Golldilocks Takes Pictures

  Shot 1
  Shot 2
      Shot 3
Something as simple as taking a picture of the wildflower bouquet I picked today evolved into an artistic experiment.  What would the best picture I could take without moving the vase, any accuturements, or, without photoshopping anything out of the frame?  My initial impulse was to have the funky bird lawn sculpture in the [...]

Memoir in Six Words

 
In today’s newspaper I noticed a catchy header on an article about a writing website.  Naturally, I zoned in and read the details.  The website (www.smithmag.net) is dedicated to the love of writing.  According to the man who founded the online magazine, Larry Smith, Hemmingway was asked to write a six-word story.  He wrote:  “For sale:  baby shoes, never worn.”  It struck Smith as [...]

Go Blue and White

Although a dedicated Penn State fan, I am currently most impressed by my blue and white garden box.  The blue morning glories are starting to grow at an astonishing rate.  Planted two weeks before the white moonflowers, the blues have a slight edge, but the rest are feeling the heat–literally.   When the night is warmer [...]

Frugal Herb-Gardening Tip of the Day

Fresh herbs close to the kitchen door make for a sure-fire way to quickly and economically add zesty, bright flavors to your meals.  If you are lucky enough to have a small sunny patch within steps of your entryway, make a list of the herbs your family uses the most, plus one or two that are outside of [...]

Holy Helicopters, Batman!

Conditions for the perfect storm of baby maple trees has hit this part of the planet.  First, whatever the weather requirements are that are perfect for producing an abundance of maple seeds was met this winter season.  Looking out the window on a windy day a few weeks ago, it literally looked as if it were snowing.  [...]

Glass Positive

       
Things happen.  That’s what the kitchen dealer who shut his doors owing me over $900 said when I inquired about several unpaid invoices.  The two larger panels on the right had been installed in their entry way as an additional, hopefully eye-catching display that would lead to more sales, and by the way decorate their lobby….  [...]

This I Believe

“This I Believe,” on National Public Radio is a revival of a famed 1950’s series hosted by one of the premier journalists of his time, Edward R. Murrow.  Now, as well as then, everyday and not so everyday people, write an essay about what each values about his/her life and world. 
When the series was revived several years ago by [...]

Compost 101

“Equal parts of green and brown help to break the compost down.”  Compost is a simple, frugal way to improve the soil that most of us are faced with when we step out the door.  The best part is that it can be inexpensively improved by simply adding compost.
Compost is made from yard and kitchen debris [...]

Earth Day and Election Day

Earth Day has coincided with Election Day in Pennsylvania.  A reminder to take better care of our planet and to choose our leaders wisely.  The two events are actually intertwined, as our choice in leadership will ultimately *affect our planet, and, our planet’s existing environmental problems will *effect what becomes important on the national agenda.
On this Earth Day, [...]

Construct a Raised Vegetable Bed

Fast, easy, neat vegetable beds.  Planting time is fast approaching.  Enjoy fresh vegetables, help your budget (really paid attention to the price of food recently?) and help the environment.  Every carrot grown in your backyard means less fuel spent trucking in from somewhere else.  Here’s how:
Buy 3-8″x8′ cedar boards for each box.  Cut one half.  You now have 2-8″x4′ and 2-8″x8′ [...]