my autumn watchlist

As soon as September comes around, my mind starts spinning with autumnal hopes and dreams. However, in my little corner of the world, it still feels very much like summer until mid-October, with a few teasers thrown in throughout September and early October just to mess with us. For me, personally, autumn activities are for October and November. September is still summer. And with October here now (YAY!), I have been enjoying compiling a watchlist of all the movies and episodes of TV shows that I hope to watch this autumn.

I've mentioned it many times here before, but we do not do horror movies in our home. I have many thoughts and convictions about them. Spooky? Yes. Mysterious? Yes. Cozy? Yes. But horror? Absolutely no way. So if you enjoy seasonal, cozy, comforting, very autumnal vibes, with a few Halloween or Thanksgiving celebrations thrown in, then I hope you enjoy my watchlist.

Anne of Green Gables

I know a lot of people associate the Anne movies and books with springtime, which I get. But, for me, I always think of autumn and coziness and warmth. I'm a die-hard fan of the original Megan Follows versions of the movies, and they're the only ones I'll watch.

Baby Boom

This is one I grew up with, and it's always stuck with me...especially the house. It's a dreamy, gorgeous, cozy home in the countryside of Vermont. This movie has lots of autumnal scenes...with some wintry ones as well. So it's a good one to watch all cozy season long. As with most, if not all, of the titles on this list, this one makes a great re-watch over the course of autumn and winter.

Practical Magic

It took me until this summer to fall in love with Practical Magic. I'd tried it a few times, and it just didn't click with me. But this summer, I finally understood why it's so beloved by so many. I love witchy tales and vibes, and the messages in this movie really hit home for me. Another one to watch again and again.

Mystic Pizza

Another nostalgic autumn movie set in a gorgeous New England town on the coast. A trio of girlfriends in their late teens/early twenties all work at a small pizzeria, and they're all trying to figure life out. It's just got those vibes I love!

The Little Vampire 

A Halloween childhood favorite that's still just as fun to watch as an adult. Movies from the 90s and very early 2000s just hit different. I've been rewatching them my whole life and never tire of them. This one included.

Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire

With many fond memories of watching this on the Disney Channel growing up, this is another favorite to rewatch every October.

Mona Lisa Smile

This is one of only a few on this list that I haven't yet watched, but it's most definitely on my watchlist for this autumn. I've heard it has all those vibes and scenery, so I'm hoping that's the case. And that it's a good movie, too!

Stepmom

WARNING: This one is a bit depressing, but it's absolutely beautiful with all the gorgeous autumn foliage and nature and the home is a dream. I have to be in a certain mood to watch this one, but it's a feast for the eyes...and the story is sweet, too. This movie was one of the first places I remember as a young girl being inspired to learn to quilt. That still stands out to me.

Halloweentown

While the first movie in this series is by far the best, in my opinion, we do enjoy watching the first three...don't even bother with the fourth. I agree with Marnie...Halloween is cool.

Casper

Another one from childhood that I honestly haven't seen in a long time...so I'm definitely due for a rewatch.

Hocus Pocus

This is a movie that, for me, is watched for two reasons: nostalgia and the rich Halloween vibes. The story is definitely secondary to me. But it's one I watch every year for those two reasons, and I enjoy it immensely because of them.

October Kiss (Hallmark)

Hallmark doesn't have a ton of Halloween (or Thanksgiving!) movies, but this one is an absolute gem. A real favorite of mine...so vibrantly Halloween and autumnal. So festive!

Agatha Raisin

One of my very favorite shows, especially this time of year. I love that it's funny and quirky and a mystery series, too. There are a few episodes that feel extra cozy and spooky that I love watching around cozy season.

You've Got Mail

A real classic, at least for me. One that must be watched every autumn...and usually again on and off through the entire cozy season. Every time I watch this one, it gets better.

Julie and Julia

And this one gets better every time, too. One of my top favorite movies of all time. I could gush about this one forever. Simply perfection. And while not necessarily autumnal, there's something about it that feels like it just suits this time of year.

