Woo hoo! It’s the day after Thanksgiving and I can finally start posting about Christmas! As much as I adore the Christmas season, I do try to hold off until Halloween and Thanksgiving have had their turns. But now… I am happy to present my …

After living in Japan for six years with only an itty-bitty concrete front porch, a good-sized backyard was one of our requirements when we were searching for a new house. We wanted a private place to entertain — which led to our DIY pergola — and a …

I have always admired the look of decorated sugar cookies, but they often failed to impress upon my taste buds. They’ve been rather dry and flavorless, dressed up with overly sweet icing in an aesthetic attempt to compensate for being a boring cookie. That is, …

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It’s in autumn — the best season of all — and it’s just so much fun! The costumes, the trick-or-treating, the candy… what’s not to love?! Here is my crew this past Halloween: Aren’t they sweet? We have a Day of the …

One of my all-time favorite soups is Olive Garden’s pasta e fagioli, and this recipe is a delicious replica. It’s a wonderfully hearty soup that is sure to warm your heart and belly. And it’s incredibly easy to make; the most laborious task is chopping …