Author Archives: dirtynailz

Why do we love to drive up to Maine when we live on the RI coast? It’s different, that’s why. And that means that it’s also refreshing, mentally as well as physically. The lobster boats are different, the coastline is … Continue reading →

I have written extensively about Tropical Storm Irene and the damage it inflicted on our gardens and our trees. Most of the trees here on the RI coast lost their leaves. The salt spray turned them from green to crispy … Continue reading →

I had resigned myself to another fall without One Pie canned pumpkin. It was absent from store shelves last year and until a few days ago, it looked like there wouldn’t be any this year, either. Imagine my surprise and … Continue reading →

We didn’t get more than a dusting on the  coast, but in the interior, it was a different story. We hopped in the car and drove to Wachusett, MA to see how wintry things were. They got 20 inches! Here … Continue reading →

You asked for it, and I try my best to give my dear readers what they want, so here’s the recipe. Make sure you serve it right out of the oven for maximum dramatic, puffy impact! Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups … Continue reading →

People in Quebec are crazy about maple: maple trees, maple wood, maple leaves, and, of course, maple syrup. The latter is a gift from Indigenous peoples, who showed the European settlers how to collect maple sap in the spring and … Continue reading →

I am writing from Quebec, where I am spending a few precious days visiting my family. The weather has been gloomy and dark with frequent rain. What saves the landscape from total bleakness is, of course, the colors of the … Continue reading →

The above photo was taken in broad daylight on my neighbor’s lawn. Foxes aren’t supposed to do this. They are supposed to be “crepuscular,” hunting and hiding, mainly at dawn and dusk – not curled up in the middle of … Continue reading →

The photo above is of my neighbor’s wildflower meadow in October. You can see the milkweed is dispersing its seed, and rudbeckia now predominates. There are a few gallardia here and there, but that’s about it. Earlier this summer, I … Continue reading →

Over the recent Columbus Day weekend,  we had temperatures in the mid – 80s. Weird. I remember when I was growing up in Quebec, Canada, it was not unheard of to have snow on that weekend, which is Thanksgiving there, … Continue reading →