A Special Menu for Father's Day

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children:

one is roots. The other is wings. ~Hodding Carter, Jr.

Father's Day is Sunday, so I thought I'd share the picture above of my husband painting a bird house with my daughter when she was about three years old. It's hard to believe she's 13 now, and taller than I am! Instead of crafts, now they take off to local art festivals or go fishing when I'm busy writing. We all still do plenty of other things together, but I know those alone times with her dad are really special to her.

Over the weekend I put together a Father's Day menu that uses the grill, and the crock pot, plus the preparation can be done after breakfast to make the day a bit more relaxing.

-Garlic Lemon Grilled Chicken
-Grilled Corn on the Cob
-Brenda's Slow Cooked Calico Baked Beans

If you add a tossed salad, and watermelon for dessert you'll be all set! The article is here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Fathers-Day-Menu.html

I hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day weekend:)
~Brenda

A Beautiful Drought Tolerant Garden

What a pity flowers can utter no sound!—A singing rose, a whispering violet, a murmuring honeysuckle ... oh, what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be! ~Henry Ward Beecher

The blooms in the picture today are of my tall hibiscus. They are beautiful when in bloom, but since I planted them many years ago, I threaten each year to dig them up.  They grow at least 6 foot tall, and bloom for a short period of time.  The Japanese beetles love them to death and munch holes in the leaves for most of the garden season. Why don't I make good on my threat? Because I walk out to the flower bed when they are blooming and they brighten my day each and every time.  It doesn't matter how chewed up they become, or how dry the summer is, they bloom without fail and they are beautiful.  So, they may be too tall, and they may attract all of the wrong insects, but how could I possibly get rid of those stunning blooms?

I wrote an article for this week on creating a drought free flower garden. I've supplied lists with proper plant names and the common colors available. This tall hibiscus above is extremely drought tolerant, and just one of the colorful plants that can be used in this type of flower garden. (Just make sure you plant it in the back behind all of the other flowers!) You'll find the article here:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Grow-Drought-Flower-Garden.html

~Brenda

Create Your Own Cottage Garden

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. ~Emma Goldman

The end of May through June is one of the busiest times for our family. We have three birthdays, the end of school activities and the garden season is in full swing. Last week I wrote an article on cottage gardens, which I love. I was surprised at the history of this type of garden, and it made me love them even more. In some ways it was a combination of a cottage garden as we think of one now, and a potager or kitchen garden. They were very useful, yet charming. You'll find the article here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Cottage-Garden.html

I hope your week is lovely:)
~Brenda

Memorial Day and Garden Goodness

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast,
And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


I hope everyone takes a minute to reflect this Memorial Day as we gather with our family and friends. I am truly grateful to the soldiers and their families that have served and died in for our country.

The gardener in me cries out "Let's get this party started!" every May when the evenings warm, and the soil is finally ready for me to sow seeds and plants again. We are revamping two areas this year, one as a Butterfly and Hummingbird garden in a hot, sunny area, and another into a Woodland garden in a shady, moist location.  I'm transplanting, sowing seeds and purchasing a few new plants as our budget allows.  I was doing research for myself and put together an article on creating a Butterfly and Hummingbird garden to share on OFL.  I think you'll like the frugal tips, and the advice on what annuals and perennials to use without breaking the budget. The article is here: http://oldfashionedliving.com/Create-A-Butterfly-Garden.html

~Enjoy the weekend:)  Brenda

A Mother's Day Menu

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

The quote above always makes me smile because I think of how I take the cupcake that fell over, the eggs with the broke yolks or the heel of the bread.  I don't remember when I started doing it, but I'm sure it was after we had children.  The funny thing is--  I truly don't care about those things, and I'm sure I'll keep doing it:) 

It's been busy at our house, but this weekend I wrote a new article with recipes and tips for a Mother's Day menu.  It's easy enough for teenagers to make on their own, or younger kids with the help of dad. Feel free to print out the article:)  It's here:  http://oldfashionedliving.com/Mothers-Day-Menu.html .

I hope everyone has a lovely Mother's Day,
~Brenda

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

May Gardening and Landscape Tips

It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

I hope you all had a beautiful Spring weekend. May begins in a few days, so I've written an article with tips on nurturing and preparing the garden and landscape. I started cleaning my flower and herb beds this weekend, but came down with a cough, so I had to take a break. The first of my daffodils bloomed, which always brings a smile to my face, even while I'm coughing:) The article has tidbits on the following and more:

Peonies
Bulb Care
Roses
Lavender

You'll find the article here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/May-Gardening.html

~Brenda

Restaurant Style Soups Made Easy

Come and let us seek together
Springtime lore of daffodils,
Giving to the golden weather
Greeting on the sun-warm hills.
~Lucy Maud Montgomery

We enjoyed a few days of Spring, and then it was gone and in its place was sleet, snow and temperatures below 40. Sigh. However it's suppose to be in the 60's next week, so maybe it will feel like Spring again:) My daffodils are popping up, but none are blooming yet. I also spotted buds on the maple tree and the lilac. I know some of you are already enjoying blooms!

The last two weeks I worked on three soup recipes in my quest to make a nice, restaurant style soup without having to use difficult recipes or expensive ingredients. The results turned out wonderful so I wrote an article with all three recipes. You'll find the article here:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Elegant-Soup.html

~Brenda