some new-old decor for my home

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of stopping in The Half Full Nest. I didn't get a chance to truly look at everything as it was near closing time. The store is in a historic church and filled with both old and new items for the home.

The only thing that really called out to me in my quick look around was this vintage teapot. I love both unique teapots and owls, plus the color is good in my kitchen.

A favorite store I've mentioned on my blog before is Vintage Art & Findings. I hadn't been in there in a long time and the shop owner, Mary and I always have a lovely chat. I was overdue for a visit! Her shop is filled with lots of vintage and one-of-a-kind altered and repurposed art items. I found this pretty altered tray that I placed in the white frame in my kitchen. I think it's perfect for transitioning into fall. (I'm not hurrying summer along by any means!)

Mary made this piece from an old screen. The photo isn't the best - it's much prettier in person.

I had been looking for just the right thing to put on the narrow wall space by the front door. I believe this is it!

Couldn't resist this stack of vintage flash cards....

and this doily art.

I kept holding it up in various places in my house and nothing seemed like the right place. Do you ever do that...buy something just because you're drawn to it, but having no idea where you'll put it? I don't do that as often as I used to: in this later stage of my life I'm getting rid of more stuff than I bring in. BUT. I really liked this piece and knew I could work with it.

I held it up to a window and thought, "aha!" 

That's where it's staying for now.

Have a good week! 

new decade

I turned the big six-oh....

Feels so weird saying I'm sixty. Sounds officially old. I guess it's a good thing I don't feel old. Well, some days. Ask me today and I'd tell you I feel 90 with the back pain I've been having.

I couldn't have asked for a better day to celebrate my birthday. It was filled with some of my favorite things. The sun was shining and it was warm, but not too warm. We started out the day hanging out by Lake Michigan, in our favorite park. What we call our Happy Place. We picked up our favorite baked goodies from Hewn (independent; women-owned; baked goods made from organic, stone milled grains and naturally fermented ~ you must make a trip if you're in the Chicago area!) and I got my favorite morning summer drink: an iced coffee. 

Then into Chicago for...

Amazing tacos and a handcrafted blueberry basil margarita from Antique Taco.

 Book browsing (and buying a few books) at Myopic Books.

 Furniture shopping (but no buying!) at District Chicago, where they have the coolest mid-century modern and Scandinavian furniture and decor. I was enamored with quite a few things in this store, including the pictured shelving unit with the built-in glass bowl on top.

Lots of walking around the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, where we went in and out of stores and eventually found our way to the Galleria. I fell in love with a certain artist's jewelry, particularly the earrings. I wish I could remember the artist's name and what the earrings are made out of, but...there goes the old lady mind. 😉 Brian bought them for me.

We picked up Indian food on the way home, and ended the night with a glass of wine on the porch, being serenaded by the crickets and mesmerized by the supermoon.

The celebrating still continues with flowers, gifts, and meals out with family and friends. I am blessed! 
 

clementine ~ and thoughts on birthdays

My Clemmie girl has yet another UTI. This is her third one in less than two months. She just finished her second round of antibiotics last week. This morning, I discovered small spots of bloody pee on my comforter again. I immediately called our vet. I have a phone consultation with him tonight. Chronic UTIs can be a problem in cats with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), but I don't know how they're treated. Hopefully, I will get some good information and help from our vet tonight. 

Brian's birthday was last week. One of the things he wanted to do was to take a walk at Volo Bog, which is only 10 minutes from our house here in northeastern Illinois. It's a state natural area, and the only open-water quaking bog in Illinois.

We hiked about 2-1/2 miles, which was lovely, sweaty, and bug-y.

Loved this plant and wondered what it was, so looked it up on a plant ID app on my phone. It's Western Ironweed. I'm hoping to find it next year to plant in my butterfly garden.

I wish my butterfly garden were this prolific. Or, better yet, I wish this were my backyard!

Illinois has some of the most beautiful cloud formations.

Onto the thoughts about birthdays. Mine is coming up next week. And it's a milestone one. I'm not normally big on birthday celebrations though. Everyone keeps asking me, "What are you going to do for your birthday?" My reply is, "I don't know." I thought maybe we could find a little cabin or cottage somewhere in Wisconsin to spend a couple of days. Get away from it all, hike, maybe kayak, just rest and read and have some good food. But with Clementine being so sick, we can't leave her. 

I have a few friends that have always celebrated their birthday week. I even know someone who celebrates their birthday month! While I think this is sweet, it was never my thing. But this year it got me to thinking what a good idea that was for a milestone birthday. So that's what I've been doing every day. It doesn't have to be big things. Or cost anything. It can be as simple as cutting flowers from your yard and putting them in a vase on your table because it makes you happy.

Some other ideas to celebrate your birthday week and treat yourself:

• Order something from your Amazon wish list.
• Get your favorite beverage from the Starbucks or Dunkn Donuts drive-thru (or whatever your go-to place is).
• Take the time to actually rest and read a magazine in its entirety, or a few chapters in a book.
• Call a friend that you've been meaning to call and talk to, but haven't.
• Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers ~ or cut them from your yard.
• Order a beautiful candle or hand cream in a delicious scent.
• Take some kind of class - yoga, photography, gardening, watercolor, cooking.
• Get a massage.
• Take a nap.
• Go ahead and order that cocktail or glass of wine when you go out to eat.
• Watch a movie that's been on your to-watch list.
• Take a solo walk in a beautiful, peaceful place...a park, a quiet neighborhood. Don't look at your phone. Take in the beauty around you and listen to the birds.
• Get a manicure or pedicure. Or both. 

What would you add to this list?
Do you celebrate your birthday week, or even month? Let's talk! 

💗

summer days

(Lake Michigan)

(Phil on his 15th birthday, 2003)

Howdy! I can't believe how quickly this summer is flying. Here we are near the end of July already. I've been enjoying the long, warm, sun-lit days. Early mornings with iced coffee on the shaded patio are the best way to start the day. Or, if I'm feeling motivated and it's not too hot, a walk to the lake feels pretty darn good, too.

Can you believe we've been in our house for 32 years now? We moved ourselves with the help of a friend. And then Brian went right back to work. That left me alone to unpack and set up the house. Not fun with being four months pregnant and having a two-year old. No surprise I ended up sick and vomiting. Those were the days! Still so grateful after all these years for "Comfy House". It is our nest. 

We may have a small plot of land, but July means being surrounded by hydrangeas and bee balm, coneflower and garden phlox, cosmos and salvia, and fresh herbs. We're growing cherry tomatoes and a couple of varieties of peppers this year, too.

I thank You God for most this amazing day;

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;

and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes.

(e e cummings)

Clementine has had a couple of UTIs in the past month, both resulting in vet ER trips : lots of worry, lots of money. She seems to be on the mend again, despite now being in stage 4 kidney disease. My sweet girl...she sleeps snuggled next to me every night.

Phil's 34th birthday would be tomorrow, July 21. 34!! How do you envision your child at that age when they didn't live past age 21? His birthday will always be celebrated by me and Brian. He made us parents. He is still our child and always will be. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't think about him. 

Ending on a sweet note...if you're looking for a super yummy, easy-to-make dessert that doesn't have a lot of sugar, you've gotta try King Arthur's Hot Summer Spoon Cake. Best served warm with vanilla ice cream. 😊

How has your summer been going?