When I saw this idea combining three of my favorite things (canning jars, pumpkins, and Halloween), I knew we had to make jar jack-o-lanterns. I dug out a stash of not-acceptable-for-canning jars (ones without a brand name) and our acrylic paints. Lil, her friend, and I each painted three jars in shades of orange. The girls played while I painted the top black and let them dry. About an hour later, we painted black faces [...]

Lil’s kitty cat cake was made by my sister Heather of Taysetee Pastry. Lil’s birthday marks two weeks until my birthday, yippee!

Ingredients and Inspiration: We are trying to return to a normal routine after several weeks with lots of events. Our garden is winding down with only a few tomatoes and peppers left. I unearthed some old homemade chorizo in the freezer that needs to be used. Lil’s birthday is this weekend! Monday – chorizo mulitas, curtido Tuesday – from-the-garden Johnny Marzetti (food blogger roundup on this Columbus classic coming Wednesday), steamed garden green beans Wednesday [...]

It’s official. As the sidewalk fills with students walking to the school on our block, we are choosing to homeschool. Mixed Feelings Until a few years ago, I judged that homeschooling was crazy and relegated to people who want to indoctrinate their child in some religion. I feel that same judgment now from some with whom I share our choice. Thanks to friends who homeschool and the books they’ve recommended, I now believe homeschooling is [...]

Our 20 year old Japanese exchangee, Anna, left for Japan this morning. We’ll remember her stay as a busy time filled with lots of cooking and dining. Here are five images from her visit: Anna making rice balls for us. There’s nothing more American than eating an Ohioana hotdog from Dirty Franks! Anna with giraffe at the Wilds. Lil insisted on holding a lemonade stand and Anna helped her. I will measure and frame this [...]

This week, we lost our speckled sussex hen, Sussie. Suss had not been active, or laying eggs, for a few weeks. We tried several recommended treatments but she continued to lose weight and strength. On Thursday, Alex found her dead in the coop. In life, Sussie was the most skittish and shy of our hens. She had a funky gait and I wonder if she battled a weak heart or other congenital defect. Lil loved [...]

What is it? Garlic scapes are the magical-wand-like flower shoots of the garlic plant. They emerge in late spring and contain a small bud that will become a flower if left on the plant. Many farmers, including me, prefer to cut the scapes away. The theory is that instead of the garlic spending energy growing the allium blossom, it will focus on the bulb. The scape is edible at this early age. Many farmers include [...]