Jennifer

Author's posts

May 31st Birthday Love: Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was born the son of a house-builder, Walter Whitman, and Louisa Van Velsor on this day May 31, 1819, in West Hills in Huntington on Long Island, NY. He spent much of his childhood and career years in Brooklyn, where he left school at the young age of eleven to work. By the age of twelve, …

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January 14th Birthday Love: Berthe Morisot

French impressionist painter Berthe Morisot was born Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot on this day January 14, 1841 in Bourges, Cher, France. Though now widely recognized and admired for her creative merits, in her time, Morisot’s art was frequently described as full of “feminine charm” by her male contemporaries, a statement which Morisot noted as a frustration in …

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International Polar Bear Day

February 27th is International Polar Bear Day, a time to consider the challenges polar bears face because of global warming. The polar bear is the largest bear on earth, yet these majestic creatures are currently in a vulnerable status due to melting ice caused by climate change. For more facts about polar bears and to …

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Creamy Cheddar & Broccoli Potato Soup

This is one of my favorite winter dishes, it’s a creamy potato soup that uses mashed potato mix (or homemade if you have the time) to thicken it, which gives it a very hearty potato flavor. I usually make this recipe to serve three, and always have leftovers for days! This time, I made this …

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Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Brown Sugar Bessy Version)

The pineapple upside down cake became popular when Dole hosted a pineapple recipe contest in the mid 1920s and received 2,500 recipes for this unique cake with a tropical star. This version of the beloved retro recipe relies on brown sugar throughout the cake for a standout maple flavor. Use either light or dark brown …

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Happy Winter Solstice!

It’s officially winter today, and I hope everyone has a happy, warm, and enchanted winter holiday season! The winter solstice, also referred to as “midwinter” and “the longest night,” is the day of the year with the least amount of sunlight and the longest night for those on the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomically, it marks the …

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Artist Spotlight: Charley Harper

Today’s artist spotlight is on the American Modern artist, Charley Harper. He was born on the family farm in Frenchton, West Virginia, on August 4, 1922. Growing up, he not only had the farm to explore, but also the Appalachian hills, where he spent time wandering the land and observing the wildlife. This upbringing suited …

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Pumpkin Patch 3 Oil Soap Recipe

I love this recipe because it only requires three oils which you can find in the grocery store, making it an easy recipe to satisfy a quick soap making fix! Ingredients: 8 oz. olive oil 8 oz. coconut oil, 76 deg. 9 oz. vegetable shortening like Crisco 9.5 oz. water 3.6 oz. lye 1 oz. Pumpkin Patch …

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August 29th Birthday Love: Karen Hesse

“I hear the first drops. Like the tapping of a stranger at the door of a dream, the rain changes everything.” -Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust

August 18th Birthday Love: Moura Lympany

British concert pianist Dame Moura Lympany was born Mary Gertrude Johnstone today, August 18, 1916, in Saltash, Cornwall. She later took the stage name “Moura” as a Russian version of the name “Mary,” and the last name from her mother’s maiden name, “Limpenny.” She played her first concert at the age of twelve, playing the only …

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