Hi there. Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend… even though the Jays lost. I am gutted. I’ve been a baseball fan for all of 2 weeks, hahaha, but like the rest of Canada, I was so hoping for a win.
We have a fun day planned today. What I think is fun, at any rate. Going to putter in the garden for a little while, finishing up the garden tasks and putting away the Hallowe’en decor. I’m not quite ready to put up garlands and holiday wreaths yet, even though the weather is fine. Will just have to hope for a nice day again in a few week’s time.
Then we are off to Indigo. They have a free tote for Plum card members if you spend $50 so off we go to get gifts for our niblings, plus a free tote ; ) Then dinner some place nice, and home to watch Building Baeumler with Bryan and Sarah. Kind of the perfect day. Bookstore, garden, dinner, and cosy tv to end the evening.
Here are this week’s fun finds. Check out this gorgeous garden below… growing in pure sand! For those of you with sandy soil, here are some great tips. Even if you don’t have sandy soil, but want to build up a rock garden, a berm, an herb garden….
- Have you ever thought about planting in pure sand? Peter Korn’s pioneering nursery and garden near Malmö | Gardens Illustrated
- Lu La Studio Turns a Parking Lot Into a Multi-functional Rewilded Garden in Somerville, MA
- What makes a good wildlife garden?
- Slow Down: The Lazy Gardener’s Guide to Fall Cleanup
- How to grow honeyberries for an effortless crop of fruits
- When and How to Collect Snapdragon Seeds for Next Year’s Blooms
Garden style ideas – find the one that’s perfect for you – Great photos and ideas. I think my style is mostly Wildlife Garden. What about you? Does one fit you best?
Homey Bits
Outdoor Fall Tablescape Using Driftwood, Herbs + Succulents – City Farmhouse by Jennifer O’Brien
This 5×8 blue and brown, machine washable, boho rug is on sale right now! Need it bigger? The 8×10 rug is also on sale!
Holiday Ideas
Now, don’t freak out! All is well. I know it is super early yet. I am far from ready for the holidays. I’m actually a decorate on the 23rd and take it down on the 26th kind of girl ; )
Even though I am a humbug, a grinch, when it comes to this holiday, I love, love, love to give gifts. Especially themed gifts. A basket of kitchen tools with bougie evoo for the gourmand, a spa basket for my bath-soaking daughter-in-law, a gorgeous tote bag filled with coffee gift cards and cosy pj’s for the studious students… well, you get the picture. I try to cater the gifts to suit the recipient. Here are my ideas. from last year, for how I like to put together a great curated gift. I also like the 5 Things Christmas List idea.
I am going to have a Christmas section each Sunday. Gift ideas, decor ideas, baking ideas. Even though it’s early yet, it is not too early to start making a list, diy-ing things, picking up stuff when you find it at a good price, or buying a bit per pay cheque (we retired folks know the strain).
Holiday Prep List – 2 Months Before (Aka Right Now)
- Set a budget (yep, yep, yep).
- Order your Christmas cards (or pick up the supplies to make them).
- Start making a Christmas gift list.
- Ask recipients for a five (or more) favourite gift ideas list. I tell them not to worry about price, just things that they really want or need. I then pick at least one thing off the list. On the years that I am feeling flush, I pick a more expensive one.
- Make a baking list so you can have the supplies on hand, at the ready.
- If you have kids, do a closet and toy purge now. Donate gently used items to a local charity.
Glitter Christmas Trees – A Handmade Christmas – These are the cutest little trees, a take on the Anthropologie trees.
Check out the birdseed wreath how-to in the photo, perfect for your birding friends.
My 4 year old granddaughter and I are both trying to grow our hair down to our waist. Actually down to our butts, as she likes to say ; ) Her advantage is that her back is shorter than mine and she has youth on her side. My advantage is that I do not chew on my hair. Is that enough? Eek!
I am doing my very best to keep my hair healthy keeping up with my girl! Here are some things that give me a bit of an edge. If you know someone who is hair obsessed, they will love these. Make up a hair basket by adding that straightener that they really want, curling iron, hair dryer….
The first two hair repairs are for those who want (frizz free) hair with volume (if you have fine hair, like mine, you appreciate voluminous hair). If you like the shiny, sleek look, try the last one, the Moroccan Oil. Your hair will look so good!
* As an Amazon affiliate, if you buy any of items through one of my links, I make a teeny tiny bit of money to support my blog. It does not cost you a penny more than it would if you went to the item on your own, without my link. Very thankful for your support : )
You need a Spritz and churro cookie press to make these great cookies for the holiday cookie exchange.
I dream about these shortbread like sugar cookies. They melt in your mouth! See the recipe below.
Recipes
Did you end up with left over candy and chocolate after Hallowe’en? Me, too! In order to not eat it all ourselves, I like to make the chocolates into cookies. Especially as chocolate chips are so crazy expensive this year.
And pasta… I seem to be on a pasta kick lately.
- Gnocchi cacio e pepe with mushrooms and sage
- Greens mac ‘n’ cheese recipe by Jamie Oliver
- Mushroom stroganoff recipe by Jamie Oliver
- Dump + Bake Chicken Alfredo Noodle Casserole
- Or this vegetarian alfredo bake that is chockablock full of veggies.
The Marigold Potager - A Zone 3 Prairie Garden 
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