Hello friends!

I don’t have a lot of time to write today, there’s much to do around here and the weather is so nice I’m not even sure I’ll be able to stay inside all day!

I’ve decided today is the day I’ll be decorating for fall. Doesn’t that sound nice?! Magical, even?! I know. I’m taking full advantage of the beautiful sunshine and cool breeze coming through the windows and putting Gilmore Girls on the TV (the opening credits make me associate that show with fall) and pulling the tubs of autumn decor out from the rickety shelves in the basement up onto the dining room table just like my mom always does. Time to roll up the sleeves, get messy, make mistakes!! (Channeling Ms. Frizzle, too.)

Life’s been floating along as usual over on this side of the screen. Yesterday, Paul worked until past midnight on putting in a new shower door in his basement bathroom. Out with the grimy shower curtain  that floats in the shower with you like a menacing little ghost, and in with the new shiny glass shower door – it looks wonderful. He’s Superman around here. Yesterday, I tried to drill in a new paper towel holder into a piece of furniture in the kitchen – Superman needs to fix it later today.

While Paul’s been at work, here and at the office, I’ve been painting for the 2020 regular calendar (I have a children’s calendar and a non-children’s calendar…the children’s calendar is full of fun facts about the Earth and the regular is filled with quotes and pretty illustrations. Not sure what to call the non-children’s calendar except the Regular Calendar…) and just a few minutes ago I finished the bottom half of June, a California surfing theme. :) I love it. There’s a vintage yellow beetle carrying a surfboard, me and Rusty in full beach attire, and later today I’ll be painting some righteous surfers riding the waves. :) I finished April the other day, springtime in Paris. Romantic? Yes. Who doesn’t want to think of sipping wine and eating macaroons at a sidewalk café in Paris?! (That’s me and Rusty exploring Paris together.)

Besides working and painting, Paul and I had a wonderful few days off together at the end of August. Our good friends were going to come out and visit but unfortunately couldn’t make it – no worries! Paul and I had so much fun just being lazy together, people-watching and sipping drinks at the State Fair, sleeping in and going to bed late, eating all sorts of junk food, getting the shipment of calendars in the mail!!

I didn’t even tell you the calendars came in the mail!! Friends, it was like Christmas morning over here. The boxes arrived (in the rain, of course) and Paul and I went to work right away on our mini assembly line. I got all the information for the pre-orders that came in, Paul wrapped each package, I wrote Thank You notes…it was an entire day of calendar packaging but it was SO. MUCH. FUN!!! The calendars  looked beautiful, so colorful, bright, and shiny. I was so proud. Tiny tears of happiness. To those of you who already purchased one, you are so incredibly kind and you’re what keeps me going when I have doubts bouncing in my head. I’ve received so many wonderful notes of praise from you all – I save each one, even if it’s a text – and I just can’t thank you enough. You’re the knees to the bees. Hugs from my screen to yours.

If you’d like to see the calendar or purchase, just click the link below (don’t forget the discount CELEBRATE10 at checkout for 10% off!!):

SHOP 2019 Calendar

Let’s see, what else can I tell you??

The garden in the backyard is doing decent enough. The strawberries are taking over more than I thought they would, but I can’t complain. Next year it should provide us with a whole bunch of fruit – we can’t wait. The basil isn’t doing so hot, but to be fair I stopped taking care of things about three weeks ago. I’ve been a bit careless with the garden, which looking back was exactly what I was like the first year at our first home…next year I’m sure I’ll be more attached and checking on them every day as long as those pesky hornets leave my yard alone.

There’s a bunch of crabgrass (our mistake) and they like to hide in there…not for me. Give me bees, not hornets, please. However, the roses have a life of their own! My one yellow rosebush is over four feet high! It’s towering over the picket fence! I’m in love! And the little pink roses are still producing buds everyday – couldn’t be more happy with them. I accidentally killed my cilantro. Boooooo. But the chives and lavender are still thriving and soon I’ll be harvesting them. Actually, perhaps I’ll harvest the chives today and give them some time to grow back before winter….

Okay, I’m rambling now. Time to eat some food and drink some coffee and pull out some autumn tubs. Huzzah!! Happy Thursday to you, dear friend! And enjoy this blessed weather!!! :) :) :) xoxoxo