First, the entryway

Front entrances or foyers are our home’s first impression. When the entrance is empty of people, it can appear very impressive. When several guests arrive or the children come home from school, bags, shoes and coats appear, and everyone is stepping over clutter. Guests and children (and yes, even husbands) will learn to put their clothing and personal items away if there is a place to put them.

• Storage for coats is obvious. Put them in a coat closet. However, children need to be able to reach the hooks to hang them up. Hooks at eye level rather than hangers are better for children. Their own space with a place for boots or shoes below their hook with a shelf or basket for their bags or sports equipment is a good solution.
• Children will feel special with their personal space. They can identify their hook by labeling with their name, their handprint in paint, or with a decoration that reflects their interest. Put this layout behind closed doors and the clutter is solved. This will also help everyone to be accountable. If coats are not on their hooks individuals can be taken to task. Besides, they will be able to locate them again when they leave. We have all experienced looking for the other mitt or the school bag at the last minute.
• A designated box or hooks for keys, or a container for wet umbrellas will also help to keep a well-organized space.
• If shoes are removed at the front door, then a box of slippers in a variety of sizes will encourage guests and family to comply. It will also indicate to visitors that they are important enough to provide this extra indication of hospitality.

In the kitchen

Kitchens are another area where storage is critical. Think vertical as well as horizontal.

• In times past, the space above the cabinets has been used for baskets or silk plants, or simply ignored. What about closing in that area with frosted or clear glass doors to put the “good” china, trays and all those other special occasion items that are so important, but which are not used frequently? The space can be accessed by a small “two-step” ladder which folds up and stores away.
• Storage rails are a great idea for kitchen items. Specialty stores and even some of the department stores sell rails with “S” hooks which attach to walls. Cooking utensils and small household gadgets can be readily reached in the work area where they are used. Small buckets can be attached to the rail as well to hold the items which do not hang easily. Think about hanging up cookie cutters or rolling pins in this way.
• Baskets of the same style can house canned goods and packages. When they are placed on open racks they are accessible as well as convenient.

In the bath

Bathrooms are another challenge.

• Towels placed in baskets on the floor free up cabinet space.
• Combination shelves which can hold toiletries as well as towels, reflect the “hotel” look which is so popular right now.
• Towel bars with three or four bars, one under the other, are available.
• For the luxury feel, how about a four-tiered heated bar so that when towels are pulled from the rack, they are warm? This would be in an ensuite to the principle bedroom!

As for those closets

• Linen and bedroom closets can benefit from bins for pillows, blankets and seasonal items.
• If the luxury of space is available, why not provide a closet for the seasonal wear that is off-season? That would mean that everything would not be rummaged through all of the time when someone is searching for clothing, or sheets, or the extra comforter.
• Commercial organizers can be very helpful, but be certain that they meet the family needs. At least consider hanging double rows of rods for shirts and blouses. And remember, children need to be able to reach the rod, or their clothes will be left for others to hang them up!

Clutter-free dining and living rooms

Dining rooms and living rooms offer their own set of challenges.

• Flat ware for the table can be stored neatly in drawers in felt pouches.
• Napkins can be stored in shallow bins within drawers and tablecloths can be rolled on tubes and stored vertically or horizontally, eliminating fold lines when they are put on the table.
• Instead of using an end table or coffee table in the living room, why not use a decorative chest to hold the coffee cup? The chest can house CDs, craft projects, or magazines, keeping them out of sight, but still easily accessible on demand.
• Small decorative boxes on tables can handle all of those remote controls in one place so that they can be found easily.

Everything in its place and a place for everything ensures uncluttered decor and easy maintenance. Have fun looking at your spaces in a new and creative way as you consider the possibilities for storage!

A “man cave” could be defined as a man’s private sanctuary within his home.

Website ManCaveSite.org is dedicated to photos and resources for men wanting to create their own room in their home. After viewing many of the photos on their website, we can see that some of the most popular items include:

- Big screen tvs and/or projectors
- Guitars (for playing or just for display)
- Sports memorabilia, including posters, jerseys, and other game equipment
- Pool tables or other gaming tables
- Bars and barstools, accompanied of course by the requisite liquor
- Comfy furniture like lounge chairs and leather couches

If you’re interested in building your own man cave, the site linked above provides plenty of advice. But if you are like most people and don’t have a lot of extra cash to spend on building a room like this from scratch, you might appreciate some tips on saving money. Our recent article Shopping for Home Decor – Finding the Bargains applies equally well to a man cave as it does to a bathroom. So check it out and you might save a lot of cash!

