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!

may photo journal ♥ day nineteen ♥ at the moment

at the moment ...

~ reading ~

I've been in a bit of a reading slump since mid-March and honestly have only read one or two books since then, which totally isn't like me. This is due to reading the same genre for about five books in a row and burning myself out, dealing with some stressful things that have gone on this spring, and having a bit of a hard time finding a book that clicks with me. At the start of May, I decided to try and get back to it...because I was really missing my reading time at that point. So, at the moment, I've got three books going. One is the first in a family saga trilogy set a decade after WWII, another is a cozy mystery with magical elements, and the third is a Southern fiction novel about friendship, starting over, and opening yourself up to goodness again. I'm really enjoying all three...thankfully. Here's hoping that keeps up!

~ watching ~

My sister discovered two new-to-her shows earlier this year and has since shared them with my mom and me...and now, we all love them. Definitely new favorites in our house. They are Monk and Psych. Both comedy-mystery-crime dramas, which is honestly everything I could want in a show. We're about halfway through each series and very much enjoying them.

~ listening ~

Spotify playlists continue to bring me much joy, both in creating them and finding just the right songs that I want for the feeling I'm going for, and then, of course, listening to them afterwards. Right now, I'm listening to a playlist I made that I named "my inner world". This is a playlist of all the gorgeous film scores that I've come to love over the last handful of years. And these arrangements and such are exactly what my inner world sounds like in my mind and in the depths of my soul. This playlist beings me endless joy and delight and I listen to it every chance I get. You can check it out here if you like. I like to put it on shuffle because I didn't want to take the time to arrange the film scores so that the songs from one movie or series weren't all together. I should have, but that is a ton of work. And the shuffle button works just as well. I highly recommend listening to this playlist whilst cooking dinner, baking bread or cookies, cleaning or organizing or tidying your home, working on a creative project, playing board games or cards, journaling, reading (if you can listen to music while reading), folding laundry, pretty much anything. These musical arrangements really take the most ordinary of moments and tasks and make them feel like some sort of magic just got sprinkled down over you...and that may be a bit over-dramatic, but that's truly how it feels for me. Oh, and don't forget to light a candle!

~ making ~

Over the weekend, my "making" was a whole bunch of meal and snack prep in the kitchen. I'm studying and learning from the Nourishing Traditions book, which is very informative and somewhat daunting, if I'm honest. This weekend, I made black beans using the method in the book of soaking overnight for an extended period of time and then cooking the next day. We also soaked a bunch of raw peanuts, and they are currently in the dehydrator for a very, very, very long time...maybe up to 24 hours according to the recipe. Some are going to be for snacking and the rest are for homemade peanut butter. And that, I'm super-duper excited about! I also made an incredibly delicious soup for dinner on Sunday. I doubled the recipe so we'd have lots of leftovers for lunches throughout the week. It's a cauliflower-based broth with chicken and veggies. It is seriously divine!

~ words ~

I am rooted, but I flow.

(Virginia Woolf)

I stumbled upon that quote last week and it's been on my mind ever since. I'm a firm believer in being rooted and living a rooted life. In today's world of nomadic lifestyles and very much nonrooted living, in every sense of the word---morally, physically, mentally, emotionally, you name it--- my belief of being rooted gets reiterated just about every single day. Sometime I want to share my thoughts on this rooted life thing, but I know it will definitely be against the cultural norm and modern value system, so I am a bit hesitant to share. But I also know that several of you have so kindly reached out when I've shared my thoughts on rooted, gentle living in the past and shared how much you believe that yourself, so I know there are indeed kindred spirits out there. Let me know if that's something you'd like to read about. I will tell you it definitely goes against the hustle culture, more-is-better belief, constant travel (especially international) lifestyle, nomadic/don't have an address/live in a bus or RV trend, ultra-materialistic/consumerist and inauthentic tendencies of today and such.

Do share your "at the moments" with me in the comments below!

