Good Things by David

The end of August seems like a good time to sit back and review what I've shared and covered here on the blog during the past six months.  I don't do my monthly overviews anymore the way I used to, because it takes quite a bit of time, but I thought that an end-of-summer review would be just the thing before the start of September. Think of this as a small reminder of undertakings you may want to get to in the coming months or in 2016.  Make a note of that cookie project you feel like getting to or of the area in your kitchen that needs reorganizing.  Perhaps you want to start collecting some beautiful jadeite or some Martha by Mail cookie cutters like I do.  Whatever it is that you happen to like or want, go through these favorite posts of mine and get an idea or two, then make them your own. Rather than taking this month by month, in chronological order, I decided to break it up by category and begin with some decorated cookies.  This review is rather l...

We're not the only ones experiencing the unpleasant heat and humidity of the dog days of summer right now, but it's to be expected throughout the month of August for much of the country.  I try my best to plan whatever outings I need to do early in the morning so that I'm not out when the sun is at its brightest and hottest.  Yes, I still take my walks around town and throughout our trails for that much needed exercise, but it gets done before noon.   Just yesterday, I decided to take one of my walks with a camera in hand in order to take stock of what our place looks like right now.  It's good for me to document the landscape from season to season, year to year.  Whenever I get a chance to look through my photo library, I have to pause at some of those pictures that capture an idyllic moment here at home. The area in front of the barn is where I stop to see what's going on around our home.  If the driveway is swept and free of twigs, branches, ...

Now that it's September, I can honestly say that I see change everywhere I look.  Over the Labor Day weekend on my regular walks around our trails and the meadow, I noticed several trees that were already turning.  I don't know why this makes me a bit sad, but it does every single year.  As much as I like autumn and winter, I think about the beautiful landscape the way it is now and the way it will look like in the coming months.  Being surrounded by lush foliage, shrubs and plants is undoubtedly a feast for the eyes, so when it all disappears and becomes a barren landscape, it gives me a sense of longing for spring's renewal. Where has the time gone?  I feel as if events, birthdays and holidays are coming much too quickly, and yet there is still a lot to do.  Having said that, my month was filled with a lot of wonderful recipes and ideas here on the blog.  It always amazes me whenever I get a message from a reader thanking me for having writt...