Serve by Design

Once again, nature surprised and delighted me this week! My grandson and I have begun the process of fall clean-up. This will continue for the next two months as the trees complete their cycle of leafing out. While Danny was mulching the early leaves with the rider, I undertook the task of pulling up the fading spring plants from the front planters and the bedding areas in the backyard. Last of the Season! That’s when I noticed a surprise underneath leaves and a cluster of old, dry flowering plants. There it was! A little, humble, and beautiful volunteer purple petunia peeking out of the corner bed. It was like it was begging me to see it and rescue its tender little flower standing tall above a spindly stem. I proceeded to gently dig around the root and pull it to safety! Holding this fragile work of nature gingerly in one hand, I managed to keep it intact as I brought it inside to arrange it into a small vase. With a welcomed drink of water, this perfectly displayed flower of sprin...

This is campfire season! September 22 nd was the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall. It is also the season of Smore’s! This gram cracker sandwich, made with a Hershey’s chocolate bar and marshmallow, is a favorite anytime of the year! Did you know that Americans consume 90 million pounds of marshmallows annually? That may seem to be a staggering statistic for many, but  I’m not surprised! Some of us think that marshmallows make everything  taste just a little bit better. It’s amazing that something made so simply from air, water, and sugar could be so delicious! A Simple Sugary Sandwich! I like any flavored Jello with mini marshmallows added. In the candy category I’ll eat: Toasted Coconut Covered Marshmallows, Moon Pies, Circus Peanuts, Hostess Snoball cakes, Fluff in homemade fudge, an occasional Peeps at holiday times, and won’t pass up Chocolate covered marshmallow Santas and Easter bunnies! I haven’t tried plant-based Dandies (Kosher, Vegan), but I’m game! However, ...