Sourdough Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake Makes Me Smile

Feeling a little blue? A bite or two of blueberries might just cheer you up. Why not? They're good for almost everything else. Full of antioxidants and flavor, not to mention vitamin C, fiber and manganese they are often listed among the most healthy foods to eat. According to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, they may play a role in cardiovascular health, brain health, insulin response and cancer risk reduction.

A Kansas Country Garden: Surprise! It's a Wet August

Beautiful "surprise" lilies make an unexpected appearance.

Too much rain? In Kansas? In August? Surprise! That's just what we have experienced. After two years of drought and excessive heat, it has been wonderful to have adequate rain and milder temperatures this summer. The gardens have thrived.

A Kansas Country Garden: July Swelters

Hibiscus bloom in the heat of summer.

Each bloom lasts just one day.

If I were a plant, I wouldn't pick July to bloom. No, in July I would waver limp and wilting in the brutal heat yearning for air conditioning and cooler days. Wait a minute. That's what I really do on hot July days.