Long grazing platters, a luxuriously bountiful counter to the restriction of diet culture, are one of the hottest food trends of recent years. In this post, I’ll tell you about my take on this food trend, and how, from a small 10×10 foot mixed garden plot (of flowers, vegetables, and herbs) I create both edible…
Perhaps one of the hardest parts of long-term travel is the care and feeding of my own body. What’s familiar and second-nature back home, takes energy- and often creativity- when traveling. When I settle into a work-friendly AirBnB for a few days to catch up on business (Usually about 5 to 7 days) I find…
One of my favorite recent felt craft food projects is this felt spaghetti and meatballs play set that I made for my niece this past Christmas. She loves her play kitchen and I love using the products we sell to create playsets for her that help her express herself and organize her world through…
For some time now, I have been curating my own whimsical garden in Missouri and snapping photos of unique garden spaces when encountered them, but I thought it might be good to collect some of those images into one post, to provide a reference for myself and others who might be seeking fresh ideas and…
This vintage birdcage makes a unique hanging basket featuring small shade-loving plants and a vintage bird figurine. One element of creating a whimsical garden is using ordinary objects to add playful interest to your garden. (Last year’s post on creating a garden fountain using an old sink counts!) Birdcages can be a fun addition,…
A spoonful of a product you probably already have in your cabinet can prevent (or reverse) the chemical process that causes crystallized honey. Honey is the only food product that never goes bad, though, if you’ve ever discovered a jar of honey forgotten in the back of a cabinet, you might doubt it based on…
One of the easiest ways to add style, beauty, and warmth to a space is with fresh flowers. In my 20’s, when I thought of flower arrangements I think of an occasional splurge on an arrangement from a florist, or an even rarer gift from a friend or admirer to commemorate a special occasion- but in…
Hawk Hill’s gardens are home to many flowering plants, but by late summer in Missouri, there’s not much that hasn’t gone to seed, so my vases are usually empty. One day I realized that even though my flowerbeds were empty, there were lots of colorful and unique plants- even weeds- on the property and maybe…
I purchased a Foodsaver in 2011 after finally being convinced to buy it by a friend who said it was the only small appliance she still used daily after owning it for more than a year. I bought it and absolutely agree- I’d never have a kitchen without one, now. My Foodsaver just turned 5…
Lately I am enjoying more photography and appreciation of small delights around Hawk Hill. In this spring “Favorite Things” posts I got herb bouquets, art, and kittens. I’ve been trying to be more intentional about appreciating less glamorous things as beautiful- enter these sage blossoms and fennel fronds. Hardly standouts in the garden, they made…
My furniture shopping pet peeve is that the price tag rarely reflects quality- more often the price reflects the cost of shipping from a manufacturing plant overseas and warehouse storage. When I began shopping for a sawhorse table last year, it was obvious that the prices weren’t relative to quality. I quickly made up my…
I love Ikea’s small, $3.99 potted plants for shelf fillers. Most of the time, the standard 4″ pot size is perfect for dropping into small pots or the trophy cups dotting my shelves, but as my collection of white-ware planters has grown, I’ve found situations where I needed a smaller plant or a…
Hawk Hill’s fences are draped with heavily scented honeysuckle vines, humming-bird enticing trumpet vines, and deep emerald toned Virginia Creeper. Unfortunately, these vines which so perfectly provide a thick cover of privacy at each of the property lines also peep up invasively at all points not mowed regularly, including my flower beds. I’ve spent years…
Last Updated: A few years ago I had a serious coke problem. Not the powdery white stuff, but the corn syrup-sweetened chemical syrup available everywhere in the US. One of the things that finally helped me kick my soda habit was learning to always keep a pitcher of iced tea of varying types and flavors…
Cold brew coffee is popular currently- but did you know you can make iced tea without hot water? Cold Brew iced tea takes about a day- or at least overnight- but is a simple way to always have tea on hand without having to boil water. Just fill your pitcher with water, add tea bags…
