Beautiful world map from These are Things.

Terrariums from EcoFlora.

Lovely earrings from Hannah Hoffman Jewelry.

Darling children’s clothing from Team Chipmunk.

Awesome tote from Alison Rose.

Smell good stuff from the Candle Lab.

And do you know about the new pop-up shop at Easton, Celebrate Local? They sell a variety of local products, from food items to jewelry to art.

My first published article! Thank you to Anne at Columbus Underground for the opportunity, and to Jenna Wojdacz for taking pretty pictures.

Thanksgiving is my favorite, because it brings food and gratitude together with a holiday that is uniquely American, free of religion, above all, welcoming. We just ordered our Turkey from the Co-op, and now I’m trolling cookbooks and food blogs for recipes. Soup, turkey, a tart of some kind, and…I don’t know yet. This year our guest list is small enough that I get to bring out my parent’s wedding china, which will be lovely. While I have come to enjoy the cooking portion of the day (good thing, yes?), what I really love is seeing everything laid out, getting to bring out all my favorite platters and silver, and watching everyone load up their plates with happy anticipation.  My one sadness about the food is that everything is all the same color- beige-y orange, with the occasional pop of…white. Maybe we’ll go crazy with some pomegranate something or other. Red wine might have to be sufficient (and critical for other reasons) for bringing some color to the table- we’ll see how ambitious I’m feeling.

I hope all of you have a wonderful day, full of people you love, delicious food, and an awareness of all the things we have to be grateful for.

{ images from orangette, 101cookbooks, marthastewart, thekitchn }

Life has been fairly full of late, and this poor blog has suffered. I expect to be able to spend some more time with you here soon, but if you’re hungry for beautiful things to look at, please wander over to pluckfordays.tumblr.com for soothing, lovely images.

See you soon.

Indulge, though not too much

Use your talents to improve your lot

Accept some hard truths

Make do with what you have

Expect some difficulties, but

Rise above them

Rely on others, occasionally

Rely on yourself, always

Be generous with what you find

Be gracious when others are generous with you

Respect the roses

A lot of showing up at 11:45 for the Farmer’s Market (mornings and I are not friends), drinking wine in backyards, finally relenting and going to Tuttle, only to find it fun this year, checking out CMA’s remodel (generally an improvement, though I really loathe Derby Court, and the Big Blue Woman better come home soon). ComFest, it goes without saying. The 2 big things we didn’t get to were Shakespeare (I know! We really tried- it either rained or was canceled because of the heat), finding my perfect swimming hole (I did get a few leads, but send in any tips you have for next year), and, specifically, going to Haydon Run Falls, a supposedly magical place I have never been.

There’s always next year…

{images from paperphotograpghs, ecosalon, colin caywood, sarah b terrel, globalpostmark, buckbites}

She reminded us that it was ok to be domestic. To be a feminist and not just love your home but to say that it is work, creative, sometimes intellectual, and always demanding work, which demands respect.

Also, she taught us to put the dish soap in a dispenser, appreciate finding new ways to love old things, and love green in all shades (though especially jadite).

Happy 70th birthday, Martha. I am very glad you’re around, and I hope you live at least as long as Big Martha.

{images Martha Stewart, Our Nesting Place}

There  will never be anything like this again, at least for the generation of families that met a young wizard boy some years back and fell in love with a world that all of us will have forever. I am sorry to be so gawpy about this, but these characters feel as real to me as most people I see in any given day. They are all heroes, of course, but Neville will always be my favorite.

Mischief managed.*

*I tried to get my daughter to shout this with me at the end of the movie, but no dice. Quel dommage.

{images nan lawson, poofymarshmallow, bookshelfp0rn, keep calm}

I have such good intentions at the beginning of the summer. My plans typically include swimming holes, outdoor movies, day trips, and neighborhood walks to get ice cream. Well, reader I am failing- half-way through summer I have eaten no ice cream, found no watering hole for nighttime skinny dipping, and lamely left part way through the one outdoor movie I attended.
So when I got an email from my daughter’s teacher nudging us to go see A Midsummer’s Night Dream, I felt compelled to rally my pals to move our potluck to the park.

Here’s what I will bring:

Gluten-free (I know- pity me) pasta salad with beets, summer squash, goat cheese, and basil vinaigrette, for staving off hunger.

Wine, for covert tippling.

Strawberries, for appeasing the restless toddler.

You guys better be there; summer’s passing, y’all.

{images tig-fashion, the farmchicks, style notes}

Ideally consumed, like most things, outside with twinkly light and friends.

{images via watershed distillery and honestlywtf}