This week - hot and hotter!

I long for the ending of this year's Summer season. It has been nothing but endless days of breathtaking dry heat. Carrying a water bottle is sensible. I usually forget mine, so end up with throat issues as I become dehydrated after just a short time outdoors. Yesterday we ran some errands in 102F, not smart. The heat shimmered across the concrete parking lots, getting back into the car was like plunging into a furnace. I was thankful for my air conditioned leather seats. We ended the afternoon in a favorite wine bar before heading to the house for supper. I ordered a crystal clear glass of icy cold rosé and requested a glass of water - he brought me a large chilled bottle.

The house is cool and walking in refreshing. Meals are quick with no long prep. Roasting, boiling, frying, not in the cards lately. Even a tomato sandwich with a slice of fresh mozzarella and a bright green salad is satisfying on a hot night.

I've done little around the house this summer. Need to downsize stuff. Editing knick knacks will be a winter project, again! That said I have a few new to me items on the walls!  My wonderful neighbor has moved. He and his kitty Ms. Nala, whom you may recall I often cared for when he traveled, have a new home. We will miss him being next door, but he'll be around a lot as he's keeping the house and renting it to a family member.  He gifted me with this beautiful antique mirror and two winter landscape paintings. He knew I always loved these when they hung in his house. He's kind and thoughtful and has always been there for us in the last ten years.

Meanwhile, I'm pulling out autumn/winter weight clothes for the upcoming trip across the pond. It will be cooler there for certain. I will love that. The collapsible rack is at the ready. I hang things there daily while deciding what I will pack later. Each day different items appear as others disappear back into drawers and closets. Decisions as to what to take - and fit into one suitcase - is the hardest part of a journey for me, and it never gets any easier!  Going home soon.
  

When I dig back through memory cells, I get one particularly distinctive feeling - and that's one of warmth, comfort and well-being. For whatever else I may have had, or lost, or will find - I've still got a hometown. This, nobody's gonna take away from me. 

Rod Serling

Autumn is waiting in the wings. . . . .

 

Knitting needles are out. 

A sign of what's to come. 

I will stay busy and creative while watching movies

 and such during those many long evenings ahead!

My favorite season is on the way. Gently moving closer through the slightly

 shorter days and cooler nights. The leaves on the massive oaks have yet

 to turn; the fig tree still bears remnants of its fruitful bounty; the

 hydrangea blooms are rusty, their leaves dropping haphazardly into the

 flower beds, having struggled through the hot, dry summer to make a

show and present their seasonal best.

September is bringing changes and I'm ready, are you?

I'm not planning much in the way of Autumn decor, just moving things about

on shelves, adding my papier-mâché versions of pumpkins and the

 lovely painting of the white pumpkin - a favorite always. I took them out of

 storage over this long weekend and couldn't resist displaying them.

A visit to the pumpkin farm will come later once the weather has cooled.

I will look for green/grey/white pumpkins for a dining room table display

and some potted chrysanthemums for the front steps.

Do you have plans to decorate for Autumn?

Keeping the home fires burning -

My living room windows face north, one wall of three floor to ceiling windows.

 Early morning light is flat without a fire burning on the hearth, whereas

 in the evenings when we settle in for a few hours of television, some very

interesting, some just mindless escapism in these pandemic months/years,

a blazing hearth brings warmth and light and we can lower the heating system.

The wood pile is getting low but we will have enough to see us through

 another month. Some evenings this week have been too warm to light 

the fire, but over the weekend it will be cool again.

The dust from burning wood in an open fire - I won't even go there - but

Spring cleaning is on the to do list!

Note the really nice square Asian cachepot from AT HOME - in shades

 of blue and grey. It came home with me and will soon be holding a new

 plant of some description. 

Between those odds and ends I'm supposedly addressing at home this week, 

I popped out to meet a dear friend for lunch and a news catch up. On the 

way home I decided to stop by AT HOME to replenish some candles I'm

 really enjoying. I like the larger 3-wick version and as there were only three

 left on the shelf in River Birch & Fern, I bought them all. This fragrance 

is very subtle, and is a favorite. The green smoked glass and wooden

 lids make them appear quite posh, however they are a bargain

 at just $12.99 each.

I've found that three wicks burn much better when it comes to even melting

 of a candle, less wax 'tunneling' and perhaps lasting longer overall. 

I always trim the wicks before lighting again, important for a

 clean-burning candle.

 

Yesterday I cut my first daffodils of this year for the kitchen window.

They started appearing in the back garden this week and filled

 my heart with hope and joy.

Hoping everyone reading this in the UK remained safe during the huge

storm Eunice. Apparently it did some serious damage in some areas.

Now on it's way across the north to The Netherlands, Belgium, 

Germany etc. so I hope my friends there are not endangered.

Stay safe and warm. Enjoy your weekend .

Living Room Blues -

I'm not keen on the idea of purchasing home accessories online - I really

prefer to see what I'm buying upfront and close up.

These days, real shopping, where you call a friend, make a date for

 lunch, and look forward to "let's take whirl around Home Goods, 

TJMaxx, Target etc. for a couple of hours" is out of the question.