Do you have a man cave in your home? What made you decide to build it? If you don’t, would you consider building one?

If you are about to embark on a home decorating project, rest assured that it doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition. There are lots of ways that you can decorate with plenty of style on a small budget. You just need to know where and how to find the decorating bargains.

1. Always Shop the Sales - If your favorite department store is having a sale, check it out. Many times the big name department stores will have really good sales, especially at the end of each season. You can get the same high quality merchandise at big discounts. The sale prices are often lower than what you would find at discount stores, and you are assured of the same top quality merchandise that you have come to expect from higher priced department stores.

2. Discount Stores – In addition to the big name department stores, you should always check your local discount stores when shopping for home decorating items. These stores often have great prices, even when they are not running a sale. When they do have a sale you can get some really great deals.

3. Buy Used Furniture – Just because furniture is used doesn’t mean it’s outdated or in poor condition. If you get in the habit of frequenting second-hand stores, garage sales and flea markets, you will find plenty of furniture and unique accessories. These items are often more interesting and intriguing than those you would find in stores because they may be antiques or one-of-a-kind items.

If you find a solid piece of furniture that has a few nicks and scratches, often a fresh coat of paint will make it look brand new again. Don’t forget that it’s OK to bargain and haggle a bit when shopping at flea markets and garage sales, as this can sometimes get you a better price.

4. Shopping on eBay - Don’t overlook eBay and other auction sites when shopping for decorating bargains. You will find a wide variety of items ranging from accessories to furniture on eBay, which can really save you a lot of money. Plus, it’s easy to search for just the items that you need. You can even use “best offers” on eBay when shopping to possibly save even more on the items you like. Just be sure to check the shipping costs before placing your bid, especially for larger items.

5. Online Bargain Hunting - Some stores have special sales and bargains available online which aren’t available in the actual “brick and mortar” store. Sign up for mailing lists for your favorite stores, so that you will get e-mail notifications when they run sales. Sometimes these online stores will even run specials for free shipping. Online shopping is quick, easy, convenient, and often offers a wider selection of items than what is carried in the actual stores.

6. Reuse and Repurpose – You might be able to get some new life out of some items that you already own. Check out your storage shed or attic for discarded pieces of furniture or decorating accessories that you can use in new ways. Try using items in a different room than originally intended. This can be a great way to reduce waste as well as save money.

Speaker and author, Jessica Ackerman represents WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, generating interest for modern wall clock and its counterpart home decor wall art.

Take action: The holidays are coming. Prepare in advance by thinking about your time management skills. Try our interactive online study Managing Time Wisely.

You said it: This week, Jacob commented on the article How to Set and Attain Goals for Success, saying “I am 18 and have gone from summer office help in a small construction company to the manager of materials and logistics, in 6 months. I am dealing with project managers for some of the largest construction companies in the country. I feel successful for my age at this moment, but I want MORE …” Read the article and the rest of the comment, then add your own thoughts: Read more

Blog: Decorating Tips for Big Impact on a Small Budget
Plan ahead and you’ll avoid stress, lost boxes of decorations, impulse purchases and overspending. Here are some tips for decorating on a budget Read more

Video: Street Level: Family Traditions
This week in our Street Level video feature, we went to the streets to ask you how you define family. What does “family” look like, and do you keep any family traditions? Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Empowering Relationships “ Join us in the chat room November 22nd 2009 @ 9:00pm EST for this chat, and check our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

Letting Go and Moving On
Entering the empty nest for us was a benchmark in our lives. Some things changed forever. For instance, from this time on we would catalogue our lives as BC (before children) and AC (after children). Faced with so many life changes, we did what we often do – we made a list. For us, making our list was a reality check and was the first step in releasing and letting go of some unrealistic expectations – frankly, some weren’t that unrealistic, they just would not be fulfilled – not in this lifetime! Read more

Take action: What things add chains to your life? Regardless of whether we are young adults, parents, we all struggle to balance responsibility and freedom. Try our Finding Freedom online interactive life lesson to explore this important issue.