Until tomorrow...

may your Monday be filled with beauty at every turn!

preparing for a cozy christmas & wintertime 🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️

The fires burn and the kettles sing, 

and the earth sinks to rest until next spring.

~ Clyde Watson~

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Warm greetings, lovely readers!

We have made it to the end of October, which also means that today is the final post in my 2024 Autumn Notes from Home series. And I wanted to end this year's series with a little something different. Today, I want to point to all things Christmasy and wintry...with the hopes and dreams and wishes for the coming months and inspire you towards the same.

Christmas is a favorite time of year for me. It holds many, many fond memories for me from my childhood and little girl years, as well as sweet memories of years not too far in the past as well as many hopes and dreams and wishes for Christmases in the future. I believe Christmas to be a magical time and a time to really let your inner child have some fun and delight. It's a time for whimsy and reindeer on the roof and a jolly white bearded man coming down the chimney. It's the time for cookie baking and carol singing and cozying up with hot chocolate in hand as you drive around town to admire the lights and decorations. It's the time for comforting movies and pulling out those old records and of candy canes hanging on the tree and stockings on the mantle. It's a time of peace on earth and goodwill towards others, not forgetting kindness towards ourselves, too. It's the time to believe in those little girl (or little boy) imaginings and knowing they're as real as they were when you were five years old. Christmastime. I just love it so much.

In our home, Christmas begins trickling in around the start of November. I begin playing Christmas songs sometime during the first week or two of the month, and we also start watching Christmas movies then, as well. We decorate our house, inside and out, on the weekend after Thanksgiving. That has been our family tradition as far as I can remember. Today I want to share some thoughts on preparing for Christmas and wintertime.

Before I begin, though, I wanted to mention that last Christmas I shared a home tour, so if you like that sort of thing, you can check it out here. The photos in this post are a little taste of that blog post...and video.

For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas, right this very minute
Hasn't snowed a single flurry, but Santa dear we're in a hurry

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Preparing for a cozy Christmas...

~ Select a stack of Christmas books that you hope to read during the season. It's especially fun to choose a stack of picture books, as the Christmas stories are so magical and oftentimes have the most gorgeous illustrations.

~ Make a playlist of all your family's favorite Christmas songs. I created a cozy Christmas playlist here if you'd like to check it out for some festive fun music.

~ Make a CD case just for your Christmas CDs...yes, we're old school and still prefer CDs. I love having a designated case just for our Christmas music. It goes from the car to the house regularly and gets used a lot.

~ Make a list of Christmas movies you want to watch during the season. 

~ Make a list of all the goodies you want to bake during December.

~ And also, make a list of anyone you want to gift those goodies to, as well as any ingredients and wrapping or packaging supplies you may need to pick up.

~ Give a tidy up to the area where your Christmas tree will go. We have two places in our home that we love putting our Christmas tree and each year, it just depends on what we're feeling for that Christmas. We sometimes need to rearrange or move some furniture as well. Tidying up the space ahead of time makes it a lot easier when we carry our tree in.

~ Make a list of any crafts or projects you want to accomplish during the season. I love doing a little something creative every December, even if it's just adding a few homemade ornaments to our tree.

~ Check your gift-wrapping supply stash and see if you need anything before the stores sell out of everything. We've been reusing the same gift bags for most of my life, but each year we do purchase some new wrapping paper. We also reuse bows and ribbons year after year, but it's nice to get them all organized into a bag or bin. And while we do reuse most of our wrapping supplies year after year, we also find it fun adding a couple of bits each year...nothing too crazy and we do make sure it can be used again and again. Wrapping supplies can get expensive, and it's honestly unnecessary to get rid of most of it each year. Simply reuse what you can. And as a little fun side note, it's really nostalgic and full of happy holiday memories to see the same bags and ribbons each year.

