Grateful For.... Fall Decorations and More

This post is from early September. I meant to finish it up right away but I unexpectedly became really busy! Lol. Anyway, I figured that if I didn't post it now, it would be winter by the time I did, and an ode to Autumn makes no sense in the winter. ;)

I think one of the best feelings in the world is to be full of gratitude. Only the lucky ones get to feel gratitude. That's because they have something in their life to be thankful for, and they see it.

........I AM GRATEFUL!

I was just thinking the other night about an old app that I have on my phone called "Gratitude." I've had it since 2009, it's a little gratitude journal! Each day you list several things that you're grateful for. You can add a picture and rate your day. While I haven't kept up with daily entries this whole time, it is one of the only apps that I go back to time and time again. I love looking back through the years and remember great days and small things that made me smile from the inside out. (Although more entries than I want to admit include chocolate).

When I'm able, I'd like to blog more posts of gratitude. It makes me happy and puts life into perspective. Sometimes in the morning, before I open my eyes, I silently say to myself all of the things that I am thankful for big and small. I thank the universe. I go throughout my day when I'm mindful enough stopping and feeling gratitude along the way. "Thank you gorgeous yellow leaves falling , I'm so happy to watch you blow in the wind. I'm grateful for you September sunset. I'm so luck to see you again."

And when I do these things continually, or at least every morning for a while, a change occurs. There's a shift! I can't explain it, and it's almost too magic to be real, but truly, when you learn to come from a place of thankfulness and awe, life gets better. Life is happier, more gentle, less frenetic. Try it! You might really enjoy this.

And now, some things of late that I have been grateful for.....

I'm thankful for......

Small, beautiful, wonderful diversions from everyday struggles. Places like the Cider Mill!!!!  And the fact that Noah still wants to have his picture taken on the tractor. I'm glad he doesn't feel  too old for that . :)  Btw- my parents used to promise to take me here after nursery school for cider and donuts if I didn't cry at drop off. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! (Pun intended).....

Thankful for historic places. I love history, especially the domestic history of 19th century rural America. I know it's a bit narrow of a field but... The cider mill above was completed in 1837! It's pretty cool. They have found many artifacts around the mill and in the walls over the years and they're all on display. In the same small town as the cider mill, we went to see a house that was for sale recently! (I'm laughing because around this time last year, we also went to see a house in the same neighborhood for sale, and I blogged about it.) And once again we returned to our current house and said: "HOME SWEET HOME!" It's ridiculous, our house is our home, we'll never move! Probably.

I'm very grateful for good, supportive veterinary care for Josie. Poor Josie came to us at just 10 weeks, itchy and scratching. We ruled out fleas or anything like that, and I watched her for patterns. Like winter, much less scratching in winter. She seemed to scratch more outside and always on the grass. We eventually found our way to a wonderful veterinary specialist. She is a dermatologist/allergist. She was so great. Our vet wanted to first rule out food allergies as they are simpler to treat and fairly easy to spot. So, that's when we started a three month food elimination challenge. Three months in and scratching was still there. It seemed like she was allergic to every protein. We were down to just fish. That's when summer turned to fall and her scratching really ramped up. So much so that little Josie, to our horror, scratched a hot spot on the side of her face! :(

We ran her up to our regular vet, and this is where actually a good turning point came about. I'm sooooo thankful. Our vet listen to me when I said that I really really sense this is environmental and seasonal inhalant allergies, not food allergies. She believed my instinct!!! So, Josie's wound was cleaned up and we were given a cone and sent home with some topical medication and anti-histamines. The itching lessened a bit and the wound healed. Finally we were able to take the cone off  about a week later, but when we did.... as soon as she was out of our sight for a minute,she scratched another small wound! We decided to consult with our vet again. This time we all agreed that it was worth a try of a short round of steroids. We trust our vet to be safe and conservative with these and to have Josie on them for the shortest time possible. Her hunch was that Josie was having bad fall allergies, just like last year!

To our great joy, Josie's scratching was 80% GONE within two days of being on the new medication!!!! And after that, I have almost not seen her scratch or paw at her eyes of nose at all! This is a BIG DEAL after having an itchy, little pup for so long!