Gilmore Girls

One of the most quintessential cozy shows ever made. At least for me anyway. I love the feel of this show most of all, and it never gets old returning to Stars Hollow. I do have my favorite episodes that I watch over and over again...Bracebridge Dinner, anyone?

Rudy

Another new-to-me movie that I grew up hearing about because my mom's entire family are huge Notre Dame fans. I'm not a huge football fan, though I will forever cheer on our local team, I admit that there's nothing like football to say autumn in America. I'm here for it...hopefully, it's good.

Harry Potter series

A real favorite for all cozy season long.

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving

One of the few Thanksgiving movies that I know of, and a lovely one at that. Old-fashioned charm and beautiful storyline make this one a great November watch.

The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings trilogies

As with the Harry Potter series, The Hobbit and LOTR movies are great for all of cozy season. I've heard of several people who watch all the movies over the week between Christmas and New Year's and I happen to think that's a great idea.

The Good Witch (Hallmark)

The original movies in this series (beginning with the one from 2008) are absolutely delightful. I recently rewatched the first one, and oh my goodness! I forgot how much I love it...so cozy and autumnal, and I absolutely adore Cassie's Halloween party at the end of the movie. So fun!

Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble

Hands down, my all-time favorite Halloween movie ever...from the time I was 4 years old. I cannot say how much I love this movie. The vibes and style of everything, the nostalgia and feel of how Halloween felt as a little girl, the magic and rich seasonal atmosphere...I love it all.

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries (Hallmark)

This is so not just a cozy season watch for us, but it's especially wonderful to watch these in the autumn and winter, as many of the movies seem to be set in those months. Lots of snowy, rainy, foggy, misty weather make for a fun mystery movie!

Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade (Hallmark)

So this one kind of falls under Christmas, but it's set at Thanksgiving, so it works either way. My sister loves this movie, and I've never seen it all the way through. I want to remedy that this year!

A Family Thanksgiving (Hallmark)

Another Thanksgiving movie from Hallmark that I remember from years ago. I haven't watched it in so long, I'm due for a rewatch. I remember I enjoyed it.

A Harvest Wedding (Hallmark)

A new-to-me Hallmark movie that I watched a few weeks ago, and I loved it. The scenery and autumnal colors were so vibrant. I loved the story and characters and how autumnal it all felt. 

All of My Heart trilogy (Hallmark)

A favorite trilogy from Hallmark, though my favorite is definitely the first movie. Set in a Bed and Breakfast in the Pennsylvania countryside in the most dreamy house, yes please.

Home Improvement

One thing I do every single year is rewatch the holiday episodes of shows I grew up with...and still love and watch regularly. Home Improvement has some of the best Halloween episodes, as well as some sweet and comical Thanksgiving ones, too...and the same can be said for Christmas, but I'll save that for a December post. This is seriously one of my favorite shows!

The Middle

Another show with some of the best holiday episodes. And another favorite show of mine! Love spending the holidays with the Heck family and all their nutty shenanigans. Why don't more shows follow the year and seasons when they make episodes? That's by far one of the best things about this one!

Friends

So I've been watching Friends for the first time this summer. I'm only beginning season two now, so I've no idea if it's entirely for me. However, I did enjoy the first season. I find it a very light, funny, cozy show. And I really need more of that in my life!

Shetland

I always get in the mood to give this series a rewatch come this time of year. All the moody weather and atmospheric Scottish island scenery makes it feel so perfect in the autumn and wintertime. I really love the mysteries, too, and how tangled up they are. Of course, now I know what happens with each one, but I could only ever figure it all out once!

Vera

Another seasonal rewatch for me. Set in Northern England, all the scenery and weather and Vera's trenchcoat and hat seem to make this another perfect show for cozy season. 

