Fireside Conversations
Long warm nights are meant for gazing into a bonfire, sipping wine. Nothing fancy is needed. Set up the fire early, move chairs into place, wait until it is dusk. No need to wait until dark, that will come as you sit by the fire and chat.
Our fire is near the little pond by the simple stone patio in the backyard. Water gurgling behind the crackle of the fire and the evening breezes bring the elements of the earth together in our very own magical spot. ( the black fence leads to our pool area…that is another day’s post!)
You do not need an elaborate set up to draw your own magic to your yard. You and yours have all the magic that is necessary! Bring soft music. Recommendations? Rod Stewart’s American Song Book . Soft, sexy and slow dance worthy songs – so… hold each other close in the light of the stars, by the fire and dance. Sing along and kiss when the mood strikes (and it will!)
Fall for Fall
Hot sunny days have fallen away. The blazing heat has mellowed and now the air is crisp and the evenings chilly. Fall is a grand time to celebrate an abundant life. Let’s start at Home.
The Summer deck has given way to the Fall. Gone are the wind chimes, plants and sea shells. The awning is drawn and the bright, cool sun shines directly on the deck. What better way to enjoy a Saturday afternoon than a cozy bonfire on the deck. No need to wait for evening.
Get Cozy-
Gather your blankets, quilts and pillows. Matching does not matter, warm comfort does!
Make your chairs plush with the comfort of multiple pillows and blankets (love the faux fur and heart pillow I brought up from the Club Room downstairs!) The wood is gathered and piled high in the fire pit.
The crackling fire sounds magical and smells like fall should smell!
Her Chair!! His Chair!!
The Man of the House tends the fire and I make a fall sipping concoction !
Candy Apples:
A crisp fall beverage!
Ingredients:
UV Candy Bar Vodka
Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
Fresh apple slices
2 stemmed glasses
Mine are tagged with adorable markers of sparkly owls (Pier One Imports has them!)
Making Candy Apples is as easy as:
1 1/2 oz UV Candy Bar Vodka Fill with Cider, add apple slices
Enjoy! And be sure to eat the apple slices at the end!!
Summer at Home
My Scottish Lord and I are sun people, warm air, summer nights, flip flops, southern roots (okay, that one is me!) It makes sense we live in a warm sultry place. Makes sense, but we don’t. We live in the upper Mid-west in an oh so short summer and a wildly long winter place.We make the most of what warm weather we have at our humble Scottish Cottage, in our backyard pool, on our front stoop, back deck and stone patio. We spend what moments we have in the sun.
I am a teacher, so I have long days to spend in the sun. The Scottish Lord gets home by 2:30- so we have afternoon moments to spend together.
Design your New Lifestyle
Close your eyes (well, after you read this!), dream of how you want your everyday life to look like, to feel like…
Dream of living in sensuous surroundings, embraced by feelings of abundance and warmth, sampling wine and libations that thrill your lips, feasting on wholesome food, glowing from movement that is more than exercise, being romanced- in and out of the boudoir- sighing into skin tingling love, feeling the kiss of pleasure everyday. Living life the way it is meant to be lived.
Open your eyes- ah, that feels right. Yes. Where to start? How to start?Start with simple everyday routines, made new. Look with new eyes, the ones that see the life you really want to live. Ask “Yours” (your other!) to join in this creation. Yours will want to join in, share your vision!
Let’s start with daily summer living (while we can!)
Live Outside!
Spend your moments outside! A humble sized deck need not be humble. Fill your deck with pots and pots of flowers. Big planters and small pots filled with continuous blooming flowers makes a humble deck abundant. Hit yard sales and friends who are ridding themselves of flower pots. Matching not required, use every size and color, eclectic. Fill with petunias, red begonias, colorful Moss rose and my favorite, Geraniums! Grow a lemon tree in a pot! Bring out house plants to summer in nature. Add a small table with chairs for dining, pillows for comfort. Use pillows you have, old and faded looks romantic on the deck! Fancy deck furniture not required, use what you have. Place found decorations, look around the house and choose little things to place on the deck, a candle, a small bowl of seashells, placemats from the Dollar Store ( more about Dollar store finds later!) Bring out a small radio- all the better if it plays a cd or your music player-play Caribbean or salsa music- softly in the background, play ocean waves, unless you have the real thing- than just listen to the rhythm of the waves! Or let nature serenade you, hang wind chimes to tinkle lightly in the air, adding to the feeling of pleasure. Fill it up! Out here, more is better!!
Now: USE your deck- Have weekend morning coffee- in a chunky ceramic mug- steaming fresh ground French Roast or a mild Hawaiian Kona.
Afternoon cocktails in a beautiful glass, sipped through a glass straw. Set a beautiful al fresco dinner table, use your china and silver, crystal- the best you have- no paper or plastic allowed! Light a candle, play soft music, bring out a crisp Chianti in your favorite glasses. A toast!
Now for Us 