You said it: This week, Caitlin commented on College Life: Cheap Dorm Room Decorating Ideas, saying “I’m an art major, so the way i decorate my dorm room is vital to my sanity. i am going into my 3rd year, and have figured out a lot of what you have said, but one thing has stuck out that i never would have thought of …” Read the rest and add your own thoughts: Read more

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From our first days on the playground to those tentative first days at work, everyone wants to belong. We all know that having a caring community around us better than not having one, but did you know that it can also make you live longer? Community is good for your health! Read more

Article: Easy Summer Picnics
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this version of the all-American activity, but why not play with the age-old idea? Forget plaid and Tupperware for a second and try an easy picnic catered around the people you love. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Beginning a Relationship With God” Join us in the chat room August 30th 2009 @ 9:00pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

3 Minute Expert: Lighting your Home
To many, spring cleaning is a chance to de-clutter and give your homes a good thorough scrubbing. This year, why not consider changing some light fixtures to show off all that hard work?

Lighting is an often overlooked aspect of interior design, yet good lighting can transform a dismal room into an attractive space. In our latest “3 Minute Expert” video, interior designer Terry Law sheds some light on how to choose the perfect lamps for your home. Watch the video

Take action: Shine a light into your marriage by taking steps to rekindle the romance. Try our free online interactive life lesson on marriage, “Rekindling the Romance”

You said it: This week Kylie commented on “Why Is There Evil and Suffering?” saying, “this article helped me to understand God’s plan a little more. We can guess at what God is and what He has been planning but we’ll never truly know. And I know this article isn’t saying “this is why there is suffering!”. It does, however, help to make sense of the question “why does God allow evil into the world?”.” Join the discussion on TheLife.com!

Blog: 10 Lost in Alabama shooting
CNN and others are reporting that a man went on a shooting rampage in southern Alabama yesterday killing at least 10 people including a child just a year and half old. Most of the victims were family members of the killer who turned the gun on himself. Read more

Article: Spring Clean your Life
The number one stresser these days is that life is too fast-paced. It can be difficult if not impossible to keep up. Now as we deal with the frenzy of our modern lives, the term “simple” can also mean sane. The first step in simplifying our lives is to rid ourselves of unnecessary complexity. Read more

Coming up next week: This week join us for daily online chats like our Question a Day chat. Join us in the chat room March 15th 2009 @ 12:15 pm EST for the Question a Day chat! (See also our full chat calendar.)

After winter we are all ready for the wonders of spring. One of the cheeriest sights are the bright yellow faces of the daffodils.

Planting a bulb garden is a family project. You may either visit your local garden center in early fall or start looking at mail order bulb sources now. Decide how many you have room for and let everyone in the family pick their own! Here are the essentials you need to know as far as how much space they will take up:

• Large daffodil varieties will need 5-6 inches of space between bulbs, and the miniatures will need just 1-3 inches.
• You must also leave room in front or behind the bulbs for annuals that you will plant when the daffodils are no longer blooming. If you are planting in a bed that already has existing flowers that come up every year, simply take note where these plants are now and your bulbs can be planted around them as long as you space around six to 10 inches to be safe.

Creating your plan

The key to all this, is picturing in your mind the flower bed in the spring when the only thing popping out are the bulbs you have planted. You can make groupings in circles or squares. Think of it like a puzzle. Make your plan and sketch it out on paper. If you have older children, this would be the perfect job for them! Give them a measuring tape, pencil, little wooden markers and paper. They can plan the location of the bulbs, sketch it out and then mark it. This will make them feel creative and satisfied when the plan is finished! A few things to remember as you are planning:

• The bulbs will be planted at a depth of three to four times their height.
• In the spring, you will be letting the leaves wilt on their own and dry up. They shouldn’t be cut because the sunshine needs to replenish them!
• If you mix short, tall and medium daffodils make sure they are planted with the taller ones in back so the little ones are not hidden.
• They must have lots of sun in the spring, even if that spot is shady later in the summer.
• If your bed in just bulbs right now, plan on planting other summer flowers when they fade. A flat of petunias would be great for this, mixed with dusty miller. They are easily planted in front the bulb leaves and you will have color for the rest of the summer. Simple plans are sometimes the best!

Planting your bulbs

When your bulbs arrive, or you buy them from the garden center, gather everyone together, hand out garden tools and start digging. Make sure the soil is loose and humus-rich. If the soil seems dry or a little hard, then add peat and/or manure you can purchase at the garden center.

Mix it in the soil until it’s loose and rich looking. Read the instructions on each bulb and plant at that depth. Dig your hole, place in your bulb and fill the hole back up with the soil.

