GIFTS FROM MY KITCHEN – BANANA BREAD Good Day! Today, my darling, delightful and ever-so-charming, youngest son Austin called me from school to inform me that he needed to bring a breakfast item to his video production class in the morning. Now mind you, I am happy to do this; in fact, it delights me […]
LAKE ARROWHEAD – “A LITTLE SLICE OF PARADISE” After Orange County, my family and I moved to Lake Arrowhead, California. I think it is arguably one of the prettiest places on the planet. I consider it a privilege to call this little slice of heaven my home. If you look really closely you can see […]
MY BIG BEAR COTTAGE RENOVATION – PART 1 A little over one year ago my husband and I bought a cottage in the nearby City of Big Bear Lake. It was a real fixer! I can just hear you saying, “What was she thinking???!!!” “I know, I know, the kitchen really sucked!” “And the […]
It’s almost Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday! I look forward to Thanksgiving in part because it involves Pumpkin Pie. If I were to list my favorite types of pie, Pumpkin Pie would come in as a close second to my favorite, Coconut Cream Pie. Anyway, in my household it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie. And […]
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FALSE ALARM Last February when I was developing this Blog, my beautiful Granddaughter was born. Her parents, my oldest son Nathan and daughter-in-law Louisa, live in Washington, DC. Despite the distance I was determined to be there for her arrival. Just like the mother-to-be, my bags were packed several weeks […]
Hi There! Before I get to my wonderful Thanksgiving Beet Soup in Roasted Acorn Squash Bowl I wanted to share something else with you. I love chalkboards! In the process of building my Lake Arrowhead home I made myself a chalkboard. I bought a beautiful gilded frame. Next, I painted a piece of particle board with […]
Happy Thanksgiving! Did you see my last post where I showed you all my pretty cloth pumpkins? Well, in that post I promised to show you exactly how to make them yourself. So, here is my DIY cloth pumpkin tutorial. Select the fabric that you’d like to use to make a pumpkin. You can make […]
With Thanksgiving approaching, I am currently knee-deep in menu planning. Our extended family Thanksgiving, that often includes friends as well, is always celebrated at our home in Lake Arrowhead where we recognize many traditions year-after-year. One tradition we never fail to carry out is the annual indulgence in Grandma Nellie’s Cranberry Relish. It is delicious […]
After Orange County is a publication dedicated to living life in the slow lane. I escaped The OC for life at a higher elevation. Leaving suburbia behind, I now live in the beautiful mountain resort of Lake Arrowhead. Join me at 5,000 feet above and beyond as I cook, garden, renovate, entertain, travel and live life After Orange County.
