Nicely, nicely thank you.

Just some vintage beauties I fancy.

Emerald

I am longing to go outside and work in the garden today. Since there is too much to be done indoors I will have to make do with these lush green beauties instead.

Vincent

Tim Burton's short film from 1982, Vincent. Perfect for this time of year- especially with Vincent Price as a narrator.

Dial Tone

These delightful rotary phones from yesteryear are all available at Anthropologie. All you have to do is pick which color.

Things that go bump in the night...

A few of my Halloween favorties.

Day Trip to the Coast

The grass is always greener on the other side.

When I was little, I remember first noticing there was something about men and lawns. I am not sure if it stems from "a man's home is his castle," sort of thing. Maybe it just came from the pride of owning your own piece of land and wanting your plot to be everything you hoped life would be.

When it came time to put in a new lawn at our house it took weeks to prepare the soil. New sprinklers, fertilizer and special seeds were ordered. A little fence made from garden stakes and butchers twine was put up to remind the dimwitted to stay off the sprouting grass. My father even made a flat-bottomed wooden contraption he could drag across the dirt to level it out. It was my job, at age six, to sit in it for extra weight and pick up all of the rocks and pebbles in my reach as I was dragged back and forth.

The lawn care continued as long as I can remember. It eventually developed into a bit of an obsession- think Hank Hill but worse, much worse. The lawn was to be mowed once a week in a specific direction. First around the parameter clockwise. Then across the center on a diagonal. The following week was in the opposite direction. This, I was told, was to insure the grass would grow upright. I ask you, have you ever driven by a lawn and thought to yourself, "Well, their grass isn't straight enough! They must not be rotating their mowing!"? Don't worry, most sane people haven't either.

It was not uncommon for uncles and neighbors to chat with my father about lawn care and landscaping. A little gossip could get thrown in just like a hearty helping of fertilizer. Including the different types of weeds and invasive grasses that so and so had in there mismanaged lawns. "Did you see the bungalow down the way? They seeded with rye to hide the dead Bermuda." Yup, all may not be right with the world but, as long as our lawn looked good things would be fine.

Partly sunny with a chance of showers...

Breakout today's favorite scarf. Set your sweaters loose from the pasture of seasonal storage. Pin your hair back casually, so short wisps of hair can still escape and dance with the wind. Fall is here, hooray!

The Wise Old Owl

October Showers

Can you smell autumn in the air?

Magnificent Mustachios

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is my great honor to present to you the Beardfolio of the Great Matthew Rainwaters.

Needless to say, MatthewRainwaters is an amazing photographer. He strives to shoot pictures, not people. Who can argue with that approach? His portfolio is stunning in the clearest manner imaginable. He has a gorgeous collection of published and exhibited work, but I think I find his personal portfolio the most interesting...especially Chuck.

The Bright Side Project

I am pleased to announce that we have donated one of our Bright Sunshiny Day giclees to The Bright Side Project. For those of you not familiar with The Bright Side Project, it is a team (of little squirrels and toadstool-wielding elves I believe) that try to share a little sunshine every day. Their website offers themed, daily giveaways in hopes of reminding people how down right loverly the world can be. For your chance to win please visit their website and answer a simple question now through October 13.

Buttoned Up For Autumn

A few of my favorites.