It’s the time of the year when my thoughts turn to cooking and baking, stocking the freezer, and trying new recipes. For the last couple of years, I’ve made a new-to-me dessert for a friend’s Thanksgiving gathering. Last year, I … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Kristine Smith
Seems like only a few days ago that the hibiscus still bloomed and mums resembled gold and burgundy bloom-dotted upside-down bushel baskets. Now we’re in the grip of unseasonable cold here in northeast Illinois. Most of the leaves have fallen–when … Continue reading
(Warning—post contains mention of sexual assault) Last Monday, I attended a viewing of the filmed recording of the UK National Theatre’s 2011 production of Frankenstein. One reason this staging of the play is so well known is because the two … Continue reading
A week and a half ago, I joined some friends on a trip to Door County, Wisconsin. It was my first visit. Fall colors were still a couple of weeks away, but we enjoyed hikes through Hotz Memorial Park and … Continue reading
The Art Institute of Chicago is featuring a John Singer Sargent exhibit through the end of September. I hadn’t visited the museum in years, but a friend is a member and she and I both love Sargent’s work, so off … Continue reading
My friends and I take walks through Illinois Beach State Park several times a week, weather and Life permitting. The park is located in far NE Illinois along the shores of Lake Michigan, and consists of a narrow strip of … Continue reading
I like trying unusual ingredients, so when I found online recipes utilizing tea, I knew I would have to try some eventually. A local spice shop makes a chai spice blend that contains sugar and vanilla, and I’ve used that … Continue reading
So tomorrow, August 7th, is a writing anniversary of sorts. Twenty years ago on that date, I signed my first professional contract. It was a three-book deal, for Code of Conduct—written but not yet edited—and the books that became Rules … Continue reading
Last year, I took several classes on the care and feeding of bonsai in order to better care for a ficus that I had mishandled. When last we saw my little tree, it had been trimmed back by the instructor, … Continue reading
I love jam. Preserves. Butters. Jelly, not so much, but anything else in most any flavor, including the funky spicy and herbal concoctions. Blueberry-Earl Gray Tea. Strawberry-basil. Blackberry-ginger. I’ve never gone the full big-pots-of-boiling-water canning route, but I’ve made small … Continue reading