I'm missing those special days and spending time with my friends.

Following the annual packing away of colorful holiday decorations -

other than leaving out some candles to brighten the long evenings - the

 living room has taken on a bit of a tired look. . . . . perhaps because we

 now spend so much time there and have to look at it so much!

So today you get what has to be the first 'cottage interiors' post

 in a long time, and I require a little help with this one.

I purchased the pair of blue and white 'ginger jar' style lamps online, 

throwing caution to the wind in hopes they would work in the room.

Despite a initial scare when I noticed some serious damage to both

 boxes they arrived in, thankfully the lamps and shades were intact and

 not damaged at all! 

Removing them from said boxes is another story - let's just

 say styrofoam made from millions of miniscule balls should be

 banned now!

My old table lamps were just that, old and dull. 

This small room has a wall of windows facing north, no direct sun floods in,

just enough natural light in the daytime, and for evenings ambient lighting

 from table and floor lamps, and two ceiling spots over the fireplace.

Notice that the lamp on the left of the sofa is currently standing on

 three books! This is because that end table is lower that the one on

 the right - something I never thought about before because the former

 lamps were not a matching pair and apparently their different

 heights worked. 

So, and this is where your help would be appreciated, should I raise the

 lower table by adding something (pieces of wood perhaps) underneath it; 

look for something else to stand the lamp on, such as a wood or ceramic 

plinth/pedestal; or just continue using books which can be changed out 

now and then regarding colors and sizes?  

Needless to say, the right hand table cannot be lowered and I have no

 plans to buy new tables anytime soon, if ever, because I like these!

I enjoy the shades of blues and grays in this room. It was a big change

 after saying goodbye to the old sofa and white slip covers on all the

 upholstered pieces for many years - such a lot of extra work! 

Now however I realize I need a few pops of another color, again to

 brighten up the room - so today I added the velvet mustard patterned 

pillow and citron candle for the time being.

Curiosity makes me want to ask how you feel regarding online shopping.

Have you purchased home decor items this way, and if so were they 

delivered safely, undamaged, and did you keep them?

I was really nervous seeing the state the boxes arrived in. I thought

how awful if I unpacked them but needed to repack and ship them 

back to the seller. 

Life is different these days in so many ways.

SuzAnna's Antiques - still the best!

 

Lovely things for sale at SuzAnna's this week.

A much beloved place moved from the quirky Vintage Village last year.  

SuzAnna's Antiques, still owned by mother and daughter Susie and Jenny, 

is now a huge bricks and mortar store located in the small town of

 Rolesville. . . . . . a pleasant 30 minute country ride from north Raleigh.

On Monday, granddaughter Jasmin and I headed that way in still hot

 sunshine, passing green fields and front yards decorated with pumpkins

 galore - a lovely day to be out and about. . . . . . . and going somewhere

other than a grocery store!!!!!!

Yes, I purchased a few things, of course! Jasmin did too.

My favorite find was this hand painted on wood white pumpkin - looking 

perfect on my mantel.

These small velvet pumpkins caught my eye being royal blue and grey - and

 are now sitting on the perfect plate from Anthropologie.

Old books, who doesn't love them, and how useful they can be when wanting

a splash of your chosen color when styling a table, shelf or corner. This one is 

volume 25 of the 30 volumes of The Works of William Makepeace Thackeray,

printed in 1907.

A stunning set of framed stems from Nature - Jasmin and I both

loved these but decided as we couldn't really afford the whole set

so would leave it for another customer who could!

***************

I use to write a lot about this much-loved local place, the best place to

 shop for antiques and vintage. I enjoyed it so much I had a booth there

 myself, at first shared with my dear friend Vanessa ("Hi Vanessa" - in

 California now!), then we each had a space of our own. 

My granddaughter Jasmin enjoyed a part time job there from

 age 14 to 20 and 'learned the ropes' about decorating with beautiful things. 

  Life changes, Vanessa moved away, I started traveling more frequently

 and for longer times. I was not selling anymore but stopped by weekly on

 treasure hunting trips, and of course to visit with dear friends.

Life must go on and hopefully get back to normal.

The 'treasure hunting' trip on Monday was certainly a 

huge pick me up. Despite masks and distancing where 

possible, seeing old friends, catching up on news and

just being away from the house was awesome.

Off now to prepare for the aeration and seeding of the back 

garden area where a new lawn will hopefully grow!

Enjoy your day - get some fresh air - and welcome what is 

my favorite month, OCTOBER!

A new view of 'Home Sweet Home'. . . . . . . .

I designed the above for a post just before whispers of COVID-19 were heard, when

 times were different, much different!

Having just completed the master bedroom makeover - waved goodbye to painter,

 floorers, electrician, furniture delivery truck and so forth. . . . . . . . I was already 

thinking about what to do next to spruce up the cottage.

Of course that bubble burst, things crashed, and fixing up, changing decor,

hiring help, and shopping for anything even slightly related to home renovation,

other than filling the toilet roll holders - if one was lucky enough to find any - came

to screeching halt!

