Hello friends, how was your weekend?  Hope you enjoyed yourself and had some relaxing down time!  As for me, I can honestly say my weekend was one of the most productive ever ~ a trip to a U-pick apple farm, a new chandy installed in the kitchen, and the most exciting news. . . the carpet on the stairs is gone, baby, gone.  Oh, yeah. 

So I had a crazy idea on Saturday to load up four girls (age 6 and under) into my SUV and head on out to an apple/pear orchard in nearby Sebastopol for a picking adventure. 

I think kids who grow up on a farm truly are at an advantage compared to city kids. They learn all about hard work, tilling the soil, caring for plants, trees, and animals. 

My suburbanite kids certainly do not live on a farm, so I think it’s important to give them farm adventures whenever possible, so they learn from a young age where food really comes from.  

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Congratulations to the following two winners of the Noteworthy Giveaway:

#44: Jenna W. who wrote:

“I’m about 5 months pregnant with my first so I was drawn to the baby announcements, shower invites and thank you notes. I love the Shower Banner Invitations and would love to pass this along to my sister who is throwing me a shower in a few months!”

#366 Whitney who wrote:

“Wow! I love them all – but I think I would definitely choose the “On the Road again” Moving Announcements!   My husband is a Navy Pilot and we just recently moved AGAIN – this would be a great way to let everyone know!   Or maybe I would pick the Blue Circus Birthday Invites for Monkey Man’s 1st birthday!”

Congrats Jenna and Whitney, please email me! 

And congratulations to #263 Vanessa, the winner of the ‘At Home With Country’ Giveaway who defined what ‘Country’ means to her: 

“Country means: cornfields, backyard gardens, outdoor dogs, gravel drive ways, quietness that goes on for miles, family, painted mailboxes, good cookin’, big tractors, hard work, shade tree and animal sounds.

Country decor is a place where you can kick up your feet and relax a while. Rocking chairs on a porch, clean and tidy interiors that are still so inviting, big windows with wonderful views, crisp and relaxed linens. Nothing too fussy or that can’t hold up to some good use. Country decor is like your most comfortable broken in pair of blue jeans that fit just right.”

Wow.  Well said !  How inspiring is Vanessa?   

Reading through all of your definitions of ‘country’ to me reads like a feature article in Country Living magazine ~ there are some very humorous comments, some poignant comments, but most are heartfelt, and I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy reading them.  The definition of ‘Country’ for most of you is analogous to a feeling of ‘home’, how delightful is that?  

So thanks to all who shared what ‘Country’ means to you.  And speaking of hard work Vanessa, today I’m beginning to the grueling work of pulling out the carpet tacks on our staircase.  Ouch !!  

Have a lovely Sunday y’all. 

All above images via Country Living, where else?

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I was determined this month to spend very little time, and absolutely no money, bringing the feel of fall into my home.

Why should I rush to the retail stores when the autumn leaves that were starting to turn on the branches in my own backyard provided all the inspiration and free fall decor I truly needed?

Over the summer, there was a lot of unnecessary *stuff* that had accumulated around our house.  I think this happens to most of us, regardless of our ‘clutter free’ intentions.  

The *stuff* in my home clung to baskets, and hid in dark corners where it thought it could hide. 

The *stuff* was wrong.

Several weeks ago, I purged my home of all things unnecessary in my continuing quest to live simply.   I find that when my home is clutter free, organized, and clean (a rare trifecta, to be frank), the pace around here flows a lot smoother.  Piles of meaningless *stuff* always overwhelms me.   Taking care of the *stuff* takes me away from taking care of my family, and that I cannot stand.  

As I scoured my home during the purge, I marveled at how much *stuff* seemed to find its way indoors.  In a merciless two day cleansing sweep, I brought all that was meaningless to the garage, keeping only what was beautiful, sentimental, or useful.

After a successful yard sale a few weekends ago, I’ll admit, I’ve been enjoying the bliss of a decluttered home.  A home filled only with the things that I love, or that I’ve collected over time.  The things that are nostalgic ~ the things that I’ve treasured for years.

That includes holiday decorations from years past.  I was determined this autumn season to not focus on spending.  To not run out and buy accessories that I simply didn’t need.  To appreciate, and use, what I already have. 

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Recently, I was sent a lovely text called At Home With Country, written by Christina Strutt, owner of Cabbages and Roses, a company specializing in printed linens for home and clothing.   

The very first thing to catch my eye was the cover image, depicting the bathroom from Christina’s own ‘Brook Cottage’.  I love the the intricate detail and thickness of the white mirror over the sink, and the rustic hooks holding cozy bathrobes.  The space proves that even floral plates can actually look lovely in a bathroom !    

The book was a delightful read cover to cover, filled with design ideas for adding warmth and character to your home, even if you don’t consider your personal style to be ‘country’. 

I often associate ‘country’ with ‘farmhouse’ but after I read the book, I found that ‘country’ style is not nearly as narrow a definition as I imagined, at least according to this author.  Rather, ‘country’ is the medley of colors and textures, soft florals and cottons, and rustic objects paired with simple elements that are collected over time.  ‘Country’ is the practice of creating a home that is beautiful, but most importantly, comfortable and lived in.

The book offers glimpses into Christina’s own home, plus others houses scattered throughout England, apartments in New York, and cottages dotting the east coast of the United States.    

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Greetings friends, how’s your Wednesday this fine September?  I just adore September, do you?   Both my birthday and my anniversary take place in this glorious month ~ only May and October can compete in my book. 

I was picking my kids up from school yesterday, and a gust of wind was blowing.  Leaves were twirling in the breeze having just fallen off the trees, and I caught just the hint of autumn in the air.  It’s still warm as can be, but I noticed that the leaves around here are just starting to turn.

Don’t you love that feeling?  That moment when you feel the seasons changing.  That smell in the air, that moment in time that only happens once a year.  I treasure it.  I take a deep breath and try to make a memory.   *sigh*   

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I spent yesterday purging a bin filled with over 50 magazines . .  very old publications of BH&G, Country Living, Traditional Home, and Martha ~ all my favorites.  But only after I ripped out all the articles I found to be inspiring! 

I lugged at least 20 pounds of old paper to the recycling bin, and that felt sooooo great!  Now I’m inspired to style a fall mantel, but I’m convinced more than ever that I can make it happen mostly with what I already have in my yard, plus what I presently possess in my autumn stash from years past.  This year’s fall décor will be very simple indeed.

But today, as part of the Fantastic Feature series, I am so pleased to share Kristin’s beautiful bench makeover!  You all know I’m a fawning fool for a distressed Frenchy antiqued piece (soooo my style) and this bench surely fits the bill.   Today, in the spotlight is Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.  

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