COZYING UP IN THE NEW SEASON

I think it's sort of hard to tell what this is, but the Hibiscus Sisters are back in the house after enjoying a balmy Chicago summer.  It was their first, you know, They spent the summer in Michigan last year.  And I found out the one that blooms yellow is named Ingrid (found the old tag hidden in the branches).  So Ingrid it will be.  So here they are, the best seat in the house facing southwest.  And that is not a Christmas tree to the left, it's just a decorative tree that I dress up when the mood strikes.  

To say I was losing sleep worrying about cleaning up the garden is putting it mildly.  I'm not sure why it nagged at me, I don't like things left unfinished, I guess.  After I wrote last weekend, I was able to get about 50 bulbs planted...the tiny early spring sort and I did them in the beds closest to the house so I can see them from the windows.  The larger tulips and daffs will be out along the fence.  They haven't arrived yet though but the cold weather has.  45 degrees today with a chance of snow/ice on Monday.  Wow!

My patio is looking desolate.  I had stored away some of my small decorative pieces last weekend, but as I said earlier, the larger things were bothering me.  I decided to call a family friend who is out of work and has a family.  It was a win/win...he did all the heavy lifting (bringing my window air conditioners downstairs, moving the Hibiscus Sisters in and generally helping me move around heavy things that belong in storage that I can't lift myself).  I put away pots and the patio chairs while he put together a new hose reel I found on clearance.  I left one lone chair out there and the umbrella in hopes that we have a few mild afternoons that me and the pups can enjoy!  So thanks, Rod, I hope the little bit of money helped, you are an angel to me.

My baker's rack is under an overhang so it gets weathered but holds up well.  Just a few more trips to the shed...

My basil won't quit, with the snow/ice that's coming, I may just pick it all and make and freeze some basil heavy dishes!

And I'm ready to pick some sedum, I can get about 3 months out of it indoors before it turns pale pink and sheds all over.

And lastly, the Russian sage.  I'm in love with this color!  It's really a standout in the garden and they were practically giving it away at the farm market and nursery.  I'm wondering if it spreads, does anyone know?  Okay, enough ruminating about the garden, I'm just going to miss it, that's all. 

Are these not the cat's meow?  I spotted them at West Elm a few weeks ago and thought they were so cute.  It's hard to tell that the stripes are gray, thus going with my almost redone bedroom.  Son Jeff said, "No, don't get those, they're tacky!"  I long ago gave up trying to impress my kids with my decorating choices.  Jeff's new home will be move in ready next month.  His style is sort of sleek and uncluttered; his girlfriend, she's sort of traditional.  It should be interesting.  Yesterday he walked in while The Husband, Abby and I were snuggling on the bed and talking.  He slapped his hand on his forehead and walked out muttering, "I told you not to get those!"  I think they would make cute little Christmas gifts, Jeff is tops on my list!  lol!

And as far as what I'm working on now in the bedroom?  I'm doing a small gallery wall of still life photographs I have taken.  I have the pictures and I found frames I liked yesterday so today I'll be hammering nails in my freshly painted walls (ouch!).  So I think I will show you everything next week.  Basically, you've seen it all with the snippets I've posted!! ;-)

I mentioned that I wanted to get another lampshade for the lamp I had on the night stand.  I went to Target and I found this shade which I already have on a lamp in my living room.  I decided to get this glass lamp base, too.  What's nice is that it's shorter than the lamp I had so it doesn't get in the way of the plates (you can scroll down to my last post to see how that looked).

I had a field day at Target last Sunday.  I have been having the most boring weekends lately.  The Husband is content at home now that he's almost back to work 100%, and of course there is football.  So last Sunday I took off for Target by myself, which is rare.  Emily or Abby are usually with me trying to get me to buy them things.  I just took a leisurely stroll up and down the aisles; looking, touching, comparing prices in my head, doing the old "Do I really need it" song in my head.  So, I came home with the lamp, 2 baking sheets, a welcome mat, a couple of books, Halloween candy and toilet paper.  And I think I did a clean sweep of the store.  It was better than meditation and yoga combined!

When I came home, The Husband was hanging up the blinds from Home Depot.  We've never used blinds in this garden window before but he's convinced that the people behind us are watching him dress in front of his armoire in the morning.  TMI?!  I like them (the blinds).  I gave my rosemary tree a haircut and repotted her.  She's all set for the winter.  You know, if I could write my life story, there would be a chapter on rosemary, all of it's own.  You know I was bottling it a few weeks ago, I was using it in my cooking to the point where my family went on strike, I was literally giving it away.  I saved the trimmings to dry and give Emily and then she and Mike walked in Monday morning with extra biscuits and gravy from a trendy new restaurant they had tried for breakfast.  "Well, what's wrong with the biscuits?" I asked Mike.  "Rosemary.  They doused the gravy with rosemary!  It tastes like pine!"  So I refrained from giving them the clippings. I think rosemary is right up there as the trendy herb of 2013, just as kale is the "In" veggie, quinoa is the new grain and a chevron pattern should be on every pillow, curtain and rug in America!  Just sayin.

Well, the seasons are changing so that means a few tweaks to Blondie's closet.  First stop, Zappos.  LOVE!  Abby got a similar pair in suede (and we wear the same size...Yay!).

And I found this pretty taupe colored cardigan at Marshall's yesterday ($79.00 marked down to $19.99!!).  I just love cardigans, especially the lighter weight ones I'm finding (made with something called vicose as well as nylon).  I love these because you can dress them up or down, they look great with scarves, and since I'm not skinny in any way, I can wear these loose and button a few buttons around the waist so it looks like I have one!  My girls always say that I wear my clothes too baggy because I try to hide my weight, so I'm trying to change my ways.

This is the button detail on the cuff, these are heavy!  I ordered and received some sweat pants and simple cotton shirts from my favorite shop Woman Within.  They have sizes starting at small and go up to 42X, I think.  And they are very affordable.  I have found that everything runs big, so if you are a Large for example, get a Medium.  The sweats are pretty much my Lying Around The House Garb for the winter.  I unpacked my winter clothes last week.  It coincided with the spotting of the first mouse.  That's sad.  As usual it's war.  They will not enter my kitchen this year.  They are hanging near the bird cage in the den (for the seed) so I have eliminated every cozy basket, pillow, nook and cranny that they can nest in and the poison is discreetly and safely dispersed.  Just the facts of an old house, I guess.

And finally, this is what I'm reading.  I never should have entered the book department at Target, that's where I did the most damage.  And since I have a Nook, it's very rare that I buy actual books.  But, I belong to GoodReads online and saw that several gals were recommending this.  And then I saw the review on the front, "A literary miracle".  Now that's  saying something!  Whoever designed the cover should win an award, too.  This is illustrated like something straight out of 1960's Italy.  Which it is.  And that's all I'm going to say about the book.

Well, it's almost 3:00 p.m. and I'm still in my PJ's.  I decided to stay put today so I'll probably just shower and put on another pair!  Early tomorrow we are going to the lake.  All I have to do is empty and put away my pots, furniture cushions and pack up an embarrassing overabundance of meat in our freezer.  Guests are always coming with coolers filled with meat for barbeque's, more than we need and they refuse to take it home.  I think we are set for the winter.  And I'm still hoping The Husband will fire up that outdoor fireplace he built at the end of last summer.  It's well overdue for it's debut!  I hope all of you have a great fall weekend.  I'll try to get some pics of the trees changing in Michigan because they sure aren't here! :)

XO,

Jane