autumn | Jeeze, Julia!

Posts Tagged ‘autumn’

Autumn on the lake.

Posted in New Hampshire, Our personal history, tagged autumn, fall, foliage, golden pond, island, new england, squam lake on November 14, 2012 | 10 Comments »

♥

Somehow I never got around to posting these photos.

Maybe a month ago, Ryan + I took a boat out to the island where we’re going to get married next September. It was absolutely breath-taking in the fall {these photos really don’t do it justice}. I can’t imagine what a dream it’ll be in the lazy days of late summer. If I could have my way, I’d just live on the darling little island forever.

I’d been going back and forth on whether I want to share the details of our wedding or whether I want it to be a surprise {it’s so hard keeping secrets!}. I get really excited about all of it and I can hardly contain myself. The beauty of the island is so difficult to capture in photographs, one must be there to feel the breeze, smell the air, and listen to the water lapping up on the shore, so I figure – what the heck?

When it comes right down to it, I don’t think I could keep from sharing any longer. I’m so in love with this State and all of her beauty. I feel lucky every day to be here living amidst all of these gorgeous lakes and mountains and trees.

Have a wonderful day!

xx.

Read Full Post »

Ingredients for the perfect day.

Posted in Inspiration, New Hampshire, Our personal history, tagged autumn, fall, fall foliage, new england, new hampshire, pumpkins, squam lake on October 23, 2012 | 10 Comments »

♥

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve blogged.

This weekend we were gifted with a nearly perfect set of days, and since we’ve been so busy and spread thin lately, I’m feeling very thankful for each one. Here is what made them up, the ingredients for the perfect day (or days):

I’m expecting things to settle soon. one. Because we’ve put down some deposits for our wedding particulars (which feels so, so exciting!). We’ve made most of our decisions and are now just finalizing the big things. Once those are set, we can just enjoy the process of getting inspired, and making/collecting the perfect decor and details. two. I’ll finally have a consistent schedule at a day job that I love in just one week. My new job inspires me and flatters some of my most basic interests. It feels like me. So next week my life will be organized into a weekly routine and the only things in it will be things that I love. No more working nights. No more of having a different work schedule every week. Without consistency I’ve found that I feel very scattered and can’t focus even on the things I love to do the most.

xx.

P.s. My brother-in-law built that playhouse for LG from scraps! Childhood dream come true! My family joked that he was actually building it for me instead of my niece – ha! (I would have been just as excited as she was.)

Read Full Post »

Photo Booth Friday – No. 54

Posted in New Hampshire, Photobooth Friday, Vintage + Thrift, tagged apples, autumn, estate sales, fall, in new england, pumpkin patch, pumpkins on September 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

♥

our week in snapshots:

| highlights |

I read an article recently about stress. Obviously we all have stressors in our life, and they’re all relative, but in this article it said that the retired community is the least stressed of all Americans, and women in their 20s are the most. Huh. I have to say that I kind of felt a little better reading that because there’s a lot of figuring-out to do at my age, and at least I’m not the only one dealing with it. That certainly isn’t exclusive to women, we must just handle our stress differently than men, but it none-the-less made me feel a little less alone. Interesting, no?

I was absolutely captivated the other day at work when I accidentally glanced out a window and my eye caught on a flaming maple. Maples are the most beautiful trees in the fall. On the drive to work with Ryan yesterday our car climbed and dipped along the loopy back-woods road consistently being showered with fluttering yellow leaves. It was surreal. We have taken a liking to that scary road I described a few months ago. You know, the road with the one lane tunnel under the curved stone bridge? That part is still slightly terrifying. My heartbeat increases whenever we pull up to it, stop, roll down our window and honk our horn to warn anyone else that may be about to enter the tunnel from the other side. But the rest of the road makes up for it with its lakeside meandering and all of those gorgeous trees.

We caught the most fantastic estate sale on Saturday! I was so in love with the house, the yard, the pieces being divvied out, but on the other hand, thinking of the woman who spent so many of her years there and now has to be moved into a nursing home was heartbreaking. So many little memories handed out to strangers. We excitedly accept them and fill our house that will one day also be distributed in such a way. Everything is cyclical. We must each do our best to live a life that we truly enjoy. It’s so, so important.

