Red flower planted in galvanized watering can.

In: Garden, Garden Shed and Decor

Decorating your garden should be more than a chore. Terracotta and outdoor pottery work perfectly fine, but it’s fun to incorporate something unexpected. Using vintage containers in your garden can be just the thing. Over the years, I’ve used a variety of old containers to grow bulbs and flowers. Using vintage containers in your garden is a great way to add some character to your decor. The vintage containers IRead More →

Grape Hyacinth in bloom.

In: Flowers, Garden, Garden Basics, Herbs and Vegetables

I’m a flower girl! What I mean is that I love, love, love flowers. I try to fill my yard and home with flowers. Especially flowers that I can cut to bring inside. And I’m a little old-fashioned. Some of my favorites are old-style flowers like peonies, lilacs, and daffodils. Each year I work to create a vibrant spring garden and you can too. April is the month that we’llRead More →

In: Inspiration, Seasonal Crafts

May Day is coming soon.  Do you celebrate this holiday each year?  This is a time to celebrate spring and to look forward to the warmer months of summer.  It’s also a great time to surprise your friends with a May Day gift. May Day festivities are a part of many cultures.  Parades, may poles, bonfires and dancing are ways people celebrate world wide.  In the US, May Day celebrations oftenRead More →

A bowl of seafood chowder and fresh rolls.

In: Garden Fresh Recipes, Soups

It’s time for a new soup of the month.  We are now into April so I wanted to share another soup with you!  I hope that you have been enjoying trying the new soups each month. This month I will be making a delicious Seafood Chowder. It is still early in the growing season.  That means that we are not yet getting a large variety of new fruits and vegetablesRead More →

White birthday cake with one candle and a pink flower.

In: Garden Shed and Decor, Inspiration

When I started blogging last year, I knew nothing about how to blog.  It took me 4 weeks to send my first post because of fear.  But I overcame that fear and hit publish.  And I have continued to hit publish.  Today, I am celebrating 1 year at Pinecone Cottage Retreat! The past year was amazingly full.  Here is a list of some of the major things that occurred inRead More →

Terracotta painted pots with painted walnut eggs.

In: Crafts, Garden Crafts, Seasonal Crafts

Today, I have another bird related craft to share with you.  Spring and Easter both bring nests to mind.  So I wanted to show you how to make my  terracotta pot bird nests.  I really am fond of terracotta pots.  But they aren’t the best containers for plants because the pots dry out so quickly.  However, they are great for crafts like these bird nests. For these nests, find someRead More →

Galvanized container filled with lettuce.

In: Garden, Garden Basics, Herbs and Vegetables

Ready, Set, Go!  The planting season is on us.  Well, the early planting season is beginning in my part of the world.  It is still way to early to plant things like tomatoes and peppers outside.  However, there are a number of early season crops to plant now. Some plants like the warming days with chilly nights.  We are still dropping into the lower 30’s with frost most nights.  SoRead More →

A slice of cake on a plate with the whole cake on a cake stand.

In: Desserts, Garden Fresh Recipes

Woo Hoo, Spring is finally here!  It’s time to celebrate and in our home, that means Sunshine Cake.  This cake has as many variations as it has fans.  That’s okay.  There can never be enough Sunshine Cake in this world.  This is my go-to recipe for dessert during the spring and summer months.  I encourage you to celebrate spring with Sunshine Cake! While your cake is baking, I thought youRead More →

Paper bird with rhinestone decor hanging on a branch

In: Crafts, Garden Crafts

Since we have been talking about bird decor I wanted to share with you my hanging birds.  It is easy to take a few branches and fill them with paper birds.  Choose a variety of decorative papers that coordinate with your home decor or with the season.  Then make a bunch of these little birds to hang.  This is a nice weekend craft that you can make for yourself orRead More →

2 nests with various eggs and feathers

In: Garden Shed and Decor

Even though Spring is officially still a week away, Daylight Savings Time always feels like the start of the new season.  It’s staying lighter longer and the days are a “little” warmer.  As spring starts to slip in, I begin to think about birds.  I’ve been hearing birds outside my window lately.  And I am waiting to see the first robin.  As I wait it’s a good time to decorateRead More →