Every year, a town up here in the mountains has a big Christmas in July festival. There are craft vendors, food stalls, demonstrations, all the fun stuff. Santa and Mrs. Claus are even there! The entirety of the main street closes down for 3 days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and the festival takes over. This…
Back again with another opera, but remember, this one you already know. We talked about it a little last week – this is the opera that Rent is based on. This means that the story is the same, well, basically the same. Rent was updated to modern day, but the essence of the story is…
Today is the 4th of July, so Happy Independence Day for the US! This made me think about baking for holidays. Some holidays are more obviously suited for baking, while others might not be. I think most of us can agree that Christmas tends to be a big baking time, but something like Labor Day…
With all kinds of stitches under our belt, it’s time to think about learning to read a crochet pattern. There are patterns for all sorts of things, so first you have to pick one. Most patterns will give you a level, so try to pick one that corresponds to the level you are at. It’s…
Lately I’ve been feeling kind of stuck and unmotivated. I know it’s because there is so much going on, but it made me think about what I do when I feel stuck. I thought about it a bit and decided to share it with you all. Start Small This is a time when go big…
It might seem a bit silly to start talking about frost dates now, but it’s something that gardeners should keep in mind all year long. So what exactly is a frost date? There are two types that gardeners are primarily concerned with: the first frost and the last frost. These are generally given as average…
We’re finally ready to cut out the pattern pieces! The Big 4 pattern makers include multiple sizes in a single envelope. The pattern pieces are printed on a sort of tissue paper that is folded up to fit into the envelope. It’s kind of fragile, so be gentle with the pages. The first thing I…
Can you believe how fast this year is flying by? I swear yesterday was just March, and now we’re basically in July. It’s crazy! When life is that hectic, you really have to prioritize finding a workable balance in your life. Set goals that are realistic, not pie in the sky ideals. The ideals are…
If you’re like me and came of age in the late 90’s, Rent was everywhere for a while. Our high school choir even sang Seasons of Love in our concert one year. While I love Rent, I also have mixed feelings about it. It’s very much a product of the time period in which it…
I think making cookies is a ton of fun. They are one of my favorite things to bake. I make a giant platter of various kinds for Christmas gifts for friends and family. But I don’t have the time or energy to make and bake all the different types of cookies in a single day….
