Around the farm, hot cocoa is more than just a sweet treat—it's a warm hug in a mug. It starts our slow winter mornings, warms us after feeding the animals, and makes the perfect evening treat around the fire. But if you were raised on those little packets of powdered mix and chalky marshmallows, yo...

There’s something wonderful about walking into a home that smells like Christmas.

The first time I ever made a simmer pot was when I was a young mom, just learning how to cook from scratch. A pot of orange peels and cinnamon sticks gently simmering on the stove became part of that journey—a humble ...

When my dear friend Michele over at Chocolate Box Cottage gifted me Sweet Remedies: Healing Herbal Honeys by Dawn Combs, I wasn’t expecting it to change how I saw honey. Around here, honey is as common as a jar of jam on the counter, but until then, I’d mostly used it to sweeten tea or drizzle over ...

The first time I made my own lip balm, I felt like I’d uncovered one of homemaking’s best-kept secrets: it’s easy, it’s fun, and it actually works.

Lip balm was one of my very first herbal DIY projects—partly because I was already using so much of it! Once I learned what was actually in those littl...

Warm up the holiday season with this Spiced Cranberry Orange Wassail recipe, a cozy and alcohol-free twist on a traditional Christmas punch that’s full of festive flavor and symbolic meaning.

When I think of wassail, I always think of the Feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6th. When I converted ...

It’s the end of fall, and winter is near. The pumpkins are soon going into the compost, and the last leaves have fallen from the trees. The color is mostly gone from the landscape. The summer flowers are long past the point of bringing those daily bouquets into the house. It's sad, I know, but here ...

There was a time when there was no Hobby Lobby. I know… isn’t that horrible? But it’s true, no craft stores with pre-made decorations for every season. It wasn’t really that long ago, but I can still remember when the craft stores only had materials to make your own decorations. Yes, I’m that old. 

Here’s something about that first bite of ice cream on a warm day that sends you right back to childhood—sticky fingers, barefoot grass, and the hum of bees nearby. Whether it’s high summer or one of those lingering sunny days of early fall, a cool treat made with real ingredients feels just right. ...

I am a huge fan of elderberries, and not just because they are a natural plant here in the Pacific Northwest! They have such wonderful medicinal value and are probably the best-tasting medicinal herb — aside from maybe peppermint. These berries can be made into various products, including tea, tinct...

Ice cream floats are the quintessential American summertime treat, perfect for anyone looking to cool down or satisfy their sweet tooth. Here on the farm, everyone loves ice cream, and what better way than to make memories with ice cream floats as a family, from trying out new flavor combinations to...

Italian soda has had a special place in my heart since I was a teen! I worked at a pizza restaurant in high school and ran the espresso bar. When customers came in, I would make Italian sodas for them. 

As much as I loved making these sodas — and of course, drinking them too — a typical Italian ...

Boba, also known as ‘bubble tea,’ is a really popular, trendy drink. And while boba sure is delicious, it also has a bunch of sugar, corn syrup, and junk hidden inside of it. Did you know you can easily make your own boba at home? It’s not only more affordable when you do, but it also means you get ...