Hello sweet friends. I spent a good portion of this week at home. Not feeling my creative self I spent quite a bit of time organizing several closets. I found fall decor items that I forgot I had. They have been nestled into vignettes for the upcoming Fall Home Tours. It is a time of Sunday Smiles A Return To Cozy Living.
Sunday Smiles A Return To Cozy Living
Up next to organize is the pantry. I am quite inspired by this Victorian Farmhouse Pantry as it features the same beadboard that we have here at Storybook Cottage.
Millbank Mansion
The original millwork in this beautiful 1890’s home took my breath away. Each room is a visual feast for the eyes!
Baked Chicken
I LOVE Boursin cheese and can’t wait to make this recipe for baked chicken.
A Mountain Cabin
There are so many inspiring details in this lovely home in Cashiers, North Carolina.
Thank You For Your Service
You may have noticed it has been a bit quiet here and on my other forms of social media. We have family members who have been affected by Hurricane Ida. As well as those who suffered the loss of a beloved family member, Sgt. Nicole Gee, in the recent Kabul airport bombing that took the lives of 13 of our young service members.
This devastating loss has compounded the feeling for many Veterans that their life’s work of the past 20+ years is somehow meaningless.
Both I and Mr. Decor, aka Retired Master Sergeant Eric C Gunn, who served in Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Enduring Freedom want to say You matter. Your life matters.
Beautiful copper and the millwork in the mansion is amazing!
Amen for veterans. I feel the same, horrible.
All wonderful, inspiring photos, Laura. I have so many conflicting feelings about Afghanistan. I’ve long felt we should be out. And I’m not sure how we could have stayed in without committing thousands of more lives to serving there to fight the advances of the Taliban. What was started in the last administration was finished — but so tragically. I honestly don’t know what they could have done differently and yet the results were so sad, so horrible . I’m not sure what will happen in the future there and I’m not sure what alternatives they had. I just know that many families are grieving and that makes me profoundly sad. My heart goes out to the families of those who died serving their country.
Your cozy home photos are very inspiring. I love autumn and spend the hot, hazy, muggy days of summer waiting it out until the cooler days of September finally arrive. Give me a cozy sweater any day over a clammy t-shirt in the summer’s heat. I can finally start to live/think/plan again!
So sad to hear about your family members affected by Ida. It was so destructive and deadly for so many. I hope your family who are living there are recovering.
It was so hard to watch the scenes from the airport on the news night after night as they tried to get as many people as possible to safety. My heart goes out to the poor souls who were left behind. The military personal were thrown into a strange land fighting against enemies with an entirely different set of rules that they have lived by for centuries. We had a member of our family who came home discouraged and sick from being there. A very sad and changed man. But I hope they can all find hope from the people they have helped over the years. The poor souls they encouraged and gave comfort to when they needed them. The men and women who are back home need their country now to help them heal and find ways to move forward. Lets hope they don’t abandon them as they are trying to cope.
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Labour Day weekend as we set off to new beginnings and prepare for the months ahead! Thank you for sharing your post.
Prayers for your family
Sending prayers for all vetrans and what this really means. Especially for the families of the 13. I am so very sorry.
Praying also for all the victims of hurricane Ida.
Praying for all the victims of the fires in the west. My family members have lost homes to the fires. And still no end in site.
The hurricane and the fires are just the beginning…..the rebuilding and getting back on track is another whole scary story.
AND let’s not forget…we are still dealing with covid.
All this tragic news…..yet, we still must pray and look to the one who looks after us.
I’m so sorry about the family members affected by Ida and and the loss of Sgt. Gee. I agree 100: their lives matter.
Laura, my prayers are with your family members affected by the hurricane and the loss of Sgt. Gee. Just when we think things can’t get any worse – they often do! God bless all our Veterans for their service, including your dear husband!
~ carol
Thank you for acknowledging the tragedy of the Afghanistan exit. Our soldiers deserve better! Gratitude and acknowledgment to those who gave their lives for those trying to escape the hostile situation there is the very least we can do to honor them. I am so thankful for those who still choose to serve us. Prayers for all those impacted by Ida this past week too. It was a hard week. Thank you for sharing the beautiful distractions of cozy, Laura. I look forward to these weekly Sunday Smiles posts of yours.
Laura, I am so enjoying your blog as I am a recent reader/ viewer. Lovely pictures! And I ditto what everyone has said about thanking our Veterans and the tragedy of Hurricane Ida.
All of you are in my prayers. Please let your husband know I am thankful for his service for those of us here and abroad.