As we taper her off her medications, I don't know what it will be like when she's done, but I am hopeful that once the first frost comes, things will get better and I'm just grateful for our wonderful vets!

And now for my OBSESSION I mean something I'm REALLY thankful for.....FALL DECORATIONS!!!!!!

I need to breath my way through talking about this because I can go on excitedly about fall decorations for DAYS! Let's start with this I guess. Before I get to what I already owned and what I purchased (with coupons and deals of course) this is what I made. I was short one throw or pillow for this chair. I don't think my crocheted candy corn blanket came out too gorgeous, but it does what I needed! A little fall color and something to help keep us warm when the fall gets going. 

I have some big bins that we store in the basement and hold all of my fall decoration bits and bobs. Its an ever growing collection over the past ten years and my favorite season to decorate for. In my mind, I would like to have gorgeous, sophisticated, matching decorations. You know, like catalogue worthy things from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel! In my HEART though, I know that my rag-tag group of scrounged up decorations is just perfect because they do the most important thing - convey the warmth and joy of what fall means to me. 

This is our little writing desk decorated. I love this book by Susan Branch. It's called "Autumn from the Heart and Home" and is full of autumnal recipes for your family and for entertaining. There are Susan's gorgeous watercolors too and quotes and tips, all celebrating this cozy season.

Here is our living room! I always worry that the big, red rug will clash with my seasonal decorations but I also always remember my Mom's suggestion of just ignoring the rug. So I did. This year I used all of my old fall decorations, including a ceramic pumpkin that held a flower arrangement that was sent to me last fall! Also, this year I decided to add some pillows to my collection, so I purchased these pillows at Kohl's. I waited until they were 35% off and I had a coupon!

 This year my Mom asked if I wanted to borrow her antique panted acorns. I said "sure!" and knew that I could find a place for them. She brought these little painted acorns and a few larger fabric acorns that she purchased at the art center where she paints.

So now I have an acorn chandelier for a while!

Oh! And I can't forget this month's window decorations!!! I made these early because I foresaw a busy autumn. Little did I know....

October is always pumpkin or Halloween or leaves. I wanted to find something "early autumn" to represent. Last year it was apples, footballs and pencils. School is a good September theme I think. And so is the cider mill, something that most everyone around here gets excited for in September.

So I made little red schoolhouses (IRONIC IN RETROSPECT!) and apple trees and baskets with apples. And then I made jugs of apple cider and donuts! That was the most fun. I tried representing the cinnamon and sugar on the donuts with some translucent glitter paint but it didn't translate too well visually.

I'm still happy with how things turned out. 

Another super deal at Kohl's this simple faux berry wreath. It's just what I needed. (Well, maybe).

 Here is a detail from my living room. That's the ceramic pumpkin that came from a flower arrangement that I received. My Mom gave me some of the little acorns and faux pumpkins years ago. Even the ribbon was recycled!

Same for this little corner of the room. It's nothing special and even a bit odd, but it makes me happy. 

Our whole writing desk dressed up.

So that's the scoop! Until next time, think about your "Thankfuls!"

xoxoxox,

Lauren

Grateful For......

The magical thing that is a boy and his dog. And maybe even more so, for the opportunity to have a boy and his dog!

Thankful for puppies who have stopped chewing on everything and EVERYONE. And a boy who has now formed a special friendship and bond with said puppy. After she stopped trying to chew him ...... (Their current obsession: watching Full House reruns together.)

Grateful for the discovery that when puppies continue to wake up at 6:00am, even on weekends- after a quick potty trip, you can get them to go back to sleep if you snuggle on the couch.

And I'm happy for early birthday presents! The homemade kind. This time it was a "BMO" scarf made from a tutorial found on Red & Rosy! BMO, for those of you who don't know, is the adorable, little:
" living video game console, portable electrical outlet, music player, roommate, camera, alarm clock, toaster, flashlight, strobe light, skateboarder, friend, soccer player, video editor, video player, tape player and Chef."

From the cartoon "Adventure Time." One of Noah's favorites!

Speaking of birthdays!!!! I'm grateful for TEN wonderful years with this guy! :) And for the early birthday morning present opening party. And REALLY grateful that when he woke up the first time at 4:30am, he knew on his own that it was TOO EARLY to wake us up. 6:00 am was a much more human time on a Sunday morning! (Not really, but I'll take what I can get.)

