The gentle perc-perc-perc of the vintage percolator filled the kitchen, calling us back to a simpler time and memories of loved ones long gone. There was a little bit of magic in watching the transformation of clear water into comforting brew in the old Pyrex pot, and the resulting coffee was a smooth as butter.

A little over a week ago my old drip coffee maker died, and I wasn't quite sure what to replace it with. We don't drink a lot of coffee, so I got by with a single cup French press for several days while I thought it over.

After asking you all for advice, I decided to pull out the vintage Pyrex percolator that we had in the tchotchke cabinet. (Thank you to everyone who wrote with recommendations!)

I'd kept the pot as a memento of my husband's late Great Uncle Bill, who passed away 14 years ago. Bill was a pistol, and I used to visit him regularly, but I don't remember seeing the coffee pot in service while we were there. I suspect it was set aside for the convenience of the automatic drip machine.

I'd never used a percolator before, but both my husband and I have distant memories of them from our childhood. For me, it was the noise and the smell that I remember most, welcoming the morning back on the family farm. August says he remembers visiting with family, and the sound and smell, and stories about how when times were tough they used to reuse the grounds.

My midget automatic drip machine was a reliable kitchen companion for many years, but the coffee that old glass percolator makes is worth the extra effort. (Like many things in life.) It's so smooth that it even tempted Duncan to start having a mug of coffee with us in the mornings. (He's never been a coffee drinker.) The pot officially holds six cups, so there's enough for everyone.

I use half herbal coffee and half regular coffee, so it's pretty mellow. I found that if I carefully pour in the herbal coffee with the filter on the counter, and then gently top it with the regular coffee, I end up with very few grounds that sneak through, even without a paper filter.

It's a little messier than the automatic drip, as I do need to wash the filter, and it requires more attention, as I have to adjust the burner on the stove to make sure not to boil the coffee. As I mentioned above, I do think it's worth the effort. So often in modern life we're shoved towards "the easy button", but taking time to enjoy simple comforts passed down through generations adds meaning (and sometimes good coffee) to our lives.

In the spirit of slowing down and savoring the simple things, here are a few small ways to build resilience and abundance in the week ahead.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Revisit a forgotten tool. Whether it’s a vintage percolator, cast iron skillet, hand tool, or quilt, bring one old object back into daily life and let it remind you that “old” often still works beautifully.
• Slow one task down. Choose a daily habit — making coffee, folding laundry, prepping dinner — and do it with full attention. Simple rituals add steadiness to the week.
• Practice skill over convenience. Skip the “easy button” once or twice: make a homemade version of something you usually buy, or try the hands-on method instead of the automatic one.
• Refresh a cozy morning routine. Add one small comfort to your start-of-day rhythm: warm socks, a lit candle, a favorite mug, or five quiet minutes watching the light change.
• Connect past and present. Use or display something inherited or handmade, and take a moment to remember the person behind it. These connections deepen our sense of abundance more than any store-bought thing ever could.

Little choices to slow down, savor, and reconnect make life richer — and strengthen resilience from the inside out.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

P.S. Thanks for your patience with the late email. I've been sorting through over 70,000 photos from the last 20+ years, trying to pick just the right ones for my upcoming book, and it's taking longer than expected. I think the results will be worth it, though, as there's a lot of storytelling going on in those images.

This week's featured articles...

If you’re leaning into slower, cozier mornings this season, you might enjoy exploring the gentle world of herbal coffee alternatives. They offer that same rich, roasty comfort without the jitters — and some can even be grown right at home.

Our Christmas Banana Bread recipe dresses up classic banana bread with holiday spices, chocolate chips, and a light glaze. It freezes well, travels well, and makes a lovely homemade gift.

This getting older business cracks me up sometimes. It used to be that I was the one with cold feet in bed, but now hubby is more likely to have chilly toesies. It's all good, though, as I'm happy to return the favor of warming him up just like he helped me out for the first 30 years of marriage. In addition to helpful spouses, I've put together a list of some of my favorite winter foot warmers. I usually go to bed before he does, so I needed backup.

Don't forget to enter to win a Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer. We had some technical issues at the start of the contest with the entry form on the website, so I switched to having anyone who wants to enter leaving a comment on the website. If you've already left a comment, you're good to go. If you used the raffle form when I first announced the giveaway, stop in and leave a comment.

Giveaway Dates: November 12–19, 2025 (ends at 11:59 PM CST)
​Prize: White Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer
​Eligibility: Must be 18 or older with a U.S. shipping address
Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email.

Good luck to everyone!