I'm back and "It's" back...!!

Well, I'm back from yet another camping trip and I'm sooo glad we bought our camper!! For those of you debating whether to get one or not, bite the bullet!! I love mine and I eagerly await our next jaunt in it!! Like I said, it's about making memories...

One thing I did notice on this trip was the return of that nightly nip in the air. After the short summer we've had, you'd think I'd be annoyed. Me too! But, strangely enough, I found myself getting that funny feeling in my stomach where the anticipation of school, Fall, leaves changing colours, all came rushing back to me. Fall has always been my favourite time of year... as we still get warm, sunny days and yet, the freshness in the air breathes new life into me...especially for DECORATING!! Yep, I'm feeling a return of the decorating fever that strikes me each Fall. I recognize the signs. I start "forgetting" to water my flowers, begin eyeing my plastic containers full of outdoor autumn decor, and making lists of "things to do" that always seem to need to be done by Christmas. My mind wanders ahead to thoughts of Halloween (of which I'm a huge fan...just you wait and see!!) and what costumes my kids will wear. I start obsessing over whether the local pumpkin patch will have grown white pumpkins and just how many I'll need for my home; who we'll have Thanksgiving dinner with, and if the weather will be fine so we can do the corn maze. All of this crazy scheming just because of an almost imperceptible change in the air!

I'm happy this fever is back. I'm a creature of habit; a list maker, a planner, and an organizer. I love the extra time afforded me with the return to school of my children. I spend the first week of their return feeling sad and a bit lost without their clatter and presence in the house. BUT, then I start to settle back into my routine, finally getting back to the gym, take on more decorating jobs as other people catch the fever too, and puttering about my own house and bringing order back in. Yes, the lazy days of summer were too fleeting, but I thrive on the changes associated with the changing seasons. I am ready to "nest" again...ready to be inspired! I think I'll go get myself a cup of tea and flip through some old autumn issues of my favourite magazines...but, because I'm not wishing away summer, I think I'll sit by the pool and read them! A good splash of water will remind me summer "ain't over 'til it's over"!!

Making Memories...

For some reason, this title sounds familiar; so if I've duplicated, please forgive me. We've just returned from a very special camping trip with some of our family and friends. My sister, Wendy, and my brother, Alistair, and their respective families joined us on a great trip to Marco Polo campground in P.E.I. and we had a blast; albeit a short blast. We relaxed (or at least tried to), chatted, laughed, ate, and enjoyed each other's company, especially around the campfire each night. All of the kids reconnected and spent much of their time touring around on their bikes, swimming, and heading off to the campground store in search of treats and the odd, antiquated arcade game (i.e. pacman). We adults actually then got the chance to drink coffee together and catch up on each other's busy lives...which seems to be the state of us all. Wendy's best friend, Heidi, and her family came along as they are between houses (they don't take possession of their new one till August 30) and I'm sure we overwhelmed them with our gregarious natures when we all come together!!

Sarah, Denise and Aidan

Wendy, Ella, me and Sophie

I thought I'd pop in some pics of the very minor changes I've made to the camper. I borrowed Chris K.'s idea of resurfacing appliances with the faux tin panels, and used one on my little camper fridge. It looks okay, but will be prettier once all the cabinets are painted cream... Also, I gave a nod to Cath Kidston with my polka dotted and enamelled accessories. Slip covers for the ugly cushions will be addressed this year, but I likely won't get around to the painting until fall or spring.

I have to say, our camper is worth its weight in gold. We love getting up, having our tea and breakfast while listening to the radio. Paul and I take turns with the newpaper, and we revel in the lack of WORK associated with camping this way. I make up our beds, toss the dirty clothes in our hamper, and Sophie dries the dishes (feeling very useful all the while), while Paul takes the kids off to the pool or playground so I can have some peace and quiet. We truly feel we are making memories...simple, but sweet all the same. We look forward to exploring new places in an affordable way. Which, of course, leaves more $$$ for popping into shops to purchase "souvenirs"..."What, Paul?? I had no idea this place would have three Christmas Tree Shops nearby??!! I'm as shocked as you!!"

***By the way, I wanted to show you two little dolls I picked up at our local fleamarket a couple of years ago. I bought them from a lady in her eighties who was selling off all of her belongings, as she was going to live with her daughter. Both dolls appear to have been handmade, and I would love to know if they have any value (besides what they mean to me...I love them). If anyone knows anything about dolls of this nature, let me know. The fisherman's clothing is removable and his coat and sou'wester are made of oilcloth. They are two of my fleamarket treasures...

Making a mudroom, when you don't have the room!!

photo: Pottery Barn

I have shown you my mudroom before. It makes me happy whenever I go to use it, or when it's raining and the kids can bring their soggy selves in and let everything momentarily fall in a puddle. Before I had a house with a mudroom, they used to come in my front door (horrors!!) as we had a front porch where they could at least kick off their muddy shoes before tracking themselves through the house. It wasn't ideal, and it was one of the reasons we built again... Now they each have their own locker where they can hang their coats up on hooks (so much easier for my slack brood) and throw their ballcaps and skipping ropes into the baskets above. It is very functional and exactly what I always wanted in a mudroom.

Since I've only lived here a year, I have had plenty of opportunity to improvise "mudrooms" in my previous homes. I have used attractive hooks for each of us for coats and I have used an old wooden milk crate with sections to put our everyday shoes in. I have hung hooks on a beadboard wall and spelled COATS over the area in wooden, painted letters. I always store my umbrellas in a pretty container (I've used tall metal buckets, wicker "vases", and even plain milk cans). I've added yard sale chairs and benches for a place to sit and tie your shoes. In other words, I've improvised and made do with the space I had.

Years ago, my husband made me a storage unit which looks like a small chest of drawers, except the drawers are seagrass baskets. We each have a drawer, and it is here we store our hats and mittens, scarves and sunglasses. It was a great fix for an everyday storage dilemma. I love the idea here from Pottery Barn of using a small chalkboard (slate, really) and hanging a nail from it for bookbags, etc. Pub style mirrors, with hooks below, are great for when you need a mirror to take a quick peek at your self before going out the door. I also like to hang a clock near the door, so you can see if you are running late (or in my case, just how late I'm running...).

If you don't have an actual mudroom, take heart; and carve out a small space where your family can enter and exit your home with some semblance of order. Use some of the ideas I've touched upon, ore those you see in the photos. Sometimes you really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear... just make sure you have a hook to hang it on!!

photo: Cottage Living