I'm very lucky to be able to capture that look of childhood thrill when opening the present that you wanted so badly.  And HOW did that wrapping paper fly up like that!? Weird!

And honestly, what is truly more wonderful than having one's Grandparents gathered around him to help celebrate?

 \(^-^)/ Isn't that nice!? We walked to lunch, a restaurant that Noah picked. He specifically went for the fire roasted asparagus and truffle pizza. That was YUM! 

And finally on the Noah birthday front, I am grateful that these three guys blew out the candles together and I was able to get a shot in time! I hope his wish came true...... :)

Moving on! Although to some people this might be a bit nerdy, or a small thing, I can't tell you how thankful I am for the bird watching in my backyard. I thought I'd have to stop for good, now that we have Josie. It was bitter sweet for me. I was feeling sad as fall began, thinking about all of the migrating and wintering birds I'd miss. Then though, I came up with a plan. First I took down all of my feeders out in the yard, under the pergola. I was going to try "controlled"small-scale bird feeding.  I'd only have a few feeders, close to the house, gated off below so that Josie couldn't get to the feeders or any of the shells that might drop. Jon bought me this great bird feeder pole! It's PERFECT! We also purchased some wire garden fence and fenced off a large rectangle below the feeders. So far, so good! Even the squirrels have steered clear because they can't climb the pole. I haven't seen a single squirrel in this area.

I could not believe my luck, when in just a few days, one of my favorite birds, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker showed up at my suet feeder! Isn't she pretty?

We've had Black Capped Chickadees, White-Breasted Nuthatches, Dark-Eyed Junkos, Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, Sparrows, A House Finch, lots of Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, Bluejays, Downey Woodpeckers, and a Hairy Woodpecker.

What, WHAT is more beautiful than a bright Cardinal in the snow? It makes me so happy. :)

One great thing about the bird feeding and the bird watching, is that it's live television for Willow and Josie too! They love to "bird watch!"

Or..... maybe it's the other way around.... the birds like to watch them.........

I am grateful for cute dog coats and the willing dogs that wear them. (Really, seriously, it's COLD here. Cold enough for a dog coat. Tomorrow's HIGH is 27 degrees Fahrenheit/ -2 Celsius.)

Which brings me to something else that I am very happy for - the SNOW!!!! I know that in public, I make small talk, and nod my head when other people say how much they hate the snow. I nod my head because I understand their frustrations, but truthfully, I happen to LOVE the snow! Sure, I agree that driving is treacherous (heck, I have a Mini!) and icy sidewalks are scary and shoveling is big job, but the beauty of snow, it's unmatched.

Every single morning that we can, which is most, Josie and I go out for our big walk. We do a 1.3 mile loop down into the neighborhood and up into town, which might not sound like a lot, but when your inseam is 4", it's a lot! Also, there is a big, long hill and lots of stops at every tree and fence and wall, so it takes us about 50 minutes. But anyway, it's always so wonderful. Yesterday we even saw a red fox with a white tail off in the distance in a park. And with the snow now, it's even more fantastic! Crisp, clean, morning air to start the day. It's definitely one of the best parts of my day, and I am really glad I get to do it!

These photos are not in chronological order, but I was VERY thankful for a lovely fall, with fantastic fall foliage and gorgeous days so we could all go to the park. <3 p="">

While since becoming a puppy parent, I haven't had as much time as usual to cook, once in a while you get in a nice dish. This was my take on the freshest Greek Salad I could come up with. Cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, olives, croutons, beets and feta. (Now I'm hungry just typing this!)

Ah! I was super grateful to have the right to VOTE! WOO HOO! Get out and vote! I don't know, every time, the exciting feeling never gets old.

Another birthday! Actually, this was Jon's birthday, and his was a couple of weeks before Noah's. (These pictures are really out of order.) I am thankful for another birthday together with Jon. I remember him when he had just turned 19! I remember Jon's 24th birthday when we felt so OLD.... Lol. (We went to karaoke with friends. He was on crutches and sang Mack the Knife on stage.

