If there’s one thing Pennsylvania summers guarantee, it’s bugs — and somehow I always seem to attract the hungriest mosquitoes in the entire state. The fleas and ticks in the yard act like they’re waiting for me to step outside, and every time I find a tick I wonder where the possums are hiding. They’re […]
Mosquito Flea and Tick Prevention in PA: Natural Options and Proven Protection: Read Post »
There’s something about the Fourth of July that makes food taste even better — maybe it’s the sunshine, maybe it’s the fireworks, or maybe it’s just the joy of slowing down for a day and sharing a good meal. This year, we put together a simple but downright delicious feast that felt like pure summer
Staying Cool in Extreme Pennsylvania Heat: Safety Tips for a Heat Wave: July 1, 2, 3 & 4th, 2026. Pennsylvania has been baking under dangerous heat this week — and Western PA hasn’t escaped it. Here in our region, temperatures have hovered in the upper 90s, with our indoor/outdoor Vevor weather station clocking a 99.3°F high
Staying Cool in Extreme Heat: Safety Tips for a Heat Wave: Read Post »
June 13, 2026 .. Every birder has that one bird they dream of seeing in their own backyard. For some people it’s a bluebird. For others it’s a pileated woodpecker or a bright flash of an oriole. For me? It has always been the red‑headed woodpecker — the bird that looks like it stepped straight
Red-Headed Woodpecker: Watching a Woodpecker in My Front Yard Read Post »
Some meals just feel like comfort from the inside out, and this plate of slow‑cooked beef short ribs with vegetables was exactly that kind of dinner. The short ribs were fall‑apart tender, pressure-cooked until the meat pulled cleanly from the bone. Carrots, celery, and onions simmered right alongside them, soaking up all that rich beef
Beef Short Ribs Dinner with Rice & Gravy — Finished with Strawberry Shortcake Read Post »
A Cozy Italian Comfort Meal Sometimes the best meals are the ones that feel like home, and this plate of homemade spaghetti and meatballs—paired with soft, flavorful focaccia bread from Delallo Italian Store—was exactly that kind of comfort. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly and topped with three hearty meatballs, each one tender and full of
Most people don’t think of dinosaurs when they think of Pennsylvania — especially not Gettysburg. But tucked into the stonework of a quiet bridge on South Confederate Avenue are real dinosaur footprints, preserved right in the rock. These tracks are more than 200 million years old, long before the Civil War, long before people, long
A Simple Pennsylvania‑Style Recipe That Actually Works. If you’ve ever stood in the laundry aisle staring at the price of detergent and thinking, there has to be a better way, you’re not alone. Between rising prices and ingredient lists that look like a chemistry exam, sometimes the old‑fashioned methods really are the best. This homemade
Pizza Marsala – Delivery #2 – Generous Portions, Hot Delivery, and Meals That Last: We ordered dinner from Pizza Marsala, and once again they impressed us with great food and even better portions. Everything was delivered right to our house, still hot and fresh, which is always a good start. We ordered a single slice
I recently learned my triglycerides are great, but my total cholesterol is higher than I’d like. I don’t want to take medicines, so I dug into the research to understand why this happens and what I can do about it. I am going to try to lower it by making changes to my diet. This
What can you do to lower Total Cholesterol when Triglycerides are fine Read Post »
Book Review: Taken to the Hills: by S J Richards: My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 333 pages. Published 2023. Definitely worth reading! Keeps you guessing. All the characters are believable. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series about Luke Sackville and his team. Luke’s wife is dead. He and his children are grieving.
