By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
Kayaking in St. Johns River St. Johns River starts as a marsh in Indian River County and ends up flowing into the Atlantic ocean in Duval County. I have spent many years on a boat enjoying this river. My great-grandparents used to fish in this river too. As a native Floridian, I grab any chance […]
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By Holly Giles | Simple Living
Investing in farm-to-table food Investing in food can have many meanings. Time into gardening at home, cooking from scratch or sourcing your food from local places. It was about 1979 when I vividly remembered going to Long and Scott Farm for Zellwood corn. Each year my grandparents hopped in my papa’s pickup truck. We drove […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
Ravine Gardens State Park A visit to Florida must include Ravine Gardens State Park. Ravine Gardens is located in Palatka, Florida. Back then, Palatka was a hub of action in the 1800’s during the steamboat era. The city of Palatka and the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 created Ravine Gardens. Known for its architectural structures […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes , Simple Living
Easy Skillet Bread Recipe I love a piece of good crusty bread. Skillet bread is very similar to focaccia from an Italian restaurant. Do you remember the Macaroni Grill? I think it was my favorite place just for the bread. Quick weeknight skillet bread is my version of the focaccia at Macaroni Grill. Except, it […]
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By Holly Giles | Simple Living , southern homestead
Can I really raise chickens? Yes, you can really raise chickens at home. For twelve years our family has had a blast with a small backyard flock in our suburban neighborhood. Knowing a few things in advance will help you be successful from the start. Let’s start with the coop. Is a homemade chicken coop […]
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By Holly Giles | Simple Living , southern homestead
How to start seeds indoors in 7 easy steps Starting vegetable seeds indoors is a great way to extend your gardening budget and growing season. However, starting vegetables from seed can be tricky for many novice gardeners. Fortunately, the seven simple steps outlined below simplify this process and make it much more fun and easy. […]
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By Holly Giles | Recipes , Simple Living , southern homestead
Dry Canning Flour Dry canning flour has been around since my grandmother’s time. I read up on storing flour when I got a 50-pound bag. At the time, flour was hard to come by due to a shortage, and I needed to bake bread for our family because it was not available in our grocery […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
De Leon Springs State Park De Leon Springs is a must on a family vacation to Florida. There is something for all ages in the family, especially kids. Planning ahead will help you enjoy your day of beauty, history, and a natural Florida paradise. Located in Volusia County, not far from historic Deland. Upon arrival, […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , florida vacations
Nine Best Summer Activities for Families on a Budget The summer vacation in America is usually about 12 weeks long, which can really be a challenge for busy parents. Finding the best summer activities for families can take time. In particular, working parents can really struggle if they have only limited vacation time. Weekends are […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings made her home in Cross Creek, Florida. This historic state park homestead has been preserved just as it was when she was living there in the 1930s. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived at Cross Creek for 25 years and wrote many of her award-winning literature pieces while […]
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