That late winter restlessness? It’s real.

The light lingers a little longer each evening.  The seed catalogs are dog-eared.  The garden shed is calling.

​And yet — winter isn’t quite finished with us.
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Especially here in the high country, spring has a way of arriving slowly… and sometimes teasingly.

I recently wrote about my  late winter checklist  “All the Spring Fever Feels.”

Inside, I share 10 thoughtful, practical ways to channel that restless energy into gentle preparation - at home and in the garden - without rushing the season.  

If you’re feeling the pull toward spring but know it’s still wise to pace yourself, you can read the full letter here:

​Swedish Lagom will help you embrace a simpler lifestyle.

There’s a Swedish word that doesn’t translate neatly into English — but it may hold the key to a calmer, more balanced way of living.

Lagom means “just enough.” Not too much. Not too little.

In a culture that constantly pushes us toward more, this gentle philosophy feels surprisingly radical.

In today’s Porch Journal, I explore what lagom really means - and how it shapes the way I think about home, work, and daily life.

👉 Read the full Porch Jounral here on Substack.

I would love to have you join the conversatin there.

With contentment & possibility,

I explore this idea more fully in my latest Design Dispatches letter Small, Not Tiny, where I reflect on what “just right” looks like in real homes- and why the missing middle matters.

👉 Read the full letter on Substack → That’s where I share ongoing reflections on home, garden, and thoughtful design rooted in real life and lived experience.

With contentment & possibility,

For years, the conversation around home size has been framed as a choice between two extremes: bigger houses with unused rooms, or tiny homes that promise freedom through radical reduction.

But for many people, neither option truly fits the way life unfolds.

A right-sized home isn’t about square footage alone. It’s about proportion, livability, and how well a space supports daily routines, changing needs, and long-term comfort.

Designing smaller - without going to extremes - often means focusing on flow, flexibility, and rooms that work harder without feeling overworked.

With contentment & possibility,

​The American Dream has virtually always been:  more + bigger = better.

The fad and trend that's predominated the last many decades has been to stretch yourself to the limit in order to acquire the most impressive home possible.  This home would prove that you were successful, and obviously make you comfortable and happy.

Over many decades, that's turned into crazy-big homes which required large incomes to buy and maintain, along with massive consumption of resources to build and live in.

​Tiny is fine if that's what you really need or want, but it's pretty extreme and unsustainable by most standards. 

​A more manageable and still meaningful downsize might mean reclaiming older, smaller homes and shifting to a less consumerism mentality, while still participating in a mainstream community and lifestyle.
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​​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...

​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.

So I thought I'd write a piece to explore the idea.
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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.)

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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Here in Prescott’s high country, autumn brings cooler air, golden light, and a slower rhythm. Beyond pumpkins and holidays, it’s a season made for simple rituals—tea, candles, long walks, comfort food.

​I’ve shared 14 of our favorite ways to truly embrace autumn on Letters from The Whiskey Porch.
Come join me on the porch and read the full list →
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👉🏼 Savoring the Shorter Days - 14 Simple Ways to Truly Embrace the Shorter Days of Autumn — on Substack

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.