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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🌿 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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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.

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.

​​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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​~ 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