Happy Friday,

xx.

Read Full Post »

Photo Booth Friday – No. 53

Posted in Photobooth Friday, tagged autumn, fall, first frost, our week in photos, our week in snapshots, photobooth, the beatles, vintage filter, when i'm 64 on September 21, 2012 | 4 Comments »

♥

our week in snapshots:

| highlights |

Yesterday was my first day working as the social media manager for the little natural foods store where Ryan works! I plugged away at my new desk bulking up their online presence {obviously something I love!}. It’s so wonderful to work for an organization that I really believe in – the owner of the store believes that her shop should be a resource where farmers and families can come together to work for the greater health of their community in so many ways – from eating healthy, to supporting financially, to lowering our negative impact on the Earth {pollution, etc.}. I also didn’t hate that Ryan + I get to commute to and from work together, and that we can keep each other company during lunch. This is how things should be!

The weather man gave us warnings for frost the other night which means that our garden, for the most part, is on its last leg. It did well this summer, especially for our first try, but I’m a little sad to think that it’s over for the year. Of course, our kale will keep on giving, but the rest of the goodies will likely start their work as compost for next summer’s garden.

My Mom had a significant birthday on Wednesday! Well, significant, I guess, if you’re a Beatles fan. We all went out for dinner, and my dad re-wrote the lyrics to this song so they were all about my parents’ life together, then he, Ryan + I sang it in the middle of the restaurant. Surprisingly, I wasn’t as embarrassed as I probably should have been, ha! It was a cute moment and my Mom smiled through the whole song. Dad had even planned ahead and handed her a bottle of wine at the moment that we sang that line – cute.

Hoping you’re all well on this sunny Friday!

xx.

Read Full Post »

I Finished My Novel.

Posted in New Hampshire, Writing, tagged 2011, autumn, my, nanowrimo, photos, songs, soundtrack, story on December 3, 2011 | 2 Comments »

♥

PHEW! I finished my novel!

On November 1st, I undertook the challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days. The point of the exercise is to promote the skills of writing and imagination, and to help writers get past their “block” to form the skeleton of something that could be very good if it is then given more detailed attention.

There is a lot to do from here. I did the research, and I wrote the story, now I need to go back and fix it all up. When the goal is just to get out those 50,000 words, and to have the story in front of you, there are sometimes other things that are sacrificed leaving behind continuity errors, improper grammar, lack of detail or explanation, lack of character development, and the occasional spelling mistake. If I decide to finish up this novel and share it with others, then I still have many months of work ahead of me.

However, I’m incredibly proud of the feat that I have accomplished, and for the first time, I think my novel could actually turn into something worth reading (I’ve finished NaNoWriMo twice before, but wouldn’t pick up those stories again). I set this year’s story in 1966 – 1968 in a tiny New Hampshire town. A Tale For Autumn started out as a snapshot of life in rural New England, but ended up being a statement about the passing of time, the significance of place, and appreciating simplicity in life.

I put together a pinboard on Pinterest and a playlist on GrooveShark to inspire me when I didn’t feel like writing but really needed to. Check these out if you’re wondering what my story looks and feels like.

As for the story itself, I’ll let you know if it’s ever ready to share. For now the closest thing to reading it is the song below. Ryan wrote it and it feels perfect for my novel. Along with the other songs on the playlist and the images in the pinboard, you should be able to get a pretty good feel for the story.

Have a wonderful Saturday.

xx.

(Click images for sources!)

Read Full Post »

It’s Getting Colder!

Posted in Portland, Style, Vintage + Thrift, tagged 2011, autumn, fall, foliage, look, thanksgiving on November 22, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

♥

Other than spending four hours in the repair shop…

we had a lovely weekend. I did some thrifting, Ryan did some blacksmithing, and we tried our very best to suppress the urge to get all amped up on Christmas. It seems like everyone is getting ready for Christmas early this year, doesn’t it? I think it’s because of the early snow. And, there will be another 8-12 inches of the white stuff headed our way tonight!

