84 charing cross road ♥ the cottage library

 4.5 stars

My final read of 2025. {{smiles}}

Absolutely delightful in every way. It's kind of hard for me to "review" this as it is a book of letters and correspondence from one person to another. But I will say this, while the actual content and substance of the letters and such wasn't always relevant to me personally (I sometimes didn't "get" things or understand what was being discussed as it was often book titles that I'm not personally interested in), the essence and soul of this book is what shines brightly. The friendship between Helene and Frank, his wife, Nora, and the fellow bookshop workers at 84 Charing Cross Road is heartwarming, to put it very simply. This is the sort of book that makes you believe in the goodness of humanity again, and the reminder that friendship can be found, even when and where you least expect it. It is a book that felt nostalgic, even though it was about and written well before my time. It holds a long-lost time within its pages, and that, for me, is the sign of a good book. This is surely a book that I will return to again and again...my copy had a little handwritten note from the previous owner which said, "leaves a good taste in your mouth." And that I heartily agree with...and highly recommend reading 84 Charing Cross Road. Your heart will be warmed through and through.

december 15: hot chocolate coziness

The Christmas season and the coziest time of year wouldn't be what they are without mugs of hot chocolate...and homemade marshmallows. This weekend, our temps dipped into the teens, which gave me absolute joy. And it was the perfect excuse to whip up a batch of our favorite homemade {pink} marshmallows, which we cut into mini Christmas trees, thanks to an old cookie cutter in our collection. And we curled up on the couch, put on a Christmas movie, and enjoyed hot chocolate in our new Christmas mugs. It was pure bliss! Our Christmas tree was lit and our (electric) wood burning stove was keeping us warm and toasty. Talk about the definition of festive coziness and comforts!

Snoopy was right..."nothing better than hot chocolate to get you through a cold day."

december 13: magical sunset

december 13

This photo is from Thursday evening...I stepped outside to get ready to hop in the car to run some errands, and everything was glowing in the most magnificent pink. It was like something out of a fairytale...and for certain, the most gorgeous sunset I'd seen in quite awhile. A beautiful reminder that magic is everywhere, if you look for it and pay attention. Nature sure is a wonder.

december 11: a very cozy collection ♥ christmas movie edition {vlog}

Hello, readers!

I'm back today with another Christmas video. In this one, I'm sharing my family's most favorite movies for the Christmas season. Many of these are childhood favorites of mine, filled with magical Christmas memories and nostalgia. I'd love for you to come by for a wee visit...I've got the kettle on just for you.

Join me here.

May your day be wonderful and filled with magic!

when you're a christmas cookie elf ♥ my baking diary

 

Welcome, dear readers!

  

 With Christmas baking fully commenced in many kitchens, I wanted to dedicate a post especially for the cookies that we baked two Christmases ago, as I never got round to sharing this. Every year, we have a few cookies that we make without fail. Then we enjoy picking out a few new recipes to try as well. And for the last several years, my sister has wanted to make a cookie box as a gift to our friends. So for the past couple years, she has taken charge and directed us in what needed to be done. I must say that her idea was splendid and the cookie box turned out beautiful!

Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies...

a yearly standby ever since before I can remember.

My mom grew up with this exact recipe.

These were my dad's all-time favorite cookie, and this was our first time making them since he passed away. It was a weird moment not having him popping in the kitchen just as they were coming out of the oven (he always had impeccable timing with that!) and asking for a few on a plate, hot from the oven, and a tall glass of fresh milk. He liked them on the crispy side...I prefer soft cookies, myself.

 

Madeleines...

My sister made these for the first time two years ago and we loved them. I am obsessed! 

Last year, she coated them in melted dark chocolate and crushed candy canes. 

Christmas is sweeter with the smell of freshly baked cookies.

Gingerbread Spiced Mixed Nuts...

a new-to-us recipe that my sister found.

These smelled divine and tasted wonderful, too!

Chex  Mix...

My mom always makes this at Christmas and New Year's and a few times throughout the winter months. It's one of my favorite snacks!

Gingerbread Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting...

I've tried traditional gingerbread cutout cookies before but have yet to find a recipe that I really love. So last year, I decided to try something different. I found this recipe on Instagram one day and they were a huge hit. I didn't love them myself, but my mom, my sister, our neighbors and friends all loved them.

 

Peppermint Candy Canes...

my sister made these for the first time last year. 

