for the beauty of the earth
The photos I chose to include with this post are from our mid-spring holiday to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...Amish Country!
As for what's right outside my window at the current moment...
late summer's deep, lush green and full, leafy trees. I'm savouring the greenness of everything because I know that when winter comes it will all be brown and I'll be dreaming of the green once again...I am, however, looking forward to seeing autumn's glorious rich colors return once again. But until then I'm soaking up all the goodness and glories of summertime... it truly has been the most delightful summer!
musical treasures
A couple weekends ago, my mom, sister and I went on a girls' weekend to a music festival and we listened to our most favorite music for two days straight. It was heaven! Oh, I so wish I could just go back and relive those two days again and experience all the fun once more. We danced (which for this introvert translates to subtly swaying from left to right), clapped and tapped our toes so much our hands actually hurt by the end of it all! It wasn't our first festival experience, but it was our first positive one. We loved it so much that we're already planning on going to at least two next summer...that is, if our favorite musicians return!
bookish ramblings
I've returned to an old favorite at the moment, "The Lifegiving Home" by Sally and Sarah Clarkson. This is a book that I return to at least once a year...it feeds my soul and mind so many good, rich, beautiful things and sets me back on my feet to stand firm in my ideals and convictions. I'm going through it slowly as opposed to tearing through it as I've done in the past...I want to really ponder and soak up every bit of wisdom I can. To say this book is lifegiving for me is a huge understatement!
in the world of TV and movies
We've enjoyed two "Aurora Teagarden Mysteries" so far this month, with another coming on this coming weekend. And I've continued on with nightly episodes of some of my favorite shows...however, with promises and small glimpses of autumn, I've pulled out the "Anne" movies which have become a seasonal tradition for me. I'm looking forward to watching them in September with hopes and dreams of autumn and the changing of seasons. If you've never watched them in the autumn, well, you simply must! It's a delightful treat!
a grateful heart
an awesome weekend at the music festival, hearing my favorite songs played live and clapping along to their inviting rhythms, a new cookbook that I found for a great price, a mini collection of autumn mugs that I scored at a bargain, denim jumper dresses coming back in style (all my fashion dreams have come true...I'm a true '90's girl at heart!), lush green summertime glories, reaching trees, time spent washing dishes (yes, I really love this!), cooking meals for my family, quiet Mondays.
from my kitchen
I've had such fun in the kitchen here lately...last night was my sister's birthday dinner and I made an old favorite of ours. Chicken and kale pot pies (recipe coming to my blog this autumn!). She also enjoys experimenting with vegan baking, so she chose a vegan mint chocolate chip cake for dessert...and my, it was scrummy if I do say so myself!
I want to begin working on perfecting different sorts of breads...all the kinds you can imagine. I would love to become well-practiced in the art of breadmaking...it's kind of a dream of mine. So if you have any winning bread recipes, do please share. I'd be ever so grateful!
fashionable fun
Seeing as how hot today was (the heat index was 112*F), I'm in a pair of comfy shorts and a favorite light pink t-shirt that I've had for so long...cool, comfy clothes it is for summer days.
home and hearth
One of the best parts of my day has become the time I spend in the evenings after dinner standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes, gazing out the window watching it rain or the neighbor's cat romp around or squirrels frolic in the trees. I find this newfound ritual peaceful and soul-quieting. As much as I love the end result of a clean kitchen and a dishwasher running, there is much more that I love about this rhythm than the end result. I'm constantly being reminded and relearning that there is beauty in the ordinary and purpose in the hidden tasks of our days.
my cup overflows
My cup at the moment is a blue mason jar and it simply has water in it.
these are a few of my favorite things
blue mason jars, the scent of onions and carrots and celery simmering in olive oil, chocolate cake that is so fudgy it's ridiculous...
Also, Harney and Son's cranberry tea...it's my go-to at the moment.
for the love of words
When we destroy something created by man, we call it vandalism. When we destroy something created by nature, we call it progress.-Ed Begley Jr.
That quote really encompasses a lot of what I believe in just a few simple words...how we need to cherish nature more instead of destroying it and chopping down trees to build up something "better". I think Mother Earth needs more respect than most give it. All in the name of progress.
creating and crafting
Oh, my knitting needles have been clicking away these last few weeks! I finished one cowl that ended up being too long for me so I gave it to Julia for her to use as an infinity scarf and I've got several other cowls in the works. They are one of my favorite things to make...they're simple and beautiful and I love the idea of having a little collection in different color patterns to use with different outfits. And with autumn just round the bend, my mind is leaning more and more towards cozy things...knitting and cowls and nights spent with both being some of those cozy things!
Thank you for visiting my cozy corner, dear friends! What's going on in your corner of the world? I'd love to hear all about it! ♥