When we lived in the desert a few years ago I longed for real winter weather. I missed the snow, the clean landscape the snow creates and the embracing quiet that snow storms bring. I missed the comforting feel of layered clothing, and most of all I wanted to stop being hot so much [...]

 
It snowed earlier this week. Approximately 6 to 8 inches of snow fell and then it turned very cold. In fact, I understand from the national news that two-thirds of our country was, and still is, under the icy grip of this same storm.
When the first big snow of the year falls, I always think [...]

 
The weather is changing here. Although the leaves on the trees are still green and mid-day the temperature reaches 80 degrees or more, the night temperatures are cool and the air feels different. It is mellow and comfortable.
Best of all the grasshoppers are dying off. Just as we were about to give up on everything we [...]

 
Many years ago a kind neighbor, with three little boys, shared her recipe for Fruit Punch Concentrate with me. My neighbor was frugal and, I believe, ahead of times in her approach to healthy eating. Not that this is necessarily a healthy drink, but the ratio of real fruit juice content is considerably higher than [...]