30 Days of Thanks

I've been posting daily thanks on my personal Facebook page this November.  Since that page isn't public (but this one is!) I thought I'd document them here, too.  There is an abundance of things to be grateful for, and just like documenting the little things, writing them down helps keep my heart full of gratitude and happiness.

Day 1.  I'm thankful for my handyman. ♥ He can fix just about anything and it sure makes life easier.
Day 2.  I am thankful for and love my spiritual mentor. She sends me home with pocketfuls of wisdom and hope each time we meet.
Day 3.  I'm thankful for the majority of the year that we aren't sick! The flu is no fun.
Day 4.  I'm thankful for my brothers and sisters on both sides. Everything is way more fun family-style!
Day 5.  I'm thankful for friends. The ones that I've bonded with over country living, English essays, blogging, getting fit and The Word; those I've known since the second grade, the ones who saw me through the college years, the ones who now teach and celebrate my own children and me theirs, the ones across the country, in another state, those hours away, and the ones down the street. I'm even thankful for the friend who is crashing on my couch tonight for his bi-annual month-or-two-long visit (you never know with him). Friends--you are grand!
Day 6.  I'm thankful that the election is over.
Day 7.  I'm thankful for sun breaks on rainy days.
Day 8.  I'm thankful for Crossfit workouts that push my "limits" mentally and physically.

Have you been documenting 30 days of thanks? If you have a link, please share!

pinterest

Wellies: a story of lust and practicality

Today marks 500 published posts!

It has been raining here in the PNW since the beginning of time October, or so.  Which means indoor projects are piling up all over the place since it's here that we'll be spending the next seven months, AND because and I don't want to look at my blue wall that shouldn't be blue, or the three different kinds of texture in my living room, or the sporadic missing baseboards throughout the house any longer.  Wait, these are my problems, not yours.  But the rain is a heavy subject for many of us, and it's the exact reason I wrote, '5 Ways to Embrace the Rain This Season'.

The rain is also what inspired today's topic: Wellies.  

You know the weather has changed when you're excited to spend your Nordstrom gift card and then some on a pair of rubber boots.  Not on a blouse, jewelry or on the MAC makeup that you would like to re-stock, but boots. Rubber boots.  And I'm not talking about the kind of rubber boots like the $15 pair that you bought last spring at Walmart and wear into your chicken coop.  

Those boots serve a different purpose--like walking in chicken poop. 

I'm sure wellies have been around since before I was born, so I'm not sure why I never connected owning a pair and wearing them regularly while living in the Pacific Northwest.  It's like simple math.  Where it rains = wear wellies.  You can wear them anywhere--grocery shopping, to the mailbox, to and from the kids' bus stop, while on an afternoon stroll through the neighborhood, Christmas shopping in the city, or to retrieve your dog from the neighbor's, after his 213th unscheduled play date with their dog, in the rain. 

You can even wear them in the snow!  Husband did you hear?!

Style:  Simple.

Practicality: Awesome.

Variations: Plenty*.

*I just happen to love the Hunter version.

Have you been considering a pair of rubber boots?  Here's a great review on the pros and cons of Hunters by Sunday Love xo  Glad to know that I wont be complaining if/when I get my hands on said boots.

Are you lusting over a fall clothing item that you want to see in your closet?  

If so, what is it?

Edit:   I have been informed via A CUP OF JO that Hunter has recently released collapsible boots.

Now you wont have them taking up half your suitcase when you travel!  Genius!

hunter boot images via pinterest

Afternoon at the Camas Farmer's Market

 Yesterday, the kids and I and my friend, Shannon, and her little boy, hit up the one of the last Camas Farmer's markets of the season.  The wind was something fierce yesterday, but it was neat to be downtown, clad scarf, in the early October sun rays, enjoying the last of the season's harvest.  The kids ran, rolled and laid all over the grass and completed a vegetable scavenger hunt.  You know you've done something right when your kids don't throw a fit when you say no to the sweet cart, and beg you to go into the library.  Children after their mama's own heart!

The city is beginning to glow and crisp, while not a drop of rain has hit this Evergreen State in over a month.  I think most of us locals are pinching ourselves!  Speaking of locals--I love being a local to my town.  I love our little city, our downtown, the post office man who has been standing at the same desk for over thirty years, the locally owned market, coffee shop and burger joint.  If only these things and more would never change. 

We've got a gem of a little city on our hands.

you're a hard act to follow.

Dear September,

Just when you'd settled in nice, with your waves of fall heat, sunflower beams and an abundant apple tree harvest, you've gone and passed the bounty to October.  Thanks for the birthday, I'm very much enjoying being thirty!  I didn't know what fun it was wearing red lipstick until that 12th day, and I definitely never gave myself an excuse to wear cobalt blue and yellow platforms until then!  And thanks for giving us a near-solid month to wear flip-flops, to teach a six year old to ride her bike without training wheels, to enjoy blackberries while waiting for the school bus, and to not have to worry about frizzed-out hair due to the northwest drizzle.  Seriously.

