I have long had a love/hate relationship with gardening.

My mother loved having flowers and in the hot Texas sun in the summer, with tons of other options for my time, I hated weeding her flower bed.

From Trees to Veggies

I married a bona fide farm boy/nature lover. When I met Dave, he was a grad student in the biology department, and he was teaching Botany. He has always planted things. I love that he has planted trees anywhere we have lived and especially that he is something of a redbud tree “whisperer.”

We drive past homes we have lived in and love seeing the redbud trees that are flourishing and the oak and birch trees that are 25 years old and providing shade and beauty for whoever lives there now.

When our five kids were young and I was feeding them and their friends, I loved having a garden that produced good, healthy food that I could can and freeze and preserve. It was handy for the budget and helped me keep with my intention to raise healthy kids.

Love Planting, Hate Weeding

I think I have always largely loved planting. No weeds, soft earth, the hope of new growth. I love the harvest, too. Especially if someone brings it into my kitchen for me.

But I hate weeding. I remember one of our first gardens in Kansas when I was attacked by the hugest grasshoppers I had ever seen while weeding our little garden. The worst was when my dreams of a weed-free strawberry patch in Illinois died after huge rains made all the little seeds left in my hay mulch sprout and grow deep, pesky roots all around my berry plants.

But now, I am older and wiser. And I have more time. And I find myself loving growing things this year.

Growing Projects

The pandemic has given my husband, the nature lover, time to focus on ideas for things we can grow. Our first growing efforts at our new home in the woods was inoculating oak and cottonwood logs with mushroom spores.

Shitakes like oak logs and oyster mushrooms like cottonwood, and we have access to both on our wooded property. It is a long waiting process, but we are keeping the logs wet and expect to be eating fresh mushrooms later this summer. I love the anticipation.

Since we have acreage and since we love having birds and wildlife all around, we bought and planted 250 seedlings from the state nursery. All of them are native and have the potential to make lovely color in the spring and berries and nuts in the fall. I love checking in on the plums and hazelnuts and persimmons and hackberries and other shrubs and bushes to watch them take root and grow.

Ever the redbud fan, we have a number of these lovely spring bloomers newly planted on the edges of the woods and in our front yard and at the entrance of our property. I love that they are responding to all of the good dirt Dave is making (thanks to friends with horses!) and the careful watering. I love that they will provide pink beauty in the spring and a shady canopy through the summer for years to come.

Large Garden for Veggies

It’s been a while since we put in more than two or three tomato plants and greens to keep us in salads, but this year we are ready for more. I find that I still love planting. And I love harvesting the variety of greens we had early on. Spinach, five kinds of kale, colorful chard.

I love that I have a variety of fresh herbs ready for use right outside my door. I love spotting the first of the tiny little squash setting on the vines and seeing the peppers grow longer and the tomatoes begin to show up as little green balls.

We are enjoying the garden we have created. It’s large but manageable with daily vigilance. We used methods to minimize weeds.

It’s All About Having Time

We have the time to keep up with the watering and weeding. I find I don’t hate that anymore.

There is something satisfying about pulling stray grass intruders, and violets that are growing where we don’t want them, and unnamed weeds that are hindering the growth of what we want.

Tomorrow, I will make a big batch of saag from the last of the spring spinach and kale and chard from our early garden and freeze some of it. I will put fresh spinach into bags to freeze and those will be fine to add to soups all winter long.

I am anticipating all sorts of fresh dishes to prepare. I’ll freeze extra produce. We’ll give a lot away to anyone who will appreciate organically grown vegetables or a bouquet of fresh flowers that are growing alongside the veggies.

A True Love Blooming

I find that my love/hate relationship with gardening is turning into a true romance that has a rosy future.

It’s all about timing, environment, and attitude. Being in my thirdthird (age 60-90), I have the time to be patient for results, to enjoy the anticipation of future harvest, and I have the knowledge that comes from experience.

I find a lot to love about growing things and about growing older.

What is your relationship with gardening? Has that relationship evolved? Why do you think that is? What do you love growing the most? How do you enjoy your garden and the fruits it produces? Let’s discuss below!

