If you’re snowbound, afflicted with cabin fever, can’t wait for spring to get here, or simply have two eyes and a brain, here’s the tree for you. It’s a vision of beauty even pinker than Richard Simmons’s underwear — ‘Okame’ cherry. Wonder how to pronounce the name? Just imagine you’re calling out to Joseph Stalin. “Oh, Commie!” ‘Okame’ is a hybrid between Taiwan flowering cherry (Prunus campanulata) and Fuji cherry (P....
An early morning crash had a pawsitive outcome for 17 dogs thanks to kindhearted police in Florida. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a van transporting “multiple kenneled dogs of all sizes to various owners across the US” was involved in an accident in Ocala. The dogs and humans were all fine, but they were stranded. “The van was inoperable due to the damage and the transport drivers had no other form of transportation....
If you travel to Memphis, Tennessee, this year, you’re likely to find yourself in the midst of ELVIS 45, a celebration of the life of Elvis Presley at Graceland that marks 45 years since his passing. According to a press release, “Elvis Presley’s Graceland® will be celebrating the life and legacy of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll throughout 2022 in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of his passing in 1977....
A species of giant spider from Asia been taking over spots of the southeastern United States over the past decade, and wildlife experts say there isn’t much we can do about it. The Joro spider first arrived in the U.S. around 2013 via shipping containers. The large arachnid, native to Japan, has since spread across Georgia and the Southeast. And it’s just getting started. According to new research from scientists at the University of Georgia, the invasive spider has the ability to spread through most of the Eastern Seaboard....
Frozen vegetables are extremely useful to have on hand in a pinch. Although fresh veggies straight from the farmers’ market are always preferred, frozen vegetables are better than no vegetables, and in many recipes, you never know the difference. Frozen vegetables are easy on the wallet, and they often save precious time in the kitchen, especially when you can pop them in the microwave to steam (although that’s usually after defrosting, which adds time)....
Nonstick cookware is the workhorse of many home kitchens. It is inexpensive, versatile, and easy to use. But while there are no hard and fast rules for use and care (like the ones with cast iron cookware), treating nonstick cookware right can go a long way towards helping it go the distance. If you want your nonstick cookware to stay in top form longer, here’s what you need to do to extend its life....
Cookbooks and recipes make it sound like roasting a Thanksgiving turkey is a fairly simple process. But if you’ve ever manned a Thanksgiving hotline, like my sister did for many years when she was the talent for Martha Stewart’s Sirius XM Morning Drive show, then you might get an inkling that a lot of home cooks are somewhat mystified by the process. Some have never handled whole birds before. Others don’t realize that most Thanksgiving turkeys come frozen and take days to thaw....
Unlike myself, my mom is what you might call a beauty loyalist. She’ll sport the same perfume day after day and swear by a single eye shadow palette for decades. So on a recent visit, I was a little surprised when she didn’t pull out the same expensive face moisturizer she’s used forever. Not only because what she held instead was different, but because I recognized it immediately. Years ago, while I was living in Williamsburg, Virginia, the two of us happened upon a skincare booth at the local farmers’ market....
This May, the annual tradition of Preservation Month—which has been in place since 1973— is looking a little different in light of the coronavirus outbreak. But the National Trust for Historic Preservation, responsible for the yearly celebration, wanted to ensure enlightening, educational programming was still available to Americans even if almost all of the National Trust’s 27 Historic Sites are currently shuttered. To that end, they launched the first “Virtual Preservation Month,” with a lineup of incredible experiences you can participate in from the comfort of your couch at SavingPlaces....
Like many couples, the coronavirus pandemic threw Erin Butler and her fiancé Ben Cohen’s nuptials for a loop, and the Lakeland, Florida, headquartered grocer knew they wanted to do something meaningful for the soon-to-be Cohens because of Erin’s love for the brand. Once Publix heard last month how much Erin loved the supermarket chain and how important having a Publix wedding cake was for the bride, they decided to gift the couple a Publix cake—with some special bells and whistles....
