Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ever since I heard last year that my community was experimenting with composting, I’ve been itching to sign up. I know for sure that we’ll put the compost bins to good use. I’d venture a guess that it’d be worth it just to find a good, more earth friendly home, for our Friday pizza boxes.Continue reading “Food Scrap Recycling Comes to Oak Park”

We had a little fun, thanks to this step-by-step post by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on blowing up balloons by way of chemical reaction. It’s a super easy experiment using what most kitchens likely have on hand: an empty plastic water bottle, baking soda, and vinegar. If you’re like me, you have someContinue reading “Science in the Kitchen: Balloons Plus Baking Soda & Vinegar”

If you’ve been to my house for any gathering, I make no secret that my favorite foods don’t require utensils. Give me a good chip/dip combo or charcuterie board for just about any meal. This affection for finger foods surely dates back to my childhood, on the pier in San Diego eating fresh Pacific shrimpContinue reading “Adorable & Delicious: Wonton Tacos”

On a Net surfing break today, I learned it’s National Pie Day, not to be confused with Pi Day on 3/14. I knew immediately we would be celebrating, but I had no plans since this holiday sneaked up on me. My backup would be pumpkin cream. I always have those ingredients on hand and there’sContinue reading “'Macaroon Pie' on National Pie Day”

Over the holidays, my daughter and I had the pleasure of visiting Hawaii. I’m sure that most tourists go for the sand, sun and surf. We were there for that, no doubt. But high up on my to-do list was visiting at least one of Oahu’s farmers markets. As things turned out, we got toContinue reading “Taking In the Honolulu Farmers Market”

It’s safe to say this project would have been better had it been colder. And it would have been prettier with some snow on the ground. But even with temps in the 40s, we had a great time mixing up colors for a batch of ice marbles. Or, in our case, ice bowling balls. WeContinue reading “Ice Marbles in the Park”

I’ve long considered putting up a shelter and some protective fencing to house a pair or couple pair of backyard chickens. And I’ve followed the backyard chicken movement in my area and perked up when I’d hear of chicken adventures from a handful of neighbors who’ve tried their hands at urban chicken keeping. But myContinue reading “Backyard Chickens Go Mainstream”

On Thanksgiving Day, thanks to the growing herd of goats, I walked on a trail around the big field for the first time of my life. Sim and my Future Farmboy came along. But they decided to cut across the field and look for arrowheads instead of fight the wild roses and honey locusts alongContinue reading “Thanksgiving Adventures on The Farm”

My sisters heard a radio program recently in which the hosts asserted that if someone says they like to try new recipes on Thanksgiving, they’re lying. What people really like is the same menu, year in and year out. That’s what the folks on the radio said. I gotta say, I really don’t know anyContinue reading “Another Thanksgiving, Another New Menu”

I’ve been salivating over recipes for baked apples ever since this year’s apple harvest, such as it was this year in the Midwest. With a half-dozen apples I bought at the last Farmers Market of the season, I hollowed out the core and filled each one with a mix of sugar, oats and spice. TheContinue reading “How 'Bout Them Apples”