1. Deb Bastien and Kate Saliba have a particular fondness for letterpress. Their staff includes a talented violinist, a portrait artist, and a mathematician. And in recent years, Smudge Ink has also created two lines of vibrantly designed cards whose proceeds benefit local charities: WE CAN, a Cape Cod group offering mentoring, legal counsel, and […]
Living
Gardens
Fall Gardening Suggestions
When doing your fall garden cleanup, leave some of your seed heads and dried plant material for wildlife to use for winter food and shelter. Many butterflies and pollinators overwinter in the garden. Think of your winter landscape. Leave ornamental grasses, astilbe, butterfly bushes, sedum, and other plants standing for winter interest. It’s best not […]
Okay, all you trivia enthusiasts: What’s Hadley, Massachusetts, known for throughout the United States and Europe and even by the queen of England? Yes—asparagus. For some 50 years (1930 through the 1970s), Hadley was called “the Asparagus Capital of the World,” shipping what locals referred to as “Hadley grass” to the British royal family every […]
These tiny glowing orbs are a fun and easy alternative to pumpkins for your Halloween décor. Arranged along a sidewalk, at the base of a fence, along the top of a wall, or up the front steps to your house, they attract trick-or-treaters with their bright color and fantastic scent. Plus, they leave no waste: […]
If you celebrate Halloween, it’s time to start decorating! These haunted houses can be made using mostly recycled materials and therefore are inexpensive to make. They can also be combined with your existing Halloween decor to create a table centerpiece, a mantel decoration, or a windowsill display. Materials to Make Haunted Houses: Recycled cardboard boxes […]
The trees in the area next to my yard have been overrun by vines, and the ground is covered with evergreen undergrowth. The vines still have some orange berries from fall; the lower plants were topped with white flowerheads last spring. What can I do to save my woods? J.F., Worcester, MA Invasive plant species […]
Are daylily buds edible? How do you cook them? — F.P., Berlin, NH The flower buds, flowers, leaves, and even roots of the daylily (Hemerocallis) are universally considered edible. But with any new food, it’s always prudent to try a small amount first in case your system reacts differently. Some people, for example, may have […]
New Englanders have utilized winter squash for centuries. With its thick and tough shell, winter squash can be stored for extended periods of time in cool dry areas throughout the winter and into the spring. Winter squash isn’t only a hardy and nutritious food source, it’s also delicious, versatile, and yes-even fun. Read on to […]
Ever since I laid eyes on an actual pumpkin coach (a miniature version of course) I have wanted to create one for myself. There are numerous possibilities for creating coaches and vehicles with pumpkins and gourds that I may have to make this a yearly tradition so I can experiment with different themes and characters. I will tell […]
This autumn serving tray is perfect for delivering coffee, cider, or breakfast in bed. Materials to Make Autumn Serving Tray 2 sheet of leaves — choose from yellow leaves, red leaves, or brown leaves. 3 sheets of textured background scissors 1 frame, 181/8” L x 141/8” W x 13/8” H 1 bottle autumn-gold acrylic paint […]
Gardens
Keep Your Head Focused
This is a macro shot of a moth, sucking nectar from a beautiful, purple Butterfly Bush. It was taken in my garden in Enfield, Connecticut. Taken on July 21, 2013 with a Nikon D3200.
Desktop Reminder Boards are miniature bulletin boards designed for your own personal use. They are small enough to be placed on your work desk, a countertop , or shelf. Some people use Reminder Boards to remember certain tasks they need to get done that day– i.e. to complete an assignment, to remember a staff meeting, […]