As summer days come to a close it is time to survey your gardens and prepare them for winter. Step back and take a good look at them. Are there any glaring bare spots that may need more flowers next year? How is your mulch? Do you have perennials that are in desperate need of dividing? After you have gotten the answers to these questions it is time to give some extra attention to your flower gardens so that they are healthy and strong for the coming winter. Here are some tips to help you prepare your gardens for winter: Just as spring is a great time for dividing and planting, so is fall. The…

As the days of summer grow shorter and the mornings have a slight chill I know that the time has come to use or lose the remaining vegetables in my garden.  My summer squash and zucchini plants have pretty much resigned in defeat to the cucumber beetle, with little hope of producing again. I was able to make a zucchini bread and several stuffed zucchinis, yummy. I also love to cut up and put in salads and found a true love for zucchini on the grill this year. Simmered with garlic, onions and fresh tomatoes is another family favorite. My tomato plants are thriving with loads of tomatoes, …

I am a very strong believer in showing your own personal style to the world and being proud of it. Whether it's your favorite new outfit, the bumper stickers you have on your car or the color of your home. However you choose to strut your stuff and show your own unique taste, I applaud you. Too many people are afraid to be different and choose from a young age to just do as thy neighbor and follow the pack.  One way of letting others know your own personal likes is to highlight certain aspects of your home. Make them stand out and scream to be noticed. Such as: a brightly painted front door, …

If your garden is anything like mine, your squash and zucchini plants may be producing an abundant harvest this year. I am not sure if it's all the hot days or all that sun, either way my summer squash and zucchini plants are thriving. After you have had your fill of steamed, baked or grilled zucchini you may be looking for a new recipe for your prized specimen. Last year I decided to try a new recipe for a sweet relish made primarily out of zucchini, verses the traditional cucumber. It is by far the best relish I have ever made. The zucchini holds up very well during the processing and, in …

Just as sure as summer brings hazy heat and humid days your gardens are almost guaranteed to bring you some sort of pest or disease. Whether it's a mold or mildew infection, pesky insects or furry critters that are feasting on your prized plants, many a gardener has struggled with the decision of whether or not to spray with chemicals. On the one hand, chemical sprays are usually quite effective and easy to use. They come pre-mixed and are generally available at many different stores. On the other hand, they are often just as destructive to the beneficial insects in your garden as they are …

Instead of listening to the sounds of my kids splashing around the pool these past few weeks, I have been listening to them (and myself) complain about the unusually cold start to the summer season. In an attempt to keep them entertainded I decided a family craft project was in order.  Just as my kids grow with each passing year it seems my gardens do as well. In an attempt to not step on flowers or leave footprints in the mulch I rely on stepping stones to make paths through the gardens. You can buy them in a variety of materials and styles, however considering that I am cheap, crafty and …

The good news is I have saved some time and money on watering the gardens. Hopefully soon Mother Nature will be a little more generous with the sunny days and we'll be able to enjoy all the time and money spent on preparing the pool for the season. In the meantime, my vegetable garden is off and running. During this seemingly endless string of rainy days I have decided that, just as my mother told me, I will not melt in the rain and have resolved to work in the rain. It has to be done eventually and I'm afraid if I keep waiting for a nice, sunny day, it won't get done. Over my years of …

If you have any perennial plants that are looking a little overcrowded and are taking up too much space in your garden, this is a good time to split them up.   Some of the plants that I find I have to dig and thin out every third or fourth year are: Hosta, Shasta Daisy, Tall Phlox, Day Lillies and Coreopsis. They all divide well and seem to provide plenty of blooms during the same summer that I split them up and the following year they will do fabulous.  Along with my perennials this is also the time of year when I will do the same with  my Iris and Lily of the Valley. Lily of the Valley, in …

As I have said before, I am all in favor of recycling and reusing items.  There is something so gratifying when you can find a new use for something that would have been sentenced to a lifetime in the attic, garage or, worse yet, the landfill.  I love searching the web, browsing through magazines and watching home improvement shows to get new and creative ideas for much-loved items that have served their intended purpose.  My home is filled with just such items: An old wooden crate at the door to hold your family's array of sneakers, hats, gloves and any other item that you may be searching …

When I say my back yard was wet, I mean put on your slickers and wade through if it has rained in the last two months. Well that might be a slight exaggeration, but you really did need boots well into June if you planned on walking the perimeter of the yard at all. We decided that this would be the year we fix it. So over April vacation, while most kids were home from school sleeping in and playing games, our kids were put to work.  With shovels, boots and gloves in hand we all went out for what was to become an exhausting back yard "stay-cation."   After five days of digging, shoveling and …

