The Pithlachascotee River, often called the Cotee River by locals, is a blackwater river in Pasco County, Florida. The name originated with the Creek tribe meaning a place where canoes were dug out. The river meanders for 23 miles through Pasco County before it makes its way out to the Gulf of Mexico at Miller’s Bayou.
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No matter the size of your home, a lot of Christmas decorating can be achieved with vignettes. I’ve lived in small apartments and condos as well as a larger home. Whether you have room for a big Christmas tree or just a small table top tree, much of your decorations can be achieved with small arrangements on tables, bookcases, and shelves. I love using small scenes to fill a room. This holiday season my living room is a blue and silver Winter Wonderland.
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We’re getting close to the official first day of winter on December 21st. We’re all decorating, baking, and planning for the two big holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Then cold, dark January comes with low temperatures and for many locations, dreary gray skies. For many of us it means we’re going to end up spending most of our time snuggled up indoors cozy under a blanket. For those of you in more northern climates, you’ve already had snow and are in the winter season no matter what the calendar says. Now we’re in the huge Christmas rush. In another month, the holidays are over and the New Year is upon us. Are you making resolutions for 2022? How about adding gardening to your list?
Today’s dish is great for most diets. It’s vegan with no common allergy triggers, that works well as a fruit salad or as a healthy dessert alternative. It’s made with two autumn fruits, ripe pears and pomegranates, and is a great dish for the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year. It works well for potlucks. Pomegranates are, of course, a high-fiber, high-antioxidant “superfood” (thanks in part to those hard little edible seeds!). It’ll make you happy to see pomegranates appear in the grocery in the fall…
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My friend Jean decided to get into the spirit of the season. She put up her Christmas tree and started decorating her living room. It’s so pretty.
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Sometimes we only have moments to try to capture special views of nature. First I’d like to share the instance of an egret in my friend’s garden. Egrets in Florida usually come in pairs or groups and forage the yard for food. At a slight movement by a human, away they fly. This time the bird just watched and didn’t leave. Time to attempt to capture a photo or two.
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Back at the beginning of November, I discussed simple Thanksgiving place settings. We’re now at the end of November, and our thoughts are filled with Christmas. Have you put your tree up yet? Many of us start decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, there are many types of get togethers including a brunch with friends, an afternoon tea, a holiday party, Christmas dinner, and New Year’s Eve. If you are having guests for Christmas dinner or a party, you’re probably in the planning mode now. Deciding on the menu and dividing up the dishes among us is what happens in my family. Who brings what.
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We all have a wish list for our homes. From the moment I walked through the house on a tour before I bought, I was making a checklist of what I liked and what I wanted to change. Some home improvement means big bucks; other changes can be made on a small budget. The smart home owners learn what is doable, plan, and make changes as they are able. For large ticket items, plan ahead and save for the upgrade. I made a 10 year plan and budgeted for a roof replacement, flooring change, new sliding patio doors, and a new central a/c. That was achieved over the last decade. Now I’m planning new washer/dryer, a new front door, and some small improvements in the next 4 to 6 years. Let’s talk about common home improvements.
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