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Dragonfly Journal
~ The Whiskey Porch Blog ~

10 Simple & Inspiring Ways to Celebrate the Spring Equinox

3/19/2025

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Happy Spring!  Tomorrow is the Spring Equinox,  also known as the Vernal Equinox.  That beautiful time of year when day and night are nearly equal, gently shifting us toward brighter, warmer days.

Historically, cultures worldwide have celebrated this moment as a period of renewal, growth, and reconnection to the earth. Here in the Southwest, indigenous communities traditionally mark this season with ceremonies honoring the land's fertility and the rejuvenation of life.

For me, the Spring Equinox symbolizes fresh starts and the quiet joy of observing nature awakening around us. It’s the ideal moment to pause, reflect, and thoughtfully welcome the new season into our homes and gardens.

Here are TEN beautifully simple ideas for celebrating the arrival of spring here in Prescott.  

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5 Ways to Celebrate Simplicity day

7/12/2024

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National Simplicity Day is today, every year on the 12th of July. 

This is sort of a special "holiday" for us here at The Whiskey Porch because it's at the core of what we are all about.  After all, our tag line is "cultivating contentment & possibility in a smaller, simpler & more beautiful lifestyle."  

And, now more than ever, it just feels like we are all seeking refuge and inspiration to lift our spirits as we recover from this wild insanity of the last few years and then there's more to come with another divisive election season. 

​So it goes without saying, that finding pleasure and calm in simple ideas is something many of us are striving for now.

Ibis the Yellow Lab enjoying simple pleasures with a BIG stick
Ibis the Yellow Lab. #belikeibis

​The celebration originated in honor of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in Concord, Massachusetts from July 12, 1817 to 1862.   

First, who was he, and why does it matter?  And then, I've got 5 Great Ways for You to Celebrate Simplicity Day.
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Get in the dirt!

4/18/2024

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Just a quick post here today.  Thinking about Earth Day which comes up in a few days.

I applied organic fertilizer in my kitchen garden and landscape this weekend.  It's a tiny ... stinky.  In a good way, at least I think so.  My husband asked me if something died in the garden, haha. 

After I realized that I could still smell the soil and the "organic-ness" of my garden, even at the neighbors' house, the next couple days, it got me thinking.  

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Why do some folks think it smells bad, while others (at least me) find it settling and wonderful?

I'm not sure I have the answer to that, but I really enjoyed this recent article from The New York Times about The Health Benefits of Getting in the Dirt.  And I wanted to share it with you.

Why Dirt is Good

​Let me know what you think!  Maybe go make a mud pie if you don't keep a garden 🤠...

Happy Earth Day!
​~Miriam
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Fika: the nordic coffee ritual

10/1/2023

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​Today is World Coffee Day. 

Sweden is one of the top coffee consuming countries in the world, but we do it with a special touch, and not just once year but virtually every day.  "Fika" is a Swedish cultural ritual that we need more of here in the U.S., and I thought that today was the perfect day to inspire you.  

Fika is a treasured tradition that is in that sweet spot between the elaborate English afternoon high-tea and the American coffee-to-go. 

​Growing up in Sweden, no matter where we were or what we were doing, we would stop mid-afternoon, take a short soothing break, and enjoy an earthy cup of hot coffee along with a little sweet and some company. In Sweden, we have quite a sweet tooth, and indulge often, but always in moderation.

Fika is all about celebrating the simple pleasures in life, with others.
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a swedish fika coffee break set beautifully on a small tray with bullar and a silver coffee carafe
Photo: Ea Ehn/pexels.com

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the truth about tiny homes

9/10/2023

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Today is "Sustainable House Day" - actually, the beginning of a month-long celebration that takes place in Australia every year now since 2017.  https://sustainablehouseday.com/ 

Many things go into defining whether a home is "sustainable" or not, and it depends on who you ask.  

Of course, most of us would assume that efficient energy use, low environmental impact during the build as well as use of greener materials, products and technology would always apply.    

​The result of much of that is to also end up being budget friendly for the inhabitants of the home over time (although I'm not certain that the up-front investment in these higher end materials and technology is less of a budget drain currently than standard materials, and that's part of the hesitancy.)

Bumblebee Cottage on the edge of a steel pot

Here in the U.S. (and around the world) we are still in the throws of the Tiny-House-Craze.  One of several reasons so many find it an intriguing concept is that it's assumed to be a vastly more sustainable option than your typical American home.  

​I would tend to agree with this idea theoretically, for some individuals.  

However, I would argue that when viewed from the collective perspective of making a real and ongoing impact in our larger communities, tiny homes are NOT a sustainable option.  And that there should be a wider, more vocal dialogue about small-not-tiny homes as the path to meaningful sustainability for both the environment and the larger community.

Let me explain.

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getting ready for spring

2/17/2023

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This in-between seasonal 'angst' that we can sometimes feel, right around mid-February, is real.

We've enjoyed (and survived) the holidays, the freshness of New Year has begun to wear off, and the days are ever-so-slightly getting longer. Those blue skies and sunny days are so promising.

​But, especially for us up here in the high country, the winter storms just keep popping in to remind us that it's still winter, and it's not quite time to let go of the hygge-vibe just yet.  
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My dragonfly kitchen garden gate glowing in the early morning.

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Featured on houzz.com

2/1/2023

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Our biggest motivation is always to meet and exceed the needs of our wonderful clients. 

We get almost all of our business through referrals from happy customers and colleagues, and choose to keep it that way.  And this allows us to keep our pricing more competitive without having to cover advertising overhead.

But I gotta say, getting recognition is pretty cool, especially when it's not something we pursued.  


​Voted best of houzz 2023
​

I am proud to share that we have just been voted Best of Houzz 2023!

That means we've been recognized as one of the top 3% of design professionals @ Houzz.com.  

​That's a big deal!
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What makes porches so alluring?

5/21/2022

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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.

A generous front porch with a rocker
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.


I often find myself wondering --
What is it that makes front porches so alluring?

So I thought I'd write a piece to explore the idea.
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Porches of prescott - May 2022 Feature

5/11/2022

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Spring in Prescott means that we are running a few local porch features to share some inspiration and sweet sittin' spot ideas.

It's not about being perfect, or impressive or huge, but an authentic and lived-in porch that makes it feature-worthy.

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Celebrating National gardening day

4/14/2022

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​Technically, I missed National Gardening Day which was yesterday, April 14th.  But that's okay, I think we should turn it into a weekend celebration! 

​Honestly, for me it's a daily celebration year-round.  Even in the winter, while I might not be out in my garden actively growing things or enjoying the garden, I'm most definitely planning ahead for the coming season and dreaming up new ideas and projects.

To encourage you to jump into gardening if you aren't already obsessed, and to remind those of us that are in deep already why we do it, I wanted to share 10 Reasons Why Gardening is Good for You.
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    Hey there.  I'm Miriam ~ and I've been doing this my whole life.  It's my passion.  ​

    Miriam Carlson-Maier

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