Deborah Stafford Tukua is the author of the children's book, Traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway from A to Z, eight nonfiction books, a contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and a writer for the Farmers' Almanac since 2003. She is currently writing children's fiction, nestled in the Tennessee countryside, along the banks of Holly Creek with her husband, Lowell. She's a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and a veteran homeschooling mom.
Tukua is an avid member of Word Weavers International. When she's not writing or researching- decorating, bird watching, taking nature walks, visiting sites along the Natchez Trace, and reading to her grandchildren top the list of her favorite activities. You can sign up to get updates about her writing life here.
Deborah Stafford Tukua is the author of the children's book, Traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway from A to Z, eight nonfiction books, a contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and a writer for the Farmers' Almanac since 2003. She is currently writing children's fiction, nestled in the Tennessee countryside, along the banks of Holly Creek with her husband, Lowell. She's a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and a veteran homeschooling...
This DIY project yields two matching flowerbeds with trellises repurposed from a metal headboard and footboard.
Our latest DIY landscape project—a matching pair of flowerbed and trellis features for both sides of our long driveway. Galvanized raised planters make planting and caring for flowers easy. But they lack pizzazz.
Repurpose to the rescue. I swooped up afree full-size metal bed in mint condition on Marketplace to repurpose for this project. Placing a decorative metal headboard behind...
Tending flowers where deer roam is challenging. This summer on more than one occasion, my spring planted hydrangeas have been nibbled on by resident deer. Once the plant is well established and covered with huge blossoms, the deer usually seek other sources to dine on. From observation, tender, young green plant stems and foliage tempt them the most, even if it's not on their list of favorite flavors. Protecting young plants is essential. But we’ll save that for another post.
Beautiful, orange-and-black monarch butterflies flitter from flower to flower, foraging for nectar each summer in the USA and southern Canada. The milkweed plant is vital to the life cycle and survival of the Monarch butterfly. It serves as the host plant through the monarch’s developmental phases and is the caterpillar’s sole food source. Common milkweed grows wild in fields, along rural roadsides, and in sandy coastal soil.
As milkweed plants have dwindled in abundance, so have the monarch...
In our neck of the woods, saying that literally, we celebrate David Crockett’s birthday every year. His birthday is easy to remember because we have a son, David also born on...
Happy 250th Birthday, America, the Beautiful.The fireworks were fabulous this year, weren’t they?! Neighbors in several directions went all out. We watched two firework shows,...
This month at home on Holly Creek feels like we’re living in the Wild Kingdom. Truly. Baby rabbits nibble on our grass. If only they ate more. With all the recent rain,...
Support local tourism and the Wayne County Welcome Center in Collinwood, Tenn. at milepost 355, just off the Natchez Trace Parkway, on Saturday, October 3rd from 9 until 12. Shop the yard sale, tour the Welcome Center, and purchase a signed copy of my books. I will donate a portion of the proceeds from my book, Traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway from A to Z and my citrus cookbook, Citrus Morning, Noon & Night to our county's wonderful welcome center. Hope to see you on the porch.