I am obsessed with these! They are so stinkin' cute and they taste scrumptious! I love how nostalgic that look, too.

Chocolate Covered Peanuts...

I make a huge batch of these every Christmas and they last for a long time as we freeze them in small baggies for when we want one or two each after dinner. 

Christmas Cutout Sugar Cookies...

It had been years since I made these and I remembered them last year, and boy, am I glad! I *loved* making these. I sed a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, Hope's Table. They were a softer sugar cookie, and the flavor was on point. I made a declaration that this is going to be one of my yearly standbys from now on!

Butter Cookies...

 (far right side)

This recipe has been in my mom's family for decades...probably close to a century. We've made it every year since I was little, and we usually use my grandmother's cookie press. But last year we forgot where we put it after last Christmas. Does that ever happen to you? You think what a great place you're putting something only to forget where you put it. So we simply made cookie balls and added sprinkles and cherries. One of the simplest cookies on the planet, but one of the tastiest, too. Our friend has to guard these whenever we give them to her as her niece loves them and eats them all when she comes to visit. Ha!

Florentines...

my sister made these for the first time and while she said they were a bit temperamental, they tasted marvelous!

 

Cranberry Pepita Buttermilk Bread...

I cannot tell you how amazing this bread was! My sister found this recipe and it was a hit. It was gorgeous and tasted so incredibly good. I really wish I had a piece right now!

 

Meringues...

another first for my sister. Another tricky cookie (maybe because of the humidity in our house?) but yummy all the same. 

People who love to eat are always the best people.

~ Julia Child ~

Keep your Christmas diet balanced...

a cookie in each hand.

Even though she was a grown woman,  

she believed in elves and Santa Claus

and flying reindeer and sacks with an endless capacity for toys.

Furthermore, she believed that believing in these

things was the chief reason that she had

more fun in life than others.

~ Unknown ~

(It's rare when I find a quote that so perfectly describes me, and this is one of them. Because, yes, I still believe. Perhaps even more that I did as a little girl, and I believed so strongly back then.)

Seeing isn't believing.

Believing is seeing.

~ Charlie, The Santa Clause ~

I found the most beautiful, perfect box at Target for my sister's cookie box idea. And while we knew it wouldn't fit all the cookies we made, it held quite a lot. My sister arranged everything, and then I made a little "menu" so our friend would know what everything was.

The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood.

~ Richard Paul Evans ~

 

My sister made a bunch of these paper origami stars last December. We used some on our tree and then we attached one to the spiced nuts that she packaged in this cute jar.

And I wrapped the loaf of bread in plastic wrap and decorated with a piece of plain parchment around the entire loaf and finished with one of the origami stars and a label.

And, finally, whatever cookies didn't fit in the box, we made into a cookie platter. We always give our friend LOTS of cookies as she has extended family come visit her at the holidays and while she loves home-baked Christmas cookies, she doesn't bake herself. So we get to bake as much as we want and then give lots of it away to her and her family, as well as our neighbors. It's the best of both worlds because it allows us to bake all we want and try new recipes and such without having to keep tons of cookies in our house. We keep enough for ourselves and then the rest is out of our house.

One of the best, most fun, and certainly one of the most magical parts of Christmas is spending time in the kitchen getting to be a Christmas cookie baking elf...and of course, the result is delicious, too!

Thank you for joining me today as I shared this little baking diary...

I am so excited to begin baking for this Christmas season. Our baking this year is going to be quite different from years past as we've changed our standards with baking and such. We now only use dates, maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar and sucanat as our sweeteners, so we're going to be tweaking our old favorite recipes, as well as baking some newfound favorites. And perhaps, trying a new recipe or two, as well, because that's tons of fun. Ah! I can't wait!

What are you baking for the Christmas season? I'd love to hear!

december 7: sunday feasting

sunday feasting.

tonight i made this delicious baked ziti from the beautiful book. glad and golden hours. i served it alongside roasted asparagus, and it was the most perfect, comforting meal for a chilly december sunday evening. and it was the perfect fuel for taking down the autumn decorations in our home in preparation for decking the halls this week.

what did you have for dinner tonight?

december 4: a very cozy collection ♥ christmas book edition {vlog}

Hello, lovely readers! You are warmly invited to come visit me over at my little corner of YouTube for a cozy bookish chat in which I share my Christmas collection of favorites. Pour yourself a cup of something comforting, get comfy, and let's have a festive chat...

come visit me here.

