A pictorial celebration of the joyful and festive coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras vibe: Gulfport’s family-friendly daytime parade brought zero debauchery and maximum delight.

Twelfth night brings king cakes and Mardi Gras season, with a bonus duo of compelling and fun books.

Spicy Red Pesto made with serrano peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and toasted nuts. Ready in 10 minutes and perfect for focaccia, pasta, and grilled meats.

A warm, human conversation on the Stan Garfield Fab Five podcast about stories, memory, food, travel, grief, joy—and even a small baseball mistake—reminding me of the power of being heard and truly seen.

A crunchy, spicy, and fresh-tasting salad starring black-eyed peas and broccoli—perfect as a side or light main. Quick to make, big on flavor, and even better the next day.

Perhaps our celebration of each new year is a collective symbol of hopefulness, the idea that we can change, evolve and improve.

What’s on the menu at Gumbo Cove for New Year’s Eve 2025: a shrimp boil and focaccia.

A pair of New Year’s resolution poems — one ottava rima, one tanka — reflecting on intention, gratitude, and self-forgiveness, written for Tanka Tuesday.

Feeding seagulls and feasting our eyes on pastel sunsets in late December light is soul-nourishing.

Zippy Sausage and Cheese Balls bring big flavor in a small, savory package—spicy, cheesy, a little sassy. Perfect for brunch, holidays, or dockside picnics. Make, share, enjoy!

Christmas Eve, Observed, a pop-up concert, and how we repurposed the leftovers for a quiet repast at Gumbo Cove.

The results of an experiment with holly and yaupon holly berries as an accent for a beautiful holiday appetizer platter.

Two crowd-pleasing cookie recipes for Christmas that have withstood the test of time and always generate kudos for the cookie-baker.

Inspired by a memorable restaurant bread, this cast-iron focaccia bakes up soft and tender with a golden, herb-scented crust and a tender crumb that’s perfect for dipping and sharing.

This mashed potato recipe from Food & Wine has everything: creaminess, depth of flavor, fluffiness, and reheatability without loss of flavor or texture, which provides the make-ahead convenience we all crave when we’re doing holiday cooking.

A dVerse Quadrille prompt on the word coax sent me down a path of wondering—about rumor, belief, outrage, and whether wisdom can still be persuaded to show up.

A belated Día de los Muertos celebration at Glover Gardens became a night of food, remembrance, and laughter as we honored loved ones through their favorite dishes — discovering, once again, what we truly mean to each other.

A simple poem in a Chaucerian structure that conveys the simple innocence of a childhood along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Three haiku that celebrate autumn, along with the lyrics and a recording of the lovely old standard “Autumn Leaves”.

A tribute to Fiona Glover (2010–2025), our regal, funny, fiercely independent calico who ruled Glover Gardens with wit, affection, and attitude. From feral kitten to queenly companion, her life was a master class in curiosity, courage, and love. She was ours—and we were lucky to be hers.