how about opening your lunch box and finding a homemade cookie or brownie? While parents may not be able to keep up this “act” all year, take the time to make your child’s return to school that much sweeter. Try one…
Bees make it, bears love it, and Aristotle called it the nectar of the gods. When found recently in an Egyptian pyramid, it was edible, tasty, and bacteria-free. In our world of artificial food flavors and products, honey (thankfully!) has remained as pure as it was thousands of years ago. Honey is in your cereal,…
It’s morning, you go to the door to get the paper and are greeted by the tiny “meows” of a kitten. Your 7-year-old has just brought home another cat found on the street. What to do? If you’re not prepared to take on another hungry mouth in your household, you need a plan for handling…
The many varieties of mint – peppermint, chocolate, spearmint, apple, ginger, etc. – have been in use all over the world for teas, as an added flavor to many different food dishes, and for medicinal uses. In the garden, mint quickly fills in bare spots (even threatens to take over, if ignored!) with beautiful green,…