Imperfection
I bought the bowl above at a crafts fair when I was in college. I loved the size—big enough for the dinners I routinely made for friends—, the shape, and, …
Inspiration
5 Ways to give meaningful gifts
Isn’t it exciting when you find the perfect gift for someone, something that reflects their interests and needs and is also maybe a bit unexpected or creative? I keep a …
Recycling during the holidays — Don’t toss your commitment with all the wrappings!
I’m a pretty committed recycler, but there are times when I find it a stretch. The holidays are one of those times. To be honest, the hustle and bustle (and …
De-cluttering — Thoughts on not cluttering in the first place
Let’s start with a confession. I own over 100 table napkins and four complete sets of dishes (plus myriad other pretty, individual, irresistible dishes). I put that out there lest …
Dream Home — 3 lessons learned while searching for a new home
My husband Alan and I recently purchased a new home, moving from a very large house in a very small Iowa town to a fairly small home in Iowa’s largest …
When your home’s needs exceed your budget
I fantasize about being able to take perfect care of our modest, 128-year old home. Nothing extravagant—just TLC. Install a flawless new roof when it needs one. Repair and refinish …
Keeper — Handheld citrus juicer
I’ve only had this beauty for a month or so, but I already know it’s a keeper. Why? It’s wonderfully functional, it’s pretty, it’s made of glass, it takes no …
Keeper — Ona’s hand chopper
This rugged little hand chopper is older than my grown children. In fact, it’s been my go-to cooking tool for over 40 years. It’s my pastry dough cutter, bean masher, …