How a friend tended my spirit as she taught me about gardening. — I say I’m a self-taught gardener, but that is incorrect. I first fell in love with gardening when visiting a neighbor’s garden. My friend Glennis gave me my first gardening lessons. Seemingly a strong independent person, the truth is I was an injured bird, not raised but grown up in…

The Doll Maker #4 — The stairs creaked. Approaching the trunk, I sat on the floor. In the trunk, I found some bedding and throw pillows in gold. That smell! What is it? Grabbing more books and papers from the chest, I dug deeper. And deeper. A thick wool blanket …

Autumn has arrived and with her the promise of Halloween stories and all things spooky! — The Witching Hour is not upon us, but across the writers' world, I find chilling promises of things to come. I’m eagerly awaiting the season I call Octoberfest. I always made Halloween fun for my kids and the neighbor kids. After I became an old lady — how about crone…

A special edition of The Daily Cuppa Walkabout sorting out the differences in our beloved plant brews. — There’s much confusion about what to call these lovely beverages created from plant materials. Even in my garden. I often say, “Stop by for some tea and a chat.” …