Some of the best family memories don’t require expensive tickets, elaborate vacations, or even leaving your own backyard. Sometimes all you need is five grandchildren, a riding mower, a wagon, a few pumpkins, and a Granny with an idea. Welcome to the very first Granny’s Great Pumpkin Sleepover! It All Started with an Idea I…
Easy Homemade Candied Apples for Fall
There are some treats that simply belong to fall, and a shiny red candy apple is one of them. With its crisp, tart center and sweet, glasslike shell, it brings back the feeling of autumn festivals, Halloween parties, and cool October afternoons. These old-fashioned candied apples require only a few simple ingredients. The secret is…
Family Tomato Sauce Day, Part 3: The Work Is the Tradition
When I first imagined a family Tomato Sauce Day, I pictured all of us gathered in the kitchen, working together and turning a summer’s worth of tomatoes into jars we could enjoy throughout the year. Family Tomato Sauce Day Series What began with an 11-gallon bag of tomatoes became our first family Sauce Day—and perhaps…
Making Everyday Moments Special
Because You Don’t Need a Special Occasion to Make an Occasion In the summer of 2004, I asked a friend a rather unusual question. I wanted to know where I could drag out my good china, silver, crystal glasses and candelabras, set an elaborate table outside, bring a wonderful dinner, and spend an evening with…
An Antique Wardrobe and the Story My Dad Left Behind
I Wasn’t Expecting to Hear His Voice I laughed first. Then I teared up. I had been working through another of my dad’s old Sunday School lessons, carefully reading the pages he gave me years ago as a Christmas gift. The lesson was dated April 28, 2002, and titled “Promise of Restoration.” Its Scripture came…
Cozy Fall Simmer Pot for Delicious Fall Fragrance
There’s something lovely about coming inside on a cool fall day and finding the kitchen filled with the scent of apples, oranges, and warm spices. This simple simmer pot brings those familiar autumn aromas together with just a few ingredients and a saucepan of water. Let it gently simmer while you’re nearby, and enjoy the…
12 Must-Haves for Your Fall Party Beverage Station
When the evening turns chilly and everyone gathers outside, a warm drink gives people a reason to linger. I love setting up a little station where guests can pour hot coffee or apple cider, add a favorite syrup, and carry their cup back to the conversation by the bonfire. With everything in one place, people…
Family Fire Pit Ideas for Meaningful Gatherings
How the places we prepare for gathering hold our families through every season Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, Chicks on the Road may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We share products and companies that meaningfully fit the stories we…
Sauce Day, Part 2: What You’ll Need Before the Tomatoes Hit the Pot
There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about Sauce Day. The tomatoes are waiting. The jars are lined up. Someone turns on a little music, the kitchen starts getting warm, and before long, everybody has a job. But here’s something we’ve learned: a good Sauce Day actually begins before Sauce Day. Family Tomato Sauce Day Series What began…
Beginning Canning Supplies: What You Need for Water-Bath and Pressure Canning
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about lining up clean jars, setting a big pot on the stove, and preserving food for another season. But if you are…