Bringing a Little Winter Magic Indoors I know the moment people start putting out Christmas decorations can be a surprisingly sensitive topic. I once heard a man gasp when I told him I’d started playing Christmas music in October. “Nothing Christmas happens in our house until December 1st!” he declared, and I couldn’t help but … Read more

It happened again just the other day. I had just met a new friend, and after talking for a while I found myself rummaging through my purse for a scrap of paper and a pen—all because she wanted to know the name of my blog. For some time I’d been scribbling my blog name on … Read more

Transforming a Home with Paint and Simple Decor I discovered the powerful effect of paint and well-placed decor many years ago. It happened long before the word “blogging” was common, when I was newly married and living as an American transplant in Canada. With time on my hands while waiting for a work permit, I … Read more

Day 31 First, my apologies to anyone who has been checking this blog for the last 31 days—I fell short of posting every day. I did keep cooking, though, and have been busier than ever preparing meals for a wonderful, appreciative group of women. Their cheerfulness made the long hours worthwhile. After a month of … Read more

My sourdough bread baking journey began with curiosity and has become a weekly delight. Four months in, here are nine reasons I’m still baking—and learning—each week. This morning, while the house was still quiet and the sky was turning blue, I padded into the kitchen to feed my sourdough starter. As I measured, poured, and … Read more

Hello and welcome! Thank you for stopping by. Come on in — I’d love to show you the space I’ve been spending a lot of time in lately. It’s quite different from the kitchen I usually work in… This is the camp kitchen. Over the past few days I’ve been cleaning, sorting, and organizing in … Read more

I woke up this morning to discover Cassity is featuring our Beach Cottage Bedroom at Remodelaholic. Thank you, Cassity. A few years ago, the siding on our previous house was being painted. The workers had set up scaffolding to reach the high areas. When they left for lunch one day, I noticed a scaffold positioned … Read more

This beloved creamy Cajun chicken pasta features sautéed, seasoned chicken, sweet peppers, and a lightly spicy cream sauce. Inspired by a recipe seen on The Pioneer Woman, it’s a special-occasion pasta that’s rich in flavor and comforting to the core. I’ll be honest: this is one of the more involved pasta recipes I make, but … Read more

Transform your sourdough discard into a soft, tender honey oat sourdough sandwich bread that’s easy to mix in the morning and ready by dinnertime. With a golden-brown crust and a delicate crumb, this loaf makes excellent sandwiches and is perfect for quick peanut butter and jam toast. This soft and tender sourdough sandwich bread mixes … Read more

This comforting creamy tortellini soup with Italian sausage and spinach turns a beloved pasta dish into a warming, one‑pot meal. Rich, savory, and easy to make, it’s perfect for cozy weeknights and makes excellent leftovers. I was searching for new soup ideas and came across this recipe. It impressed us the first time, and we … Read more