A formal kind of day

This kitchen received a workout the last few days. But it was a well thought out cooking plan this year which resulted in lots of time spent talking, playing bocce ball and going for an after dinner walk.

We went all out this year and waxed the furniture, polished grandma’s silver, starched her napkins and reached up to the top shelves to bring out her china. This year we went formal.

Today we’ll keep our wallets in our pockets and instead head out to the park with our turkey sandwiches to meet with friends.

There was so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I hope you had a fantastic day too!

Sometimes I get it right

It’s not often though. Me getting things right, that is. We learn and grow and become better people through our mistakes. At least that’s what I hold high hope to. But every once in a while, I get things right. When we first moved into this house our life got topsy-turvy & chaotic. Our lives were stuffed in boxes, our regular routines were thrown to the wind. There was little to feel in control of. And this front planting bed used to reflect just that. It’s right in front of our house, the first thing you see when you step out of your car and it was growing as chaotic and rag tag as my mental stability was at the time. So I ripped it all out. Cleaned this bed down to dirt and did something I’ve never done before. I bought plants in mass quantity and planted in clean orderly, symmetrical lines.

I’ve watched these plants grow in over the last two years and I’m so happy with them. In terms of garden design my virgo brain and my artist brain battle it out. One part of me likes things crisp and clean and tidy and the other likes things wild, overgrown and secret-garden feeling. I’m learning as I go, that if you start with a clean, crisp, tidy layout at the beginning, that things will eventually start to grow to take on a wild abundance. But in an orderly way. Orderly wildness, if you will. As I go about reorganizing other parts of the garden I’m keeping this in mind. Thinking of repetition & clean lines to begin with, which will hopefully grow to mystery and abundance in the future.



And always, I think of how to get the most color in autumn.

Slowing down as we rush forward.

The dark days are here, aren’t they? October went by so very fast, that I made it a priority for November and December that we slow down a bit. I cancelled all after school activities for the two months which has given us all a great sigh of relief. With inspiration from Alicia, last year I bought a bunch of candles on timers and set them all up through out the house after the time changed. It’s so nice to walk down the dark hallway and have a little light waiting for me next to my bedside.

My parents took a brave step and watched all three kids for one night last week. We’ve never known such luxury! We were besides ourselves with free time. While Scott finished up with work, I rushed over to Petaluma to Knitterly and fell upon a few other fantastic little shops. I found Fog Linens at Good Gray along with a little dustpan and broom for little spills (that happen hourly in our kitchen). I’m thinking that the pink yarn will be made into an Ice Cream Sundae for the wee one and the Madeline Tosh is already being transformed into a Relax for me. ‘Relax’, that sounds perfect for me!

The chickens have been impressing me by still giving us plenty of eggs everyday. Dark days haven’t stopped their laying habits thankfully. Scott’s been on a roll with creative cooking lately. Handing me some homemade salmon caviar as a snack the other day and making avocado sandwiches for lunch. That sandwich was incredible, toasted, rubbed with garlic, sliced perfectly ripe avocado and a drizzle of oil & salt & pepper. It was perfect.

I hope you’re able to find some slow time and enjoyment as we rush forward into the holidays.