ARTICLES BY MARYJANE BUTTERS
Works of whimsy
In today's results-driven world, a person's value is often equated with the work she produces. Be it handmade goods, a small business or a best-selling book, it's all about creating things that turn a profit. Pressure to capitalize on creativity is stressful for even the most ambitious professional, diminishing her …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Sun printing
You probably know by now that I'm passionate about photography. I love capturing gorgeous images through the lens of my camera. But I have recently become fascinated with a photographic art form that skips the hardware altogether. Using photosensitive paper and fabrics, you can pare down the photo process to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Recycling rain
As the summer heats up, water for gardens, lawns and flower beds can become a serious commodity. Many areas of the country are naturally dry this time of year, and others are hit with droughts when water is needed the most.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Dehydration an option for saving your food
We're heading into the height of harvest time, and gardens everywhere are overflowing with the bounty of the season. At this point, there's always the question of what to do with all of this fresh, fabulous food.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Spice it up with cayenne pepper
If I say the words "cayenne pepper," do you get fired up with excitement or recoil in fear? Either way, one thing is certain: The conversation starts with a bang!
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Fresh summer sauces are a snap
As you look forward to all of the barbecues and picnics that lie ahead this summer, you may not give much thought to three staple sauces that are bound to be in high demand: ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. The basics. Chances are, you have a bottle of each in your …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Smooth move
I'm sure you know that old trick about freezing bananas that have seen better days. You hold onto them until the banana-bread bug bites you bad, and then you embark on a marathon baking session. Well, I'm a devotee of this method - it's as if the freezer performs some …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Open the door to prosperity
At a time when our nation is feeling the burden of financial crisis, it may seem ludicrous to talk about pursuing prosperity. What's the point when it's a struggle just to make ends meet? But prosperity amounts to so much more than a paycheck. By definition, it is a state …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Global food
Ever since I ventured down the winding dirt road that has led to my own successful small farm business, I have firmly believed that environmentally conscious small farms are the key to creating global food sustainability. It's as plain to see as the gorgeous red raspberries ripening outside my door, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Heart of glass
Recently, I perused a few sites designed for and by Mason jar collectors. They're usually places for serious collectors to show off their finds, pick up tips on finding jars, and share stories. Then there's the occasional forum scattered with questions from excited newbies. These people have usually come across …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
The therapy of handmade
When we consider the back-to-basics movement, there are a few questions that present themselves over and over again. Why have the crafts of the past gained so much momentum? Why do we still insist on the substantiality of books in a Kindle era? Why were knitting and crocheting at the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
Genetically engineered alfalfa: What it means to you
If you're not a farmer of forage crops or in the business of feeding cattle, you may never have given much thought to alfalfa. It's green, cows eat it, end of story. But if you're passionate about your food choices - particularly if you are an avid supporter of organic …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Incredible, edible Easter eggs
If you're looking forward to Easter and its egg-inspired festivities, you'll appreciate a letter I received from a fellow farmgirl. "I remember the excitement of dyeing eggs each Easter," she wrote. "We'd buy a supermarket dozen and a package of dye tablets, and I'd decorate until my fingers were as …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Waking up to wellness
While perusing the health news segment in a popular magazine recently, I found myself cringing at the headlines. Insurance, radiation, prescription drugs and myriad gloom-and-doom medical findings - the topics sent shivers down my spine! How, I wondered, is any of this "health" news? Even as our collective consciousness is …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
