Ashley English's Blog, page 9

Sweet, Sticky & Delicious

Growing up, I was just about as opposed to the consumption of Brussels sprouts as possibly imaginable. If there were a superlative to "loathe," than it could have been applied to my youthful opinion of what I then referred to as "Barbie cabbages." In short, I detested them.
Not to slight my mom's cooking, but I think a good part of what informed my stance on Brussels sprouts could be

Eco Craft (Humpday Giveaway!!!)

If you've spent almost any time around here, you've heard me make mention of my campaign against waste. From crafting an attractive, utilitarian recycling station to using biodegradable trash bags, from posting items on Freecycle to reusing plastic bags, if there's a way to keep things out of the landfill, I'm all over it.

Which is why today's giveaway is so near and dear to me. Not only is it

Recent Acquisitions

My knitting education begins tomorrow afternoon! I'm SO very excited for this new endeavor. I've got unstoppable visions of scarfs and mittens and hats and sweaters and so. much. more fluttering about my mind's eye.

At this point in the journey, all I can tell you is that those are size 8 bamboo needles and the ball is 4-ply worsted weight Peruvian highland wool. And that concludes the scope of

What I'm Digging

Happy Friday, friends! I hope that a little love shined into your life this week, whether you were the one doing the shining or someone else brought the light.

I had a very inspiring lunch yesterday (at new Asheville eatery WALK-sweet potato tots! So! Good!) with a friend planning to open a homesteading supply store in the area. I can't begin to tell you how happy that makes me, as it can be

Digging Deep

Have you ever read an interview with someone you didn't know, or seen them on a t.v. show like, I don't know, Ellen, and thought to yourself "If we ever met in person, we'd definitely be friends"? I know it's kind of far-fetched, but we've all done it, if we're being honest. My little sister, Theo, says that, should she ever encounter Adele one day in a coffee shop in London, they'd be instant

Sweet, Sticky & Lovely

Even if you don't celebrate Valentine's Day, I hope today is going well for you. Over here, we love today, mostly because of this guy (from last year-what a little chubs!). I swear, ever since he came along, we're positively overflowing with love chez English, all the time. It's true. If I was friendly before, watch out now. If I would have just given a stranger a compliment before having Huxley,

Flower Power

I adore a long soak in a hot bath. Add a page-turning novel or an inspiring magazine and I could easily soak for just shy of an hour, topping up on hot water as needed. Since becoming a mom, though, the reality is that my soaks are both fewer and shorter than ever. Accordingly, I treasure those "take me away" moments like nobody's business.

Which is why I whipped up a container of bath salts the

What I'm Digging

Happy Friday, friends! I just wrapped up teaching my "Backyard Chickens" class at the local community college. I can't begin to tell you how much I've come to love doing that class (I think this was the 8th time I've taught it there!!!). The life of a mile-down-a-dirt-road-stay-at-home-writer/mama can sometimes be a lonesome one, in terms of socializing. Rubbing elbows with the locals is

Recent Acquisitions

Hubs shares the same passion for food that I do. Alongside cooking and growing it, he also loves reading and chatting about it. Which is how he met Anthony. Readers and commenters on many of the same food & farming discussions, the two kept rubbing digital elbows with one another, eventually forming a friendship.

For the most part, the bulk of packages that show up in our mailbox have my name

These Boots

Huxley shares my love of muddy boots.

I can't even begin to tell you how happy it makes me that he finally fits into these. I picked them up months ago from a local children's consignment shop and have been eagerly waiting for his tiny toes to fit inside. That day is here, and it's a blissfully muddy thing to behold.