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62 posts
A Calmer Back-to-School RhythmAugust 11, 2025First grade starts this week. The small evening habits and slower mornings we're trying so August doesn't swallow the whole family.
Tomato Pie SeasonAugust 2, 2025Salted market-seconds tomatoes, a blind-baked crust and a golden cheese topping: our late-summer tomato pie, baked before the heat sets in.
Pantry Shelves That Stay Neat, MostlyJuly 24, 2025Our pantry is one tall cabinet in a 1958 kitchen. Here's the system that keeps it usable through July humidity and big Costco hauls.
A Screened Porch Makeover for Under $200July 15, 2025Patched screens, two curbside rockers and a scrubbed floor. How our tired back porch became the room we live in all summer.
Do Blackout Curtains Actually Lower the Cooling Bill?July 6, 2025We hung blackout curtains in the bedrooms this June. A month in, here is what changed in room temperature, sleep, and the cooling bill.
Sunday Afternoons Without a PlanJune 26, 2025What happens when we leave Sunday afternoons completely unscheduled: porch naps, slow walks, odd projects and a lot more ease.
Peach Cobbler With Whatever Peaches You Can GetJune 17, 2025Bruised, frozen, canned or perfect: an easy, forgiving peach cobbler that works with whatever peaches you've got, plus what it costs.
The First Week of Summer Break: Our Loose RoutineJune 8, 2025My color-coded summer calendar lasted two days. The loose order of a day that actually worked for a six-year-old and a work-from-home mom.
The Entryway Drop Zone That Saved Our MorningsMay 30, 2025We come and go through the carport door, not the front. A few hooks, a bench and three baskets at the back hall changed our mornings.
Houseplants That Survive a Humid HouseMay 21, 2025Damp air helps some plants and drowns others. What has thrived, what rotted and what we changed in our humid old ranch house.
Our Free Home Energy Audit: What the Inspector FoundMay 12, 2025Our utility sent an inspector out for a free home energy audit. What he checked, what he found in our 1958 attic, and what we're doing next.
A Simple Mother's Day Brunch at HomeMay 3, 2025A relaxed Mother's Day brunch menu for home: one baked dish, fruit, biscuits and good coffee, with a make-ahead plan that keeps it easy.