Friday Finds #63: End of Summer Plans

Say it isn’t so! August ends in just 4 days! And last night I noticed it was dark outside by 8:00 p.m. I realize some (maybe many) of you are happy about this. Not everyone likes the heat of summer, but I think everyone can agree on the beauty of fall which is right around the corner. But for now, I’m enjoying the last of our summer days.

Goodbye Summer poster

So what are my end of summer plans, you ask? Well even if you didn’t ask I’ll tell you. I’m going back to Madison, Wisconsin! When my family stayed near there a few weeks ago I vowed to go back so hubby and scheduled a weekend trip during the annual art fair on the Capitol square.

Since Covid is ramping up again, we’ll probably spend minimal time at the fair and will check out other points of interest that are less crowded. By end of September, masks might be required at the art fair. It wouldn’t surprise me. I’m vaccinated but I’ll still mask up indoors and around crowds with the delta variant running wild.

We’re staying at The Governor’s Mansion Inn right in the heart of town so we can walk mostly anywhere. I’ll be sure to take photos of the mansion and the surrounding neighborhood. It looks very interesting with lots of old homes and big trees.

In addition to our weekend trip, we’ve been working on a new patio area around the fire pit. The sod has been removed and now it needs to be leveled and covered. I have wanted to get this done for a couple years now. Why does everything seem to take longer than initially planned? I guess it gives us more time to enjoy the journey and anticipate a project’s completion. At least, that’s what I tell myself so I don’t get stressed over the timeline.

I hope you enjoy this week’s Friday Finds. It’s always fun to find new stuff!

Lately I’ve been craving the color green, so I was happy find a post about the 20 best olive green paint colors. How do you feel about the color? I’m thinking the Southern Vine color by Benjamin Moore on the photo of the Bria Hammel mantel would look great on the mantel in my sitting room. Although it looks more brown than olive to me. What do you think?

Do you enjoy mixing wood tones in your home? Or maybe you’d love to but aren’t quite sure how to go about it? Personally, I don’t follow any rules, but Centsational Girl offers some great examples for mixing wood tones.

If you just want to look at some pretty fall decor photos, check out this fall inspiration post from Vibeke Design. It’s another one of the first decorating blogs I found and I still love it today. You’ll have to use the “Choose Language” option in the sidebar if you want to see it in English.

You don’t want to miss this gorgeous, gorgeous gentleman’s home by Melanie Davis Design. It might have been designed for a gentleman, but I would live there in a heartbeat! There isn’t one thing that I don’t like about it!

Let’s end this week’s finds on a sweet note! This Swedish Chocolate Mud Cake has to be the easiest chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever seen. I think it would be wonderfully decadent right out of the oven with ice cream. I’m salivating just thinking about it. Watch the video of the cake below and tell me you don’t want a piece! LOL.

 

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9 Comments

  1. I love your blog. I love your eye for the simple beauty you see in everything. Must be my Midwest upbringing…we seem like kindred spirits. I was born in Door County, WI and brought up in Aurora, IL. I have lived in NJ for 50 yrs, but my heart is still “home” in the Midwest. I visit family often. I love Geneva, Il….so charming. I worked at Harding and Harding on 4th St. in that lovely house turned office for a year before moving to NJ. So often, your posts are a trip down memory lane. Didn’t mean to go on so, but if I had a daughter, I would hope she’d be like you.

    1. Oh Lindsay,

      You just warmed my heart!! I have to agree with you that there’s something about the Midwest and although I say I’m going to retire elsewhere, I don’t know if I’ll be able to leave once push comes to shove! How lucky you were to have worked in that gorgeous historic home on 4th Street. I went to 4th Street School, which is no longer a school but an office building for the school district. My best friend just bought a house recently in Aurora just a couple of blocks from Aurora University. Such a pretty neighborhood. One day I’d like to get out to New Jersey. I think I was there only once and we were just passing through. Thanks again for your kind words – it made my day!

  2. I have to tell you how much I enjoy your posts. Always filled with beauty and inspiration. Kudos to you for a great job.

  3. Wow! You really found some great things this Friday! That cake! Those photos! And the Melanie Davis designed house for whomever…if he ever needs a house sitter, I’m all in! And thanks for the Vibeke Design blog post. I don’t know what has happened, but I no longer get her blog and when I went online I couldn’t find anything past January of this year. I’d love to start getting her regular blog posts if anyone has any suggestions. I see no way on the blog post you provided of attempting to re-subscribe.

    1. Hi Teddee,

      I think Vibeke Design is no longer posting, unfortunately. I still like looking at her older posts though. Have you heard of Bloglovin’? It’s an easy way to follow several blogs and have their latest posts delivered to your inbox in just one email. https://www.bloglovin.com/ Maybe I should include Bloglovin’ in an upcoming Friday Finds post! 🙂

  4. I’ll take the Summer Meadow, it is a beautiful color, I love all of Vibeke decorating, she’s very good. I agree completely I could live in that Gentlemen’s home, those pictures were so pretty. You have a great time on your get-a-way. Pictures please I want to see what you did in your backyard.

  5. Your trip sounds wonderful. I wish we could get away and spend some time in a sweet home town hotel or Bed and Breakfast. I agree about being safe with the art fair though, sadly times just aren’t safe enough yet but I have hopes that things will get better soon. Being vaccinated is my sanity although we too wear masks indoors or in crowds. Had to dis my old time hairdresser due to non-vaccination as my mother has COPD and we have a young grandson. Times are hard. Fall for me is a good time to reflect on wonderful homey memories so I put on the pumpkin spice scents and get my throws prepped and our porch set for cooler temps.
    I love the green shade you chose for your mantel. Green shades to me make our home a home. I have something earthy green in every room it seems. It’s one of the nature colors like sand from the beach, blue from the ocean or sky and green as the grassy fields.
    Chocolate cake?! I’m in! Can’t do the ice cream but cake? yes!
    On another note:
    We sadly just lost our little Bella recently. Our sweet Cockalier. Her brother Augie is struggling as they’ve never been parted. I’m hoping to find him another friend by rescuing one in need. Your post today brought me a smile that I needed. I never thought of the Midwest as a wonderful place and my dreams of Nantucket probably won’t ever happen as it’s so expensive there. You’ve posted some great warm places to visit here. I think we will try to go see some beautiful spots in our area that may bring a new spark. I have to say we don’t have hurricanes or tsunami’s. Our country fields are so calming and I love to take a long drive through the country.
    Enjoy your trip. Stay safe.

  6. Looking forward to photos from your trip. I love Vibeke and have so many pins of hers, especially the Christmas decor. It just has that amazing feeling. I secretly wish I had moved to Sweden when young. Ancestry there. Greens are great, deep colors are stunning. Our neighbors painted their house olive green, really like it a lot. Yes, everything is taking forever. I went to our cabinet designers showroom for the lower level bar area and she mentioned cabinet orders are 20 weeks out. This project is taking a year to finish. Have a great trip!