May your day be a beauty!

december 1: small domestic liturgies

small domestic liturgies: 

tangible acts that integrate what we believe with what we do.

(Lanier Ivester, Glad and Golden Hours) 

🕯️🫖🪡🍶🧺📝

a daybook for summer's end

{{this has got to be the world's tiniest mushroom...my sister found it one evening in a flowerpot in our garden. isn't it cute?}}

noticing nature || the signs of summer's impending end are everywhere. the crepe myrtles have been blooming for a while now, and they're slowly losing their colorful confetti blossoms. trees are still green, but they've lost their lushness and vivid brightness. it's settled into a weakened shade of green, as though the trees are weary of the summer heat and sunshine. everyone's grass is showing little golden wheat-colored patches. and every few days, we'll spot a flock of geese flying in their uniquely amazing "v" form, which is a sure sign that summer is drawing to a close. we've had our first little taster of autumn this week, too, which has been nothing short of utterly delightful. cooler temps and that distinct scent in the air and in the gentle breeze blowing that clearly but gently says that autumn is indeed on the way. {{i can't wait!}}

on my playlist || the princess diaries film score (not the soundtrack) has been a favorite lately, and well, it's just so darn good. and nostalgic. and magical. and whimsical. and perfect. 

bookish ramblings || in all honesty, i barely read anything this summer. it was a hard summer, and i just didn't have the mental energy or capacity to read. however, i did read *one* amazing book in july, and it became one of my two favorite books in the romance genre. "the magic of sea glass" by jenny hale was absolutely, hands down, sheer perfection. i've read several of her other books before, and while i enjoyed them, none of them even stand close to this one. i loved every single thing about the story, the characters, the setting, the summer vibes, just every bit of it. i'm hoping the autumn allows me to return to my stack of books.

currently watching || hallmark movies are always a hit or miss for me. it seems that whenever i watch one, i either hate it completely or love it immensely. and, thankfully, i came across (quite randomly) "all of my heart" recently, and it was everything i want and love in a movie. it was set at a gorgeous bed and breakfast in bucks county, pennsylvania, and i'm still swooning over that house. ha! i just really enjoyed that movie, and there are two more in this trilogy...i have watched the second one and enjoyed it as well, and i've still got the third one to go. 

a grateful heart || for the anticipation of autumn's arrival; iced tea; comfort books; hallmark mystery movies; country drives on summer evenings; the chorus of crickets and cicadas; the first red leaves in our yard; cooler august days...and nights; full moons that look ever so enchanting; the giddiness of news that a favorite author is going to be releasing the next book in a trilogy that i love very soon; our basil plant flourishing all summer long; my mom and sister and doing life with them; our fur babies and the smiles and laughter they bring us; freshly baked cookies that smell like october; surprise rain showers

from my kitchen || we've been experimenting with more gluten free recipes lately and have found a favorite pie crust recipe that has taken our beloved pot pie recipe over the top. i also stumbled upon a few variations of recipes for what i call "iced creamy tea", and it is absolutely divine...so perfect for these late summer days.

what i'm wearing || well, at the time of writing this post, i'm in my pjs...haha! a super soft tank top and cotton shorts. 

home & hearth || autumn cleaning is in full swing, which leads to autumn decorating, which ends up with coziness in abundance. and a very happy me.

a few of my favorite things || my current obsession is this: a slice or two of sourdough bread toasted (i buy mine at aldi because for the life of me, i cannot get a sourdough starter to work in our home. and i've tried several times.) drizzle some olive oil on the toasted bread, mash up an avocado on the slices, lay several slices of tomato on top and sprinkle with salt and pepper. finally, drizzle with your favorite balsamic vinaigrette...i have a recipe that i came across and tweaked to our preferences this summer and it is blissfully scrumptious. i cannot get enough of this recipe. and it's good without the avocado it you don't have any or they aren't ripe enough yet. it's basically a bruschetta avocado toast that tastes like everything is right in the world. i'm trying not to burn myself out of this toast because i've eaten it so much this summer. ;)

quodophile || "i have come to think that care of the soul requires a high degree of resistance to the culture around us, simply because that culture is dedicated to values that have no concern for the soul." (thomas merton)

creative reveries || absolutely nothing at the moment, though i do have several projects i hope to get to over the coming months. autumn and winter inspire me like no other times of year. in just about every way imaginable.

