Category Archives: home

A Cornish Thanksgiving

Posted on November 21, 2016 by vanbytheriver

“A fresh-killed turkey needs to breathe.” Advice from a poultry farmer that I learned too late. At 10 pm on the night before Thanksgiving, I discovered that the 18 lb. turkey had spoiled. I had wrapped it 2 or 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home, News | Tagged , , | 65 Comments

Comfort

Posted on November 10, 2016 by vanbytheriver

Time to simplify. Deep breaths, and a return to basics. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Wishing everyone a calm, uncomplicated day.

Posted in Art, Childhood, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home, News, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 56 Comments

The Tiny House

Posted on October 29, 2016 by vanbytheriver

Lately, I seem to be obsessing about the Tiny House. *** As I find interesting articles about the increasingly attractive phenomenon of scaling down, I present them to my husband for inspection. He’s not having it. Maybe it’s not the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Entertainment, Family, Home, Movies, Music, Photography | Tagged , , , | 75 Comments

Out of the Attic

Posted on October 19, 2016 by vanbytheriver

Our mission was to clear out the attic. It runs the full length of the ranch style home that was built for my husband’s family in 1954. They have been filling it with stuff since then. It did not/does not … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home, Humor, News, Writing | Tagged , , | 93 Comments

Medicine Woman’s Larder – Guest Post – Hungarian Nut Rolls by Van

Posted on September 29, 2016 by vanbytheriver

Doing a guest post on Sally’s lovely blog. Walnuts are the special guest ! ☺

Posted in Books, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home, News, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Penny Candy

Posted on September 14, 2016 by vanbytheriver

With a single dollar, we were sent off with a very short list. It was usually bread, milk, and a pack of Tareyton cigarettes for Dad. It was the favorite chore. The trip to the Mom and Pop grocery store. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Childhood, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home | Tagged , , , | 90 Comments

Monkey Bread

Posted on September 11, 2016 by vanbytheriver

September 10, 2001. I was returning from a birthday visit to my daughter’s freshman dorm. We had dropped her off at college in August. There was a full spectrum of empty nest emotions; joy at the prospect of an amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home, News | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments

The Rescue Flowers

Posted on September 7, 2016 by vanbytheriver

A sure sign of Autumn, the first potted Chrysanthemums have appeared recently at garden centers and home stores. Is it time to remove the summer blooms that are thriving on the front porch ? I’m never sure. A few years … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Entertainment, Family, Gardening, Home, News | Tagged , , | 64 Comments

Oreos in the Closet

Posted on September 3, 2016 by vanbytheriver

There was a beautiful cedar wardrobe in my mother’s bedroom, with a lock and key. It was her secret place. She used it for personal items, jewelry, mementos of earlier years, and old love letters, discovered after her passing. She … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Family, Food, Home | Tagged , , | 98 Comments

The First Seven Years

Posted on September 1, 2016 by vanbytheriver

“Give me a child for the first seven years, and you may do what you like with him afterwards.” St. Ignatius Loyola. In honor of that belief, I’d like to repost a piece of writing dedicated to the woman who … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Entertainment, Family, Food, Home | Tagged , , , , | 85 Comments