....this year's august is the new april

Usually Minnesota Augusts are hot, sticky, and in general one of my least favorite months of the year.  It's the month I spend thinking about how glad I'll be when it's September - see here for proof.  It's the month when my plants take a big nose dive - looking dry, faded, and gangly, and the grass is usually a sad shade of brown for lack of rain.  This August however is quite a deviation from Augusts of the past.  We have had rain, rain, rain.  It looks more like spring around here.  I took a couple more pictures of the outside to show how the flowers have been doing.  I'm quite pleased by their color, and have to say that as a result of this mild weather I'm actually enjoying August (even though I'm still thinking about autumn - as exemplified by the picture at the bottom of this post - I can't help it).

I realize there's nothing overly amazing about this display, but believe me, if you saw what they normally look like in August you'd think me a gardening wizard right now - maybe even a botanical genius :o)

I also took a few pictures of the kitchen because I enjoy the lighting during the middle of the day.

I'm sitting at the island right now as I write this post.  Seems to be one of my favorite places to sit - whether I'm on the computer, reading, looking at magazines, eating - I just like it here.

These are some roses I picked up the other day and liked how they started to look droopy and sort of hang dog.  I like the creamy pitcher paired with the creamy roses.

This is my little shelf of Ironstone pitchers - something I tend to look for when I'm antiquing.  I like seeing similar things all grouped together.

And, as I mentioned, despite being very satisfied with the pleasant, mild August weather we've been having I still get excited about autumn.  As I've mentioned in the past, I drag out all my fall and Halloween stuff on September 1st.  Yes, it's true, in August I'm dreaming about the October gatherings we'll have, cups of cocoa, warm sweaters, jeans, boots, picking pumpkins and apples, and of course going antiquing - all good stuff.  Be well my friends.

Comments

[Lindsey]

Oh, now you've got me dreaming about autumn, too! It's my favorite time of year. I always try to hold out dreaming about it until it's actually here, but it sure is hard! September 1st sounds like the perfect time to start enjoying it!

[John]

Very unique blog.
Fantastic pictures. Wow...

I like your blog.

Please visit:
http://paradise-adventure.blogspot.com

Keep blogging.
Have a great time.

[The Curious Cat]

Hmmm....it will be Halloween soon! My favourite time of year...and I get to spend it in New England...I'm so excited it is ridiculous!!! xxx

[Jen@thecottagenest]

I'm an Autumn girl too! I'm getting ready to pull out my favorite fall magazines from my collection of Country Home and and Mary Englebreit. Have you seen Country Living's new Halloween book? I haven't actually looked at it but I've seen it online.

[Karla]

We have had the opposite here in CT. Rainy icky weather most of the summer. It just started getting hot and humid. I've realized August is one of my least favorite months coupled with January and February. I love the home photos. Your island looks so inviting!
Karla

[sadie]

I love autumn too. It's my favourite season. I am NOT a summer person, and really struggle to enjoy any aspect of summer. Although I can think of two things straightaway, picking roses from the garden and my little girl being a June baby :O)

I don't decorate for Halloween, but I do love to spread autumn around the house. I hoard magazines too, and whenever I feel the need for an injection of autumn or christmas spirit, out come my mags and books :O)

Isn't it funny how a certain part of the house can be a favourite spot to be. Mine is at the kitchen table. Don't know why, I am drawn to it. Your home always looks so beautiful.

Enjoy your pleasant weather and have a lovely weekend

Sadie C
:O)

[sadie]

meant to say how much I love your white roses. With the candle beside it it has an air of winter. (Winter is also a favourite time of year for me! I love spring too, just don't like summer!!!)

[Deb]

Gorgeous blog!
Love your kitchen and collection of Ironstone pitchers. Autumn is my favourite season too ~ can't wait to start bringing out all my Fall stuff :-)

[lisa]

Allison,
Hi! I am so happy that you are blogging again! I hadn't checked back for a while and decided to today- i am so glad that i did. You are so talented and your home is so gorgeous! Thank you for sharing it with all of us .
Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Lisa :O)

[Katie]

Your window boxes look beautiful. I would love to stop by and sit on your porch and rock and look at a few magazines. Sounds wonderful! :o) Your collection of ironstone pitchers looks perfect. I love en masse groupings of my collections, too. GORGEOUS roses!!

