The Journal
Jennifer’s Home Journal Blog
Welcome to Jennifer’s Home Journal
The Journal is JHJ’s blog. Here, I share what I learn about my inquiries as I encourage us all to try new things…from gardening to building, to cooking, to projects.
Be sure to sign up for the JHJ Newsletter to get updates about my recent wanderings and wonderings…
Jennifer
Jennifer and Katie during Rich & Katie’s Shed Project
About Jennifer’s Home Journal
Jennifer’s Home Journal is about… everything! The next chapter in this joyous adventure in life.
Ever since I was a kid, when I wanted to accomplish something, I set about figuring out how to do it so I could do it myself. I have built gardens, furniture, recipes, homes, decks, sheds, a banjo, clothing, quilts, fountains, websites, databases (um, yuck!)…I love learning and I love helping others learn how to float their own boats.
The seeds for the journal were planted during the pandemic. I kept a photo and video journal of all of my various explorations and projects during and since the pandemic. Only recently did I think about sharing my learning and offering encouragement to others in an online blog.
I launched Jennifer’s Home Journal in November of 2023, so what you see is what I have built since then. Currently, my goals are to create content around past projects, build out this website, post lots of content, learn how to engage on social media, and lose my fear of posting on social media. So…I’m five months into this… And I’m so glad you’re here!
The Journal
Garden Design: Plan Your Winter Garden First
When you design a garden, plan your winter garden first. Why? Because your winter garden provides the “bones” for your year-round garden, forming the backdrop for the succession of color from spring through fall.
Garden Design III: Using Line and Shape to Define Space
Line and shape are the basic elements used to design outdoor rooms as well as the beds and spaces within those rooms.
This post is about learning how to envision space and learning how to use various aspects of line and shape to create an overall feel in your landscape, whether formal or informal.
Easy Fountain Pump Replacement for my DIY Recirculating Fountain
Fountain pump replacement? No big deal. If you have a water feature with a pump, it will have to be cleaned from time to time or even replaced. This post shows how I replaced the pump in my DIY...
Garden Design II: One Room at a Time
Garden Design Series Episode 2 Garden Design: One Room at a Time Have you ever walked into a garden or a yard where you got the feeling you just walked through the door into a different room? That...
What is Your Garden About?
Gardening with Intention My husband shared an article from the NYT yesterday that inspired me. By author and podcaster Margaret Roach, the article is called, “‘Conscious Gardening’: Why Your Garden...
Garden Design I: 5 Big Questions to Consider before you Design a Garden
Before you design a garden, it’s important to think carefully about the space itself—its assets and constraints. How do you want to use it? What's its present state and what will it require to get...
Rich & Katie’s Shed V: Building the Front Wall
Building the front wall of Rich & Katie's shed required framing two door openings in a load-bearing wall. Today we learn how to frame a door opening...and do a whole lot of math to make it...
A Curated List of Gifts for Gardeners
OK. Let’s say you have a friend or a mom or a sister or a grandmother who gardens. They love to garden. And let’s say Mother’s Day or a birthday or Just Because I Love You Day is coming up and you want to get them a gift. And, of course, because you are a thoughtful person, you want your gift to be something they will appreciate for its beauty, its utility or both.
But suppose you aren’t sure what to get them because you aren’t much of a gardener yourself. What do you do?
Well, perhaps you read on and find that your problem is mostly solved, because I spent the time to curate a list of things that I personally would love to receive as gifts (hint hint) or that I already own that I think would make wonderful gifts for your gardening friends and loved ones. Kind of cool, yes?
Epic DIY Gardening: Build a Fountain
Transform your backyard with a DIY recirculating fountain. Add the soothing sound of water to your space with a beautiful water feature. It’s easier than you think!
The Secret Life of a Weeping Redbud
Visit my spring garden and discover the secret life of a Weeping Redbud tree in full bloom as it attracts pollinators and even a green anole.
Seven Things You can do Now to Help Pollinators & Butterflies
Whether you are an experienced gardener or a beginner, whether you live in the city or the suburbs, in a house or an apartment, you can help butterflies and pollinators.
Rich & Katie’s Shed IV: Building the Back Wall
Building the back wall of our shed required that we frame it, side it, stain it, and get help to lift it in place. Check out how we did it in the fourth episode of Rich & Katie’s Shed
Orchids, Forests, Landscapes, and Visionaries
Orchids, forests, landscapes, and the visionaries who designed them: join me on a historical ramble through the landscapes of Frederick Law Olmsted.
Rich & Katie’s Shed III: Building a Shed Foundation with TuffBlocks
Building the foundation for Rich and Katie’s shed was easier than we imagined once we discovered TuffBlocks. Check out how we did it!
Rich & Katie’s Shed II: Designing the Build
In this post, I describe the process of designing the build for our diy wood-sided shed, showing detailed plans for each part of the build. We’re fully in the weeds here!