After your bed is planted, water well and place about a two inch layer of mulch over the area. Mulch can be leaves that have been sitting and are moist and starting to decompose, wood chips or shredded wood, even grass clippings can be used! If you have a dry fall, it would help the flower bed if you would water now and then when it hasn’t rained.

There are many other bulbs you can plant to brighten your spring, but daffodils are simple, they multiply, and the squirrels and other rodents don’t seem to like the taste very well. In most cases, they should leave your bulbs alone, and in the spring you will have a flower bed full of welcoming sunny faces to greet you.

New Perennials for the garden (and some old favorites…)

While each new year brings the return of many plants to the garden, none seem quite as miraculous as the perennials. Where seemingly nothing remains, they burst forth in spring, or quietly sneak up on June to provide bursts of colors that enliven the garden without the expense (or labor) of planting annuals year after year. Couple that with the low cost and increasing availability of these flowers, and it is no surprise that they have become the mainstays of many American gardens.

So, what’s new?

The first question from the perennial aficionado as they stroll down the aisle in the local garden center is “What’s new?” While they have developed strong feelings for quite a few old favorites, it is that foray into the unknown that elicits the quickened heartbeat and shortened breath. Here are a few of the new perennials for this year that everyone ought to have in their yard.

• Dicentra x ‘King of Hearts’
  My A-1 favorite new plant is Dicentra x ‘King of Hearts.’ While listed in some quarters as D. formosana, it is more accurately a cross between that species and D. eximia and D. peregrine, a rare Japanese treasure. But what this means for you is that it is sterile as a mule, so it continues to attempt to set seed from May to frost. That’s all season flowering, and that’s a rarity of great value. Full sun to part shade, Zone 5 to Zone 8, 18” tall by 2’ wide with a red flower over bluish foliage, the perfect complement to hostas; what more could one ask from a perennial flower? Our cup overfloweth.

• Dianthus x ‘Pixie’
  The next hot new thing in the perennial world comes to us from the Fleming Brothers of Nebraska. I have always been fond of pinks for hot, dry areas; that wonderful clove scent as they bake in the hot sun is wonderful and the reds and pinks are a great complement to the grass like blue foliage. The only downfall was that May to June flowering time. That is now a thing of the past, as Dianthus x ‘Pixie’ is available and like our previous offering, blooms for most of the season. There’s the fragrance we’ve come to expect, a bicolor red and pink flower, Zone 5 hardiness and drought tolerance on a small tight plant for the edge of the border. Good stuff from the old bachelor farmers.

• Rudebeckia fulgida ‘Takao’
  Another new variation on an old theme is Rudebeckia fulgida ‘Takao.’ Many of you already have that old favorite ‘Goldsturm’ in the garden and with good reason. It’s a problem free plant with a long bloom time and wide range of soil and light conditions it will tolerate. So what needs replacing? ‘Goldsturm’ flowers July through September and the chunky stems aren’t so great for cutting. ‘Takao’ has wiry stems that are great for cutting, and it blooms a whole month earlier. Talk about a good thing getting better.

• Sedum spectablis ‘Autumn Joy’
  Another good example of that sort of improvement affects another old favorite (that looks great planted with those black-eyed susans we just discussed). Sedum spectablis ‘Autumn Joy’ is another one of those plants that most of us have in the garden somewhere. The only downfall to this otherwise wonderful plant is its tendency to split and flop in humid weather. I don’t have that problem often in the Northeast, but it must be a pain in the South.

• Sedum spec. ‘Autumn Fire’
  Along comes Sedum spec. ‘Autumn Fire’; those crashes when the humidity gets over 80% are through; this one stands tall and delivers all the great flower power of it’s weaker relative. Sounds like a new favorite.

• Blanket Flower
  Blanket flower, or Gaillardia has always been a favorite of mine for this summer season;  the yellows and reds add vibrancy to a time of less abundance in the perennial border. But it was just another daisy-like flower in a time of year loaded with them. Until now.

• Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’
  Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ has funnel shaped petals that look like a row of little trumpets around the reddish center of the flower. This one was striking enough to start a run on them here at the nursery; when wholesale plant producers start getting excited about a plant, you know it’s different. Try this one and make the neighbors envious.

• Gaillardia ‘Summer’s Kiss’
  And if the vibrant red and yellow are a little too loud for the color scheme in you  border, try Gaillardia ‘Summer’s Kiss’, a pastel version of our old favorite. Two new blanket flowers to add to the garden.

