A Gift to Remember Her eyes sparkled with the unfiltered exuberance of a child. She stepped forward, cheeks flushed, and said in a small, excited voice, “I have something for you. But I want you to open it with your husband.” I was standing in our camp’s large, sunlit dining room. People were moving around, … Read more

Blog Redesign and My Favorite WordPress Plugins Over the past few days I’ve been quietly working on a small redesign for the blog. New sidebar headings, an updated About Me page, a refreshed Project Gallery, and cleaner blog buttons are all part of the changes. It was a small mood-driven project that grew into a … Read more

Good morning — the kind that feels like a small blessing. I opened the blinds and finally saw a clear blue sky, the first bright day I’ve noticed in 32 days (not that I was keeping an official tally, but it felt notable). That sunlight gave my mood an immediate lift and a little burst … Read more

Today I found myself thinking about the small church I attended as a child in Montana. I’m deeply grateful for that place and the memories it holds. As I pictured the wooden pews and hymnals, I remembered that I once included photos of the church in an old blog post. I just found it. Several … Read more

Updating a Young Man’s Bedroom: Organizing, Transitioning, and Making Space I’ve always enjoyed seeing photos of charming boys’ bedrooms in magazines and blogs. It feels like just yesterday our home was full of bunk beds, matching plaid bedding, and closets lined with little bins of Lincoln Logs, Matchbox cars, and marble sets. And—honestly—the carpet probably … Read more

Take the stress out of dinner with this easy Greek chicken marinade recipe. A simple mix of pantry staples and classic Mediterranean spices turns ordinary chicken into a juicy, flavorful meal. This marinade is quick to whisk together and works well for meal prep—simply pour it over chicken in a zipper bag and refrigerate or … Read more

Get 30 days of comforting main dishes, sides, soups and one dessert, plus 10 bonus sweets & treats recipes in this easy-to-download cooking bundle. My friend Shirley from Intelligent Domestications and I share decades of hands-on homemaking and family cooking experience. Between us we’ve spent years testing recipes, refining time-saving techniques, and gathering the dishes … Read more

DIY Blue Stenciled Dining Room Curtains — A Simple Fabric Painting Project In this article: Using basic supplies and a stencil, these blue stenciled dining room curtains are an approachable project for learning how to paint on fabric. I love fabric. When I have a spare moment in town, I often drift into the decorator … Read more

This dining room-to-home-office conversion happened quickly and with a deadline, and that urgency turned out to be highly motivating. I hadn’t planned every detail in advance, but the rush forced decisions and produced a functional, inviting workspace in a short time. Before the switchover I skimmed through a Pottery Barn catalog each night, hoping ideas … Read more

Simple Bookkeeping System for New Etsy Sellers I’ve been an Etsy shop owner for six days, so I’m not claiming to be an expert. Still, I ran into a question early on that I couldn’t find a clear answer for: how should I organize the bookkeeping side of a brand new Etsy business? I wanted … Read more