A New Era

“You had better explore to Donwell,” replied Mr. Knightley. “That may be done without horses. Come, and eat my strawberries. They are ripening fast.” ‘Emma’ -Jane Austen I have been a fan of sweets since I was young, but lately we’ve been challenging ourselves to reserve sweets for one day a week only. I’m accustomed…

Half of My Heart is in Havana

I’m often inspired by the books I’m reading or the shows I’m currently binging. It’s almost like I don’t want to simply read, watch, or listen to the story… I want to absorb it into every fiber of my being. I’ve always been that way. Since I was a little girl, I have enjoyed being…

Playing Chicken

Getting a grasp on balancing full-time work, a commute, and everyday housework has sidelined one of my favorite activities. This beloved space. I have just enough time to cook, yes. Writing? There’s only so much of me to go around. At the end of the day, after my commute, after cooking and/or chores, I don’t…

Summer Slips Away

Summer passed by simultaneously in a blink and interminably. If I’m truthful, after a Summer with a health challenge and now having to lose the weight gained by more bagels and less cardio, I’m beyond ready for Fall. Beyond. If you know me personally, you know that my favorite time of year is Winter. Fall…

There’s Beauty in the Blend

One of the best things about growing up in the US of A is that we enjoy the incredible results of a couple of centuries of culinary influence that comes from such a melting pot of a nation. My fair-haired-blue-eyed ancestors emigrated from Germany during World War II and proudly became legal United States citizens,…

¡Cinco de Mayo!

In Texas (heck, in the United States as a whole), Cinco de Mayo is more of an unofficial cause for celebration than than it is in Mexico. Many people erroneously assume that it’s Mexico’s independence day. Actually, it only commemorates a single battle in the Mexican fight for independence from European control – specifically France….

Amazing St. Jacques’ Scallops

I remember the first time I ever heard of Coquille St. Jacques. I have been a voracious reader for as long as I could read. As a young elementary school student, I read this book about a seemingly poor girl named Mazie (sp?) during the Great Depression. Her mother died while she was young, but…

Humble Offerings

One of my quickly-becoming-dearest friends has a birthday this week. This particular friend isn’t one for which you just go out and buy any old frivolous bauble. She’s so thoughtful and intentional herself that only an intentional and thoughtful gift will do. This friend also doesn’t have a massive sweet tooth, but I know for…

Jamaican Me Crazy!

It did do us a world of good to take a Sunday afternoon and shut away the world for lunch al fresco. This past year has been such a bust that to be momentarily transported to a faraway tropical isle was refreshing. In a year of no travel, it was nice to imagine travelling to…

Duck Duck Goose!

It’s been a minute since I’ve written. I know. Is anyone else feeling the lingering busy effects of 2020 well into 2021? I feel like I kicked life into a higher gear around this time last year (hint: around the time the pandemic hit) and I haven’t really let off the gas since. Working at…