So try out some of the new additions, or even some of the old favorites, and see if you too get bit by the perennial bug. Soon you will be haunting the perennial section of your local garden center asking that same question, “What’s new?”

Fall is that time of year when we begin to gather the shucks and pumpkins from the fields

Berries

Berries are a great way to spice up a shrub border that is flagging in the flower power department. One of my favorite shrub families is Viburnum and there are a slew of them to talk about. V. dentatum, or arrowwood, is a 7’ x 6’ plant that covers up with blue-black berries that you may enjoy for a short time before the birds eat them all. V. lentago, or nannyberry, is a 12’ x 12’ plant that fits that same description. Both these native plants are high on the birds list of things to do this time of year. If you want a berry feature that hangs around a little longer, try V. dilatatum, a Chinese native with red berries that persist well into the winter.

Erie and the new and improved Cardinal Candy have red berries, while Michael Dodge has a yellow berry. V. setigerum, or Tea Viburnum, also has the red berries in spades, but this native won’t be able to hold onto them as the birds will rush this plant as soon as they ripen. (Beginning to see a pattern here? Natives are good food sources.)

V. opulus (European Cranberry Viburnum) is a European transplant, also with great red berries, but there are enough European birds about to make this one lose berries pretty quickly. Our native Cranberry Viburnum (V. trilobum) has red berries, several great cultivars (Bailey’s Compactum, Wentworth) and a nice rounded habit that the birds will enjoy almost as much as the berries. As if the berry show wasn’t enough, viburnums put on a fantastic fall color display with their foliage as well! No yard is complete without at least one.

Chokeberry and Winterberry

Mother Nature has ways to make sure the larder stays stocked throughout the season. One great example is the chokeberry, or aronia. Much like their native brethren in the viburnum clan, aronias put on a great show in the fall with the leaves, but the astringently sour fruits are not immediately palatable to the birds. Several months of freezing temperatures and drying winds take the sting out and convert those sugars and by February, when all the other berries are long gone, these are ready for table. You get the foliage and berry show for the winter, the birds get a back-up for those late season feeds. And this is one shrub that can take whatever situation you put it in, from dry and sandy to downright boggy, full sun to part shade. Everybody wins!

Another great berry for those marshy spots is winterberry (Ilex verticillata). Another native berry machine, this holly isn’t the evergreen we think of as Christmas decoration (That would be I. x meservae, or blue holly, another great berry for the garden). I. verticillata sets its berries in late summer, turns a yellow gold in the leaves and then drops it’s foliage to display the berries in all their glory. Most tend toward red berries, but a few cultivars go to the orange side of things and one or two are even yellow.

One of my favorite cultivars is Red Sprite a little dwarf form that only gets 4’ x 4’, perfect for the middle of the border. Don’t forget these are hollies, so they’ll need a boy to pollinate. (Jim Dandy is the best pollinator for Red Sprite, Apollo is good for the late flowerers like Sparkleberry and Winter Red, and Southern Gentleman is the best if you’re trying to cover all the bases with one guy.) Again, these native plants are well liked by the birds, but usually will have enough berries around Christmas to warrant that common name.

Inkberry and Beautyberry

Another native holly that berries well, yet holds the foliage, is inkberry (I. glabra). While this berry is not particularly showy (as the common name implies, it’s black), the smaller habit, wildlife usage and persistent foliage make this one worth a mention anyway. For those in warmer climes than mine, yaupon (I. vomitoria) is a Zone 7 to 10 evergreen holly with a persistent red berry that gets large shrub to small tree size and looks great – wish I could get away with that one – and I bet the birds in my neighborhood wish that too.

Maybe you want a berry that is a little louder in the color wheel than plain old red. The beautyberries certainly fill that niche with purple to magenta berries. Those who can grow yaupon can get away with the lone American version of this plant (Callicarpa Americana). This native beautyberry has a magenta berry (there is a white berried form) that southern birds have come to know and love. The rest of us will have to make do with the Asian forms (C. japonica, C. bodinieri and C. dichotoma - all Zone 5-8). My new favorite cultivar is a dichotoma called Early Amethyst that develops its berry color in early August, letting us enjoy those berry features even earlier.