This was an "invention cake." Meaning, I invented it. The cake was kind of lope-sided. It was a vanilla cake with coconut buttercream and chocolate chip filled raspberries for decoration.
We didn't do much for his mid-week birthday (Jon is not the biggest fan of making a fuss over his special day), but I did get to take him out for dinner over the following weekend.

Times like these. I know they don't last forever.  Homework after dinner, together. So nice.

Ah, the BMO scarf makes it's return! I'm thankful that I have a kid who is still willing to wear my handy-craft. This is a picture of the TODDLER hat that he found this weekend and declared it to be an "awesome beanie hat!" It was a prototype that I made ten years ago or more, for a craft fair. Those are puffball snowmen with goggly eyes and sparkly snowflakes on it.

I am happy that for two more years, I get to experience the "school birthday treat." This year it was Rice Krispie treats with sprinkles on top! He looks proud. :)

And last but not least, I'm thankful for YOU! \(^-^)/

Until next time, stay warm!

xoxoxoxoxo,

Lauren 

A Gallon-full of Grateful

Today I was making Noah lunch when I accidentally ripped open an entire bag of frozen french fries. Darn! I thought, I only needed a hand-full and now the bag was completely torn in half.
(If you know me well, you will also know the twenty-five year old running "joke" that I can't seem to escape. The one about the sub-par way that I open cereal boxes. I always try my best, it just rarely works out for me.)

So when I inadvertently shredded this bag of french fries, my first emotions were shamefulness and self-disgust. It quickly turned to "shoot, what am I going to do with the other 90% of the french fries?"

That's when I went over to the cabinet, hunched down, and started looking for a gallon-sized Ziploc bag to solve my problem. Sure enough, they were there. (As were the sandwich size, the snack size, and the printed with measurements, 1 cup sized Ziploc bags.)

And then, it hit me! An emotion that kind of felt like what I'd imagine a Care Bear cloud would feel like if it were an emotion. This feeling of happiness and gratitude and rainbows and sunbeams!

Which is weird, I know, coming from a Ziploc bag, but suddenly, I had this overwhelming feeling of "MAN! I am SO grateful that I could come to the cupboard and there was the gallon-sized bag that I needed." And the feeling just grew from there as I stopped, motionlessly bent over. "I'm so thankful." "How did I ever become this lucky, to have such abundance in my life?" 

For many, a gallon-sized Ziploc bag might not often illicit such emotions, but I think that this moment was precipitated by a lot of small occurrences earlier in the day. Each one that I felt gratitude for.

First, it was freezing this morning, and I was thrilled! I saw my neighbor on my daily walk, and she declared this to be "Duluth" weather. She said in Duluth, if it gets near 80 degrees, people start wilting from the heat. I thought in that moment that I'm rather particularly suited to Duluth weather myself! Days like these, with their high, barely reaching 70, I had the rare chance to wear something cozy in the summer. So I'm spending the day in a super soft terry cloth tunic and leggings. It's like pajamas, but better because you can go to Target in them. And, the best part about it being freezing, is that I could almost pretend that it's fall. The season that I live for.

Before I realized how cold it was, early this morning I tried on a summer dress that I had sewn a couple of years ago. Even though it's a little strange looking and a little crooked, I felt so happy and proud that I had made it myself!

And then I topped the dress with a crocheted shawl, that I had also made myself. Complete with rosettes and bubble stitches. It was all too much of a "look" for errands I thought, but none-the-less, it brought me joy knowing that I could outfit myself and my family, should the entirety of the retail clothing industry implode. (Jon and Noah would be wearing floral, crocheted shawls.)

Also this morning, I received an email that camp was closed due to a power outrage from last night's storms. I thought, "Hooray! A chance for Noah to sleep in, and for us to have a quiet day together. 

Noah woke up, refreshed from a long night's sleep, in a good mood. He didn't fight me when I mentioned that today would be a day for pants instead of shorts. He even agreed to be a "helper" and go along with me on my two, regular Monday errands - the grocery store and Target. 

At the grocery store, Noah, finally being tall enough to see over the handle of the cart, insisted on pushing, and he did a great job. He found his snack seaweed and chose lunch items without hassle. We bought a bunch of fresh flowers. I felt so thankful for being able to bring food home from the store each week.

