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Cozy up with some Brunswick stew and other winter soups on the grill
Cooking outdoors doesn’t have to be a solely sunny-weather activity. Many backyard chefs enjoy grilling and cooking over an open fire all year round. One of the well-heeled secrets of winter grilling is to cook comfort foods that don’t require constant flipping. A hearty soup, stew or chili cooked in a cast-iron dutch oven over
https://ephenry.com/cozy-up-with-some-brunswick-stew-and-other-winter-soups-on-the-grill/Winter simmer pots of potpourri freshens our homes in the new year
Using herbs and spices to clean the air, disinfect rooms, improve moods and boost health has been a tradition for centuries. Scent is the sense most closely linked to memory. An unexpected whiff of a familiar aroma can whisk us back to our childhoods. The effect is immediate and at times, overwhelming. The right scents
https://ephenry.com/winter-simmer-pots-of-potpourri-freshens-our-homes-in-the-new-year/A nice hot tub soak staves off the winter blues
Luxuriating in an outdoor hot tub as snow falls on the landscape is a lovely winter dream, but it has its practical side too. It’s good for our health as hot tub soaks are known to relieve pain, calm itchy skin and reduce stress. Using your hot tub (or spa – the terms are interchangeable)
https://ephenry.com/a-nice-hot-tub-soak-staves-off-the-winter-blues/Yule logs of all kinds for the holidays
Nothing says Christmas like a traditional yule log. But what kind? There are yule logs to put in the fireplace, others to eat, and even some to watch! Here we bring you all the yule log information that’s fit to blog. “Yule” comes to us from the Old Norse language’s word, ylir, for the month
https://ephenry.com/yule-logs-of-all-kinds-for-the-holidays/Ever loving evergreens: know the difference between the trees
Not all “pine” trees are the same – some aren’t pines at all but are fir, cypress, cedar and spruce trees! The aromas, needles and cones differ between them. Here’s a quick rundown to help you get to know the varieties of Christmas trees that you may come across this holiday season. Conifers A conifer
https://ephenry.com/ever-loving-evergreens-know-the-difference-between-the-trees/Host a Casino Night on the Patio
Gaming for fun at home puts a party on the patio over the top. Kids parties can be a blast, but sometimes adults just want some time to themselves. A casino night is an exciting twist on milestone birthdays, team meetings or holiday parties. A private party at home is also typically free from the
https://ephenry.com/host-a-casino-night-on-the-patio/Halloween Patio Pizza Party
Delight your little monsters with homemade pizzas topped with creepy crawlies. With a long night of trick-or-treating ahead of them, kids need a meal to keep that energy up and prevent goodie bag snacking. Fire up that outdoor pizza oven and give them ingredients to make their own personal pizzas with “creepy crawly” toppings. One
https://ephenry.com/halloween-patio-pizza-party/Mums the word! Mum sale plants and 2 purple fall favorites
See a mum sale? Go ahead and get the mums! Then add these 2 companion plants for drama and height in your landscape. It seems like every weekend we see school teams holding up signs to hawk colorful, fall-friendly chrysanthemums. Don’t pass them up. Mums look great in the garden and work well indoor and
https://ephenry.com/mums-the-word-mum-sale-plants-and-2-purple-fall-favorites/Rosh Hashanah: Traditions and planning for an outdoor celebration
Celebrating outside brings us back to time-honored customs. This month is Elul, a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). At sundown on the Gregorian calendar day of September 29, 2019, and on the Hebrew calendar day 1 Tishrei 5780,
https://ephenry.com/rosh-hashanah-traditions-and-planning-for-an-outdoor-celebration/Fire Pit or Fireplace? Things to Consider When Planning your Outdoor Living Space
If you are planning a fire feature for your patio, you may ask yourself “Should we get a fire pit or fireplace?” Both give off light and warmth and help create a cozy, welcome atmosphere. While cost is typically a question (and can sometimes be the deciding factor) here are some other differences that you
https://ephenry.com/fire-pit-or-fireplace-things-to-consider-when-planning-your-outdoor-living-space/