Berries can add loads of color, and even more garden enjoyment, as they attract our feathered friends into our yards to feed and shelter. Fruits, like blueberry and grapes, can offer much to us as garden plants even if we never taste a single fruit; sharing brings its own rewards and joys and you will feel the warmth of human kindness no less as you watch the birds live on the bounty only you and Mother Nature can provide. Enjoy.

In many ways, entering Annie Armstrong’s living room puts one in mind of a house in another age.

A changing world

Annie has well earned her reputation as a frugal and talented homemaker. She has created a lovely home and raised three children. She has spent a lifetime using her practical gifts to serve others. Yet, these days, people like Annie have become the exception rather than the rule. Making a home has become something of a lost art.

At the turn of the twentieth century, keeping house dominated women’s lives. As modern conveniences and prepared foods freed up much of that time for other endeavours, fewer people learned to cook and keep house. Fewer people learned decorative handcrafts and other arts for decorating the house.

These days, society’s fast pace leaves most people running ragged. Two-income families try to keep up with life’s demands and financial pressures. The idea of making time for needlework or homemade cookies seems almost frivolous.

A growing market

In recent years, popular media icons such as Martha Stewart have inspired a renaissance for these practical arts. It is chic to reorganize cupboards and label storage boxes. Making a variety of simple household items by hand is not only frugal – it’s fun! Time spent mixing and cutting decorative cookies is not wasted; homemade cookies are “a good thing.”

For many of later generations, however, homemaking is easier said than done. How do you learn when there is no one to teach you? What if your own parents did not have the time or were never taught themselves?

Recipe books can be a mystery if you have not done a great deal of cooking, and they rarely contain the tips personal experience can provide. Patterns for sewing can be just as vague. And where do you begin to learn about buying groceries, doing laundry or cleaning toilets?

Sharing the wealth

Like many of her peers, Annie learned to cook and clean, grow and make things at home. Lots of people were poor, but they grew their own vegetables and raised their own meat. They made their own preserves; they stitched their own cushions and clothing. Even the smallest child knew how to catch and clean a chicken for supper – Annie’s job.

As the years have passed, Annie’s practical gifts have come to serve many of the people who’ve passed through her life:

• Her former landlord, a Jewish gentleman, could not find a yarmulke (men’s headwear required for Jewish religious ceremonies) to fit him. He was delighted when Annie collected some fabric scraps from a tailor to make him two – one silk and one velvet.
• Many people have been fortunate enough to receive a platter of Annie’s delicate and elaborate Christmas cookies. She began Christmas baking for others when many of her friends began to get older: they didn’t really need gifts, but were not as interested in or as able to bake for the holidays as they may have been.
• Annie’s doctor also receives a platter of Christmas cookies every year. “Who do you know gets flowers from their doctor?” Annie’s husband asks proudly, displaying a beautiful Christmas bouquet. Annie shrugs: “People think, ‘She’s a doctor – what does she need baking for?’ But everybody needs a pick-me-up now and then.”

Annie is just as generous with her time and wisdom. Her home is open to anyone who wants to learn.

“I’ll teach anybody anything they want to know,” she says frankly. “I’ve taught couples to do petit point, young people how to cook. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Annie’s philosophy is simple: “I don’t want all this to die with me.”

Making time

The people who benefit from Annie’s expertise may have some skill or none at all. One young woman, who was already a good cook, simply had no idea that you could make pastry from scratch. She had always assumed it was only available from the freezer section of the grocery store, since that was always the way it came at home.

Another young woman, seeking cooking lessons from Annie’s daughter in California, was having a hard time just grasping the basics. She would manage well with someone to help, but would falter at home on her own, randomly substituting ingredients with frustrating results.

Many capable shoppers have learned to stretch their grocery dollars even further as a result of applying Annie’s tips for menu planning, using coupons and making the most of in-store specials. She can teach anyone how to cook a succulent holiday turkey and turn the leftovers into a freezer full of pot pies. Her recipe for homemade granola bars can satisfy the most discerning young palates as well as save money.

Regardless of the need, interest or ability, Annie is willing to share. She has even employed technology to offer her skills to an even larger group. Her husband, Ken, has designed a website dedicated to sharing Annie’s recipes for her most-popular Christmas cookies. Step-by-step instructions with photos guide viewers through each process.

“People think they don’t have time to do things like this,” Annie muses. “But you have to make time. It’s worth it.”

And she knows whereof she speaks: she recently tried frozen tart shells for the first time in her life. The result? “They were…okay.”