9-9-09.
I’m not superstitious, but I’m getting a kick out of today’s date! I’ve decided it’s going to be a lucky day. But luck is what you make it, and instead of running out to buy a lottery ticket, I’m going to work very hard on all my projects today.
Then later tonight, I’ll enjoy doing something summery, while I still can. There’s still time to enjoy a picnic, have a bonfire in the back yard, eat meals outside, go to a farmer’s market, eat summer corn, make homemade ice cream or sorbet, go for a walk along a waterfront, go walking or biking in the evenings without having to be too bundled up.
If it’s still nice and warm where you live, make time in your schedule to enjoy the outdoors. Even if it means recording your TV shows or skipping them all together, putting housework off for another day if you have to, or spending less time on the computer tonight. (Painful thought though that may be!)
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
– Do quick mid-week vacuuming and mid-week laundry so it doesn’t pile up for the weekend
– Time to schedule a grooming appointment for any of your pets?. I can groom my shorthaired Tyler by myself, but the longhaired Jack might need a professional trim, especially around his neck.
– Do you need to call for your yearly fireplace inspection? Chimney cleaning?
– Along the same lines, do you need your heater and water heater checked, cleaned, drained, or filter changed?
– Throw away (or use, give away, recycle) two things you’ve had laying around for five or six months. Today I’m giving away a L’Occitane home fragrance spray I hate the smell of (too cinnamony). I was keeping it around “just in case” I changed my mind and liked it, but it’s better off at someone’s house who appreciates the smell. I’m also giving away a brand new mystery book someone gave me, not knowing I don’t enjoy mystery novels.
TODAY’S PROJECT: Fireplace and candles
I’m getting my fireplace ready for the season. It will definitely get used often! Time to make an appointment with a chimney sweep, clean the fireplace and its glass, and stock up on firewood and the Duraflames I love so much. (I use the Duraflames to help get the real wood started on fire).
Because of Seattle’s devastating windstorm (and subsequent 7 day power outage) three winters ago, my friends and I are doing a lot better job of making sure we have a good supply of firewood. Every couple years, we split the cost of a cord of wood. We’ll have it dropped off at my woodpile, then ferry half of it over to their house in cars and trucks.
I am determined never to spend freezing nights huddled in my living room again, nor have to evacuate our home because we ran out of firewood. Nor will I ever be unable to cook hot food for the neighbors again in case of another emergency. On my shopping list: a giant iron Dutch oven I can cook in the fireplace with, and a grate to set it on.
Also tonight, I will pull out my three storage boxes of candles. Away will go my blue, yellow, orange and teal candles I decorated with this summer (I’ll throw out any odds and ends that don’t look like they’ll burn well). Out will come my blackcurrant, green, purple, brown and burgundy colored candles. Besides just the color of the candles, I’m looking for fall scents – fig, currant, eucalyptus, espresso, lavender, and vanilla. I save my food scented ones (caramel, pumpkin pie, apple pie, etc) for November.
I’m not yet feeling ready to go full-on decorating for fall, but I definitely want to get my candles sorted out and ready for the season. I’ll clean out my votive holders, try to toss out old funky candles I know I honestly won’t burn, and take inventory of my candle holders, tea light holders, and candle stands.
I can’t wait to burn my first evening fire and see my cats lounging lazily and luxuriously in front of the fireplace!
LOVELY BLOGS: The Fashionable Housewife
This is a fashion blog with attitude. They keep you up on trends and the current season. There’s a few too many shoe-related posts lately, but perhaps that’s just because they are eager to cover the fall 2009 shoe styles. I’ll definitely look forward to checking this out more than once or twice a week – they post quite frequently.
http://www.thefashionablehousewife.com/
LOVELY TELEVISION: Moment of Luxury
This is a PBS show that’s design oriented. It shows you how to attain luxury at any budget. Recent episodes have visited the Saint James Hotel and Baccarat museum in Paris, visited a cottage garden in England, and shown a home in Houston, Texas. There’s lots of eye candy and decor inspiration here. It’s a pleasant show to have on in the background while doing dishes or laundry, too!
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
New Perfumes and Fragrances for Fall 2009 (Now Smell This)