~ Make a meal plan for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ahead of time. In our home, the meals are always the same...for us, it's a beloved tradition. But we do like to make sure we don't forget anything, and we make a big grocery list of ingredients and then collect them throughout the months of November and December, instead of having to purchase a bunch of extra things in one go.

~ Check around your local area and see if there are any fun, festive activities going on that appeal to you. If so, make arrangements to attend...mark your calendar, purchase tickets, make fun plans.

~ Assemble or purchase an Advent calendar for your family. We have bought ones in the past that have those little pieces of chocolate behind doors to be opened each day of December. But, this year, I think we're going to make our own and put our favorite chocolates in to be enjoyed each day. This is fun for any age...at Christmastime, I think it's good and important to remember that you don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing. (George Bernard Shaw)

~ In our home, we enjoy and love celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, which take us to January 5th. To make these days special, we choose one special thing to enjoy or do each day. For example, one day we may go to a favorite restaurant or take hot chocolate in the car to drive around and see the lights one last time until next Christmas or we may have a game night and play board games and have a snacky dinner. Most of the things we do don't cost any money...but they're still so much fun. Last year, one of our celebrations was going to the theater and watching the new Wonka movie, which was a blast.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home.

~ Edith Sitwell~ 

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Preparing for a cozy wintertime...

~ Select a stack of books that you want to read during the colder months when you may find yourself indoors more often and settling in for earlier evenings. I enjoy choosing a few seasonal books with lots of snowy scenes, cozy vibes, or stories that take place in the wintertime.

~ And regardless of your age, choose some children's books or picture books to enjoy during these months, too. There's nothing as cozy as a really good and beautifully illustrated children's story.

~ Make your home as cozy as possible. I've shared so much about this on my blog, so if you need some inspiration, just have a peek around.

~ Pull out your seasonal mugs and place them in the front of your cupboard so they're easy to grab.

~ And while you're at it, make sure you keep ingredients on hand to make hot chocolate and pull out any seasonal tea blends and flavors. If coffee is your thing, make sure you have things on hand to make your favorite brew.

~ Make a list of recipes and meals that you want to cook for dinner during the colder months. I am never more inspired to cook than when it gets chilly outside and all my favorite things to cook are best during the autumn and winter months.

~ Add a layer to your bed for extra warmth and coziness.

~ Bring out throw blankets to keep on your sofas and chairs so you can easily grab one when you want it.

~ Hang some fairy lights in your home. Add a seasonally scented candle to your home as well. And if you love essential oils like we do, make sure you have warming scents on hand and look up some blends online to try something new.

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That's just some of the ways we prepare for a cozy Christmas and wintertime in our home. I hope it inspired you to do some fun preparation for coziness in your own home. Do let me know some of the ways you enjoy preparing for Christmas and winter!

a collection of summertime companions 🌻

A very good morning to you, lovely readers! 

 

I hope your July has gotten off to a wonderful start so far. We're already nearly two weeks into the month...time sure does fly by. Summer is marching along, complete with hot temperatures, plenty of sticky humidity, swarms of mosquitoes that I have to fight off (fortunately I have come up with a homemade, all-natural bug spray that seems to be working at keeping them at bay), and plenty of sunshine. 

As you well know if you've been around for anytime at all...summer is my absolute least favorite time of year. There isn't much I like about this season. My soul belongs in the autumn and winter, and it's been that way since I was a little girl. And as I get older, it just becomes more and more true for me. But I do enjoy making the season as enjoyable as it can be for someone who hates the heat and much rather prefers cold temperatures, rainy or snowy weather, and overcast days over sunshine. Here's my collection of summertime companions...I hope you find some inspiration here and perhaps, a new companion or two to join you this summer. 

So pour yourself a tall glass of iced herbal tea and settle in for a bit of summertime fun!

T O 🌻 W A T C H

Letters to Juliet

Hands down, one of my top 5 favorite movies. I literally never get tired of watching this one, and it's perfect for summertime. A little armchair travel via your TV screen to the gorgeous Italian countryside.