in my cup || the iced creamy tea that i mentioned above. i've seriously made it 3 times in the last week using different herbal tea flavors. so far, my favorite is hibiscus with orange coming in a close second.

joyful anticipations || autumn. everything about it. enough said. ♥

what's inspiring me || i've realized in the last few weeks that menu planning doesn't work for me. it takes away the fun of cooking for me and part of what i love about cooking is coming up with what i want to make kind of on the spot. menu planning makes something serious and rigid out of something that has always felt fun for me...but hasn't for a long time. it's been fun winging it each night, using what we have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. and, in all honesty, we all love this method more. it's way less stress and pressure, and it allows us to not only eat what we're in the mood for, but also to use what we have and not end up buying special ingredients at the store. i've also loved using my cookbooks more lately; something i haven't done for a very, very long time. and we've discovered a few new favorites, too. happy, happy!

how are your late summer days going, dear readers? do let me know what's bringing you delight in the comments below...♥

a creative journey of refining my wardrobe to reflect...me

Good afternoon, readers. I'm back today with a bit of a different sort of post, but one that's about a creative journey I'm on. I hope you enjoy my rambly musings...

I shared these thoughts a bit on Instagram earlier this week, but wanted to chat about it here, too…and to hear if you’re on a similar creative journey with your wardrobe.

As I get a bit older, I find myself wanting to refine my wardrobe to feel and look more like “me”. I feel I’m at an age and place in life where I know myself and my preferences, likes/dislikes, etc. quite well. I know more of what makes me feel like myself, what I feel comfortable in, and my wardrobe needs a bit of tweaking. 

I’m not going for a specific aesthetic or one style. I don’t believe in that sort of thing. I’m just going for what feels like me…and my personal taste tends to be simple, casual, comfy, and cozy. And I quite like it that way. I’m going about this tweaking very gently. Not my personal tastes, but rather how I make my clothing fit my personal taste. Simply making mental notes and even taking pictures of outfits that I wear that feel like me. I’m using Pinterest to inspire me in using pieces I already have, and I’m finding this to be quite a fun creative journey, too. I’m styling and pairing things up differently than I have before and also keeping my eyes out at thrift stores for specific pieces I may want to add. 

I do not believe that in order to create a wardrobe that one truly loves you have to spend lots of money, buy specific brands or expensive clothing, or completely unhaul your closet and drawers. That goes completely against my values and beliefs. Instead, I believe in seeing this as a creative journey, as with making a house a home, for example, and using what I have, putting my imagination to use when getting dressed, shopping wisely, and utilizing thrift stores, which is where I prefer to get most of my clothing anyway.

I do believe in creating a wardrobe that makes you feel like yourself, that sparks joy, and makes you happy, and that makes you feel comfortable in what you wear. However, I don’t believe in trends, aesthetics, limiting oneself to one style, etc.

While I want to refine my entire wardrobe, for all the seasons, I do believe this will be much mor fun and easier during the autumn and winter months, as I much prefer the clothing during that time of year, as well as I just feel way more like myself during the autumn and wintertime anyway. Summertime clothing simply means keeping as cool as possible for me...and early spring is a favorite time as well, before it gets too warm or hot.

As far as my wardrobe goes, I do not embrace, nor do I believe in minimalism, so you won't find me "curating a capsule wardrobe" here. However, I do find that I love making different pieces work for different seasons. That is a fun, creative aspect of my wardrobe for me. I do keep a seasonal wardrobe: spring/summer and autumn/winter, with quite a few pieces that are year-round. I am a thrift shopper and have been for the last three years. However, I also own many clothes purchased from your typical chain stores, as I see nothing wrong with filling in with bits here and there that you are specifically looking for and can't find whilst thrifting. But I will say that I am quite obsessed with thrifting and get especially excited when I come across that perfect piece that fits my taste, which has happened a handful of times. (And other clothing pieces I don't thrift out of preference.) I also have clothing in my wardrobe and drawers that I've had for over a decade...they're not expensive pieces; I just like to take care of my clothing and make it last. 

I do consider my wardrobe to be a collection of pieces that have sparked joy at different times through the years, and now I'm simply wanting to refine those pieces into something that suits my tastes. Some will get donated, some will get paired up with something else, and others will simply remain as they are. It's all part of the creative journey for me...nothing serious or life-altering. Obviously, it's just clothing. But I do believe you can have fun with what you wear and in making your wardrobe to be more "you"...or in this case, "me".

I’d be curious if you have done a similar thing with your wardrobe, or are on such a journey, too. And if you’d like me to share more about this as I go about my little rambly wardrobe tweaking. Would posts on these things I shared about here interest you? Topics such as my wardrobe refining journey, thrifting, using clothing pieces in different seasons, etc. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

the cottage library ♥ looking forward

 My very first Marcia Willett, but definitely not my last. I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed this book!

The writing style exuded so much warmth and coziness and was a gentle sort of storytelling. There were lots of domestic details and beautiful descriptions of the English countryside, as well as The Keep, the family home, which was a character totally on its own. With every turn of the page, you were invited to step deeper into the Chadwick family's world, and a wonderful world it is. Despite the family going through life's ups and downs, they are truly there for one another, as is The Keep...their foundation and rooted place where they all come together and comfort, encourage, challenge, and laugh and cry with one another.

With a cast of characters, this book was written in such a way that each one had their own unique storyline, and each character appeared on the page often enough so that you never forgot who was who or what was going on with that particular person. I loved that I never felt lost or confused while reading about so many characters.

I loved Fliss as an older sister so much. The way she cared for and protected Mole and Susanna was deep and sincere. Theo offered much wise encouragement and sometimes a bit of a differing opinion to Freddy, making her see things from a new perspective. And, then, of course, Freddy herself. What a wonderfully caring, loving, protective Grandmother she was. I especially loved her strength and protectiveness over her entire family. A truly inspiring character. I also adored Caroline, Ellen, and Fox, the devoted servants to the Chadwick family. Though so much more than mere servants, they were a true part of the family, and that was such a sweet aspect of the story.

Though this book went through many years (about 13), it also followed the seasons, which made for extra cozy and fun reading. I do wish, however, that there had been more detailed Christmas scenes and such. Maybe the other books in the series offer this???

This was such an easy book to read, and hard to put down. It was a comforting, healing sort of read, with bits of melancholy here and there, funny bits, and just loads of heartwarming moments. I sincerely loved this one, even more than I thought I would...and I look forward to reading the rest of the Chadwick family chronicles.

I did, however, have a few smallish caveats...which is why I rated this book 4.5 stars. Nothing too big or major, but a few things that I did note.

Possible spoilers below...none too big or major to the story, but if you don't want to know about specifics, don't read on.

Kit's loose (and lack of) morals and overall flirtatious demeanor was such an annoying aspect of the story to me. I did not like how teenage intimacy was so flippantly dealt with and not really seen to be wrong in any way. The same goes for her mother, Prue. She was quite a desperate woman, sleeping with a man who she knew had major red flags and whatnot. I didn't care for these loosie-goosy characters. Prue did mature as the story went on, but a forty-something year old woman should honestly know better.

I knew going into this book that it had a relationship in which two cousins (a male and a female) were attracted to each other and very much in love. If I had not known that, it would have been quite a shock! That was a bit too weird for my liking. There was also a small scene in which the male cousin noticed how his female cousin/love interest had matured physically and his thoughts and response to that was, in my opinion, inappropriate and perverted. Completely taking away her dignity as a person. Just didn't line up with my personal morals.

And my final "issue" was the age-gap relationship that eventually developed between Fliss and Miles. With Fliss being barely over 20 (and a teenager of around 15 when Miles first showed interest), an age-gap relationship of about 20 or so years just didn't sit well with me. I felt that Miles took advantage of her at times physically, and though he seemed nice enough, I didn't find it appropriate. Again, this just doesn't line up with my personal morals.

Overall, I loved this story, but I did have a few issues. Nothing too major and certainly not anything to hinder me from continuing on with the series. Just enough to take it from 5 stars to 4.5 for me.

What have you read recently? Do share below!

J U N E ♥ book club chat + update

 

Welcome, dear readers, to June's book club chat...

First off, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cozy mysteries are a favorite of mine, and each time I read one, they become even more so. This one was one that I really, really loved. And, I thought it was the second of two books, but I recently learned that it's actually the second of THREE, so now I have two more to read in this series. (I don't mind reading certain series out of order, and cozy mysteries are often easily read in any order. So I can look forward to two more stories in this trilogy!)

