Family Activities

Five Tips To Smooth Spring Cleaning

Karen Johnson March 31, 2014

These five tips use safe and natural cleaners and reliable polishes to make your house sparkle this spring!

Sap Bags for gathering maple sap for syrup

Maple Sugaring In Western Massachusetts

Kathy Harrison March 24, 2014

In chilly, hilly Western Massachusetts, maple syrup making is in full swing! Blogger Kathy Harrison tells how they do it in her small town.

A Thousand Things To Amuse Puzzle-Loving Folks!

Karen Johnson March 14, 2014

Danielle Russel and her parents, Berta and Doug Lockhart evaluated some of our more challenging thousand piece puzzles this winter. Danielle and Doug work together and make all sorts of hand-forged iron items for Lehman’s at their forge and nearly-off-grid home in southern Ohio.

Molly Made Her First Maple Syrup!

Karen Johnson March 12, 2014

Stained glass artist Molly Sotherden strikes out in the craft of maple syrup making in her own backyard!

Our American Gardeners Get Going!

Karen Johnson March 7, 2014

Our American Gardeners have their seeds, and are getting started on their gardens. Desert resident Glynis shares her thoughts on the experiment today.

Cocoa Indulgence Warms Chill Days

Kathy Harrison February 5, 2014

If you are going to go to the trouble of making hot chocolate from scratch rather than spooning a powder into a cup and adding hot water then you should also indulge in a pretty mug.

Retail Therapy On The Cheap Spurs Creativity

Kathy Harrison January 27, 2014

Kathy Harrison extols the thrifty, repurposing side of retail therapy in today’s blog article. Get some ideas, and “make it do” with style!

Connie’s Coverlet Is Warm Tale For Stormy Days

Karen Johnson January 8, 2014

Connie, a Country Life blogger is a great fiber artist. She recently completed a hand-woven coverlet, and shared the story and photos with us. Read more about this wonderfully heart-warming story!

Grandma’s Apron: Nostalgia Lives At New Year’s Eve

Karen Johnson December 31, 2013

Ah, the apron! Gran always wore one, and now they’re coming back. But what do they really mean?

One Good Life

Kathy Harrison December 27, 2013

There are so many things yet to be done at the house but I’m committed a church retreat. And that’s the truth of a good life. It’s a series of choices about how we spend our time and our money. The life we build is up to us.