Wolfblood

My mom and sister have watched this series through several times, and I'm joining them this year for the first time. So far, we're about halfway through the first season, and I've got to say, I'm loving it. It's totally my cup of tea!

Well, there you have it...what's on my autumn watchlist and how I'll be spending most of my evenings tucked under a blanket, cup of tea or hot choco nearby, candle lit or the fireplace crackling, and some sort of crafty project in hand with one of these movies or shows on the telly. There's no other way I'd rather spend my nights!

What's on your autumn watchlist? I'll be sharing my Christmas watchlist in December, as well, so lots more fun to chat about then!

october picture book pile ♥ the cottage library

 

Happy October, kind folks!

It's that time of year when the vibes are vibing, as they say. All things cozy are making their return to the forefront of our home, and I'm so here for it. In our home, we've always seen Halloween as a fun holiday. We do spooky and mysterious and cute but no horror or terror or anything of that sort. Over the last few years, I've begun intentionally collecting picture books that I grew up with, as well as new ones that I enjoy. I've found quite a list of authors and illustrators that I love as well, so that's always fun to find one of them out in the wild. 

There are many cute Halloween storybooks out there, and I've got a few to share here today. Instead of focusing on just one book to share, I've decided to share my October picture book pile...some of these I've read and some I have not, but they're all in my pile to enjoy this month. Who said picture books were only for children? I'm convinced they can be some of the most comforting, healing books out there, especially if the illustrations are the sort you wish you could jump right into, Mary Poppins style.  

I find many of my picture books at little free libraries. And such is the case for many of the ones I'm sharing here today. I tend to go towards picture books that are a bit older...think at least 10-15 years old minimum, with a few exceptions here and there. I also love warmer, more traditional styles of art with a magical, whimsical, enchanting, imaginative angle. Lots of color and details...especially tiny details making everything feel like a wonder. Huge emphasis on home and nature and family and just the beauty of ordinary life. I think storybooks are one of the greatest foundations for instilling a sense of wonder and awakening to the beauty of ordinary days. (And serve as quite the reminder for us grown-ups.) So many newer picture books just feel so...well, modern, and that's just not really me. I also tend towards picture books where the art feels very seasonal and nostalgic...picture books today (for the most part) just lack something special, in my opinion.

I also love to collect these early reader type books...some may be considered early chapter books. I haven't read the above ones yet, but I was so drawn to them by the covers...yes, I do judge picture books by their covers. I admit. {{smiles}}

Like squirrels gather nuts for winter,

autumn signals my need to collect more books 

for the cold months ahead.

~ Jamie Davis ~

Spookley is a story that I discovered as a little girl, and this is my childhood copy. It's a sweet story, and I adore the colorful artwork throughout. Sometimes, I may not actually read through picture books word for word, but it's always fun to flip through, turning the pages slowly, and taking in the illustrations. I find them so inspiring and enchanting...so many of my imagination's musings are right there on the pages.

I always keep a list of picture books, authors, and illustrators that I want to keep my eyes open for. Collecting picture books has become a fun, delightful, whimsical hobby for me...any my stash has outgrown my first book basket and has moved to a book rack, which is nearly full, too.

I plan to share a picture book pile for each month. I know many adults, whether or not they have children, love picture books just as much as I do. I'd love to know if you have any favorite picture books or any authors or illustrators that are your favorites. I do think that adult books should have little illustrations in them more often...perhaps that'd be a good collection to share sometime...adult books with illustrations??? Hmm...my wheels are turning!

Thanks for joining me here today...

I'll be back here soon with a fun October photo diary series for the month.

Wishing you the loveliest October, dear readers!

come for an autumnal visit to shady cottage

hello, lovely reader.

welcome to a little glimpse into our home as we have just finished decorating for autumn...

well, we're almost done. a few more bits and pieces to put out in their special places.

i hope you enjoy this peek into our beloved shady cottage...

(before the tour begins, please excuse the darker lighting in these photos. our home tends to be a bit darker as we are quite literally nestled in the trees, hence our home's name, shady cottage. for years, this lack of lighting bothered me, for no reason other than i had it in my head that it needed to bother me. dumb, right? well, i have actually always loved the lighting in our home, and have decided to just embrace it in the photos i take...so i hope you like them, too. just real life, unfiltered, unedited photos. ♥)

one of my favorite things is decorating our mantel for each season/holiday.

we pretty much use the same decorations every year, with the exception of maybe purchasing one or two new things every year or two for fun. most of our decorations have been part of our traditions for years and years. even though we use the same things year after year, we switch up how we use lots of pieces...sometimes on the mantel, sometimes on bookshelves, sometimes on our kitchen shelves, etc., so it always feels like a new creative process when we decorate our home for the seasons and holidays. the same is true for our winter and christmas decorations. it's such a fun, creative process...this year we celebrated with pizza take-away from one of our favorite pizzerias in town. 

our kitchen is feeling very festive with leaf cutouts and bows on all our cupboard doors. 

for our first day of autumn celebration meal, a tradition i began when we moved into shady cottage 8 years ago, we had grilled cheese sandwiches with apple, bacon, and smoked cheddar on sourdough. 

oh my goodness, was it delicious. we paired it with soup and pie for the perfect autumnal feast.

this corner of the kitchen is by far the most used corner when i cook. 

it's on the right-hand side of the stove, and i do a lot of chopping on the cutting board here,

mixing in bowls, measuring seasonings and herbs, and so on.

i also love having a couple lamps tucked in on the counters...

it makes cooking feel even more comforting and cozy.

broccoli cheddar soup...a real fave this time of year, especially when paired with crusty bread, or the sandwich we had this time. so comforting.

more leaves and bows on cupboard doors...and do you see that little black cat on the kitchen door?

my sister found that last year at the dollar store, and it makes me so happy every time i look at it.

one of the best purchases for $1.25 ever!

homemade pumpkin pie...seriously the best recipe that we got from a neighbor last Thanksgiving. absolutely never going to try another recipe. this one is sheer perfection. a bit more whipped cream plopped out of the bowl then i had intended, but i'm not complaining...i added a blip of maple syrup and a good drizzle of vanilla extract, so it tasted heavenly with the pie. {{smiles}}

more leaves and bows on cupboard doors.

a bit of magical whimsy in the window over our sink.

our tea kettle sits on a stand right below this sign that i wrote out...

this corner gets a lot of use, especially as the weather gets cooler.

every nook and cranny gets a touch of cozy...

even above the fridge. 

one of the coziest corners in our house...

our eating area in the kitchen.

perhaps i'll share a photo of the entire eating area later in the season,

but for this post, i wanted to highlight these shelves that i love decorating for each season/holiday.

our tea corner...yes, we like trying new teas and finding new favorites. 

we do drink a lot of tea in our home. {{smiles}} 

our front door and front steps have a variety of pumpkins on and around them, but we also enjoy putting a few decorative touches in our yard. we got this scarecrow our first autumn at shady cottage, and the mushroom is from last year...a random find that delighted us at dollar general.

even though we have real pumpkins by our front door, a few metal pumpkin decorations in front of one of our (many!) trees makes us smile when we pull in the driveway. can you see the leaves starting to fall? {[squeal}}

and, finally, this little tucked-away-corner gets a festive touch...this is where we grew some of our herbs over the summer...the pots are now empty until next spring. i love this little corner, nestled in the ivy.

i hope you enjoyed this little home and garden tour of some of our autumn decorations. i didn't share the little knick-knacks we have on our bookshelves, because my sister is doing a major reorganization project with those shelves, but i may share some peeks once she gets done. and i hope to share a tour of my room later in the season.

 i hope you enjoy these last few days of september...

may they be magical, cozy, and gentle.

see you next time!

home is where the heart is ♥ the cottage library

Welcome back, dear reader.

And welcome to a new, hopefully, weekly series I'm starting here at my cozy cottage. If you've been poking around here for any time at all, you'll quickly realize that I love books and stories. I've shared some of my favorite novels on here through the years. However, my shelves are absolutely full of books, and not just novels. I've got quite a lovely collection of coffee table books, cookbooks, garden and home books, picture books, some poetry books, craft books, and more. 

 My favorite way to grow my personal library is attending the annual library book sales. I'm fortunate to have a few libraries in my area that not only have a small shop of used books that are open year-round, but several times each year, they hold a HUGE used book sale. It is at those sales that I really have some fun! You can fill a big box for just $12, and do you know how many books you can fit into a big box? I'll tell you... A LOT! That for me is better than vacation!

I also love visiting local little free libraries, and I try to make the rounds every couple of months. I've found some real treasures in those! And as much as I love shopping for used books off my book list, there's something about going into a sale or walking up to a little free library and not knowing what you're going to find. I've found some absolutely lovely and gorgeous books in those unexpected places.

Which brings me to this new, hopefully, weekly series...my hope and plan is to go through my shelves and choose a book somewhat randomly and share it with you. Through photographs, perhaps an excerpt or two, and any other thoughts I want to share. I think it will be great fun, and I hope you'll join me for these posts. I won't be sharing any (err, many) novels in this series, as I want this to be more about those other books on my shelves. I hope you enjoy!

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

To begin this new series, I thought a good place to begin would be with an absolutely gorgeous book. Back when I was a young girl, the art of Thomas Kinkade was all the rage. I even seem to recall seeing commercials on TV showing his art. Even as a little girl, I was completely enchanted by his artwork, and especially how so many of his pieces depicted homes and cottages and the beauty of those sacred places.

This book, Home is Where the Heart Is, is a sweet coffee table book. Let's take a peek inside...

Every page showcases a piece of Kinkade's art, as well as a poem or excerpt from a book or a few shorter quotes...all on the theme of home. The painting here is called "Blessings of Autumn". Can you see the little pumpkins on the front steps? {{smiles}}

Home is a comfort

And home is a light

A place to leave the darkness outside

Home is a peaceful and ever-full feeling

A place where a soul safely hides

And being at home should remind you that still

There's a place that's prepared just for you

~ Michael Card ~

This is a song! Who knew?!?! 

You should definitely go to YouTube and give it a listen...your heart and soul will thank you. ♥

(Can you see why this book jumped out at me?!?!)

A close-knit and loving home is worth more than a kingdom.

~ William Bennett ~

This painting is called "Sunday Outing".

I'm a lover and collector of quotes. I've been keeping a commonplace book for over a decade now. And I love finding new quotes that I haven't read or seen before, such as the one above. How true those words are! I know I'm happiest at home.

While I'd heard the last line of this poem, I didn't know it was part of a longer poem...and this is just part of it here. You can easily search for the entire poem online and give it a read.

The artwork throughout this book is especially inspiring...the use of color and light and the central focus of home...it all fills me with so much inspiration and imagination. I am reminded of my love of home and the value I place on that sacred haven. I am inspired and moved to continue to make my home what I want it to be. I especially love how the shifting seasons are brought to life in the different paintings...the autumnal colors in the one above, as well as the leaf pile burning in the front yard...the scent of crunchy autumn leaves and sticks burning and woodsmoke nearly comes right off the page. I also really appreciate the soft dampness on the sidewalk and how the lights are reflected there. This painting is called "Amber Afternoon".

I have never, ever come across any Miss Read mentions, much less excerpts from her books, in any other book...until this one. How lovely is this selection from No Holly for Miss Quinn?

She lay back and listened to the little domestic sounds of the old house.

The fire whispered, a log shifted at its heart, the dog snored gently after his meal.

Outside, the wind stirred the trees, and somewhere a distant door banged as the breeze caught it.

Christmas magic. Horses tied up waiting outside by a tree decked with twinkly lights. Gentle lights glowing from within the home. A wreath on the door. This painting is called "Christmas Memories".

And a rather lovely selection from L.M. Montgomery in Anne's House of Dreams.

The first glimpse of her new home was a delight to the eye and spirit...

The door of the little house opened,

and a warm glow of firelight flickered into the dusk.

How lovely are some of the lines of this poem by Edgar A. Guest...

Sittin' on the porch at night when all the tasks are done,

Just restin' there an' talkin', with my easy slippers on,

An' my shirt band thrown wide open an' my feet upon the rail,

Oh, it's then I'm at my richest, with a wealth that cannot fail;

For the scent of early roses seems to flood the evening air,

An' a throne of downright gladness is my wicker rocking chair.

The painting here is called "Hometown Memories".

This painting is called "Victorian Garden II". The very first thing I noticed is the smoke coming out of the chimney. Then, of course, all the gorgeous flowers and picket fence and lamp post...the porch and lights glowing from inside and how quaint it all feels. 

I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside one of the most beautiful books on my shelf. I absolutely love Thomas Kinkade's artwork and the words paired with his paintings in this book were sheer perfection. I hope you found some inspiration in them, too.

Until my next post, 

may your day be filled with wonder and beauty!

an autumnal greeting . . .

A warm autumnal greeting to you, dear reader.

It's been a hot minute since my last post. We had a medical emergency with one of our fur babies. It was a rocky few weeks, but thankfully, our sweet boy is doing much better. And I hope to be back in this space more regularly.

Today marks the autumn equinox, one of my favorite days of the year. It means that "my" time of the year has arrived. The seasons of autumn and winter are officially upon us, and it fills me with as much giddiness as a little girl in a candy shop. Tonight we'll be having our annual Autumn Celebration Dinner, a tradition which I began our first year here at Shady Cottage. Each year on the first day of autumn, we have a special dinner and dessert to celebrate our favorite time of year...because, yes, we all agree in our home that autumn and winter are the best. {{smiles}} Every year the menu for this meal changes because there are so many delicious recipes that fit our criteria: cozy, comforting, seasonal. And this year's menu is: Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Apple, Bacon, and Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and for dessert, my sister made our very favorite homemade pumpkin pie...it smelled absolutely divine in our home last night as it was baking away in the oven. I'll make some fresh vanilla whipped cream to go along with it, because what is pumpkin pie without whipped cream?!?!?

On Friday, I officially began my autumn movie watching with You've Got Mail. This is a dear favorite of mine, and somehow, it just gets better every time I watch it. I have a list of autumn films that I want to watch over the next few weeks, with some Halloween movies thrown in as October arrives. Then, it will lead to a few Thanksgiving movies (of which I declare there are not enough of! Do you have any recommendations or favorites to share?) and then Christmas movies from November through early January. The winter months allow for lots of watching of films that aren't quite holiday particular, but very cozy nonetheless. 

I've also pulled out a smallish pile of books I hope to read this autumn...I've started one, but I'm a bit leery about it as I'm not sure if it will stay my cup of tea. I'm a bit concerned about the content, but I shall see. I've also pulled out a few seasonal cookbooks that I want to flip through for some new recipes to try. Autumn and winter are also my favorite times of year to cook and eat. I love the warm, cozy, comforting meals that this time of year inspires me to cook. I'm of the firm belief that cozy, comfort food can also be nourishing and wholesome and healthy. Over the last handful of years, I've grown quite a repertoire of recipes that we love and there's something about it being chilly (or cold!) outside, lighting a candle in the kitchen, popping in a favorite CD, and making a delicious meal for my family. 

