Wordless Wednesday

1, 2 Tie your shoes 3, 4 open your doors 5, 6 pick up STICKS

Need a fall table centerpiece, display or decoration arrangment filler but have an empty pocketbook and no time to spare?

The thrifty solution could be right outside your backdoor-> Or your front door depending on which one you go out of-> Or your neighbors back door-> Or depending on where your trees or shrubs are located making it completely and utterly uneccesary to go out of your back door only to have to make your way up to the front yard...

Ahem.

It could be as easy as picking up a few sticks.

Who knew sticks could look so classically rustic, organically textural, comfy-cozy and beautiful as simple nature on display on the coffee table?

Now you know.

A birthday story:

Once upon a time, there was this girl. A quite special & unique little girl who is the treasured oldest of five children, has a helpful heart, outruns the boys, tends to her many siblings and household chores and often outwits her parents.
On her ninth birthday she wanted a celebration all her own. Not a combined party with her sister who is exactly 12 months younger than her and is a total opposite... no, a single solitary purposeful celebration this year done in her own special way! So daddy and mommy consented.
The determined girl wrote her own invites, handed them out, helped make her cake and planned her own birthday party down to the littlest detail.

16 lively children showed up to help her celebrate. They played together, they pinned the stem on the pumpkin, they devoured a lemon cake, watched a movie, opened incredible {tomboy} gifts and snacked on salty popcorn and sweet candy. Made many memories.
She broke into her adorable twinkle eyed smirky grin and brought smiles to all at the end of the day. The girl was thankful-for a day she was able to call her own.  In the midst of a big busy family, those are hard to come by but on this her 9th birthday she had been blessed with doughnuts for breakfast, cards in the mail and a night to stay up past normal bedtime hours. Now at 9 years old, the privileged girl can wield a soft Nerf sword, takes karate, excels at reading and soccer and writes her own thank you notes.... and her parents are as always, proud of their baby girl... and joyously exhausted.

And they ALL lived happily ever after.
The end... for now. 

Pumpkins+a cool rainy day+Andrew's Seed=Glorious Fall

I love this place!
I'm sure most, if not ALL of you are familiar with this gem but Andrew's Seed Co. is a family owned and run local business and I absolutely love visiting their oasis. The overwhelming feeling of comfort, beauty, inspiration and tranquility is comforting as well as addicting... and the people and my friends who run it are pretty much completely awesome, too.
I don't get much opportunity to expand and utilize my knowledge of plants/gardening, agriculture and such but enjoy what time I do have to invest in my yard very much.

I went to one of their lovely monthly seminar/workshops on this cool rainy morning and as we sat comfortably amidst an array of plants, pumpkins, trees, gourds and squash nestled under the wet greenhouse roof, miss Susan versed us on pumpkins and gourds and the many uses, secrets, and tips on how to eat, decorate, grow and preserve them. As usual I was blown away by their creativity, expertise and the gross amount of selfless labor that they put into those seminars!  They bless me every time I walk through their beautiful doors gates. I walked away with full hands, tummy and mind... inspired and rejuvenated.
If you live in the treasure valley and can take a trip their way, and are in need of seed, plants, home or garden decor, trees, inspiration or just have questions regarding your houseplants, gardens or farm, they are the people to see.

Love them!

Give them a look see!

A simple gift

I visited the cutest consignment shop this week with a sweet friend and her mother. Children-less no less, which was divine! This shop is in a beautiful barn and chocked full of classy home decor, consignment furniture, books, jewelry, adorable holiday pretties and odds & ends household items! Both new and used. It is a treasure chest! It was a breath of fresh air type of afternoon. I may seem the type to handle stress, noise and busy-ness very well and that mothering and nurturing come easily for me but when it comes down to being comfortable-well, quietness and order call my name.  And as ALL of you fellow mothers know... that is not easy to come by in a household of seven!

My God sustains me... and thankfully, completely covers those places I am lacking in.

~

Books do not always shout out to me from the quiet of their shelves, but on this warm afternoon, this particular one did. 

~ 

A 4th grade Elson reader, copyright 1931. I think the color of it's facade caught my eye, but when I picked it up and flipped through some of the pages I was delighted with the bright pictures and stories of moral character and attitude that are a rare find these days. The book is magical, enchanting and captivating. A perfect gift for my 9 year old daughter who is a gifted reader. It was waiting by her birthday breakfast this morning along with a few cards from the mail and dollar store gifts from her many excited siblings.
~
Happy Birthday, my girl!
Go enjoy some adventures... Happy reading!