As with any book I read, the setting and characters are the two biggest factors for me when it comes to the story. If I don't like the characters and the setting isn't coming alive for me, chances are I'm not going to enjoy the book...and even more so, that I'll DNF the book entirely. I've done this a number of times. However, this book, for me at least, delivered those two on a silver platter.

Fiona, our main girl, and her sister, Isla, are two characters that I loved meeting. They did have their differences in personality and approach to life, but more than that, they loved one another and always had each other's back. Although, I did find Isla especially a bit immature, and some of the bickering and whatnot were a bit annoying. It was especially fun reading how they worked together in the flower shop that Fiona owned, as well as their antics with Fiona's cat, Ivanhoe. I also enjoyed the characters of Chief Inspector Neil Craig as well as the pub owner, Raj, and Presha, who owned a cafe, and Hamish, the garden keeper.

Scotland, particularly the little village of Aberdeenshire, was truly brought to life within this story. I felt as though I was right there feeling the whipping winds of the stormy nights, and completely delighting in the cooler summer temperatures...for us Tennessee folks, at least. From the descriptions of the ancient ruins and the village church to the rainy weather and overall vibe depicted in the story, I was transported to Scotland. This was my first cozy mystery by Amanda Flower, but I felt like she truly created a world within this book. (I love that!)

As for the mystery, I had my suspicions throughout the book, all of which turned out to be completely wrong. Ha! I did eventually suspect the actual killer as they were a bit strange to me...but the final reveal was a bit of a surprise. I felt this was a rather "gentle mystery", if I may call it that. Even for a cozy mystery, it was a lot lighter on the suspense and crime solving aspect than other cozies I've read. But I actually liked that about this one...it was just what I needed.

Finally, if you know me, you know I love a magical, enchanting element to stories. And I've read several cozy mysteries that feature that...and they always end up being some of my most favorites. This one had that to a degree, but it did make me want to know more about the garden, Uncle Ian and his reappearing as a fox, and the stone in the garden, too. I'm hoping that the other two books in this trilogy explore that deeper. 

I very much enjoyed this book, and it was just what I was looking for in a story...and a mystery. I'd love to know what you thought of this one if you read along with me. So, as always, please share a comment.

And, one side note...multiple times throughout this book, Presha would bring Fiona a chai from her cafe. It sounded so delicious! And then last week, I was watching some YouTube and in one video, chai was mentioned several times...so needless to say, chai was on my mind. I've never had any sort of chai before, but it sounded like something I would enjoy. 

Thanks to the internet, I found a rather simple recipe for a chai latte, and lo and behold, I discovered a new love...chai lattes. I am in love! The warmth and coziness of this dink just sings to me. It's like me in a mug...{{smiles}} My mom and sister loved it too, and we all agree that come autumn and winter, this is going to be a staple drink in our home. Oh my goodness! How did I not ever try one of these before now?!?!

If you've like to give this recipe a try, you can find it here. I highly recommend it!

I also found a recipe for a basic chai (not a latte) and I'm hoping to give it a try soon...but right now, I'm obsessed with the latte version. ♥

I've decided to pause the book club for the time being...maybe permanently. I've been through a reading slump nearly all spring long and am just now finding my happy place in reading again. I'm also trying to simplify my commitments and remove any unnecessary pressure I feel, as well as simply read what I want to read when I want to read it...without being concerned about picking a book that I know is a good choice each month for my blog. Along with that, I've been really enjoying creating bookish YouTube videos recently, and I would rather do that than the book club...just trying to simplify here and not do "all the things". I hope you understand. I'll still be sharing lots of reading and bookish posts here, just no longer pertaining to the book club.

{{ Thank you to anyone who has participated in my book club during the past year, and especially for the kindred spirits who have shared their thoughts on the stories we've read together. I'm really grateful for your comments, messages, and bookish thoughts. }}

So, until my next post...

may your day be a beauty!

♥

oh the summertime is coming . . .

Oh, the summertime is coming

And the trees are sweetly blooming

And the wild mountain thyme

Grows around the blooming heather

Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together

To pluck wild mountain thyme

All around the blooming heather

Will ye go, lassie, go?

Summer solstice salutations, lovely readers!

