Florabama Sweet Tea

Dear Lissy,
I began life as a new bride in a region of the country known as "Florabama".   I have many beautiful memories of the sandy white beaches, impressive flower gardens (oh, how we loved Bellingrath!), and spicy cuisine.  Because we lived in a subdivision of good ol' boys, we enjoyed traditional Southern-style cooking, too:  biscuits with red eye gravy, sweet tea, shrimp boils, coconut cakes, pulled pork, fried okra, and the list goes on.  I never could emulate the sweet tea, which was a favorite of mine.

The 5 Most Important Household Tasks

Dear Lissy,
At one time or another in life you're going to find yourself with too much to do and not enough time.  If housework needs to go on the back burner, here's five things you should never neglect.  If you can't personally do them, beg a friend or hire someone.  This list is also my first priority when I'm in a normal schedule.

Herbal Body Rinse

Dear Lissy,
You are off for an overnight at Grammy and Gug's and I already miss you.  Our home isn't the same without your sweet sparkle! I'm stealing a few moments from this busy day to share an after shower herbal rinse that keeps my fair, sensitive skin free of blemishes and infections.  This rinse is also effective at keeping bug bites from becoming infected.

Why bother?

Dear Lissy,
I'm keeping a weather eye on the maple tree. As soon as I see maple flowers, it's time to plant the peas. Swiss chard, spinach, beets, and onions will go in when the daffodils bloom. My planting calendar says April 11th is the day to plant all my hardy spring crops, but phenology, the use of indicator plants within a microclimate, is far more accurate.