A Summer Cozy Kitchen

Yesterday I started moving things around in my kitchen -- yes, still summer but I love to change things up! So of course it doesn't look exactly like this now but I have to show you the strawberry vintage coziness it was all summer long (so far!)  

Here is the view from the middle of the kitchen looking toward our laundry room. You can of course see the baking center that I love with my whole heart. 

This little jelly cupboard I found at an antique store a few years ago and I just love changing up each month -- I fill it with things that bring me joy! 

Abigail bought me the embroidery strawberry tea towel in Quebec last summer and it's so perfect hanging on the door. 

And look at that little ceramic pic! I love pies! I love baking them (I have a peach pie in the oven at this very minute!) I love collecting little vintage ones for decorations all over our house. Pies give it that cozy touch! 

That little peach pie is so cute! 

This little shelf is at the opposite side of the kitchen. Scott made it for me and I love to have my ironstone plates tucked underneath and stack cookbooks on top. Having my favorite ones out inspire me to take the time to enjoy baking seasonal treats! 

I spy another French tea towel! 

Here's a view from our kitchen table to some open shelving Scott built for me. In the picture it's filled with ironstone and a few tucks of red, white, and blue. I've since taken that down - I love this in all of the seasons! 

Oh how I wanted a peg board built in to the cabinet - of course Scott was able to build it for me. I think the tiny ironstone creamers (great for warm maple syrup) and a seasonal tea towel make it look charming. 

Here's a peek toward the laundry room with my cozy pie window. There will be a peach pie right there hot out of the oven in about 5 minutes... I can smell it! 

Since tucked away until I decorate for the fall, the beginning of the summer I had out my little general store all set for the 4th! 

A little peek toward our family table where more that food is served - hearts are filled, faith is discussed, and each person is nourished mind, body, and soul. Yes, I believe that meal after meal has that kind of power. 

My Mother's Day present this year was a teapot shelf that is above the molding. Oh how I love this so so much! It's an idea from the charming Red Lion Inn. 

Won't it be darling at Christmastime? 

And finally a look at the whole kitchen, my growing collection of wooden spoons, and our windowsill. 

Well that's it. Right now I've changed things up a bit and am enjoying it -- happy cozy summer! 

Fall is Coming!

It's our last week of summer around here and usually that means that we keep up with all of our daily rhythms and I fit in a bit of setting up my classroom here and there each day. 

It also means we begin thinking about Anna going back to school. Thankfully Anna will only be away at college a bit over an hour and not in China so we're barely thinking about packing yet. 

It usually means that I have already begun decorating for autumn. I like to have the whole house all cozy for fall before September 1st. That means I really gotta get going! I think last year I was all or almost all done by now. 

I was just about to take down all of strawberry plates, summer cookbooks, flowers and such and I decided to snap just a few more pictures. I've taken lots and lots over the summer of the kitchen. It surely is the place where I start decorating and I feel most motivated, so there's lots of pictures of that! 

But I wanted to remember what it looked like this summer to have my two girls violas hanging in the living room. I just love when they are hanging there - mostly because it means that both of my girls are H O M E  💗

And the dining room with it's sunny sunflowers. I also like to keep the dining room set just in case we decided to invite friends over or just dine in there ourselves. It makes me smile to see it all set with pretty dishes. 

Now it's time to pack up 

all of the strawberries

all of the flowers

the general store 

the theology mantle 

the august summer kitchen 

summer quilts 

Quilting

I wish it was me that could quilt. I certainly can not. But I love to find quilts and add them to our home. I've been enjoying this one recently for it's summertime loveliness. 

 

Strawberries in the Kitchen

Well, I packed up all of the red, white, and blue! Most of the kitchen as already summery but I changed around the table and shelves area where I keep tea, mugs and such. Here's a peek: 

I decided to take out our Strawberry china (Wedgwood) to enjoy for a while and I love it so much I had to stop and pick up some flowers! 

I adore Victoria Magazine and I'm often marking pages that inspire me so this photo shoot with my strawberry china feels like a page out of the magazine. 

I had to have this Emma Bridgewater mug -- it's perfect! 

Scott had a work meeting last week and it was near the Harney and Sons store... oh this Berry Cobbler tea!