When there’s a sale as big as Amazon Prime Day, it can be totally overwhelming trying to figure out what you need VS what you want and how to get the best deals. That’s why we’re here finding you the best of the best prices out of thousands of one- and two-day deals. Some are even celeb-approved. Take the Thayers Facial Toner sale for Amazon Prime Day 2021, for example.

Zendaya revealed her skincare routine years ago on her website and it included Thayers’ best-selling Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner. “With cotton pads, I apply rose water witch hazel as a toner. It’s really refreshing and has a nice, soft scent,” she said. The exact same toner is 30 percent off on Amazon now.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Thayers.

Thayers alcohol-free toner is so popular because it contains witch hazel, which has been shown to tighten pores, control acne and oil production, and reduce redness and inflammation. Witch hazel gets a bad rap on social media but unless you have particularly sensitive and/or dry skin, chances are it’ll work for you. Many love this subtle lavender scent but if you prefer your skincare without fragrance, there is an unscented version for you.

Thayers also contains organic aloe vera and glycerin to smooth and calm any irritation. Use it after you cleanse and before applying serums and moisturizers. As with any new skincare products, start slow with just a few times a week before working up to every day. But these Amazon Prime Day deals won’t last forever. Stock up on facial toner now with that free Prime shipping.

If you’re anything like us, you’re probably desperate to start travelling again. Perhaps you have even organised your next trip. But how have your holiday plans changed over the past year? Are you longing to get back to a favourite place or are you tempted by the idea of a new experience somewhere that is relatively untouched by tourism?

You may think that finding a tourist-free region of Italy is improbable, or even impossible. Think again. The Abruzzo, situated in the east of the country and at the northern tip of the south of Italy, is one of the country’s true hidden gems. Gloriously green and bordered by the long sandy Adriatic coast, this is one Italian region that should be on everyone’s radar, for so many reasons.

Pasta and Guitars

Travel round Italy and you’ll find a refreshing variation in food from one region to the next, so it isn’t surprising that the Abruzzese cuisine has its own specialities and distinctive flavours. You won’t be surprised to learn that pasta still features on most menus… but you may be puzzled by the ‘guitar’ connection.

The answer is that traditionally, Abruzzese pasta is made with a rectangular wooden frame with parallel wires, the ‘chitarra’. The pasta dough is then pushed through the wires with a rolling pin, resulting in a type of square spaghetti, which is served with a variety of sauces such as a meat ragù, a spicy tomato sauce or a spicy Abruzzese pesto.

Other culinary highlights include ‘arrosticini’ meat skewers and saffron, from the province of L’Aquila, which features in traditional risotto. Lamb, wild spinach harvested from the high mountain pastures, and ‘patate maritate’, a traditional potato dish layered with scamorza cheese, rosemary and breadcrumbs, are all typical of some of the mouth-watering feasts that round off our hiking days.

River Deep, Mountain High

Actually, working up an appetite ahead of those delicious meals is easier than you’d think! Firstly, forget any pre-conceived notion that the Dolomites or Italian Alps are the only mountains in Italy. In fact the Abruzzo is one of Italy’s most mountainous regions, with dramatic peaks and rolling poppy-filled hills.

Add to that three national parks, over 30 nature reserves and glassy lakes. Spring or early summer, when wild orchids, gentians and peonies are in bloom, is one of the best times for hiking in the Abruzzo.

Bear-Watching in the Abruzzo

The region is also home to some extraordinary wildlife. Wild boars, wolves and the Marsican brown bear roam amongst the mountain forests, and while it is rare to catch sight of these, it is not uncommon to find their tracks. In fact, you’re more likely to spot chamois and, in the skies above, soaring golden eagles, buzzards and peregrine falcons.

Amazing Art and Architecture

If art or people-watching is more your thing, the scattering of tourist-free medieval towns and villages on the hillsides and mountain slopes provides plenty of scope.

In Sulmona, glorious churches compete with extravagant displays of sugared almonds in shop windows.

