Afternoon Comforts

Just some happy random pictures of my afternoon to share with you all. :) It is a gorgeous day here ... balmy, blustery, golden. Sure, it's a tad hot for late September, but the heat provided the perfect excuse to break my no-caffeine-after-two rule and mix up what could be my last iced coffee for a while ...

The above picture started this post. I loved looking at that glass with its creamy cool concoction inside. I loved the dinosaurs in the background (Earlybird's) and the scattered journaling materials. So everyday, yet so comforting. That glass is old - it belonged to my grandparents before it became my own. The glasses have game birds etched on them (barely noticeable now) and I love them.

Oh yes, and just to the left of my coffee glass is my current pile of goodies - my autumn magazines. I am savoring them slowly, in bits and pieces as I get a chance. I usually leave one open on the island counter, and flip through it as I can. But that Country Living issue has a fabulous article all about author and illustrator Susan Branch (who needs a magazine of her own, I think!), and I halted right there when I got to it, marked my spot and set it aside. I was not going to read such an article standing up at the kitchen counter, without a cup of something soothing and sweet! No, I am going to read it tonight, curled up in bed with a cup of decaf. chai tea. That's how you read an article about Susan Branch. ;)

I am also reading that book at the top, one I ordered sooo long ago from my most favorite book catalog, Chinaberry. Its full title is Under the Chinaberry Tree: Books and Inspirations for Mindful Parenting, and it is just that. Perfect, and that too I'm reading slowly, a few pages at a time (with some underlining and notetaking along the way). 

Another fun little thing this afternoon - I came across a folder jam-packed with stuff I saved from Autumn 2005. Little clipped bits of magazines and things I printed out online. Like a treasure trove of goodies from long ago, just in time for another fall this year. I made up a whole two page spread in my journal:

Let me tell you a bit about what's there, if I may. This is a rare page with no actual writing by me - just visual inspiration. On the far left, a clipping from an herbal magazine about Angelica which I just learned is a traditional herb for Michaelmas (the archangel - hence the name). Also, there are some pictures of a beautiful woodland-themed Halloween party (with berried candy bark, meringue mushrooms, colorful sugared leaves and caramel apple cider). At the bottom is a label from a jar of pear baby food. Oh, the memories in that label! Earlybird was 3 in '05 and he still loved baby food! You see, he couldn't eat applesauce, so he'd have "babysauce" instead. I would make a cinnamon pear bread from 5 jars Of Healthy Times Juicy Golden Pears (yielding two loaves) and we all loved it! I especially loved the little moonlit owl label. I had this whole teatime thing dreamed up - mini pear breads and warmed juice served on a woodland picnic ... Boy, does my imagination get away with me - and that's just what journals are for!

On the right is a quote I liked, more autumnal pictures (a basket of apples and a platter of candy acorns), a strip from a new sheet of scrapbooking paper I love, and a book I am longing to order - Baking Bread with Children, forthcoming in February from Hawthorn Press. The last thing there is, of all things, a Waldorf school newsletter blurb - about a Halloween garden party for young children. I loved their ideas so much, I saved the piece for future reference.

And now I have no blogging time left as bedtime is upon us once again. Thanks for letting me share all these afternoon comforts with you. I hope you all have a great night. That evening breeze is just wonderful, isn't it? 

Comments

[Rachel]

Oh I got that cottage living magazine for the Susan Branch article alone ;) And I got the Martha ones on your suggestion *grin* and loved them. I'm a convert!
Which herbal magazine was the angelica in? I remember seeing one once...

[Jo]

Your journals continue to inspire me. Lovely! I started one this month and will try to post photos on my blog soon.

[Marianna]

I love your journals! I agree that Susan Branch needs a magazine of her own. I wonder how we could go about convincing her!

Marianna

[Paula]

I picked up a copy of Country Living, because of that awesome looking cake on the cover. But when I flipped through and saw the Susan Branch article I immediately said "Sold!" *smile* I love your journals and your blog, they are very inspiring. Thank you.
Paula

[Michele]

I've choosen your blog and awarding you with the YOU MAKE ME SMILE award...I simply adore your blog and lifestyle...I wish you could blog all day long...you have terrific ideas and zest for life...and it shows!

Just curious...do you ever have a bad day? What's your secret...and also, where do you get all of your energy?

Thank you for inspiring me on a daily basis!
Michele from Michigan!

[Michele]

P.S. Oooops....I forgot to invite you over to my blog to pick up your award and claim it as your own on your blog! Michele

[Lisa]

Gosh, you didn't tell us what the quote is! &:o) Would love to know! Enjoyed the moment relaxing with your comforts with you!

[Lizz]

Hi. I'm happy to have found your blog.

[Mary in Mn]

Hi Dawn,

I also have the Chinaberry book and have greatly enjoyed it! Reminded me of Honey for a Child's Heart.

This summer I bought S. Branch's Summer cookbook/idea book I think it was...the only thing was she had a bunch of links in the book for women, and some of them were to ms. magazine and pro-feminist kind of stuff. Not my type of thing (even though I graduated from a women's college and loved it!). So I used to be a huge fan but now my love has sort of dimished for her. Anyways, thanks again for a lovely post and you always inspire me!

[Tracy Dunne]

What a great way to preserve ideas from magazines! You take recycling to a higher level!

Love Chinaberry too - have you ever tried their soaps? They are worth the splurge!

And a former colleague gave me Susan Branch's Vineyard Seasons cookbook as a wedding gift. I plan to use it this month for the Old Fashioned Apple Pie and the "Jack Be Little" pumpkins!