It is almost Mother's Day, time for those of us who are moms to enjoy a day dedicated to us. Whether you have children, grandchildren, are expecting, have pets or just like to take care of others, this is a time for you to sit back, relax and savor the day. Pamper yourself: light a candle, read a book or watch your favorite movie. Surround yourself with whatever it is that you love most. In preparation for Mother's Day, I thought this would be a perfect week to share some ideas for some of my favorite gifts for those who are expecting. When I was pregnant with my oldest, I was given a cake …

Some people enjoy winter with its beauty and the calmness of fresh fallen snow, Christmas lights and snowmen. Some enjoy the changing colors of leaves in the fall with its crisp fresh air and hot apple cider.   Myself, I am a spring and summer girl, through and through. This is my time. If there is any remote reason for me to be outside instead of in, I will find it. I enjoy the feel of the dirt on my hands and the smell of freshly dug earth. I love to create new garden spaces and spend hours in them. I look forward to hours of digging, splitting plants, trimming and, yes, even weeding. …

Spring has officially sprung, and if you are like me, you are ready for a good old fashioned house cleaning. This is the time of year when my need to open the windows and let in the fresh air overtakes my frugal thoughts of keeping the heat in to save on oil.  Something seems so wonderful about the first wisps of spring air coming through the house. It seems to not only clear the home of the winters smelly stale air, but also helps to ease those winter blues. It is by far my favorite time of year for cleaning, de-cluttering and reorganizing.  I love the way the house looks and smells after a …

I love the week of St. Patrick's Day; what a great time of the year it is. We have made it through February and are heading full force through March. The first day of spring is just days away and we will be turning our clocks ahead tonight. Before you know it, we will be getting the last bits of fall leaves out of our gardens, tending to any damaged branches from the winter and giving our yards a good spring cleaning. Crocus, tulips and hyacinth will soon make their grand debut and the sun seems to grow stronger with each passing day.  This is not to say that I would be surprised should we …

If you are like me, you may be having a hard time throwing out those flowers you received for Valentine's Day. Whether it's an emotional attachment or just a creative urge that is causing you the delay, know you can keep them and add a touch of romance to your home. I love flowers, whether received as a gift or picked from my garden. I enjoy the smell of them and their ever-changing beauty throughout the home. When they have just passed their prime, I take them out of the vase and hang them to dry. After they have completely dried,  I use them around the house in wreaths, dried arrangements, …

With Mother Nature giving us an early tease of spring this week, I'm in the mood to rid myself and my home of the dreary, dingy, winter days. Sometimes I am satisfied with a good cleaning from floor to ceiling. Other times it is a whole new look that I am after, on a budget of course. One thing I do for a change every year or two, is to take the pictures off the walls and move them to different walls or rooms. Quick and easy, done in a day. Another idea is to rearrange your furniture if you are able. Try putting the couch or chairs on an opposite wall for a fresh look. Change the directions …

If you live in New England, chances are that every winte— just as sure as the leaves drop from the trees,—you can count on at least one cold making an uninvited visit to your home.  Growing up, my mom  had an arsenal of home remedies for a seemingly endless list of ailments. I will share some of the ones that she used as we were growing up and some that I still use with my own children. Between my mom and my  gramma, I think they had everything covered from a toothache to a sprained ankle. I will target the cold remedies specifically.  Certainly, there are times when you should see a doctor: …

As Valentine's Day draws near, this is a great time to let know those who are special to you that you are thinking of them. Boxes of chocolates, flowers and cards are always a good option. However if you have some time, homemade treats and decorations are always fun and add an extra personal touch to any gift. Here are a few ideas for your Valentine's Day: Some colored paper, lace, ribbons and glitter can make anyone into a grand artist when it comes to Valentine's Day decorations and cards. Use your imagination and have fun. Nothing says I love you like taking the time to make your own …

I am a saver. I save money by using coupons, buying in-season food, off season clothes, growing a garden, using timers on lights and splitting our own fire wood.  I save time by multi-tasking when I can, making family doctors' appointments, on-line banking, etc. I also save stuff: too much stuff, although I am not quite at the point of having a crew show up to film the next episode of Hoarders. I do pack away many items I know I will never use. I rationalize this in many ways: I may use them in the future, I'll share with my grandchildren, I will fix it and use it again, my mom/sister/friend …

While grocery shopping last week, I spotted spiral-cut hams on sale for a great price. Being thrifty, I simply could not pass up the opportunity to save a few pennies. We had a wonderful Sunday dinner with mashed potatoes, fresh butternut squash and hot rolls out of the oven. It was simply delicious. The only problem was, it was a 8.5 pound ham for four people. Yes, in my attempt to save some pennies I may have been a bit over zealous.  I did not take into account exactly how much ham I was buying. Truth be told, I bought two. I have only cooked one so far; the other one can sit patiently in …