I grew up in the kitchen with my mama and grandmas and aunties. The kitchen always held a centrifugal force, drawing our family together. The kitchen was the place where the stories and light unfolded. In the kitchen, my Grandma …
When Hospitality Becomes Reality
When we were searching for a house three years ago, one of the pieces of my wish list included a dedicated guest room. In our tiny starter home, our guest room-office-library-catchall room was fine but didn’t exude Martha Stewartesque hospitality. …
Get to Know Your Neighbors This Summer: 6 Ways to Connect
The spring we moved to Seattle five years ago I didn’t see a single soul outside of our house for more than a minute or two. People moved quickly from their cars to their door, draped in raincoats and rushing …
Messy House Hospitality
“Can I stop over in 10 minutes?” “Sure, you can come over!” I hear myself say with feigned enthusiasm that even impresses me. I didn’t listen to the rest of what she said. I was too busy planning my panic …