Goodbye Summer

It's hard to believe that Fall is here already.

One of the things that I will miss the most is sitting in our outdoor living room. I have enjoyed being able to lay on the couch and read, or sit and watch the sun set on the mountains. Ellie likes to lay on the couch and watch the people pass by on the trail that backs our yard. It will be hard to take it all down.

Some things that I do look forward to as the weather turns cooler are the yummy soups, the final harvests from the garden and being able to take a little break from all of the yard work.

Timpanogos

This afternoon, I stood on the deck and watched a storm rolling in. The sun was beautiful on Mt. Timpanogos.

Years ago, my Grandma and Grandpa took my sister, Stephanie, and my brother, Stephen, hiking up Mt. Timpanogos. When Stephanie got home she told us what a long climb it had been. Days later, I asked her, "What if you were still hiking Timpanogos?" This continued for years. I'm sure while she was on her mission, I included the question in some of my letters.

It still amazes me that I can see Mt. Timpanogos from my house. It used to be something that I saw only once a year, when we made our trip to Provo for a family reunion. Stephanie and Stephen would tell me all about Timpanogos and the legend behind it being called the "Sleeping Lady". They tried time and time again to explain to me how it really did look like a sleeping lady. They would point out her head, and the blanked crumpled at her feet. I had such a hard time imagining it. Then, one year, I could see her!

Being nestled between the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains is one of my favorite things about living here. They are beautiful. I still haven't hiked Timpanogos. It was on my list of things to do before the summer slipped away. Hopefully I will do it next year.

Steph, what if you were still hiking Timpanogos? If you were, I could cheer you on from my deck!

This is Why

This is why I'm so glad that I can wash my throw pillows.

Five-Dollar Finds

I'm not really into shopping. I actually hate to spend money. I do, however, like shopping when I find great bargains. Here are some of the latest.

Throw Pillows: $5.00 each

I found the green and cream throw pillows at one of my favorite stores, Downeast Home. They sell closeout items from stores such as Pottery Barn, West Elm and Willams Sanoma.

I love the color of the pillows, and I especially love the fact that there is a zipper on the cover so I can wash them.



Curtain Panels: $5.00 each

Downeast came through, yet again, for the curtain panels that I wanted for my living room. The cream one is from Pottery Barn and the brown panel is from West Elm. I love the texture and lightness of the linen.

It cost me more for the rods than for the curtains, even though I shopped around for the best price I could find, of course.










Subway Sign: Price to be disclosed later

Amy originally found this sign when we were shopping together at Downeast. She asked if I wanted it. I couldn't see past the wrinkly appearance, and I didn't know where I would put it, so I passed. I thought $5.00 was a little too much. She bought it. A few days later I realized that I had the perfect place for it and I loved the fact that it listed the Subway stops in New York. I called to see if she had found a place for it, hoping that she had changed her mind. She had already hung it.

I called around to other Downeast stores to see if they had it in stock. I couldn't find it anywhere, including at Pottery Barn, where it was originally listed for $79.99. Amy called a few days later to let me know that she had found it on e-bay. It was going for over $270.00.

Last week, Amy, Jessica and I made our now traditional stop at Downeast. I went directly to the spot where I knew the canvas poster would be. I didn't see any. I made my way over to the throw pillows, only to come across two crumpled Subway Sign's, for $5.00 each - Yessssss! I got one and Jessica got one.