January 2026 – Jacki Kellum

Winter Is A Time to Lie Fallow – To Everything, There Is A Season

My little town in Mississippi is finally emerging from the damages caused by a treacherous winter storm. I had no power for 3 nights and days, and part of me cursed the darkness and the cold–especially during the night that the temperature dipped down to the low teens. But another part of me enjoyed the…

Snapdragons – An Heirloom Cottage Garden Flower to Sow Early Inside

I just realized that it is time for me to start my snapdragon seeds indoors, The mere thought of snapdragons carries me back back to my grandmother’s garden. Immediately by the back door, my grandmother always grew a mass of colorful snapdragons. Almost 75 years ago, I still remember asking my grandma how this flower…

Let’s Talk Twinings Tea – A Drink to Your Health – The Most Healthful Teas

The Jury Is In! Green Tea is the Most Healthful. Filled with Antioxidants, I have begun steeping a bag of Green Tea along with every hot drink I prepare–I even slip a bag of green tea into my morning cup of coffee. But since I am trying to restrict my caffeine intake, I have opted…

Chai Latte Tea – Great Treat – Low Calorie – Great Mixer – Keurig Pods – How to Brew with No Electricity

During the Ice Storm, it occurred to me that since the creamer and the sweetener are already mixed in the pods, Chai Latte would be an excellent tea to help endure an electrical blackout. i created a stove with Crisco candles for burners, and that is how I heated the water without electricity: Since there…

Mr. Buddy Portable Heater – A Little Prize to Heat Small Spaces Indoors or Outdoors

I finally did it! I finally bought a Mr. Buddy Heater. The Ice Storm of 2026 made me do it! I held out as long as I could. I made emergency candles and a couple of clay pot heaters. The clay pot heaters helped a bit the first two nights without heat, but they were…

Jacki Kellum – Avid Gardener, Painter, and Author

I admit it; I am a Jacki of Many Trades. But to make up for the fact that I spread myself thinly, I pursue a few of my interests with zeal. Some people know me as an author of picture books — especially my Donkey’s Song: Some people know me as a painter: Others know…

Beatrix Potter’s Garden at Hilltop Farms – Potter Was Much More than a Quaint Old Lady Who Wrote and Illustrated Peter Rabbit

Beatrix Potter was far more than a quaint old lady who wrote and illustrated books about Peter Rabbit and other creatures. Potter was an avid gardener, and her garden at Hilltop Farm is a living testament. The following video is a priceless glimpse into the house and garden at Hill Top Farm. It also shows…

How to Survive An Ice Storm or Other Power Outage – Start Early – Make a Plan

My power has just been restored after a 4-day outage caused by a brutal ice storm. This is the 21st Century, and long before it happened, I knew that this storm was coming. Start Early to Prepare for an Ice Storm Three Days Before the Ice Storm was Expected to Hit, I Bought Crisco and…

A List of Old Garden or Antique Polyantha Roses – What Is A Polyantha Rose?

“A Polyantha rose is a hardy, compact shrub rose known for its abundant clusters of small, repeat-blooming flowers, making it a low-maintenance choice for borders, hedges, and containers, prized by novice and experienced gardeners for its continuous color and disease resistance. Developed in the late 19th century from crosses with wild roses like Rosa multiflora, these…