[Josephine Tale Pedder]

Hi Allison, I am impressed by your flowers! What a lovely spot to sit and dream, read magazines and books and have a nap. If you get time with Evy that is! I always love shots of your kitchen. All that storage is so wonderful and the island is terrific too. I dread the hot summers in Sydney. I like the winter, spring and autumn but summer kills me. Big hugs to Evy for kindergarten! I have my fingers crossed for you. This can be such a difficult time for parents and little ones. If things don't settle then don't hesitate to try something else. You want your children to be happy and secure. Sometimes it may take a little time. Buckets of love to all of you. (I can imagine...)

I have to admit I can get weepy just thinking about Daisy starting school next year. It seems only yesterday she was able to be held in her Daddy's hand and now she is a cheeky, lovable, four year old. My partner thinks I'm mad for worrying over it all so much. I didn't sleep a lot last night trying to work out which school is best to send her. Both schools are wonderful in different ways. I am veering a bit towards the creative school as she has her heart set on going there. It is a small school for a city school and they have professional actors teaching drama and language classes and a big emphasis on the arts. Plus two of my friends are teachers there and would look out for her and she has known the school since she was a baby. The other school is also great in a different way. It is a Catholic school and also a very nice, gentle nurturing atmosphere. It is a lovely serene school. Sometimes it is hard to picture my very larger than life drama queen there!

I'll be thinking of you all. xx

[Donna]

Allison, What a great spot in your kitchen. I love the marble and can see you rolling out pie dough. I can't wait until fall. I pulled out a couple of things because some of the ladies from my garden club were supposed to come for coffee in the garden, but it is pouring rain here, so we cancelled. You have a lovely home and I so enjoy your posts.
Hugs,
Donna

[KIM]

Allie, I so cover your kitchen:) Id also spend all of my free time there. We haven't had a very nice August, but the rest of the summer has been unusually mild, so I can't complain. I also CANT WAIT for fall!!! Sweaters, spice candles, cider, colored leaves, pumpkin bread, Halloween decorations, the list goes on!

[KIM]

PS-What is that book/magazine in the last photo?

[Gretchen Gerg]

I found myself pulling out ideas for fall this past weekend too even though it was 85 degrees here in SC.

Your porch looks so inviting.

Gretchen

[Rosemary]

Hi Alli,
I love your kitchen!! It looks very inviting. I would sit there too!
I am making Halloween decorations right this very minute.
Lots of black and orange glitter right now.
We have had a very hot week here, so I am looking forward to Fall too!!
Chat soon,
Rosemary

[Brenda Kula]

I just found you through Happy@Home. I was immediately intrigued by your blog title, because mine's Cozy Little House! I thought we must be at least kindred spirits. I adore your kitchen island, and the rest of your kitchen as well. No wonder you like to hang out there! Now I'm going searching through your blog!
Brenda

[Debra]

Great pictures! LOVE your kitchen. I can see why you like to be at the island. :)

[Dena]

Oh those creamy roses in the cream pitcher look so pretty! I think I would spend my time there at the island too. What a lovely space indeed.

Hugs,
Dena

[Susi]

You have such exsquisite taste in everything. I love your kitchen, your books, your porch, roses, vignette of photos, postcards and vintage ephemera of your great-grandparents, basically I love your blog. I'm so glad I stopped by because I've been in desperate need of inspiration to makeover my house.

Have a great weekend!

Susi

[Facaderens]

WOW, great job! It looks so fabulous. Keep up the excellent job!

[Building a new home]

All my life I have really been dreaming of a beautiful house and I am so glad that my dreams came to reality. What a mean is, I can now picture my dream house through these. Thank you so much for posting these photos. I really love looking at it.

[Josephine Tale Pedder]

Allison, just to say hi and hope things are going well with Evy. This is not a hint for you to Blog or visit me or anything as I know when you go quiet you are taking a needed break or just enjoying life and I don't want to disrupt that! Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you and hope all has settled down. I check in weekly to you and wanted you to know you're in my thoughts. xx

[philippines homes]

This is an amazing propierty, very very good designed.

Deirdre G

[sadie]

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Wishing you and your family all the very best for 2010.

Sadie x