It’s that time again- this and that from the week that was. This week it is about grand dog sitting, fire evacuations & pony rides, birthdays and a little flower filled fun.
Cowboys & Girls & Pony Rides
I mentioned that we had a fire evacuation warning recently- which basically means- get ready to go if they order you to. We ran around grabbing boxes of valuables like old photos and putting them in the car- and getting cages ready for all the animals in my husbands truck.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to evacuate and though I am leaving much of those photo album boxes in the car for the rest of the fire season-California has been on fire so much and the smoke is so bad right now. I did have a box that was mixed with photos and few other things that I started to put away. I found this album that belonged to my grandmother and started to thumb through it. Some of the photos of them gave me so many smiles- and these of my mom and uncle ridding ponies was one of them.

I sent a snap to my mom and she was so excited because she had wondered what had happened to those photos and now she will have them again. I am going to make copies and frame them too- they are so cute.

Birthday Fun
It is a birthday weekend over here- I am feeling old folks!! haha. We had such a fun night last night celebrating with my oldest son and his family- and I got to snuggle Juliette for several hours. The Best!!

Today I am working on some projects around here- a few photography projects and weekend cleaning. And tonight we are having special dinner part two with a special table outdoors. Fun fact: My husband does most of the cooking around here- he loves getting creative in the kitchen and coming up with delicious dinners. I might have to hire him to do a weekly cooking post on the blog. 🙂
A rosy velvet chair

You might remember this cute rosy velvet chair from the apple orchard setting in my book Inspired Gatherings. I shared a bit more about the story of it on Instagram the other day-so thought I would share here too.
‘A favorite rosy velvet chair in a favorite orchard full of rosy apples.
I saw this chair at a local thrift store while perusing for other things. I wasn’t looking for a velvet chair. I wasn’t thinking I needed Any more chairs – let alone a faded rose velvet chair that had oodles of charm in the wood & patina. And the price had been marked down to move it.
I stared and stared and reasoned with myself. And then came back to bring it home. It was talking to me. It was the rosy faded velvet. Old carved wood patina. Little wheels on the legs & so much personality wrapped up in a little package. AKA all that oodles of charm that had me smitten.
I knew it would be perfect for the book I was working on at the time – though it didn’t end up in the chapter I originally thought it would it.
Something about that Apple orchard said it needed a chair like this – and so- it came along in the back of my husbands truck over the fields and through the woods & right into the orchard full of rose colored apples.
Can’t believe it’s been 2 years since we worked on this photoshoot for Inspired Gatherings. Seems like just yesterday and so long ago at the same time. Oh and the price of this beautiful antique marked down velvety goodness chair? $35 -and an extra % off for police & military veterans that day (my husband is both) So I guess it was a thrift store bargain that became a star ⭐️
Window Boxes for autumn
We are getting ready to plant our window boxes for autumn- and I am working on the color palette and just what those will look like this year. It seems I almost always gravitate towards the same colors for the boxes- I suppose because they are on nearly every window on the house and the cottage and so, I like them to coordinate. This fall, I may just be getting a wild hair though and trying something new. This is from a window box planting we did back in 2014- I was going a bit more bold and hot pink that year it looks like. You can see the post HERE

Autumn Inspiration
Speaking of autumn- the weather has turned a tad cooler and I am all about that right now. It has been SO HOT this summer- those cooler temperatures are feeling so good. I even pulled out my snuggly the other day to wear while we were outdoors late into the evening. And that ever so slight crispness in the morning air has me thinking about autumn. Though I am soaking up summer sunshine yet- I am working on some autumn inspiration to share with you soon. And if you are already there and ready to jump on in – here are a few 20 minute decorating ideas to get you started.

Grand dogs
We are watching two of our grand dogs this weekend while my son and his girlfriend are on vacation in Hawaii. I am waiting for all the photos and spoiling Jade & Ivy in the meantime. 🙂

Wandering
This weeks wandering has some amazing inspiration- for home, for food and for organizing everything.
Organizing… definitely an area I could use some help with. You too? Well this post about organizing this closet and craft room has me all inspired!
I mentioned cooking dinner earlier- well okay- my husband cooking haha- and if you are looking for some plant based meal inspiration – this post has 31 delicious ideas.
And if you are looking for more autumn ideas- here are 10 things to do right now.
Stay tuned for the antique mirror reveal, Q&A on that project and some autumn inspiration coming your way.
Happy Saturday All.
That rosy pink velvet chair is to die for! And the price 😮😮😮 Lucky find ❤
Thanks for the shout out! You are such a rock star!
Happy day!
KariAnne
“Thatchair” spoke to me, as well!! It is the “most welcoming” little thing…It was “love @ first sight!” *sigh* Birthdays…ya gotta luv em!! franki
I have a photo of my dad on that same horse and with an identical outfit!!!
Oh wow!! Did he grow up in the SF Bay Area?
That chair is a scene-stealer, I can see why it was irresistible. I pray the fires are contained soon and that the smoke clears for you and all of California.
Happy Sunday.
Karen
I Love that rosy pink chair I would have drug that into the house and moved something else to the orchard. Ha… The grand dogs are awesome cute!
Just loving the sweet cozy rose velvet chair with the bucket of flowers in the apple orchard! Decorating at its finest courtney…..I love how you mix furniture in the outdoors….and everywhere and everything else you create too! You can always tell when someones designs come from the heart and soul…love your blog…tHANK YOU!
Love Your posts and your hoMe. We RECENTLY left California because of the fires. I do hope your Beautiful home stays safe.