Building sweet family memories
This holiday season parents will again ponder ways to create traditions appealing enough to lure youngsters away from the latest tech wizardry, and meaningful enough to last. Two families, in different regions of the country, discovered a secret which worked for them,...
Corn husk dolls harvest kids’ imagination, creativity
When I wrote this, Halloween hadn’t even passed and I’ve been asked quite a few times what I’ll get my kids for Christmas. Lucy is at the “baby doll” stage and every time I go to look at dolls, it’s overwhelming — some that spit up, some that wet their diapers, and...
There’s nothing dull about restoring dolls
Sharon Wilkerson has seen it so many times she’s lost count. Parents buy an American Girl doll for their young toddler daughter, and in a few years, when the child is at an age to better enjoy the toy, it’s unappealing or too damaged to play with. “Most of them, the...
The spice of fall life
Even before the first leaf considers falling and the nighttime temperatures dip below a mere 70 degrees, grocery stores and coffee shops make the transition to pumpkin-spiced everything. Your favorite bagels? Pumpkin-spiced. Coffee creamer? Pumpkin-spiced. Cereal?...
Pumpkins aren’t just for Jack O’ Lanterns anymore
Pumpkins are everywhere, and if you have a few extra from your garden or if your little ones just couldn’t decide which pumpkin to get at the pumpkin patch, there’s lots of things to do besides carving them. For all of these projects, you’ll only need a smaller...
Coming soon to a garden center near you
Every August, independent garden center retailers and vendors from all across the country and around the world gather for a huge trade show that includes order-writing specials, inspirational keynotes, continuing education, and peer-to-peer networking. At this year’s...
Doing his own zing
Having lived in Cambridge for nearly a quarter century now, I’ve come to know a thing or two about the distinctive local flavors one can savor here. But for the past few years, I’ve become intrigued at spotting a vehicle around town with the words Cambridge Spice...
Learning to return to our food roots
Shane Brill likes to begin each day by tasting something brand new. But instead of rummaging in the fridge, or frequenting the local bakery, he forages for novel flavors in and around his own backyard, or while biking to work as the assistant director of the Eastern...
Break the mold with a crayon refresh
As it’s back to school time, if you aren’t buying graphing calculators yet, you likely still have a pack of crayons on your back-to-school shopping list. Crayons can take a real beating and if you are anything like me, you might be a pinch of a hoarder and don’t want...
Festival’s two garden films promise to bud for pleasure
From Thursday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 14, the Chesapeake Film Festival will celebrate the burgeoning of film on screens all over Easton, St. Michaels and Cambridge, Md. With nearly 50 films flourishing in the area, two will thrill anyone who loves gardens and...
This fall, think small bulbs
It may be way too soon to start thinking about snow — or so we hope — but seasoned gardeners know that instead of hiding one’s head in the sand about the coming of colder weather, it’s way better to place carefully chosen bulbs beneath the soil before the freezing...
Bark worth its bite
When asked why she had not gotten a facelift at her age, Academy Award winning movie actress Bette Davis replied, “Because I have earned every line and wrinkle.” The same can be said of the bark of trees. The tree has earned every line and curlicue. The bark is the...
Repurposed to last
Sean Downey, woodcrafter and artist of Barn Life Primitives & Architecture in Chestertown, has two major objectives: Bring people to downtown Chestertown and create new designs from old wood. Downey began working in wood after graduating high school and said he...
Small backyard doesn’t have to limit creative options
Sharon Ottobre may live far from the Mid-Shore but she shares the same issue as many residents in the new subdivisions that have popped up in nearby counties in recent years: Limited backyard space. Neighbors on three sides of the Barrie, Ontario resident had put up...
Hydrangeas a study in pruning, colors
Hydrangeas grace the landscapes and flowerbeds of many a home on the Mid-Shore. Their flower clusters, soft pastel colors and dense foliage, make it a good foundational plant for the area. But there are aspects about the plant many gardeners may not have a firm grasp...
They did it their way
When they moved to the Eastern Shore in 2002, Jack and Maria Fischer had a blank canvas with which to build their house and landscape. It was quite a change, coming from Northern Virginia. And that’s just how they wanted it. “It was a cornfield and we worked our way...
Craving honest-to-goodness ice cream? Here’s the scoop
On these hot summer days, it’s easy to find a frosty treat plopped atop a cone or packed inside a carton calling itself ice cream. But to savor the genuine stuff, hand crafted with all natural ingredients, it takes some searching. Mid-Shore ice cream purists don’t...
Eastern Shore-style barbecue chicken
No sooner do the words “Eastern Shore-style barbecue chicken” leave your lips and you’re sure to be licking them in anticipation. It’s one of those iconic food items that fills much more than the belly, a downhome feast downright capable of magically transporting you...
Local bike shops can help you get what’s right for you
Life, in the summer especially, should be enjoyed on the journey and not just when you arrive at your destination. Do you ever picture yourself cruising around on a bike, but know the last picture of yourself on one might have been unwrapping one as a child at...
Fireworks celebrations in Mid-Shore towns
• Easton Carnival and 4th of July Celebration: June 28 to July 4, Easton. Easton’s annual carnival and 4th of July Celebration. Located between the Easton Bypass and St. Michaels Road (near Target). 410-822-0345; www.avalonfoundation.org. • Fireworks in Rock Hall:...
SH&G Q&A: Everything coming up roses
Where to start when describing Nick Weber’s home garden in Brookeville, Md.? His obsessive love of roses has grown from a hobby and blossomed into the renowned “Heritage Rosarium,” filled with nearly 700 heirloom varieties of ramblers and climbers. Overwhelming and...
