They’re simple but sweet—and totally ready to spread some autumn cheer.
Love this season for crafting!
Stay Cozy,
I have been a bit busier than usual as I have started a new job.
💖💖💖
Can you guess where it is?
It is a fun place to work...filled with many wonderful offerings...
It has been around for many years and delights us year-round,
but especially during holidays.
You have most likely visited here.... I hope there is one in your neighborhood.
Its name is very well known - even on tv.
It is steeped in traditions, and many people collect their one-of-a-kind delights.
Here is a hint...
It’s been a season of change,
and I’ve found myself in a space where every aisle celebrates love, friendship,
and the little moments that matter most.
We have many regular and loyal customers,
yet there are those who are surprised there are still Hallmark stores around!
I am really having a good time.
The other employees and the owner have been so welcoming and kind.
My grandson already has his eyes set on this cute ornament.
Be back soon.
Stay Cozy,
There’s something comforting about traditions that stay the same even as everything else changes. The world moves fast, but this little ritual slows us down — a gentle reminder that simple joys are often the sweetest.
We load up our pumpkins, breathe in that unmistakable scent of fall, and smile at each other, grateful that after all these years, we still find joy in the small things — together.
🍂🎃🍂
This bowl holds the last of my pears and plums as summer is coming to an end.
And here are the last of the Lazy Susans and Hydrangeas from my garden.
They were just beautiful this year.
May their days be filled with wonder, their hearts stay open to learning, and their pockets be stuffed with a whole lot of love from Grandma.
💛 Here’s to the first of many “firsts.” 💛
When you pull on the tab....
His sweet photo pops right out.
When my daughter was visiting yesterday, she went to grab something downstairs when she suddenly noticed something on the carpet in our family room. Could it be?
A SPIDER!
Not your average little house spider. This one was massive. Its legs stretching out like skeletal fingers. It stood motionless. She yelled; I yelled...all the while her son, Jayden had no idea what the commotion was all about. For a moment we froze!
My heart thudded in my chest; I wasn’t about to let an eight-legged intruder take over. But we were both so scared and there was no knight in shining armor to come to our rescue.
Armed with a glass jar and a piece of cardboard, I approached him. The spider didn’t flinch. It just stared at me—or at least, I imagined it did. With a swift motion and a shaky hand, I trapped it.
VICTORY. Sort of. I still had to flip the jar over and screw the lid on. I did it! He was captured.
We both breathed a sigh of relief as we put the jar and its creepy contents outside.
Later my husband released the unwelcomed visitor (far away from our house I told him) watching it skitter into the darkness. But the victory felt hollow. Because now, every corner of the room feels suspicious. Every tickle on my arm sends a jolt of panic. I keep glancing at the ceiling, the baseboards, the shadows under the couch.
If there was one… there could be more. In fact, there was another one just like this one only a week ago in my living room. I actually saw it hiding by the fireplace as I walked down the stairs! Hubby was home that time.
And that’s the part that really gets under your skin. Not the spider itself—but the idea that it has friends. Quiet ones. Just waiting to make their appearance.
I always think there are more spiders around this time of year - and it turns out there are!
Spiders are most frequently observed indoors during late summer and early autumn. This period, often called “spider season,” typically spans from August to October, with peak activity in September. During these months, a significant increase in spiders is often noticed in homes.
The heightened visibility during this time is largely due to male spiders actively moving about. They become more mobile as they search for mates, often venturing from secluded spots. This increased wandering makes them more likely to be seen by humans.
I really do love making gifts for the special people in my life and even those that may be new friends or family I don't get to see very often! While I am designing my creation I am thinking of the person that will receive it - invoking fond memories for me and maybe a prayer or two for them. I don't know about you - but to receive something, no matter how small, in the mail that is not a bill, or an advertisement can be few and far between. I imagine the smile on their face when they receive their little package, so welcomed and unexpected. My hope is that I have brought some joy and delight to their day!
The reason I call them "chunky mail" is because they are usually too bulky to be sent as a "flat mail" item for just a postage stamp or two - they must be mailed as a first-class small package for $3-$5.
This one is for a friend that just needs a little lift.
I’m not sure how I feel about this?
The thought of either of them out in that big old ocean with whatever is in there with them
makes me take a pause or two…or three! Yikes. He is only six!
While I am silently praying real hard.
Carrie
The Tualatin Arts Advisory Committee has been working to add vinyl art wraps to the City's traffic signal boxes, to help turn these utilitarian cabinets into works of public art.
Here are a few of the designs.
Aren't they beautiful!
With the summer fully upon us here in Oregon and the sun shining so brightly - it reminded me of the lemon trees we had in our backyard in Southern California, and I was inspired to make a lemon themed birthday card.... but I didn't have any stamps or die cuts to use.
