I am often amazed and inspired by the home-making abilities of those around me. My sister-in-law stopped by my house and in 2 minutes (with 2 children running around) managed to solve a storage problem that had been lingering for months. (The answer: put the box of bocce balls behind the television!). My boyfriend’s sister-in-law sent us Christmas gifts so beautiful we took pictures of the gift-wrapping before opening the gifts themselves. My sister can whip up a batch of cookies in 20 minutes flat. My parents can, with their powers combined, put together brunch for 30 of our closest relatives with 30 minutes notice.
I’m not there yet. I’m the one with a box of bocce balls sitting by the back door because I don’t know where to put them. I aspire to be able to whip up cookies in 20 minutes flat. I may make my own tortillas, but “from scratch” doesn’t necessarily mean “easily from scratch” or “quickly from scratch.” It’s more like “awkward and messily from scratch.”
As I attempt to grow from messy to graceful, I find inspiration in those around me, including other blogs. Most recently, I’ve begun to enjoy Hallowed Be Thy Home (http://www.hallowedbethyhome.com/), written by the aforementioned gift-wrapper. She shares her wisdom on wreath-making and other projects, as well as tips on green living that can be sustainable, healthy, and supportive of local endeavors.
Starting From Scratch 