Feels Like Fall & Happy Friday!

Good afternoon friends, and happy Friday!!

I let the dogs outside this morning and it was so chilly and breezy that it felt like an early fall day in the most refreshing way. I know the calendar says May 7, but it could have easily been October 7 this morning. PJ and the kiddos went for a walk and found some teeny tiny strawberries that we have scattered throughout our fields at Ocoee Farm. PJ thinks it could have been a strawberry farm or something at one point. Who knows?

Mother’s Day is this weekend and I have a confession: I have yet to get my mom anything. I will be the first to admit I am the world’s worst shopper. I never know what to get people, even PJ (especially PJ), as gifts for special occasions. Gift cards are always easy to fall back on but I usually feel guilty and lazy when I give those. Do you know what I mean?

The kiddos and I came into town for a bit to do some laundry that has been piling up for way too long now. We still don’t have a washer and dryer out at the farm so we have to come home every few days when we need to wash clothes and towels. But you know, it always feels nice and different to come back to our house in town after being out at the farm for a while. It feels…new, like I’m looking at the house we’ve lived in for the last four years for the first time or with a fresh set of eyes. It makes me even more grateful for this old house of ours.

Speaking of being at home, how beautiful are the roses on PJ’s climbing rose bush?! They’re blooming and they’re SO BIG. PJ’s been training this thing for many years and how lucky are we that we get to experience the fruits of his labor? That’s pretty much the story of our lives, so I’m going to go ahead and say we’re pretty lucky :).

Below are some of the knockout roses in our backyard:

I love the way they just seemingly take over everything and give the backyard a sense of magic and wonder. Our backyard is small and has almost no grass (next year!), but the roses make it feel beautiful and private back there.

The kids are napping currently and I’m thisclose to laying down on the couch to take a nap, but I think I’ll just make some coffee instead. And then maybe take a quick nap after that.

Have a great weekend, friends!! xoxo