getting cozy ...

Fall comes slowly to the desert. So slowly. We look for signs everywhere. Instead of people talking about the heat (today is going to be a record), we start talking about the early mornings (“Wasn’t it just the perfect morning to get out in the garden?”) and evenings (“We sat outside and watched the eclipse under the perfect sky and a hint of fall in the air.”) This time of year, we try not to talk about the hours in between.

If you look hard, enough there are other signs that it is coming. The hackberry, that usually is a nondescript desert scrub of a bush, gets little orange berries that the birds, butterflies and even humans enjoy, if put in a green vase.

The roses start to bloom again. My tortoises are eating as much as they can to get ready for hibernation. Our lemons are starting to get closer to yellow than green.

With so little of fall outside, we bring it in, where the air conditioning is still running. It's is time for making the house cozy.

We buy pumpkins. I had already gotten some but WB found some with wonderful stems last night and brought them home to me. Better than a bouquet of flowers. Orange ones, baby boos, white ones, green ones, blue ones - I love them all.

I change the quilts on the bed.
This old one is my favorite that sits atop my grandparents’ bed.

I bring out the throws.

I have a favorite made by a dear friend, some vintage Pendleton blankets and I can't stop looking at this one from Parachute, a luxury bedding company. It would be perfect with my newly painted gray walls.





I cut eucalyptus branches. I bring out the candles that smell of the woods or a fire in the fireplace. I listen to James Taylor’s October Road. I have gourds in bowls. I start drinking hot tea again. I dream of nights in front of the fire with a bowl of soup, the family gathered around our table and our traditional October picnic in the mountains.

It’s coming. It will be here soon. I just know it.

what I've been shooting this week #2 ...

It is cool enough to get outside a bit more and I am enjoying it - butterflies, hummingbirds and everything blooming. Our September soakers have brought everything back to life again. My poor lemon tree that never seems to know what season it is, is blooming right now. No more words, just some images from this past week. So happy to welcome autumn!

As always, if you have any photography questions, I will be glad to help. I can't seem to figure out how to put a sidebar link for my flickr, Instagram and pinterest accounts. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. My lack of computer skills frustrates me but then I remember, I would rather be taking pictures.

Hope you have a happy week!

inspiration ...

I am so glad that there are glimpses of fall. It is a little cooler in the mornings, the light is changing. I wanted to bring a little fall to the house this week.

I know I have told you the story of my lavadera. We bought it at an antique store 11 years ago. It is a little different than a dough bowl so I still call it a lavadera which is how it was labeled. I have filled this with so many different things over the years. It spends most of the year on my dining room table filled with something seasonal. It wasn't until I saw this post from Anderson and Grant until I remembered I have oak leaves! I always think of them when they turn color but rarely this time of year. Autumn comes later to the desert.

I had the acorns, the gourds and today, while driving past Trader Joes, I saw the happy sight of pumpkins sitting out front. I had to buy 3 and a few squashes too. If I have pumpkins in the house it is officially autumn, no matter how hot it is outside. Now I am just waiting for the white and Cinderella pumpkins.

The blanket is dreaming on my part. We are at least a month away from needing it.
You know I like a simple table, not too much fuss so my lavadera and some candles is good enough for me.

White dinnerware always works for me.

I am so glad I saw Jamie's post or I would have gone with my standby, eucalyptus leaves. I am sure you will see them later in the year. I hope fall is finding you!

Thank you so much, Jamie, for the inspiration!


Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, the Table It Link Party, Home Sweet Home and Jamie at Your Turn to Shine.

oh, my, it's been a long time...

My blog has been "broken" for quite a while. User error, I am sure. Every time I would find a moment to work on it, my frustration won. Yesterday, WB sat down with me, working on two computers, we were able to get things figured out. I only lost one post that I am aware of and hopefully, all will be well from now on.

There is no way to update what has happened since I was here last. Let's just say there were incredible joys and deep sorrows. As always, I try to be grateful for the joy and learn from the sorrow.

I hope to post more regularly from now on. I know a lot of you have enjoyed the photos of the bobcats who like to hang around here. I will start there. Mama and her two babies came to visit. Like many siblings, one was a dare devil while the other was cautious. Mama found a dove for dinner while one baby climbed a tree and the other looked nervous about it. Baby managed to get down and they all enjoyed dinner. Luckily, my kitchen window was clean enough so I was able to shoot through it. I am constantly distracted from the work at hand when I look out that window.

Thank you to all who are still even checking Among the Saguaros. I look forward to catching up with you all.

rescue rose...

Many years ago, there was a large chain store that had a garden department. The chain store still exists, the garden department does not. The garden area was manned, as chain store garden departments often are, by people who knew nothing about gardening. If you were there within the first week of a delivery, you were in luck. After that, forget it. Needless to say, it was not my favorite place to shop. The garden department was never my sole destination but if I was there for some other reason, I would take a quick peek. One day, I happened to start talking to one of the employees. She was gathering the spent plants to throw away. I asked if I could take the pathetic looking miniature rose. I wish I had a before photo. She was happy to give it "to a good home". While it is not a rose that I would have chosen to buy, I have been happy to give it a good home.

It has thrived.
Later, she found out that this was not a store policy. She could no longer give me plants that were going to be thrown away.

I would have given them a good home.

mug shots...

We've been wanting to head south to see the sandhill cranes but the unusually cold temps have kept us at home. I can't complain. Cozy fire, good books to read and WB is making granola so the house smells wonderful.






Meanwhile, here are some at home "mug shots":

Whatever your weather, hope you are having a cozy weekend.

things go better with...

Make no mistake about it. I am a Pepsi fan. I don't drink much soda but when I am out, I am glad to see that Pepsi sign in the window. However, there is one exception, real Coke. If you are old enough, you know. Real Coke. Coke in bottles. Bottles that are in the back, the coldest part of the frig. Coke with caffeine. Coke with sugar. For some reason, Coke has a slightly different formula, depending which country is doing the bottling.

Our Costco carries Coke in bottles, bottled in Mexico. The first time I took a sip, it took me back to being a kid. I suspect that the formula changes a bit. There are boxes we buy that are perfection. Others are good but not quite with that familiar childhood taste.

We are among the mesquite trees again. It will probably be the last time until October. Summer has its joys but I will be looking forward to October.

I have no idea why I am saving these bottle caps. One of these days, I will know.

My brother and I liked to put the bottles in the freezer. You had to be careful about the timing though. We had it down. Whatever that magic timing was, I haven't been able to quite duplicate it. I guess as hard as you try, you can't quite get back to being a kid on a hot summer day hanging out with your brother.

Our deepest appreciation to all who have served and continue to serve. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Linking with Kathleen at Let's Dish, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, Sherry at Home Sweet Home and Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper. Take a look!

al fresco...

We have two old mesquite trees on our property. They are beyond the wall of the backyard so we don't spend much time out there. M has always said that between the two big trees would be the perfect place to eat dinner. He was right. We moved a table back there and it just may stay.

The shade back there gives us a nice cool spot even as the temperature continues to climb.

We are lucky to have a lot of bougainvillea so I used it to give the table a bit of a pop.

The vintage silverplate is "Park Lane" by Oneida.

I like the look and feel of recycled glass.

Almost everything on this table is made in Mexico, a nod to Cinco de Mayo.

We will miss these al fresco days.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch and Kathleen at Let's Dish. So many pretty tables!

Tricia asked about the plates. They are made in Mexico by Anfora. They were sold at Pottery Barn a couple of years ago as blue and white Puebla. Because they are handpainted, the design and color varies a bit from plate to plate. It is now directly available from Anfora.