So, until Friday on our drive back to Portland from my sister’s house {when we pop in the She + Him Christmas album!}, I’m still dressing and acting like it’s fall. Thanksgiving is the best day of the whole year and I absolutely can’t wait to enjoy it with my family.

By the way, has anyone else listened the She + Him Christmas album yet? I am really excited, but just have to make it through Thanksgiving first.

We were poking through shops this morning while we waited for the car to be finished in the shop, and when I stepped out of one store, the cold blast of air mingled with the holiday displays in the window, and I have to admit that I let out a little yip of excitement.

This Christmas is going to be the best!

Safe journey to all who are traveling!

xx.

Read Full Post »

Happy Saturday!

Posted in Music, Things I Love, tagged autumn, brick, driveway, fall, lacrymosa, smitten song, weekend, weltschmerz on November 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

♥

Here’s a little song to keep your Saturday lovely!

Listen to it while you do your dishes, start your next knitting project, or while you play with your kitties + feel cozy in your home!

I’ve got plenty on my To Do list today, so I can’t stay to chat, but I hope you’re all doing quite well on this sunny Saturday. My shop will have some new things listed this week {yay!}. I can’t wait to share it all with you!

Enjoy your weekend.

xx.

Read Full Post »

What A Perfect Pumpkin Patch!

Posted in New Hampshire, Our personal history, tagged autumn, corn maze, fall, new england, patch, pick your own, picking, pumpkin, tradition on October 19, 2011 | 4 Comments »

♥

We have a tradition.

Every fall when we go back to the Lakes Region for my favourite State Fair, we end our trip with a visit to Moulton’s Farm to pick out our Halloween pumpkins.

We’ve done this as many years as we’ve lived together, and I’m so happy about it because I love to support local farms — especially this one. Moulton’s is the farm closest to my parents’ house, so my whole childhood we’d get our veggies at this very farm stand (well, the ones that we didn’t grow in our own garden).

I always get really excited to share my favourite local spots with Ryan, and now I get to share them with you, too! Here are the photos from this year:

Do you have a favourite farm for pumpkin picking?

xx.

Read Full Post »

Autumn Playlist — 2011

Posted in Music, tagged autumn, baking pies, fall, nanowrimo, perfect, playlist, pumpkin carving, thanksgiving, walks on October 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

♥

I have a fall playlist that I’ve been curating for years.

It changes a little from year to year, but a lot of the songs, because of the warm or spooky feelings they offer, remain the same. When it comes to this time of the year, I find that I really just love to hear lots of pretty acoustic guitars and warm voices. I always love to share this mix so others can enjoy it, too. So here you go!

| My mix is perfect for |

- Carving pumpkins.

- Driving to an apple orchard to do some picking.

- Putting on a tape and listening to in your walkman while you kick around the leaves outside.

- Baking pies.

- Hosting Thanksgiving (or a Harvestfest!)

- Working on your NaNoWriMo story.

- Knitting yourself a new scarf.

- Writing a letter to a good friend who lives far away.

- Any other autumn activity you regularly enjoy.

Please share this with anyone you think will appreciate these tunes!

Enjoy!

xx.

Read Full Post »

The Sky Is Falling!

Posted in New Hampshire, tagged autumn, columbus day, fall, foliage, lakes region, leaf peepers, new england, new hampshire on October 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

♥

After Thanksgiving, Columbus Day might be my favourite holiday.

It’s certainly not that I greatly admire Mr. Christopher, or that I promote the “conquering” of more undeveloped land in favor of civilization, but my reason for loving this holiday in particular is instead thus: this past weekend typically marks the peak of the fall foliage in New England (except for this year), there is a fantastic little State Fair that I love to attend, and, because my home region feels the most like home in the fall.

In autumn, the electricity in the air is provoking. I can feel all of the creatures in the woodland preparing for winter. The leaves tenderly flutter from their branches to form a colourful blanket on the ground. It seems like an entire mountain can be soundless when you walk through its trees — somehow the only sound is that of feet on dirt. And the water looks cold… It looks so cold that I shiver to see it, and snuggle deeper into my scarf and mittens (again, except for this year).

It’s a hard thing to explain, this feeling. Maybe the only way to show you is to show you. So, here is why I love this time of the year: