Vine & Dandy Living
Gardening • Recipes • Homestead • Simple Living

Discover the best vegetables to plant in August for a thriving fall garden. Learn when to plant lettuce, carrots, kale, broccoli, spinach, and more for a delicious autumn harvest.

Spring Is Nature’s Reminder to Begin Again 🌿🌷 Spring has always been my favorite reminder that no matter how long the winter feels, brighter days eventually return. There is something incredibly healing about stepping outside, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, breathing in fresh air, and watching the world come back to life. It’s one of nature’s gentle ways of reminding us that every season has its purpose—and new beginnings are always possible. Every spring, I lo

Rainy days have a way of slowing us down, and I don’t mind one bit. When the weather keeps me mostly indoors—aside from a few trips outside with the dog—I like to turn those quiet hours into something productive in the kitchen. My wonderful neighbors shared a huge bag of fresh apples, so I spent the day peeling, coring, and slicing every last one. There is something deeply satisfying about filling the kitchen with the sweet aroma of fresh apples and knowing they’ll become hom

Christmas Day has come and gone, and we were blessed to spend the holidays with our grown children. There is a love that comes with being a parent that I never knew could exist until I experienced it for myself. Having everyone together again—sharing a meal, opening gifts, laughing through a family game, and simply enjoying one another’s company—filled my heart in a way that is hard to put into words. As I watched our family gathered around the table this year, I found myself

Some of my sweetest holiday memories are filled with love, laughter, sharing, and incredible feasts. I have been blessed with the most loving family. My grandparents had seven children, countless grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. Every holiday, our entire family would gather at my grandparents’ home to celebrate together. We used to joke that by the time you made your way around the house saying hello, hugging everyone, and catching up with each family member, it w

There’s something special about the simple traditions that bring a family together, and pumpkin carving is one of our favorites. This year, the kids and I spent several hours carving our pumpkins, laughing, making a mess, and turning each one into its own little masterpiece. Of course, no carving day is complete without roasting the pumpkin seeds afterward! I’ll be sharing our favorite easy (and delicious!) roasted pumpkin seed recipe soon, so stay tuned. How did you celebra

Fall… when the weather becomes crisp and cool and the days start to get shorter. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful colors of red, purple, and yellow. The kids are back in school and moms everywhere are enjoying that morning cup of coffee in silence. I look forward to these moments as much as the rest of you I’m sure. Fall is the time for harvesting the lovely crops we have worked so diligently on all summer. What will you be harvesting?? For me it is the few tomatoes

Everywhere I look, pumpkins are showing up on front porches, football is back on TV, and the air is finally starting to feel like fall. It's my favorite season for cozy meals, warm sweaters, and a big pot of homemade chili simmering on the stove. One afternoon, I had everything ready to make chili...or so I thought. I reached into the pantry for kidney beans and realized I was completely out. The only thing I could find was a can of Bush's Country Style Beans with bacon and b