Backyard Gatherings

Create Memorable Gatherings with Simplicity and Style Welcoming friends and family into your home doesn't have to be intimidating! These 50 affordable and inspired ideas from bestselling author Melissa Michaels will help you turn any get-together into a special memory. Simplify tasks and focus on what guests remember most: the atmosphere, feast, conversation, and special touches. Reduce stress when you embrace your authentic hosting style, easy DIYs, and the freedom of using what you have. Celebrate people as the centerpiece of any gathering with simple activities that spark conversation and connection. With more than 300 tips for a variety of gatherings—from a casual outdoor barbeque to a creative guest-of-honor dessert--you'll feel inspired to open your door with confidence! * * * "Simple Gatherings invites us all to check hospitality fears and perfectionism at the door. The helpful tips and creative ideas inside will inspire even the most reluctant hostess to take that first step toward creating space for a simple but memorable experience." Sandy Coughlin, Reluctant Entertainer (blog)

How many times have you seen a bug and wondered, "What in the world is that?" Wonder no more! Acclaimed entomologist and nature author Jaret C. Daniels presents a simple yet informative guide to backyard bugs of the United States and southern Canada. Featuring more than 160 species organized by where the bugs are generally found, this fascinating book covers everything from ants to mosquitoes to spiders. So when you see a bug, look it up. You'll be amazed by what you learn! Book Features More than 160 species of common and interesting backyard bugs Easy-to-use format--bugs organized by where they are generally found Neat-to-know information for homeowners, gardeners, campers and even children Full-color photographs of every featured species

Ditch the gas grill and light your fire with this comprehensive guide from the author of The New Camp Cookbook. The Backyard Fire Cookbook offers techniques and recipes to master cooking with live fire and coals, including planking, cast iron, foil packets, and more. There's no denying the thrill of cooking outdoors and the sense of community it brings when people gather around a fire, and in this book, author Linda Ly will teach you how to master the flames. For the adventurous, start by building a home fire pit. It's easier than it sounds and requires minimal investment of time and space. If you'd rather not, that's okay! There are plenty of other options, from vessel fire pits to tabletop grills. Even a charcoal kettle grill will give you more flavor than cooking with gas. Ly also covers everything you need to know about fuel sources (hardwood, hardwood lump charcoal, and smoking wood), her go-to grilling tools and accessories, secrets for stocking an indoor and outdoor pantry, fire making, fire safety, and tips and tricks for grilling more efficiently. You can choose your own adventure with over 70 recipes for ember roasting, wood-fired cooking, charcoal grilling, and foil pack meals. Next-level techniques like dutch oven cooking, grilling a la plancha, and plank grilling are all part of the fun, too. With modern twists on classics and globally-inspired meals like Smoky Ember-Roasted Eggplant Dip, Thai Chicken Pizza with Sweet Chili Sauce, Grilled Oysters with Kimchi Butter, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf on a Plank, and Artichoke, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Feta Stuffed Flank Steak, you’ll find a recipe for almost every occasion. This is not a book about low-and-slow barbecue, and you won't find overnight marinades or complicated recipes, either. Ly aims to encourage easy, accessible grilling that you look forward to doing on a weeknight because, quite simply, food just tastes better outside. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a novice on the grill, The Backyard Fire Cookbook will help you make the backyard your new kitchen.

Unlock a world where gentle bleats fill your mornings and the satisfaction of self-sufficiency is just a step outside your backdoor with "The Backyard Goat Whisperer". Dive into this enlightening guide that will expertly navigate you through the captivating journey of backyard goat farming, an adventure that promises to enrich your life in ways you never imagined. Explore the unparalleled joy that comes with raising goats, a choice that will elevate both your heart and homestead. This essential eBook begins by laying the foundation of understanding what it takes to care for these charming creatures and the benefits they bestow. Have you ever considered the variety of goat breeds available and which one is right for your needs? "The Backyard Goat Whisperer" presents a comprehensive examination of dairy, meat, and dual-purpose breeds, ensuring that you make an informed decision that fits your lifestyle and goals. Get up close and personal with goat psychology, herd dynamics, and social structures. Unpack the mysteries of goat behavior to deepen your connection and enhance your expertise in handling your hoofed friends. Learn the ropes of creating a sanctuary for your goats, from designing an idyllic goat shelter to mastering the intricacies of nutrition, breeding, milking, and more. This guide is packed with expert insights on providing the ultimate care, from the basics of goat anatomy and healthcare to the details of kid rearing and dairy production. Venture beyond the basics as you step into the world of fiber production, meat processing, and even the art of creating goat-related products. Whether you aim to craft artisanal cheeses or sought-after goat milk soaps and lotions, the possibilities are infinite. Navigate the seasons with our chapter on care adjustments, safeguarding the health and happiness of your herd all year round. Plus, delve into the economics of your venture, understanding everything from budgeting basics to exploring potential income streams that can transform your hobby into a thriving enterprise. With a nod to the broader community implications, "The Backyard Goat Whisperer" also addresses the importance of legal considerations, neighborhood relations, and sustainable practices in farming. Whether you dream of ribbons from goat shows or seek solace in the company of these gentle animals, you’ll find endless inspiration. This guide doesn't just offer you a manual; it extends an invitation to join an ever-growing community of enthusiasts and friends. Embark on this journey with "The Backyard Goat Whisperer," and let it be your guide to embracing a lifestyle that is as rewarding as it is fun. Your ultimate guide to backyard goat farming awaits – a pastoral adventure that begins with the whisper of a goat and blossoms into a lifetime of fulfillment.

¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life celebrates the power of adding more green to your life with 30 simple and budget-friendly gardening projects that promote well-being through plants. From Puerto Rican author and gardening celebrity, Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago of Agrochic.com, a Spanish-language gardening lifestyle platform, comes this guide to forming a lifelong love of nature, plants, and gardening. Verdura means “greenery” in Spanish, but also refers to any edible plant from the garden. Throughout this book, verdura is used as both a description and an aspiration—it’s all about adding more verdura to your daily life! Perfect for beginners and expert gardeners alike, turning the practice of tending plants into a healthy lifestyle has never been easier. It takes many repetitions to form a habit, and the goal is to use the 30 projects found here to transform the initial spark of joy plants create into a healthy habit that enhances your life in many ways. Indoor and outdoor projects are included, many of which are perfect for small spaces and urban environments. In addition to offering plant-related wellness tips, personal stories of her own garden evolution, and advice on how tending plants can improve both physical and mental health, Perla offers clear step-by-step guidance on project creation. Some of the projects you’ll find inside include: Creating a container planting that appeals to a 13-year-old version of yourself Making a meditation garden or a private healing nook Planting a barefoot garden Performing a quick and easy garden makeover Compiling a garden-tainment kit Upcycling common discards to create a propagation station, a swinging planter, and a birdbath Organizing your garden legacy using a basic guide Also included are alternative plant charts if you’re the kind of gardener who likes lots of plant choices, and section openers that offer a small glimpse of gardening life on the island of Puerto Rico. Green-up your life to reduce stress and add joy with help from ¡Verdura!

Cook up fresh-from-the-garden recipes like harvest casserole, patchwork salad, icebox slaw and flowerpot parfait with our handy cookbook. We've gathered a collection of gardening tips and entertaining ideas to welcome guests all spring and summer long.

Pop culture is the heart and soul of America, a unifying bridge across time bringing together generations of diverse backgrounds. Whether looking at the bright lights of the Jazz Age in the 1920s, the sexual and the rock-n-roll revolution of the 1960s, or the thriving social networking websites of today, each period in America's cultural history develops its own unique take on the qualities define our lives.American Pop: Popular Culture Decade by Decade is the most comprehensive reference on American popular culture by decade ever assembled, beginning with the 1900s up through today. The four-volume set examines the fascinating trends across decades and eras by shedding light on the experiences of Americans young and old, rich and poor, along with the influences of arts, entertainment, sports, and other cultural forces. Whether a pop culture aficionado or a student new to the topic, American Pop provides readers with an engaging look at American culture broken down into discrete segments, as well as analysis that gives insight into societal movements, trends, fads, and events that propelled the era and the nation. In-depth chapters trace the evolution of pop culture in 11 key categories: Key Events in American Life, Advertising, Architecture, Books, Newspapers, Magazines, and Comics, Entertainment, Fashion, Food, Music, Sports and Leisure Activities, Travel, and Visual Arts. Coverage includes: How Others See Us, Controversies and scandals, Social and cultural movements, Trends and fads, Key icons, and Classroom resources. Designed to meet the high demand for resources that help students study American history and culture by the decade, this one-stop reference provides readers with a broad and interdisciplinary overview of the numerous aspects of popular culture in our country. Thoughtful examination of our rich and often tumultuous popular history, illustrated with hundreds of historical and contemporary photos, makes this the ideal source to turn to for ready reference or research.

When it’s exam time you need the right information in the right format to study efficiently and effectively. Emanuel® CrunchTime is the perfect tool for exam studying. With flowcharts and capsule summaries of major points of law and critical issues, as well as exam tips for identifying common traps and pitfalls, sample exam and essay questions with model answers – you will be prepared for your next big test. Here's why you will need Emanuel® CrunchTime to help you ace your exams: Perfect for the visual learner: The flow charts walk you through a series of yes/no questions that can be used to analyze any question on the exam. Featured capsule summaries help you quickly review key concepts not just before the exam, but throughout the semester Exams Tips recap the most commonly tested issues and fact patterns.