The Nest

Kerri introduced me to this amazing store that is loaded with adorable vintage, or made to look vintage, things. What I loved the most about The Nest is how affordable it was. It's truly unique and whimsical. I found a ton of stuff I could have bought...but settled on a few things. Best of all, lots of good ideas for things to make. A leaf soap dish with a bird for pottery, clean white napkins to embroider flowers on, painting limbs white and hanging them or propping them up, or pages from old books glued around candles tied with straw. I got to remember these things, which is why I post them online.

Matt bought me the book I've been wanting. Very thoughtful. I can't wait to do a farm animal quilt. Speaking of farm animals, I'm currently reading the following books: Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, and Barnyard in your Backyard. New passion I think. Matt and I might be in for a career change, he himself thinks it could be inevitable. For now, we're just studying up and daydreaming.

Fall Break

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Duke Gardens. Searching around for plants we would like to one day plant in our future home. I really loved these crabapple trees. Apples the size of cherries are adorable. In the spring they get a beautiful bloom.

This small house is next to the Duke Gardens and I want to live there. I love the light blue tin roof. There's one like this in Mebane I've been eyeing. Could you imagine how sweet it would be to live next to the gardens? Why would you need to eat inside?
This bumblebee was completely docile. It sat very sweetly for lots of up close shots.
These are Chinese Ornamental peppers that really looked stunning. I could believe the colors. I've never seen a purple pepper.
I loved the way the color fades from white to green on this plant. I don't know what it's called, but I really love it!
I'm on my two week break for fall. I'm spending today being a couch potato because I can...but I do have plans:

1. Picking apples in the mountains with Kerri

2. Making apple butter

3. Finish my quilt

4. Bake pumpkin muffins, brioche, butternut squash gnocchi, and sour cream apple pie

5. Start a new sewing project...I just can't decide what.

An apple bag?

Homemade buttons?

And then again...I wish I could make this dress!

Umm...

I'm not sure what I'm going to do when the frost takes gardening from us. Few things give me so much joy. It will only be a small window of time, December through April. This past week we finished our fall garden. Complete with broccoli, beets, cabbage, spinach, arugula, mixed lettuce, and cilantro. I doubt the cauliflower and brussel sprouts will make it.

Has anyone noticed the exceptional color of the sky lately? I can't take my eyes off of the blue against bright green foliage. On Sunday Matt and I walked in the Duke Gardens. We're getting ideas for plants we would like to put in our garden. Hopefully by next May we'll have a place with a little land. It was a gorgeous day and we had a great time investigating different greenery.

P.S. Dad wants pigs! I've already checked a book out from the library and know exactly what to look for in a feeder pig. I've picked out names: Sweet Betsey and Arnold.