As you're reading this, we're probably packed into the car, driving to my sister's house in Virginia for our annual Thanksgiving week. The backseat is loaded with snacks and table decor, Kip is curled up and very suspicious that we're on our way to the vet (we're not), and the whole trip already feels like the start of the holiday. Actually, my mom always says this road trip feels so festive, and thankfully, there's no snow in the forecast. Once we all pile into my sister's house, things get...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Well, hello friend! Can you believe October is nearly over? This year has just flown by! I’m not saying that because I feel behind or wish I’d done more. Honestly, I feel pretty good heading into the colder months here in southeast Iowa. It’s wild to think I’m already planning for Christmas and getting the garden ready for winter. Maybe you feel the same way: some days seem to crawl, but the years just fly. It’s a good reminder to savor the little moments as they come, rather than watching...
9 months ago • 4 min read
Happy fall, friend! Yes, this "September" newsletter is arriving a bit late, but somehow that feels just right. The month flew by before I even realized it, and suddenly, October was here. I can't blame it all on time, as I've been busy behind the scenes! The weeks leading up to the Wyse Guide Holiday Magazine launch are full of final edits, proofs, and last-minute details. Now that pre-orders are wrapping up (this Sunday, October 12, is the last day to get an order in for the pre-order), I'm...
9 months ago • 3 min read
This Labor Day weekend, I'll be spending my time at the Old Threshers Reunion. It's one of my favorite late-summer traditions, filled with steam engines, antique tractors, wandering through the historic log village, browsing for antiques, and, of course, stopping for ice cream. This year is extra fun since I have one friend visiting who has never been before and another who has, so it's a joy to show them around the grounds and all the attractions that make the event memorable. Mom and I on...
11 months ago • 3 min read
Recently, during my weekly Q&A session, I was asked if corn sweat is a real thing. And if you're scratching your head thinking, What in the world is corn sweat?—you might not live in the Midwest. In recent years, there has been increasing buzz about the term "corn sweat" during the humid heat of summer. It occurs when the corn undergoes a process called evapotranspiration, pulling moisture up through its roots and releasing it through its leaves as vapor, which causes high humidity. This is...
12 months ago • 4 min read
May can be unpredictable. In my head, it always feels like the unofficial start of summer, but more often than not, the weather reminds me that it's still spring... or even (yikes!) late winter. This year, though, I truly enjoyed May. Perhaps I'm growing a little, as I started the month with an outlook that embraced uncertainty. We had a stretch of warmer-than-usual days that pushed new growth and early blooms. Then the weather turned chilly and rainy. But since May is a big planting month...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
In 2010, I purchased this farm from my grandparents and dove straight into yard work. Back then, I was also starting my work life, so big ambitions—hauling in loads of plants and installing elaborate hardscaping—had to wait. Instead, I opted for elbow grease and tackled every task I could manage: ripping out sod, moving the vegetable garden, and filling empty beds with sale price perennials and trees (some of which I later transplanted as my vision evolved). Over time, I began to discover my...
about 1 year ago • 5 min read