December 1, 2015 - Stringing Popcorn Garland, Again
I’m stringing popcorn garland today, so I’m revisiting this post. It’s timely, and nostalgic. This post was first published at Christmastime in 2010. Five years ago! My “teenagers” of the time were 19, 17, and 14. Now they are 24, 22, and 19! Hard to believe! If you haven’t made popcorn garland for your tree...
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March 13, 2014 - Final Snowfall
After a long-running series of wild tantrums, Winter stepped on Spring’s toes in the door and smacked her backward. Before Winter could be stopped, she had tossed a fresh coating of white “stuff” everywhere. She was immediately called in to the office by 2014 and expelled from the calendar. “We’ve worked with her for months,”...
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February 4, 2014 - The Letters I and H
The world the way I vaguely remember it. This post brought to you by the letters I, for ice, and H, for hope.
December 31, 2013 - Making Berries Out of Lemons
Today is the last day of doe season. I’ve tried, repeatedly, to get a deer this year. I had two chances. One was the time I was walking and came up on one on my farm. I lined it up in my sights and pulled the trigger. Only I’d forgotten that I’d left the safety...
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January 3, 2013 - Of Christmas Trees
Remember last year’s hanger tree? ALL of the kids mentioned that tree this year. It was a desperate, make-do idea when I couldn’t see putting up a real tree by myself and had no money to buy a decent-looking fake tree. And yet I think it’s the one the kids will always remember. Morgan wanted...
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December 13, 2011 - My Crazy Christmas Tree
This is one of those projects that cause Morgan to say, “You’re so insane.” I’m a big fan of real Christmas trees. Whether we go out in the woods to choose one and cut it down, or pick one out in front of a store, a real tree is Christmas to me. And maybe because...
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December 23, 2010 - Making Paperback Angels
The title of this post is slightly misleading because we didn’t actually make any paperback angels. Though we tried. Between a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist and a sailor in the Navy nuclear program, you’d think we could follow the directions. But we were stumped. This craft comes from an old oversize pamphlet-style book called Make-It...
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December 22, 2010 - Stringing Popcorn Garland
Stringing popcorn garland is easy, but if you haven’t done it since you were a kid, or if you just want to see how I make mine, here’s my tutorial with teenagers! To string popcorn garland, you need a big pot of plain (no butter, salt, etc.) popped corn. Stale is best because it softens...
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December 11, 2010 - An Angel in Burlap and Tulle
This “burlap-and-tulle angel for dummies” (meaning, I can make it) is based on the gorgeous lace-and-tulle angel MMHoney showed me from her vintage craft stash. Here’s hers: She must have had a lot of ill-founded faith in my crafting ability since she gave me the pattern: I read the directions about 20 times. Unfortunately, they...
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December 3, 2010 - The Return of the Stockings
I haven’t been able to find our stockings for a few years. Our first Christmas here, I sorted through the boxes, found the Christmas things, but didn’t find the stockings. I came up with some “makeshift” stockings and figured I’d find the “real” ones by the next year when holiday-time rolled around. But I didn’t....
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December 10, 2009 - Making Twig Stars
Making twig stars is an easy primitive craft project that is both adorable and versatile. You can make twig stars in any size you like. They don’t have to be–and can’t be!–perfect. (They’re perfectly imperfect.) And you can do so many things with them. String them together vertically to hang on a wall. String them...
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December 5, 2009 - Homemade Fire Starters
A cornucopia of fire starters! I came home to a cold, cold house yesterday. I had a good fire the day before. I’d kept it going all day. I was proud! I never let it go out. I was tending a fire instead of constantly re-starting one. I need to practice banking the fire so...
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December 1, 2009 - Learn How to Make Corn Husk Angels
First, wait for the power to go out. And the phone. And the internet. Then head out looking for bars. Not THOSE kind of bars. THESE kind of bars. Cell service doesn’t reach our farm, but it’s all around us, in various places. You just have to find the bars. And hope the creeks aren’t...
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January 24, 2009 - Capturing Winter
Yesterday morning on the farm. I needed to get out of the house. I needed fresh air. I needed to have some fun! Nine days of snow, freezing temperatures, and entrapment due to icy roads can get depressing. Me: “I shall defeat Winter where she lives and make her mine!” I donned boots and jacket...
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December 17, 2008 - Winter Citrus Potpourri Mix
Make potpourri! I love the look and the fragrance of this citrus mix with the orange pomander centerpiece. It’s pretty and easy and it makes great gifts! I conjured up this potpourri mix utilizing what was available to me, so think creatively and adjust the recipe to suit what you can get your hands on...
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December 16, 2008 - A Homemade Christmas
I love our Christmas tree! Imperfect, too tall, too wide, too sparse, it’s a “wild” tree. Chopped from the woods, it was free, which totally works with my budget. I’ve been posting (and will be continuing to post) some of my homemade Christmas gift ideas–because everyone on my gift list is getting something homemade. Living...
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January 29, 2008 - Love in a Jar
Thinking about Valentine’s Day yet? You’d better get started! It’s almost the end of January! I’m giving you a two-week headstart to get ready with this idea–Love in a Jar. It’s good for lots of occasions, but especially Valentine’s Day. It’s inexpensive, easy, and sweet–just some paint, ribbon, a bit of prettily-wrapped candy, and a...
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