Are you feeling inspired? One of the nicest things about the Fourth of July is that it comes with built-in entertainment. If you have fireworks, sunshine, and maybe some water to splash around in, you’re all set. Anything else is gravy. Between you and me, I’m happy with some potato salad and a sparkler on [...]

Every year, our friends host a spectacular Patriotic Party for the Fourth of July, but they won’t let us bring a thing. In fact, they threaten to send guests home if they show up with anything other than chairs. Which is wonderful and generous of them, but one wants to do something. So this year [...]

Tim snapped this wildflower when he and Gunther went for a ramble through the woods.
Last night, Andrew asked why I sleep with two pillows. I told him I started sleeping propped up like that when I was little because I had asthma and it helped me breathe better. I no longer have asthma, but those [...]

Have you read The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes? It’s a little gem of a book that packs a big message about having the courage to stand up for what’s right. My book club read it years ago, but it wasn’t until this week that I read it to my kids. We read the book, [...]

IN THIS HOME…
We do second chances.
We do grace.
We do real.
We do mistakes.
We do I’m sorrys.
We do loud really well.
We do hugs.
We do family.
We do LOVE.
I saw this quotation on Pinterest and it struck a chord. (Probably the part about doing loud really well.) I did a little research and discovered that this was written as a family manifesto by Angela Sunshine Doell at SheLoves [...]

After we put the kids to bed tonight (good and worn out from swimming and softball), I dove into the latest Sweet Paul magazine. The online summer issue has 144 pages loaded with food and recipe ideas (including homemade dog snacks), clever and do-able craft projects, and gorgeous photos of peonies. Eye candy and inspiration [...]

I need Andrew to play a little drumroll here…these are the first peonies ever to bloom on Taylor property. Peonies are my favorite flower in the world. I first loved them because they bloom every year for my birthday. In fact, when I was young my mom and grandma made it seem as though they [...]

When my friend Christina isn’t starring in shows like I Do! I Do! or baking her to-die-for bread, you might find her making these deliciously decadent little turtle candies. My Grandpa Tony loves turtles, so I make him a batch of these every Christmas. Well, this year a little bird (Grandma Tutu) told me that Grandpa [...]

I love this photo of Grandpa Ed and my dad. They look so happy just to be together, don’t they? Edward Valentine is no longer with us, but I’ll always remember what a gentleman he was. A father of eight, he knew how to entertain a crowd. I loved his stories, and he always had [...]