Husband would like to thank you for giving me my groove back. 
He's happy to be eating regularly again.  

Since the temperature has lost its scorch, I've cooked up an old favorite a couple of times and we've been inserting zucchini and soon-to-be pumpkin into everything we can get our hands on.  You make us do things like that.  Speaking of pumpkin--pumpkin spice lattes are back into full effect and we've again made our pumpkin spice Yankee candle part of the family.

You've made quite the perfect segue for October.

Bring on the leaves, cool mornings and that smokey October air to settle us in.  I've got sweaters waiting, boots I've been eyeing, crafts and recipes to whip up, 

all in your name, October!

Instagrams from the past weekend:

Find me on Instagram!  User name: cbmccully

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the weekend and an apple harvest.

Fall is in full effect here in the great Northwest! The stove is running constant, scarves, boots and coats are a necessity when heading outdoors, and the trees are glowing hues of yellow, orange and red.  I'm especially fond of the Maple off my back porch that is glowing the brightest of reds.  It's my favorite.

The weekend was excellent!  I'm knee deep in the beautiful mess of bazaar prep and progress is being made.  Thanks to my support system--Husband, Mom, sisters and friends.  They are helping me believe I can pull it together.  Six days of sales, handmade at that, feels more doable every day! 

Here's a handful of other fun things that happened this weekend:

a Ninja in the mail.
On a whim last week, Husband ordered the "Ninja" off TV. We like to juice around here and I've wanted a food processor, so now we have an appliance that does both! It even mixes dough. Yay, for juicing that uses the whole fruit and vegetable!
portland's largest garage sale at the expo.

Kid-free and I came home with a couple loads of great treasures. 

daylight savings.

Is anyone else feeling more accomplished in the morning? 
Here's to keeping up the extra "early" rise!

front yard apple tree harvest.

I have a wood crate full of apples that need to be enjoyed. I'm thinking of making an apple pie and jarred apple pie filling for holiday gifts. Apple butter, too? Now, that sounds delicious! 

Yeah.  He's hot.

Have a great Monday!

Cassie



Ten Minutes Ago...

I nearly stomped my feet when Husband asked me to go outside, in the near freezing weather, to take pictures of the firewood to put on Craigslist.  In the horse corral, nonetheless.  I contemplated the quick trip in my Havana sandals then reconsidered, and I'm glad I did. 

Turns out the moments in the cold,

thick-treed horse corral, photographing firewood, can be nice.

A lovely Tuesday to you.

xx

P.S.  I haven't introduced you to the horses!  Soon, I promise. 

This morning, they are on the other side of the property in their winter stalls.

P.P.S. Yes, the firewood is for sale. 

Shoot me an email if you're in the area and are in need.

color-full.

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

~William Cullen Bryant

wherein I divulge the sad truth

The fall weather has finally began to settle in on this quiet little town of Camas.  The rain outside the window is soothing, yet the matter of business I am here to discuss, is quite displeasurable.

I really don't even want to go here, but must.

Remember that Summer Wish List--

the great list of inspiring to-dos that were to fill my summer with heavenly moments and intentional pleasure?  Well, only two of the fifteen have been checked off the list.

They were berry picking and homemade ice cream, and they were accomplished on the same day! 

Horribly lousy, I know.

Because I don't like unfinished business,

I've decided to clean-up the list and re-focus my intentional living skills. 

 I'll be adding some new things and be giving them no particular deadline. 

They'll just be on the list waiting to be crossed off and be filed under

intentional~pleasure living.

So what's new on the list you ask? 

A Seattle Adventure {coming soon}.

Learn to play and sing our song on the guitar.

Try out yoga {again} for the sake of what feels like my 52 year old back.

Get a piece of writing published.

Track down the teacher who changed my life, meet with her, and give her a ginormous thank you

{she may be in another state, but it must be done}.

Go target shooting.

And finally,

Go big for our five year wedding anniversary happening this month. 

Actually, quite a few of these things are happening this month. 

Here's to turning over a new leaf in November!

Happy November 1st!

give thanks-a fabric banner

Last weekend,

my friend, Erin, from CreativeLeigh Me,
came over to show me a thing or two about "fabric banners."

She is the fabric banner queen!  She has even made an interchangeable banner for different occasions,
and has sweet little accents like hearts ready to be thrown in the mix.

Boy, was it fun!

Lots of cutting!

I decided to outline the acorn and the leaves to help them "pop."

I refrained on the letters,

because it would have taken entirely too long,

and used crimping sheers to help the fabric not fray.

Then up she went!...a few days later.

After a moment, I realized something was missing--

Do you see it?

My new favorite owl.

He is quite cute, right?

And he helps spruce up my boring mantle.

This craft was involved, but relatively easy,
and has so many possibilities!

Have you done any fun crafts lately?