The earlier evenings that this time of year brings are one of the best things about autumn and winter. The sun sets earlier, we close the curtains, tuck ourselves into our living room with a heap of throw blankets on our favorite spots to curl up and settle in for an episode or two of a show we're working our way through (currently, it's Wolfblood -perfect for this time of year!, and Castle - a fun new-to-us crime drama with comedy thrown in, too). I also love working on a handicraft in the evenings, and yes, I'm still going to town on my afghan...I've got only about 20 or so more granny squares to crochet and then it's time to lay it all out and arrange the squares before I start attaching them. I'm so excited to see how it all turns out...it's my first crochet project, after all, so it's all a brand-new experience! {{smiles}}

I'm really, really hoping for some cooler, crisp temperatures soon. Our September has been excruciatingly hot. It's been barely below 100*F for a few weeks now, and it's getting to me. I'm beyond over it...for someone who experiences reverse seasonal depression, I'm really struggling with this lingering summer weather. I'm craving grey skies, steady rain, crisp air, cool breezes, temperatures cool enough to wear a sweater and warm socks, and for those autumn vibes to become reality. Come on, autumn, bring me some nice weather...pretty please, with a cherry on top.

I hope your September is lovely so far, and that your first day of autumn is as beautiful as you hope it to be. May you find yourself filled with delight at the new season upon us, may your dinner table be filled with delicious comforting foods, and may this autumn be a magical, enchanting, gentle, cozy one for us all...

Thank you so much for joining me here today, lovely readers.

I hope to be back here very soon...

♥

a daybook for august

Little glimpses into the past few weeks . . .

{{ feeling that patriotic vibe all summer long with this handmade T-shirt. my sister saw similar ideas online and I took what she showed me and made our own version or the fourth of July. I was so pleased with how they turned out. }}

{{ confetti from our poppers on the fourth of July...we don't do fireworks at home; instead, we head to town for their fireworks show and do little poppers at home. and yes, we swept up our mess afterwards...my sister made sure every single little piece was picked up so no little critter gets ahold of one. }}

{{ a july sunset on the way home from a day trip to the hills }}

{{ homemade blueberry muffins...the perfect late night baking session }}

{{ a good-night mug of nourishing hot cacao with whipped cream whilst watching Vera...I've started adding some cardamom to my hot cacao, and oh my goodness, is it divine! }}

{{ deep summertime green...one of my favorite colors }}

{{ we absolutely enjoyed a couple days where the high temp was 78-80 F...if summer felt like this during the day all the time, I do believe I could love it }}

{{ so thankful to live in a quaint cottage nestled in the trees...I feel like I live in a treehouse ♥ }}

{{ another night...another mug of hot choco }}

{{ pattern mixing is one of my favorite things...and so is pairing up favorite pieces with old pieces to make them feel new again }}

outside my window

Absolutely gorgeous summertime green...which I will not stop talking about because it's seriously one of the only things I actually like about this time of year. We've had lots of rain this spring and summer, which gives me all the happy feels, and I think the trees love it, too. We've had to water more lately as it's been so incredibly hot and things are starting to not look so good...our basil is looking rather poorly. The crepe myrtles are stunning this time of year, though. All the different colors are gorgeous around town!

i am thinking

Of what I want to cook for dinner over the next few days; how to use up leftovers so they don't go to waste; of some crafty project ideas with my sister; of what book(s) I want to read after I finish the one I'm working on; what fun autumnal things I want to do this year

i am thankful for

rainy days; sunset drives in the countryside; admiring the lush vibrant green; being inspired by creative folks; *really* good books; candlelight and mugs of hot cacao; simple, ordinary days that are my favorite kind of day

from the kitchen

Last week, I made lemon butter salmon for dinner, and it was my first time eating it. I'd made it before for my mom and sister, but I'm so not a fish person. To my complete surprise, I actually loved it...this felt like a major accomplishment to me. Ha! It was my sister's birthday on Wednesday, and she requested homemade peanut butter ripple ice cream with dark chocolate chunks and a caramel fudge chocolate cake...not only was it so fun making them, along with her birthday dinner, but they were so delicious! 

