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
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
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
With June’s arrival and summer around the corner, I wanted to share with you a few children’s books that we have been reading to celebrate the season. Just this afternoon we gathered on a blanket in the backyard and the children ate popsicles while listening to a few stories. Sunflower House by Eve Bunting, Illustrated… Continue reading Children’s Summer Reading
This morning I brought Rowan to the library, where we returned a few books and checked out several more. We said Hello to the friendly librarians, and Rowan helped me to scan the barcodes at the self-checkout computer. Afterward, we walked next door to the cafe. We brought our drinks (a dark roast coffee for… Continue reading The promise of rain on the first of April
The return to school has given us back our Fridays. Fridays are a sweet spot in our week. They are usually filled with a sense of relief and accomplishment, but also excitement about the prospects of the weekend. Last Friday, I cooked breakfast for dinner with the kids. I called my mom laughing, because I… Continue reading Friday Thoughts and Musings
Our library has been a great resource for us this summer. I think the librarians have come to recognize us from all of the books we place on hold and pick up weekly. Here I have compiled a list of our recent favorite children’s books. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr This… Continue reading A List of Recent Favorite Children’s Books
In The Kitchen Last week our kitchen was filled with nourishing meals like a garden kale, sweet potato and chickpea skillet, one pan caramelized Brussels sprouts with bacon and onion, and a quinoa salad with roasted butternut squash, chickpeas, parsley and currants. As the weekend approached, our meals became whatever we could throw together —… Continue reading Late January Notes
Jon Cohen’s book Harry’s Trees sometimes reads as predictable and sweet, while other times I find myself mulling over the story’s deeper themes long after I have put the book down for the night. Harry’s Trees is the story of Harry Crane, a recent widower who is stricken with guilt over his wife’s passing. It… Continue reading Thoughts on Jon Cohen’s Harry’s Trees
The Wren's Nest 