News From the Nest, June 22
Happy Monday!
If you were busy at the beach or lake over the weekend, you might have missed that the summer solstice snuck in on Sunday, making it officially the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. For our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, yesterday was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year down there. While we’re soaking up our longest, sunniest day, folks in Australia, South America, and South Africa are in the depths of winter with their shortest day and longest night.
So, in the Northern Hemisphere, from here on out, the days start getting shorter, which feels a little sneaky for a season that’s barely gotten started. The change is imperceptible at first — a minute or two a day — but by the time August rolls around, you’ll notice the sun setting earlier each evening.
So consider this your gentle nudge to soak up every bit of that summer light while we’ve got it, whether that’s lingering on the porch after dinner or getting into the garden in the cool of the evening.
Table of Contents
Terry, Elsa and I hit the road early Saturday morning for a 3-hour trek to meet our prospective new 4-legged family member. Elsa and Junie co-existed nicely; so this Friday we will make the trek again to bring her home! We are working through a rescue group, which is a first for us. In the 5 weeks she’s been in foster care, Junie (who is 2.5 years old) has been in 3 different homes, been spayed and has had all her vaccinations. So she’s been through quite a bit.
Knit + Crochet
Our Linen Stitch Blanket is one that’s nice to have on hand once the weather turns warm — the linen stitch creates this lovely woven texture that lies nice and flat, perfect for the nights when you want a blanket on your lap but nothing heavy. The crochet fringe edge is the kind of finishing detail that makes a handmade piece look so much more polished, and I walk you through both the knit body and the crochet fringe on video, so even total crochet beginners can tackle it.
If you’ve ever finished a row and noticed your stitches looking a little twisted or off-kilter, our Twisted Knit Stitches post breaks down exactly why that happens and three different ways to fix it depending on how far back the mistake started. Tricia wrote in to say these lessons answered every single question she had as a beginner knitter — comments like that are exactly why I keep writing posts like this! 🥰
And if you’re just getting your feet wet with knitting altogether, start with Knit Stitch, which walks you step by step through the most basic — and most important — stitch in the craft, complete with photos and a video. Robin called it an amazing guide and said she’s sharing it with all her friends who want to learn to knit.
There is still time to whip up the Crochet Beach Bag Pattern made with raffia yarn before your next beach day. It’s a weekend project using basic single and double crochet stitches, and the raffia gives it that natural, structured look without any stiffening spray needed — and not for nothing, the open weave means sand shakes right out.🏖️
From the Kitchen
When the garden starts churning out jalapeños, these Pickled Jalapeño Peppers is the recipe you need in your back pocket — pile them on nachos, tuck them into burgers, or toss a few into a salsa for extra kick at your next cookout. Reader Lucy has made it more than once and called it fantastic every time.
These Blueberry Banana Muffins are one of my go-to ways to use up speckled, overripe bananas. Bread flour gives them a wonderfully uniform crumb you don’t typically get from a muffin. Donna gives them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, saying, “This is now my go-to muffin whenever I have over-ripe bananas (I always have some blueberries in the freezer). I love how they are just sweet enough but not overly sweet. I do add the sugar on top before baking. The only thing I do differently is more blueberries!”
For an easy, no-fuss Fourth of July treat the kids (and let’s be honest, the adults too) will love, these Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Popsicles come together with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, and blueberries, finished with a sprinkle of edible gold stars. Reader Kathleen said they were so easy to make that she splurged on the gold leaf stars, and Dorene loves that the stainless molds don’t hold onto odors the way plastic ones can.
Our Strawberry Curd Recipe egg yolks — a little strawberry powder makes all the difference in both flavor and color. And, I’m willing to fund the campaign to come up with better name for this yumminess! “Curd” just doesn’t cut it!
Put that 🍓curd to good use in these Mini Strawberry Tarts , which pairs a buttery, sugar-cookie-like tart shell with that fresh strawberry curd and a fanned fresh strawberry on top. They look fancy enough for company but can be made well ahead of time, and reader Sheila called them a real showstopper dessert.
A great option for your Fourth of July spread is this Shrimp Salsa, a fresh combination of tomatoes, avocado, lime, and cooked shrimp with just a touch of smoky paprika. Grab the scoop-style tortilla chips for this one — it isn’t a saucy salsa, so you’ll want a chip that can hold all the goodness.
And speaking of cookout food, these Moist and Flavorful Turkey Burgers would be a great, lighter addition to your summer or Fourth of July menu. A combination of grated onion, milk-soaked panko, and a little mayo and Dijon keeps the lean turkey from drying out, and the post covers four cooking methods — air fryer, skillet, oven, or grill — so you can make these however your kitchen, or backyard, is set up that day. Top one with a few of those pickled jalapeños from above for a spicy Southwest twist!
Arts + Crafts
This How to Make Seed Paper post walks you through turning junk mail and paper scraps into plantable paper embedded with wildflower seeds — it’s a fun, hands-on project for all ages that’s just as rewarding to make as it is to give away.
Once you’ve got a batch made, put it to use with this Wildflower Seed Paper Cards tutorial, which shows you how to stamp and assemble that seed paper into thank-you notes, invitations, or just-because cards the recipient can plant once they’re done admiring them.
And for a little unexpected garden interest, our Concrete Garden Balls tutorial shows you how to make your own version of those pricey orbs you might’ve spotted at Pottery Barn, using a glass globe and a bag of quick-set concrete. Karen said she and a friend used the tutorial to make a batch for their gardens, then scored six more glass globes for free off a neighbor’s curb — that’s a lucky thrifting find and I’m very jealous! Sourcing the globes was the most difficult part of the project for me.
In the Garden
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with all those eggshells piling up in your kitchen, our article on How to Use Eggshells for the Garden explains how the calcium in eggshells can help prevent blossom end rot in your tomatoes, balance soil pH, and even deter slugs and cutworms. And, its actually good for birds as well…talk about full circle!
And while we’re talking tomatoes, this Tomato Companion Plants post covers the best plants to tuck in around your tomatoes — basil, borage, and marigolds all help repel pests and can even improve the flavor of your harvest — along with the plants you’ll want to keep far away, like fennel and other nightshades.
In the House + Home
This Measuring Equivalents Chart is one resource in my kitchen that I reach for almost daily — mine is laminated and taped right inside a kitchen cabinet door, and it’s saved me more times than I can count when I’m doubling or halving a recipe. Print it, laminate it, and tuck it somewhere handy; future you will thank you.
Finally, this find back to life with some sanding, a hydrogen peroxide sanitizing soak, and a good butcher block conditioner. Mary wrote in to say the hydrogen peroxide trick worked like a charm on her own thrift store find.
Well friends, my to-do list isn’t getting shorter. I’ve got a new baby blanket pattern I’m almost done with so I can share with you, plus several ‘recipes’ for cleaning products you can make at home…better for your wallet and the environment. I’m hustling to get those wrapped up and shared with you in the near future. Stay tuned!
Wishing you a day full of sunshine and good things!
