It happens every year. I see the mums. I buy the mums. I kill the mums. I ignore the heartfelt, good intentioned advice on Instagram about soaking those bi*ches in water before I put them out. I get busy like the rest of us, and then one early October day, I pull into the driveway and have fried mums. Look how naive and optimistic I was in this first photo. Surrounded by flowers that were never going to make it. 

Not sure if it's the overcast weather today (it certainly is still warm outside), but I definitely have the fall feels. I cut back my peonies (if you know, you know), got out more fall decorations, and did some baking. Nothing makes it seem more like fall around here than these cookies - Pumpkin Chocolate Chip. They come together in a snap and are so good. Plus pumpkin is a superfood, right? So really they are like a little health food bite, not in the cookie category. They are cake-like, and fill the whole house with the smells of pumpkin and spices. It's the cookie (aka health food) that goes with coffee, hot cider, a glass of milk, or just on it's own. However - do not double this recipe. It makes a ton!

I have these beautiful roses on the side of my house. They love the hot sun they get in the afternoon and produce beautiful, bright blooms —but did you know you can keep those blooms coming all season long with a simple trick? It’s called deadheading, and it encourages your roses to keep producing flowers instead of turning spent blooms into seed pods (called hips).

Confession time. I was woefully unprepared for two dogs. I thought, how hard could it be? I'm already picking up poop from one dog. Funny, when I added the second child to the mix I don't recall it being this challenging. But 1+1 does not equal 2. However, there is so much love, joy, and laughter every day I would not change a thing. Is it work? Of course. Time? God yes. A major line item in the budget? YES. 

If you’re reading this, welcome. Truly. I’m so glad you’re here.