i am creating

In the last week, I have crocheted so many granny squares, I've run out of yarn...I'm hoping it is on sale this week. I am officially obsessed with granny squares. And I'm officially over halfway through making all the squares I need for my first afghan. My sister and I have also done some decoupaging recently; we have a bit to do to finish our project, but it's been so fun.

i am wearing

On this hot August day, I'm wearing one of my favorite sundresses...brown and white gingham dress with a floral crop blouse with lace details over. You can see it in the photo above. {{smiles}}

in my cup

Just plain ol' iced water for me this evening. I'm someone who genuinely loves drinking water, and on hot days, it just hits the spot.

i am reading

I've been thankful to read a couple really good stories these past few weeks. First, I read The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, which is the third book in the series. I absolutely loved it; and seeing as how it was set at the beach, it was the perfect summertime read. I love the Penderwick family so much, and I really enjoyed getting to know Aunt Claire in this book. She is such a sweet, caring, understanding aunt. At the time of writing this post, I'm in the last 100 pages of Anne of Avonlea, which is just so darn good. It's my first time reading beyond the first Anne book, and it is exactly what I hoped and dreamed it would be...and more. L.M. Montgomery is quickly becoming a real favorite of mine. I love her storytelling style; she has a true knack for immersing her reader in the story and makes it feel as though Anne, Diana, Marilla, Rachel, and Gilbert are your own little circle of friends...and how I wish they were. It's a good thing to read a book you just really, really love, but it's also a bad thing because you hope your next read is just as good, and when it's not, it can put you in a real reading slump. At least that's what I've noticed about me.

i am listening to

Aside from listening to some of my favorite film scores while cooking dinner in the evenings, which I highly recommend, by the way, my top 5 songs this past month are:

Chasing Rainbows (The High Kings); Up on the Roof (James Taylor); Through the Dark (One Direction); Sunrise (Norah Jones); On the Sunny Side of the Street (Steve Tyrell; from Father of the Bride)

i am watching

Seeing as how I've been crocheting nearly every evening, it's given me a chance to try out a few Hallmark movies, and I've got a few new favorites to add to my list. 

A Harvest Wedding- I loved this one so much. Jill Wagner is one of my favorites, so this was a must-try for me. The autumnal scenery was stunning and I loved the farm setting. The whole story was really sweet, and I also greatly appreciated how the usual tension and miscommunication and misunderstanding part of a Hallmark movie wasn't really present in this one. For me, this one belongs on my "favorites" list.

The Way to You- This is another one to go on my "favorites" list. I seriously loved this movie. I loved the wintry New York City setting, and the main characters were both likable, which is always a plus. I loved how the male lead who lived a more mainstream lifestyle really respected the female lead's unconventional, creative lifestyle, instead of condemning it or making subtle jokes about her choices. That was refreshing.

Hearts of Winter- Another Jill Wagner movie. While I wouldn't consider this one a favorite, I still really enjoyed it. I especially loved the father-daughter relationship that was portrayed in the movie; it was really sweet and heartwarming. I loved that the father's character was so devoted to his daughter and he really tried his best to be the best dad he could be for her. I found that particularly touching.

i am hoping

that the rest of summer isn't too hot; to continue working on my granny squares; that the next book(s) I pick up to read are just as amazing as the last few I've read

i am hearing

cats playing and goofing off; the air conditioner just clicked off; TV on in the background; the hum of my computer; and music playing in my headphones

around the house

lots of little tidying and cleaning projects...it's amazing how spending 15-30 minutes working on an area makes a HUGE difference.

one of my favorite things

My newest favorite thing is my brand spanking new crochet hook with a grip...it makes my crafting time so much more enjoyable and easier on my hands.

word collecting

I think magic is remembering. Remembering what it feels like to talk to the wind as a child, to trust the pull of the moon, to believe the world was alive with something unseen. Maybe growing up isn't about forgetting. Maybe it's about learning to listen again.

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Thanks for joining me here today...

I hope your upcoming week is a beautiful one!