Meanwhile, the lakeside town of Scanno presents a jumble of tightly-packed medieval palazzi and church spires and Chieti’s historic centre boasts spacious piazzas, palazzo-lined streets and thrilling Roman ruins. In L’Aquila, wander through winding streets lined with Renaissance and Baroque building and pause to admire the iconic Fountain of 99 Spouts.

Hundreds of Castles and Towers

Alongside the churches and piazzas, most villages in the Abruzzo boast a tower or remains of some sort and some of the castles are truly spectacular.

Amongst the most popular are Rocca Calascio, home to the highest fort in Italy with a 10^th century watch tower, and Mancino Castle, not least for its views over Pescasséroli.

Authentic Living – with All Mod Cons!

So what about accommodation? The good news is that you can combine an authentic experience in the Abruzzo with a touch of indulgence. After all, it is your holiday! One place that really stands out is the tiny medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio.

When the village was abandoned by its local inhabitants in search of work elsewhere, the ‘albergo diffuso’ project was launched to conserve and revive the village. Village homes were transformed into hotel rooms using locally sought materials and artisan traditions.

The end result is rustic simplicity with Apennine views, slipper baths, roaring log fires, and memorable dinners in the timbered medieval restaurant.

Have you planned any holidays over the next 6 months? Have you ever been to the Abruzzo? Do you have a hidden corner of Italy or Europe that you can share with us?

“Stay with me. Merida dressed up as Tarzan,” wrote Sarah Hyland in one of her latest Instagram posts. Hyland is talking about her new curly red hair that’s longer, fuller and redder than ever. The gorgeous new look has garnered more than 500k likes with comments from celeb friends and fans drooling over the color and the curls.

Of course, Hyland has naturally curly hair. Extensions expert Violet Teriti matched the actress’ natural texture perfectly. You can’t see where Hyland’s real hair ends and where the extensions begin. (Yes, that’s the point but it’s not always done so flawlessly.) The bold red hue was done by Hyland’s colorists over at 901 Salon in Los Angeles.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Source: Instagram

“Dying over this lewk,” wrote follow hair chameleon Hilary Duff. Poet Amanda Gorman wrote what we’re all thinking: “I am Merida firstborn descendant of clan Dunbroch and I’ll be shooting for my own hand.” Could a live-action Brave staring Sarah Hyland be in our future? Actress and singer Alexandra Shipp commented, “These curlzzzzz ,” which is a huge compliment considering Shipp has incredible curls as well.

Speaking of curly hair, since it is the last hours of Amazon Prime Day, we need to tell you there are hundreds of curl-friendly products to shop for way less. No idea where to start? It can be pretty overwhelming. Below, some of our favorites to pick up before the deals are gone for good. Happy shopping!

Twist.

Twist Ready, Set, Bounce Soft-hold Curl Defining Gel

Fans of this gel say they “get more curl than other brands they’ve used.”

R+Co.

R+Co Cassette Curl Shampoo + Superseed Oil Complex

This curl-enhancing shampoo nourishes and tames frizz without weighing down curls.

Mielle.

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque

Strengthen your curls with this hydrating and nourishing hair mask.

The Bachelorette Season 17 Episode 3: Looks We Love

While it’s hard to know at this point on The Bachelorette which men are really there for the right reasons (*cough, Joseph*), we know that all of you ladies reading this are here for one reason only (unless it’s just for entertainment purposes and you have a massive amount self-control) — to shop. So with that being said, scroll on down below to see a compilation of our favourite looks from this week’s episode and get ready to act upon your intense feelings of love.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Dundas Dress on Sale

Click Here For Additional Stock

Photo: @KaitlynBristowe

Style Stealers:

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Click Here to Shop Her Fendi Dress

Click Here For Additional Stock

And Here For More Stock

Photo: @KaitlynBristowe

Style Stealers:

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Click Here to See Her Sold Out Intermix Sweater

Style Stealers:

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Click Here to Shop Her Mackage Jacket on Sale

Click Here For Additional Stock and in Black

Style Stealers:

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The Bachelorette Airs MONDAY, JUNE. 21 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)

Originally posted at: The Bachelorette Season 17 Episode 3: Looks We Love