Yesterday I packed away the flannel sheets and changed the bedding

 to summertime sheets of cool linen.

Dusted the furniture and passed the mop over the floor.

Nobody comes to visit anymore - and I wonder if they ever will - suddenly 

things don't need to be perfect and I'm taking a rest from trying to be

a perfectionist!

In all honesty, housework is stagnating somewhat around here.

Outdoors is getting more attention, although this week with so much rain

not a lot can be done. Fortunately Bob mowed the grass which now is lush and 

so green. Last night's really heavy downpours crushed the

lovely pots of petunias to soggy messes, even deadheading is hard to do

and will have to wait.  Best to view are the hydrangeas, now fabulous huge 

blooms of many shades of blue as they guzzle gallons of rain water.

Meanwhile, my pretties collect dust on their shelves. . . . . . 

. . . . . but being old, some antique, they seem softened even more and I am

just enjoying them as is in the present time at home.

Scribble Picnic. . . . . . . . .3 Colors

". . . . . depicting something with a very limited color palette" 

per Michael's theme for this week's Scribble Picnic.

Interesting but not always easy. A challenge is always good for the creative mind.

Not even sure I'm correct with my take on the theme, but I'm giving it my best shot. 

 Don't recall where I found this photo, probably in a decorating publication, and 

it spoke to me because it appeared almost colorless. . . . . . until you look closer and
 realize there are three colors, black, white and brown.

Edited to a sketch, I added back color with watercolor and regular pencils,

and just generally played around with it.

Looking forward to seeing what the group creates for this theme.

Visit them here later - and enjoy our Scribble Picnic.

History of a home continues. . . . . . .

A house is a collection of objects, but a home is a collection of stories.
Favorite pieces often come to us with a history.

Antique, hand stitched  table linen from Carcassonne, France

I'm ready to get some serious Spring cleaning underway as my role of 'Nurse Grandma'

 (Jasmin returned home and is doing well and should be driving/working by mid-week)

 is over - many thanks again for your get-well wishes, she read them all.

During the' nursing' period, while Jasmin recuperated from her Appendectomy

 surgery, I was also a landscaper.  Bob and I moved, and spread, 10 cubic yards

 (imagine a small Mt. Everest arising from the driveway) of cypress wood chips

 around the back garden for water and weed control, clean walking areas etc.

 I recall when we could do it in a day, this time it took most of the weekend in

 such intense heat! Aching backs and hips, but we survived, finishing up  

yesterday afternoon after brunch.

 I was actually the impromptu Mother's Day Brunch 'chef' - I'm a glutton for

 punishment, right?  Served in the gazebo despite temperatures reaching

 the high 90's by early afternoon. It was so much nicer in many ways -

 requiring no standing outside in a restaurant line in the raging heat, fighting

crowds at buffets, or being served perhaps not such great food, and at those

 huge prices they charge on such family occasions.

A French pear and blueberry Gateau de Mamy - Mother's Day dessert - whipped up

Sunday morning. . . . . . . . 

. . . . . after fresh fruit smoothies, Muesli with strawberries, warm croissants

 with scrambled local farm eggs and Manchego cheese, hot coffee, and

 of course a chilled, very chilled, rosé from Provence with dessert.

I'm hoping your weekend was lovely whether you were part of the 

Sunday's celebration as a mother, or enjoying time with, or memories

of, your own dear mother.

A chill in the evening air. . . . . . . . .

Midtowne, Raleigh, NC 

Last evening the sunset was amazing.

Walking to a restaurant, then doing a 

little shopping in our neighborhood, we

at last felt a difference in the air.

Bring on autumn. . . . . . . sweaters, jackets, harvest moons,

pumpkins, goblins, falling leaves, warm and fuzzy friends, 

~ via Anthropologie ~

~ via Anthropologie ~

REVIVAL ~ Antiques and more in Raleigh. . . . . . . .

I paid a long overdue visit to one of my favorite shops on a recent
 Sunday afternoon.

Before we headed to the Ansel Adams exhibition at the art museum, 

my granddaughter and I enjoyed an hour here at REVIVAL'S

 Spring Open House.

REVIVAL is always full of amazing painted furniture, antique and
 vintage. Their team of craftsmen turn the scratched and battered,
 faded and worn into pieces so beautiful you want to take them all home.  

Then there are the accessories, lovely items, again some antique, others
 vintage, many new, and all certain to look attractive in any home.

Below are some of the special things which caught my eye.

Their black painted pieces are outstanding - they do many other colors also.

One of Revival's three cute shop cats.

Some cool music played in the back room - Ed Moon 

Jazz Trio - and there were great refreshments being served.

Jasmin and I both fell for these black and white botanical prints.
We like how they are framed between glass with distressed black painted frames.

We purchased the pair - the one below is here at the cottage in my
 living room - and Jasmin took the other one home with her.  

Some day in the future I'm sure the two will hang somewhere as a pair 

once again!

All photos above taken with my iPhone7

That was certainly a busy but very enjoyable Sunday afternoon. 
After the art museum we also stopped by the arboretum to see what
 was starting to bloom, then headed  to a Mediterranean restaurant
 for an early supper.