Book Review: Secrets in the Cottage: by Nicole Gardner: My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 276 pages. Published 2022. After her father dies, Daphne decides to return to Rosemary Mountain where her mother and father lived. She now believes her mother was murdered there a long time ago. In this quaint little town, she makes friends fast, including
If you’ve been hearing about the New World screwworm showing up in Texas, you’re not alone. The name sounds alarming, but the story behind it is actually one of science, prevention, and quick action. In this post, we’ll look at what the screwworm really is, why it matters, and how the U.S. is using a
New World Screwworm – Do you ever wonder what it is Read Post »
A Simple, Flavorful Iced Tea Blend for Summer (and Beyond): by Wondering Pennsylvania If you’ve been around me long enough, you already know I’m a tea person. Hot tea in the winter, iced tea in the summer — it’s part comfort, part routine, and part little‑daily‑joy. But this year I started experimenting with a new
TOP: Bighead Carp .. MIDDLE: Silver Carp .. BOTTOM: Grass Carp .. Image from USFWS “Do You Ever Wonder About… Invasive Fish in Pennsylvania?” If you spend time around Pennsylvania’s lakes, rivers, or fishing spots, you might be surprised to learn that not every fish swimming in our waters actually belongs here. A handful of
A Simple Shower Hack That Actually Makes Life Easier: If you’ve ever tried wrangling those giant pump bottles in a stand‑alone shower, you know the struggle. Our shower has small shelves, and balancing big, slippery bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash feels like a circus act. I buy the big bottles because they’re more
Book Review: The Woodhaerst Triangle: by Patricia M Osborne: My Rating ⭐⭐⭐296 pages. Published 2024. 18-year-old Rachel is living the good life. Wonderful parents, awesome boyfriend, the best best-friend and a good job. Then she learns she’s adopted. When Rachel finds her birth mother, she finds out her mother never wanted to give her up for
Book Review: When the Deak Speak by Clay Wise My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐302 pages. Published 2025 Ally’s husband was murdered. But then Ally’s quite lifestyle becomes complicated when she encounters her dead husband’s ghost. Then another ghost appears and starts to hunt her from both sides of the grave. Ally, with a group of friends pursue the
What started as a simple $4.95 Sam’s Club roasted chicken, turned into the ultimate comfort‑food dinner. We shredded the leftover meat into soft, savory bites and nestled them beside a mountain of buttery homemade mashed potatoes and a hearty scoop of stuffing. Then we drenched the whole plate in warm, velvety gravy until everything melted
What Exactly Are Feral Hogs? Feral hogs aren’t your neighbor’s escaped pot‑bellied pig. They’re a mix of wild boar and domestic hogs that have gone completely wild. They can weigh 100+ pounds, run faster than you’d expect, and carry sharp tusks that can do serious damage. They’re also incredibly smart — and incredibly destructive. A single
Feral Hogs in Pennsylvania: Not New — But Definitely a Problem Read Post »
Quotes by Wondering Pennsylvania. A set of original truths we live by. I’ve always lived by this quote: “Don’t ever ask me a question you can’t handle the answer to!” Also, it’s amazing how true this one is “Everybody wants the truth but nobody can handle it!” But these quotes apply to!!! These are the
Quotes by Wondering Pennsylvania: The Full Collection Read Post »
We stopped at Denny’s in Greensburg PA. for breakfast, and everything came out hot, hearty, and exactly what you want from a classic diner-style meal. Two‑Meat Scrambler: Scrambled eggs mixed with Applewood-smoked bacon and pork sausage served alongside roasted red potatoes and toasted sourdough. The potatoes were nicely seasoned with a crisp edge — perfect
We stopped into Churchills Sports Lounge in Jeannette, PA, and tried a little bit of everything — and honestly, it all hit the spot. Pretzels & Beer Cheese: Three Bavarian soft pretzels (cut in half – total of 6 half pieces), served warm paired with a creamy beer cheese that was just right for dipping.
Book Review: Alibi Murder by Remington Kane My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐620 pages. Published 2024. This book is my favorite book to have read so far!! Amazing! It keeps you going, and going till you just got to know what happened. And after it ends, true friendship says it all. John Beckett is accused of killing his wife,
Pizza Marsala -Greensburg West 2480 Greengate Center Circle – Greensburg, PA 15601 ** 724-838-9464 ** Website: Pizza Marsala We celebrated Cinco De Mayo and Taco Tuesday with a taco pizza from Pizza Marsala, and wow—what a win. The four‑cut was just right for two people, no leftovers, no regrets. Soft crust, loaded toppings, and all
Kastners Cafe and Catering 221 S 4th St – Jeannette PA 15644 – 724-523-9338 Website: Kastners Cafe & Catering Small town breakfast and lunch cafe plus catering. We ordered the Farmers and cheese omelet with sourdough bread, pancakes (fluffy and thick), scrambled eggs with sausage links, and a side of potato pancakes — everything arrived
Persichett’s Restaurant and Bar – 101 S 3rd St – Jeannette PA 15644 ** 724-527-5553 Website: Persichettis.com Quant home town restaurant in a small town in western Pennsylvania. We have dined here many times before, and food is consistently good, and wait staff is always pleasant and attentive. And on this night Aaron was our
Perennials for Zone 6B If you garden in Zone 6B (like much of Western Pennsylvania), you know how valuable it is to have perennials that don’t quit blooming. While many plants give you a few weeks of color, a handful of reliable favorites will flower from early summer straight through fall with very little maintenance.
Perennials for zone 6B that flower summer into fall Read Post »
Strawberries From Our Greenhouse: Our Early‑Season Secret: Growing strawberries is one of the highlights of our gardening year, but growing them inside the greenhouse takes things to a whole different level. These big, quirky, early berries are the result — and honestly, they’re some of the most fun to harvest. Why We Grow Strawberries
⚠️ Important Note for Electric Foot Soakers If you’re using an electric foot spa or heated foot bath, always check the manufacturer’s instructions before adding Epsom salts, baking soda, or essential oils. Some units can be damaged by salts or oils, and using them may void the warranty. Epsom Salt, Baking Soda & Essential Oils
