Traveling through Books

How do you learn about new places? I do the online research, look up houses on real estate sites, look at demographics and planting zones and images, but how I really learn about a new place in the world is through books. We are visiting two different couples and traveling through Alabama for two weeks…

Perfect Homemade Pizza Fast

I bet we eat homemade pizza once a week. You can take basically anything from the fridge and make a pizza. Pizza is fast, easy and cheap to make. First, here is the pizza crust recipe I use. It takes 15 minutes once you throw everything into the bowl, so you don’t have to plan…

Reaching the Peak

Last year we tried it and had to turn back. I was so disappointed. We just weren’t prepared. It’s not like it is the highest peak in Colorado, or anything. I have climbed the highest mountain in Colorado, but I was sixteen. Fremont Peak is just west of Cañon City and is the forehead of…

The Peaceful Minimalist I am Not

The look on their faces when they saw their art projects in the recycling bin outside was so sad. Little paper angels looking up, tattered and worn, and the look of rejection on my children’s faces will stay with me forever. The article promised that if I threw out and gave away most everything, I…

A Quite Brilliant Idea (and a need for your help)

I am a firm believer that ideas and inspiration are given to us, are chosen for us, land on us, and are not from our own mind. Elizabeth Gilbert wrote about this in her wonderful book, Big Magic, and it makes so much sense. If an idea lands on you, you must quickly accept it…

Natural Wonders and Seasonal Affective Disorder

I am trying to take notice. To be enchanted by things that might be otherwise overlooked. I have lived the first half of my life so frantically. One could blame it on my personality type (Maverick and Type A) or my sign (Aries), or the fact that I have always been aware of mortality and…

The Exciting Pile of Woodchips

I was doing a bit of a jig and Doug had a big smile on his face as we watched a beautiful sight. A tree company dumping a huge load of woodchips in our driveway! It’s the little things, you know, and this was truly a happy day! We are on a mission to transform…

A She-Shed of One’s Own

Every women needs a she-shed. We call mine “the studio.” My word for 2023 is Artist, and my studio helps make that word more attainable. What do you devote yourself to? In the past, I devoted myself to thirteen different jobs and constantly burned out, looked for worth through productivity, and lacked satisfaction. Now, this…

How to Save and Season Cast Iron

I love to cook with cast iron. If you don’t yet, I highly recommend it! Cast iron pans last forever and are comparable to the cost of other pans. They cook evenly, give a great crust to anything breaded, and are a cinch to clean. I think folks get scared off because they don’t know…