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🌿 January in the Prescott Garden Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch January in Prescott offers a peaceful, productive pause in the garden. While things may seem sleepy outside, it's actually the perfect time to plan, organize, and lay the groundwork for spring growth. 
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Updated Winter Reflection
I’ve recently revisited and expanded this post as a more personal seasonal letter, reflecting on winter, hygge, and the quiet beauty of this time of year. You can read the full updated letter here on Substack → That Hygge Time of Year: Finding warmth, rhythm, and comfort as winter truly settles in. I'd love to welcome you there! ~Miriam  Happy Solstice! I’ve written a much richer and more personal version of this piece over on my Substack publication, Letters from The Whiskey Porch. You can read the full updated essay here, and join the conversation: 👉 Santa Lucia: A Celebration of Light for the Darkest Days I’m keeping this page online to preserve your lovely comments from years past - they’re part of the story - but the new and expanded version now lives in its’ true home.  Santa Lucia celebration. Image by visitsweden.com. Thank you so much for following along, and for celebrating the beauty of midwinter with me. I'm glad that you stopped by and I hope to see you over on Substack where you can see the whole story! Peace & contentment, ~Miriam 🌿 December in the Prescott Garden Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch December in Prescott is a quiet, reflective time in the garden. As the season shifts into winter, your landscape settles into dormancy, and the rhythm slows down—perfect for planning ahead and enjoying the calmer pace.  This post was originally written as a simple look at holiday décor here at Juniper Hill Cottage, back in 2021. Over time, my thinking about the Christmas season — and how we live inside it — has deepened.
If the Christmas season sometimes feels louder, busier, or more exhausting than you’d like, you’re not alone. I’ve written a new letter reflecting on why I’ve struggled with the season at times — and how small, intentional choices at home have helped me make peace with it. → Read An Artful Cottage at Christmastime on Substack I know the day after Thanksgiving is supposed to be all about making lists of things to give or buy. And spending all day in line to get the best deals. But here at The Whiskey Porch we do the exact opposite. Enjoying each other with gratitude for what we have and adding artful décor to our little home. And spending time outdoors which is often gorgeous in these parts! Here's a little peek at how we do things, Nordic style, here at Juniper Hill Cottage...  ~ post continues, click Read More ~ A little note: This original post from 2019 has been one of the most-read articles on my site, and I’m still so grateful for that.
If you’d like to settle in for an even more personal take on why porches pull us in, I’ve started a new series on Substack, where I dive deeper into the history, design, and heartfelt philosophy of porch living. You can read Part I here: Why Are Porches So Alluring? Remembering How I First Fell in Love. I've always been enamored with the Craftsman Bungalow - but didn't even realize it at first. I remember spending time in the Pasadena California area house hunting for a possible job move decades ago and just being hypnotically drawn to the older bungalows that abound there. I didn't know then, but it was a truly American architectural style that was also common all over San Francisco where I'd lived most of my life. Looking back, the feature that always caught my eye first and drew me in, was the front porch.  Craftsman bungalow front porch And now, owning and living in a 1924 craftsman bungalow in northern Arizona, I find myself excited beyond words that we opened up the front porch which had been enclosed somewhere in the 60's or 70's. We started that whole renovation project in summer 2019, and it wasn't really finished until summer 2021, but it was so worthwhile. (You can find out more about that project here: Juniper Hill Cottage.) It feels glorious to be in that space now without the constraint of the walls and windows. Friends and neighbors come into the space and just marvel at how delicious it is. We try to imagine why anyone would have chosen to enclose this fabulous space. Every chance we get, which is pretty much daily, we end the day on this exceptional front porch. Never get tired of it or the view.
So I thought I'd write a piece to explore the idea. ~ post continues below ~ 🌿 November in the Prescott Garden Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch November in Prescott brings shorter days, crisp air, and a slower pace in the garden. It's a quieter time, perfect for gathering what’s left, enjoying fall colors, and preparing gently for winter’s rest.  Here in Prescott, Arizona’s high country, the first frost always feels like a turning point. The garden softens, the air sharpens, and we start shifting from long summer days to the slower rhythms of autumn. I’ve shared a new, expanded story on Letters from The Whiskey Porch all about this beautiful transition — from frost-kissed garden beds to herbs drying in the studio, and even flowers frozen into whimsical cocktail ice cubes. If you love stories of seasonal living, Prescott gardens, and slowing down to savor the seasons, come join me on the porch and read the full letter here: 👉🏼 The Art of Preserving Nature’s Gifts — on Substack  (This post originally appeared on The Whiskey Porch blog in 2021 and has been refreshed and expanded on Substack.) (now on Letters from The Whiskey Porch) If you love thoughtful design, authentic craftsmanship, and homes that live beautifully in small footprints — you’ll enjoy this one. I’ve shared a new Design Dispatch featuring my favorite books and publications for anyone who’s drawn to bungalow style, timeless architecture, and soulful living. These are the design titles that have truly earned their place on my shelves here in our 1924 Craftsman cottage in Prescott, Arizona. Whether you’re dreaming up your next renovation or simply seeking inspiration for a simpler, smaller home with soul — this curated reading list is a wonderful place to start. 👉🏼 Read the full story and join the conversation on Substack: Bookshelf: Design Classics for the Small Home & Bungalow Life → With contentment and possibility, ~Miriam (Blog post originally published in 2019. Now updated and expanded for 2025!)
🌿 October in the Prescott Garden Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch With crisp mornings and lingering daytime warmth, October in Prescott is a lovely transition into fall. It’s the moment to begin dialing back irrigation, prepare for frost, and settle new plantings in before winter takes hold .  |
AuthorHey there. I'm Miriam ~ and I've been doing this my whole life. It's my passion. 
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