When came back and put away the cold food, Noah readily agreed to the weekly Target run. Some things are essential, mainly cat food and shampoo and toilet paper. You don't want to run out.

Noah asked if he could buy a small toy with some of his saved money. I agreed. He dumped out his little, miniature safe, and we sat on the floor counting quarters. I thought: "Wow, I did this as a kid too. We are making a memory for both of us." And how grateful I felt for this unscheduled moment.

At the store, we purchased everything on the list (Except for the liquid dish soap which I have forgotten). And when I paid the cashier, I thought: "How appreciative am I, that I can purchase the odds and ends in life that we need without worry.

Basically, it was just a lovely day of small reminders of just how thankful I am. There are always the big things in the front of my mind that I hold gratitude for..... a wonderful husband, a great son, a cozy home, a community of the most wonderful friends, and so on and so on and so on. Sometimes though, it takes the littler things, all added up, to just stand in awe. If that makes sense.

Even if you're missing out on some of the "bigger ticket items" that you'd like to have in your life to be thankful for, if you can, for the time being,  acknowledging the small joys can be amazingly rewarding too.

Here are a few of my "small gratitudes" from the past few weeks. What are yours!?

Thankful for finding new ways to dust, and having helpers!

For the pretty, little gifts that Noah makes me at day camp. Like this beautiful glass fusion earring and necklace set! :)

Grateful for Grandpas that stop by for a few hours on the hottest day of the year so far. And for a mini-pool to dip our feet in.

Thankful for the opportunity to cook for my family when I want to express my love. Snickerdoodle recipe HERE!

And for finding the BEST crisp cucumber and dill salad recipe yet! Perfect for warm summer evenings. (This one was from a cookbook. Let me know if you want the recipe. Basically it was two English cucumbers sliced, salted, left for 15 minutes and patted dry. Some sour cream, a bit of red onion, lots of dill, salt and pepper, white wine vinegar and sugar. Leave in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to meld the flavors. Delicious!)

Thankful for the times when it's too cool to turn the A/C on, but too warm not to throw open the windows. A perfect opportunity to make a window seat for a cat. 

Appreciative of family bike rides and fire engines sitting outside the station.

Oh! Did I mention gratitude for boys with haircuts, so they can stop getting upset each morning when their Moms try to comb their long hair!? Noah decided to get a short haircut for a change. I think he looks nice! Noah and I are trying to get used to it. I think we secretly both miss his long hair. But something else that I'm grateful for - hair that grows back and the ability to change one's hairstyle up any which way!

Feeling really lucky for husbands that go along with any cheesy photo op.  :)

And for ice cream in an old farmhouse in one of my favorite places around: 

The Town That Time Forgot!

And how could one forget my gray-haired readers. I'm TOTALLY thankful for YOU, and for having the chance to  share this strange hair-color journey with new friends! Actually, I am feeling lucky to have white hair. It has forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and to just go with the flow. Something that I've never been good with. Having this experience has changed my life for the better in so many ways! (Also, I have to tell you, I'm thankful that now I'm done with "growing out" my hair. I have some brown still mixed in there, but the gray has grown all the way to the ends. There is something so settling about being past the growing out phase. I PROMISE, for all of you who are going through this process now, one day, you wake up, and your new color feels just, "normal".  It feels like it's "you" and it's not a huge deal anymore. So hang in there, things get a lot easier! )

Riiiiiing! What's not better than the jangly ring of a vintage phone? I'm appreciating this ebay find that arrived this week. Not only was coincidentally sent from Toledo, Jon's hometown, but when the packaged arrived with the return address on it.....the previous owner is living on Jon's old street!!! WHAT are the chances? Toledo is a BIG place! 

I love that this little pond resides at the bottom of our street, and that right now, the Lilly pads are in bloom! Big, hot pink flowers. I also love that the pond is home to hundreds of koi looking fish, some snapping turtles, frogs and even....... A FAMILY OF GREEN HERON!!! I saw the young Herons just the other day. It was nerdily exciting. I tried so hard to get a good picture, but they were up in the tree and sadly, none of the pictures came out well.

And finally, I am grateful for sweet cats who are happy to see their boy when he gets home from camp.

Until next time, remember the little things are special too!

With Love,

Lauren 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo