Category Archives: Coastal Living

It’s a new season. A perfect opportunity to do something new… something bold…something beautiful! Hello, sweet friends… I hope you had a beautiful week. As you can tell from the photo, I have been enjoying my walks. In this photo the sun was so bright you can really see how quickly the leaves are changing colors… One of my favorite things about fall is all the pumpkin recipes. Here is a recent favorite of mine. These pumpkin spice cupcakes are easy to whip up and can be topped off with a variety of frostings. I’ve included a delicious cream cheese frosting recipe which I used. Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cheese Cake Frosting INGREDIENTS For the pumpkin cupcakes: 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour  1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup  pumpkin puree  1/2 cup  canola or vegetable oil 1/2 cup (100 grams) light brown sugar , packed 1/4 cup  granulated sugar … Continue reading →

The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go… Hello, sweet friends… It’s been an unbelievable several months in our world… and even though I’m not certain about what this Fall will look like… I do know that family, home and pumpkins will be at the heart of everything. That being said this past week Joe and I planned an outing to a pumpkin farm… It was a beautiful day… During this time of so many restrictions… it’s a real treat to experience the outdoors… seeing all the pumpkins on the vine… and deciding on a few that were just right… What’s Cooking? I’m pretty sure I could incorporate pumpkin into all my cooking this month. I’ve already prepared several yummy desserts and this recipe for pumpkin waffles is perfect for fall. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I … Continue reading →

“Our truest life is when we are dreams awake.”–Henry David Thoreau Hello, sweet friends…Happy October! I started sewing when I was in junior high… My first class project was a simple A-line skirt… I continued tinkering for a few years… it wasn’t until my first year teaching that I wore what I made… that was my “official” beginning… the year was 1981… I continued sewing for about 10 years and then stopped. Fast forward to 2020, the pandemic and nesting at home, that I had the desire to return to sewing. I didn’t know how much I missed my sewing until I walked into a fabric store experiencing the old yet familiar scent of all the fabric…intoxicating I purchased a new sewing machine and began sewing once again. Learning how to use my new machine was a humbling experience… however, as in any worthwhile relationship… love…patience…and determination are winning ingredients … Continue reading →

Paradise is where I’m at…-Voltaire Hello, sweet friends… You don’t need to travel abroad to find amazing places. some of the best places can be found in our own backyard… A satisfying occurrence for me during this pandemic time… has been the opportunity to visit… and explore local places in the area. That being said… each week just for fun (aka date day) Joe & I plan a quick local get-away. Recently we took a less than an hour away drive… to Port Orford… a working fishing port… oldest town on the Oregon coast… And… although small in size… the beaches are spectacular… with their natural beauty… an active and talented art community… along with fun cafes minus the crowds makes Port Orford the perfect day escape date day… What’s Cooking? I’ve been playing around with chili recipes for a while…& found this recipe to be the perfect blend of … Continue reading →