News

 Volume 22 Issue 10, October 2025 What's New in October? Time for fall leaves—yes, we get a few down here in the tropics—and pumpkin everything. There will be pies again this year, and hopefully, Harry won’t help himself to one fresh from the oven again. Lots of plans for the holidays, including tending to my butterfly garden as I trim back the long milkweed stalks that are poking out of the pots. Plus, it’s good to trim back the milkweed in the winter so the butterflies migrate as they’re supposed to. Or so I am told.  The tropics are busy,...

Volume 22 Issue 9, September 2025   What's New in September? Here we are; it’s hurricane season—for us anyway– again. September is usually our busy, rainy month. For now, the weather is a bit warm, but very beautiful. It’s been a busy month. I have been working on building my hummingbird garden to complement my butterfly garden, but I keep running into trouble with the hummingbird plants. I’ve had some trouble with destructive caterpillars—not my butterflies, but I don't’ know who the culprit is that’s eating and killing my porterweed. I am now fighting some leaf mold on my firestick,...

Volume 22 Issue 8, August 2025 What's New in August? It’s hot out, and to combat that—at least in my mind– I’ve been creating and adding winter items to my stores. Right now, I am working on fall designs for blankets, totes, socks, and shoes. Yes, shoes. Fun stuff!  Since it’s been hot out, we’ve limited out activities to what can be done indoors and some small road trips in search of new furniture. One such trip took us to some remote areas of South Carolina. I must say as long as I have been traveling in and out of...

Volume 22 Issue 7, July 2025 What's New in July?  Took a week off to visit family in Illinois before wandering through the Smoky Mountain National Park on our way back to Florida. It’s been years since I’ve been to Gatlinburg and wow, it’s really built up! Crazy busy on a very hot day that had us seeking refuge in a cantina where Harry could chill under the table and we could enjoy a great taco. It was great to get to the park after facing the crowded streets.   In the animal bingo world, we saw elk, deer, and even...

Volume 22 Issue 6, June 2025 What's New in June? Here we are already at the halfway point of the year and the beginning of the hurricane season. Heading into the doldrums of summer is never fun in the tropics, but there’s always the ocean to bob around in or the pool to nap in on a floatie. I have been busy working on putting together a hummingbird garden outside the back porch and some remodeling inside, so while I have lots of flowers, I don’t have any furniture. Interesting times! Harry is turning 7 this month, so a big...