Tonight at 9:42 Central Time (where I live), we will indeed welcome summer in with all the thick humidity, stagnant air, and hot temperatures. Tis the season for sweating buckets even just walking the short length down the driveway to the mailbox and the incessant swarming mosquitoes fighting to attack me. Needless to say, summertime is my absolute, hands down, least favorite time of year. Summer is a real struggle for me, as the intense heat and beating sun and I do not get along. I get physical effects from being outdoors for any little bit of time. Not to mention, as some people deal with seasonal depression and such during winter, I deal with that in the summertime. I have to remind myself that autumn and winter do indeed come round again...in fact, autumn is the very next season! {{squeals}}

However...

I admit that there are some rather blissful aspects to this season that I wanted to share with you.

No matter how old I get, there is this "summer feeling". That anticipation of lazy, sunshiny days and late, starry skied nights that comes in late spring, knowing that summertime is right around the corner. As a little girl, this meant summer break and no school, which I, of course, was through-the-roof excited about. As an adult, and even though I don't yet have children myself, and am certainly not a little girl anymore, there's still that "summer feeling". Year after year, it's there. Kind of like that "back to school" feeling that comes, even though it's been a long time since I was in school myself. Every August, I simply must buy a new pack of pens or a new notebook or something, because it just has that "back to school" feeling in the air. And every summer, that "summer feeling" brings back many fond summertime memories of my childhood, lots of nostalgia, and the list of things that I simply must enjoy during this season...lists of movies to watch, playlists of songs to listen to, recipes to make and foods to eat, adventures to go on close to home. 

So yeah, summer may not be my BFF in terms of seasons or times of year. But it's pretty darn magical, in its own way. And I sure hope that "summer feeling" never, ever goes away.

♥ F L O W E R S !

♥ Lush, green trees! And all the many shades of green...who knew there were so many!

♥ Fresh fruit, especially watermelon, berries, and peaches.

♥ Butterflies, lightning bugs, and hanging out on summer nights.

♥ Summer showers…I’m not a lover of sunshine; rain is my jam.

♥ Summer tunes…I have certain songs that I love listening to in the summertime.

♥ The colorful-ness of summer. The Earth is just so rich and vibrant with color, and I love it!

♥ Summertime books…I’m loving having a few really summery novels to enjoy. 

♥ Iced herbal tea, and lots of it, please. Particularly served in a mason jar with lots of crushed ice. {{smiles}}

♥ Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil. On sourdough, crispy with olive oil. I could live off this stuff!

♥ Celebrating the Fourth of July…it’s seriously one of my favorite holidays because it’s so simple and fun and I have so many happy memories from my girlhood days of this time of year.

♥ Roadtrips and just drives through the countryside in the summer are where it’s at.

♥ The sounds of summer…birdsong in the morning and an orchestral performance by the crickets at night.

♥ The scent of freshly cut grass...and honeysuckle. Ah, pure heaven!

♥ Summer nights, whether it be baking something in the kitchen or watching a movie on the couch or just shooting the breeze outside. I literally have tons of happy and sometimes crazy memories of my childhood summer nights (thanks to some rather interesting experiences in the neighborhood I grew up in). I could probably write a book! 

♥ Wearing worn-in sandals every. single. day.

♥ The sunsets of summertime...absolutely spectacular. No questions asked.

♥ Coming into the air conditioning after being outside.

♥ The gentle whirr of the ceiling fans at night.

♥ Watching movies from my childhood summers.

♥ Smoothie season. So much yes.

♥ Overcast days...coziness can exist in the summertime, too.

♥ American flags all around town...literally, everywhere you look.

♥ The scent of grilling out on Saturdays...so nostalgic.

♥ The sound of the radio in the distance outside...more nostalgia.

Every summer, like the roses,

childhood returns.

~ Marty Rubin ~

may photo journal ♥ day twenty-six ♥ patriotic

patriotic ...

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Land of the free because of the brave...

Thank you to all the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country, 

to protect the people who call this blessed land home,

who gave up so much so that we could live our day-to-day lives

in safety, peace, quiet, and calm.

On this day, we remember your service and ultimate sacrifice.

For those who never returned home, our hearts are filled with gratitude to their families and loved ones for their sacrifice as well. We truly are the land of the free because of the brave.

And how thankful and proud I am to be an American. 

How grateful I am to call this place my home.

There is no other place I'd rather live than the good ol' U.S.A.!

❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