For most children who grew up in my era, it was Dad who did the heavy lifting. When they thought about strength, most thought of their father. In my case, strength was – and still is – synonymous with my petite, 5'3", hard-working mother. Mama (or Betty) lost her husband at age 40 and was left a widow with five children. Quite suddenly, she took on the role of both mom and dad....
Few places in the South have more mystique than South Carolina’s Lowcountry. The name itself has an alluring ring to it, even if you have no idea where—or what—it actually is. And like another geographic wonder in its neighboring state, the South Carolina Lowcountry can be as tricky to define as North Carolina’s Outer Banks. There’s even a Low Country vs. Lowcountry debate. So What Is The Lowcountry? Generally, it’s defined as four counties: Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton....
Swampy the dog is hoping the luck of the Irish will help him find his forever home this St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, the 15-year-old bully mix is so desperate to spend his golden years with a family that he dressed up for a Leprechaun-themed photoshoot for the occasion. According to his adoption listing, Swampy has “never been more down on his luck” after losing his forever home not once but twice through no fault of his own....
Shiplap is having a moment. It’s a go-to accent beloved by some of our favorite designers (Fixer Upper, anyone?), and its popularity is undeniable. Whether it’s raw and rustic or painted and polished, using shiplap is an easy way to add interest to an interior wall. However, shiplap didn’t get its start inside. Shiplap is a feature that comes to us from the design traditions of homes in harsh climates. It was often used on the exteriors of homes in forest or coastal settings characterized by challenging weather....
Most of us don’t necessarily enjoy cleaning, but everyone loves the feeling of coming home to a clean house. Though Mama’s standards of an orderly home may have involved hours dedicated to deep cleaning, today’s tidiest of families have found ways to incorporate little habits into their daily lives that make it less of a chore. So what’s the secret to keeping things clean? Consider adding these daily home cleaning habits into your schedule, and you’ll be confidently letting friends through your front door without notice before you know it....
The University of Alabama’s head football coach Nick Saban is known for many things. Winning football games, his love of Little Debbie cookies, loving Miss Terry, and did we mention winning football games? Those are just a few of the things the revered coach has developed a reputation for over the many years he’s been in the public eye. However, when a reporter asked him what he thinks people should know about him, his answer was a complete surprise....
Dolly Parton joined the cast of Call Me Kat for a surprise tribute to Leslie Jordan during the show’s winter premiere last week. Parton, who was featured on Jordan’s 2021 gospel album Company’s Comin’, began the tribute by singing part of their duet, “Where the Soul Never Dies.” “Usually at a memorial, people talk about somebody. Well, I’m going to talk to you, because there is that place on the other side, and I’m certainly going to see you there, little brother,” Parton said in an emotional message to her late friend....
Before cream cheese frosting thickened with boxes of powdered sugar, home bakers relied on Flour Frosting, made with a simple roux of cooked flour and milk. Also known as Ermine Frosting, so named for its gorgeous white color and luxurious taste, this light, airy frosting spreads as easily as whipped topping, yet covers well and stays put like thick buttercream, so it’s perfect for making pretty whirls and decorative swirls on your cake....
There’s an obvious appreciation down South for things that can stand the test of time—a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, historic architecture, Mama’s smart quips. So it’s a wonder that one of our pretties autumn trees, which happens to be one of nature’s oldest, is allowed to go so underappreciated. The Ginkgo tree, which dates back 200 million years, is the unsung hero of so many Southern neighborhoods. This tree, which humbly lines the sidewalks of cities and suburban communities alike, goes unnoticed every year until its big show during fall when the leaves turn a vibrant yellow....
Old habits die hard when it comes to the battle between cranberry sauces. The canned fans are an energetic crowd. Most of them will not waver in their belief that the jellied discs are the only cranberry dish worth serving. All the better if, when plated, it still resembles the can it came from. But that’s not to say there aren’t a few who are a bit more open-minded, willing to place a spoonful of the fresh, made-from-scratch variety right alongside a hearty serving of the canned version—hey, we get it....
