I sometimes find myself remembering DG, my high school journalism and English teacher. He was a rare kind of teacher – one who inspired his students through his own enthusiasm for the subjects he taught. More importantly, DG always fostered an environment of mutual respect in his classroom. Classroom discussions where everyone had a chance… Continue reading Afternoon musings
Signs of spring’s arrival are all around us here in our corner of Lakeland. The grass is growing quickly now, and with it come some charming wildflowers. Our backyard is dotted with patches of blue toadflax, spiderwort and tons of spanish needle. On one particular walk around the neighborhood, I collected a tiny bouquet of… Continue reading Spring
Hello and happy September from over here at the Wren’s Nest, Our late summer garden is in full bloom with a variety of interesting herbs and vegetables. There is the African basil, which I do not use culinarily but is proving to be a fantastic pollinator plant. It attracts a variety of dragonflies, bees, and… Continue reading September
Will and I enjoyed a date together early Saturday afternoon. Will had the romantic idea to lunch at the Terrace Grille, located in the historic Terrace Hotel. We spruced up as best as we could (we are a bit out of practice). Will looked very handsome in a light blue linen shirt that brought out… Continue reading A Lunch Date
A pair of new garden boots, a newly planted sunflower garden, and a week of warm, sunny weather means that I have been relishing my time outdoors lately. I picked up the book The Little Gardener on one of my recent trips to the library. There is a section in the book all about sunflower… Continue reading Sunny notes from around the house
I am just inside after watering the garden and chasing Rowan around with the hose. I’m finishing a cup of coffee Will made for me, and thinking about how beautiful the weather is, and about the Tabebuia trees around town that are beginning to bloom pink and yellow. I’m excited that today we saw our… Continue reading Monday Notes Around the House
We have started the slow but rewarding work of landscaping our backyard. Over the weekend we cleared out an old woodpile along the fence, and discovered a pair of black racer snakes guarding a clutch of eggs. The children walked along the yard taking turns with a magnet wand to pick up any old nails… Continue reading On gardening and growth spurts
Six months ago we moved into our first home! We are still unpacking a few boxes, and are working toward creating cozy and functional spaces that reflect our interests and values. I spent the morning overhauling our utility room, which had become a catchall for our extra moving boxes, hobby supplies, and pantry items. Now… Continue reading January, Here and Now
Piper and I are curled up beneath one of Grandmama’s Scottish wool blankets the color of autumn leaves. I have been spending a lot of time away from the blogosphere lately; the school year started with several home renovations, our youngest beginning preschool, and our oldest returning home for two quarantines after some people at… Continue reading September Lists
I can smell the rain fall on hot pavement now as a sunshower passes over head. The falling rain casts an eerie green glow over parts of the lake, but in a matter of moments the evocative scent is gone and the waters are once again a peaceful blue. The streets whoosh with each car… Continue reading Notes on a Monday in summer
The Wren's Nest 