The Parent Trap (1998)

This specific version gives me all the summer vibes...and has ever since I was a little girl. It's so nostalgic to me and I adore it so much. 

It Takes Two (with the Olsen twins)

Another summer camp themed movie, not as good as The Parent Trap, in my opinion, but still full of those summer vibes.

Julie and Julia

I don't know why, but this movie always feels super summery to me...but so cozy, too. Another all-time favorite of mine!

Under the Tuscan Sun

Another armchair travel to Italy. Oh, how I love this one. It's magical, hopeful, inspiring, beautiful...all the good words. A fave!

Miss Potter

This one also feels so summery to me, perhaps because of all the stunning scenery of the Lake District and whimsical paintings of Peter Rabbit and his friends. But this one is such a good one for the whole family!

Princess Diaries 1 & 2

Two movies that are so very nostalgic to me, as I remember watching these on summer nights as a little girl. I still love them and watch them often!

Because of Winn-Dixie

If you are looking for a summertime movie for the whole family, look no further than this one right here. There aren't many other movies as heartwarming as this one...and it's inspired by one of my most beloved books by the same title. Another childhood favorite. 

Ramona and Beezus

This one is cute and heartwarming and funny. Another one great for the whole family!

Cheaper by the Dozen 1 & 2

While both movies are fantastic to watch, the second one, in particular, is the most perfect, quintessential summertime movie. We love this one so much! Just mentioning it here, I already have the song, There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan, stuck in my head. If you've seen this movie, you'll know why. Ha!

The Secret World of Arrietty

My favorite Studio Ghibli movie (so far). So beautiful and colorful and cheerful to watch, plus a sweet storyline. Perfect for the family!

Kiki's Delivery Service

Another Studio Ghibli favorite that's perfect for the family. Don't miss out on the book this movie was inspired by, it's a favorite of mine! I actually liked it better than the movie. {{smiles}}

Dennis the Menace (1993 movie)

 When my sister and I were younger, this was one of our favorite summertime movies to watch. It's got all those nostalgic summer neighborhood vibes that just makes you feel good. It's still fun to watch as an adult, too! Just perfect for a family movie night!

H20: Just Add Water

This TV series is from my childhood and teen years. It's kind of cheesy and has a bit of cringe here and there, but I still love it. It's set on Australia's Gold Coast and really shows such incredible scenery as well as fun storylines about three friends who are also mermaids. Add in a little full moon magic and craziness and it gets even better. A real throw-back full of nostalgia still worth the watch.

Mallorca Files

This mystery series is set in Mallorca, Spain and really has such summer, island vibes. We love it! There are two seasons out so far on Prime, with the third coming out in August. Our calendars are marked, and we are so looking forward to this series returning. It's funny and has two great lead actors who really make the show come to life, along with mysteries and gorgeous settings as well.

T O 🌻 L I S T E N

I have compiled a huge list of songs that say summer to me, and I've made them into a playlist. You can check it out on Spotify and give it a listen. I had so much fun putting these songs together into one list of all my favorites for this time of year! These are all songs with some special summertime meaning to me, so I hope you enjoy them, too. 

T O 🌻 R E A D 

A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (slight content warning)

Daisies for Innocence by Bailey Cattrell

The Summer House by Jenny Hale

The Summer Hideaway by Jenny Hale

The Beach House by Jenny Hale (my July book club pick!)

Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace by Kate Forster

 Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillio

Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

How to be a Wildflower by Katie Daisy

How to be a Moonflower by Katie Daisy

 

Last week, I finished reading the July book club pick, The Beach House by Jenny Hale. And I must say, I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to discuss it with you all on the 25th. Do let me know if you're reading it, if you're done with it, and how you're getting on with the book!

What are your favorite summertime companions to listen to, to read, or to watch? Do share them with me!

Have a lovely day, dear reader! Stay cool and enjoy life's magic wherever it finds you. ♥