From the Front Porch: Setting the Stage for Fall

Several years ago, my parents were vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, and every day my Mom called to share a new discovery.  

“You would not believe the hydrangeas here,” or “I can’t get over all these fresh herb gardens. I bet Ina’s looks just like this!” or “I found the cutest shop with lobster-printed sweatshirts today.”

Truly, every day was a delight because we had no idea what she would call to tell us about next.

My Mom was so inspired by the trip that she went to the garden center and bought lots of herbs for her lanai the minute she got home.

And for a while, she put rosemary on her chicken, lavender in her baths, and sprigs of mint in her cucumber water.

But as happens to so many of us, despite her best intentions, she ultimately found herself in a new and very unexpected season of life.

One where it became too hard to use or maintain the herbs due to time, travel, and physical constraints.

For weeks, my Mom was frustrated every time she thought about the herb garden because she had poured so much love and effort into a dream she knew was slowly dying.

And even though it was a great idea at the time, she eventually came to terms with the fact that it was just not the right season of life to commit to growing herbs.

So, she adjusted her expectations.

I share this because last week I found myself sitting on the bench of a beautiful botanical garden filled with butterflies I had only previously seen in books.

It was hot, humid, and incredibly peaceful, and I was in complete awe watching the butterflies and the tiny birds dance about.

My first thought was, “I could totally recreate this experience in my backyard. We already have the heat and humidity. All we need now is to bring in some water features and lots of tropical and butterfly-friendly plants!”

But just as quickly as that thought entered my mind, I thought back to my Mom’s herb garden and realized it was one of the many ideas that sounded amazing yet was simply not a good fit for this season of our lives.

And I knew immediately I would have to adjust my expectations as well.

As we dive further into the month where change and transition abound, I encourage you to find the areas of your life that are filled with resistance or frustration due to unmet expectations.

Grieve your original idea or plan if you need to, then think about how you can grow through your circumstances.

Do you need to find peace and let the situation go completely, or can you find a way to adjust your expectations and enjoy the experience in a different way?

Learning how to adjust our expectations will be some of the hardest lessons we will ever have to learn.

But they can also be some of the most rewarding.

Cheering you on as you navigate unexpected growth and change this season.

A Few of Our Favorite Posts From Around the Web This Week…

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• This Inlet Beach project from Bria Hammel Interiors is seriously so gorgeous. Here’s Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
• Have you seen this home by the design firm Calimia Home in Coconut Grove yet? It’s layered with so many beautiful features.
• A Peek Inside Nancy Meyers Home (via Lark + Linen)
• This post about creating an English country garden in Connecticut from Flower Magazine is filled with inspiration.
• And these Paris-Inspired Courtyard Ideas from Homes & Gardens are amazing too!

Seasonal Inspiration:

• If you love hydrangeas, you’ll love Debra of Common Grounds post on Summer to Fall Flowers in Vintage Containers. They’re so pretty.
• Speaking of flowers, wait until you see Wendy’s 35 Outdoor Table Centerpiece Ideas. They make me thankful we have a long porch and patio season.
• Anna from Sky Lark House shared 5 Easy Fall Crafts for Your Home, and they all feel totally doable.
• Love how MaryJo from Masterpieces of My Life layered books and bottles on her fall mantel. It’s so cozy!
• Wait until you see the pumpkin wreath Rachel of The Ponds Farmhouse made from dollar store materials. It’s filled with fabulous layers of texture.

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• 100 Simple Ways to Immediately Improve Your Life (via Becoming Minimalist)
• “The Miracle Morning” Routine That Can Change Your Life Before 8 AM (via The Everygirl)
• 23 High Fiber Snack Ideas (via Verywell Health)
• Short Naps Have Major Benefits for Your Mind (via Scientific American)
• Long Distance Grandparenting: 7 Tools to Help Your Relationship Thrive (via The Joyful Life)

Style and Travel Inspiration:

• 10 Smart-Casual Fall Outfits: Modern and Minimalist for Work and Everyday (via Classy Yet Trendy)
• This post, 5 Skincare Combinations to Avoid, was super helpful. (via The Everygirl)
• It was so much fun to peek inside the famed Marabella Club thanks to Vogue.

Encouraging Words…

If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog or the Archives Recently, Here’s a Peek At What We’ve Been Up To…

Fall Planning Made Simple

9 Quick and Easy Ways to Find Fall Inspiration

Fall Craft and Decorating Ideas

Fall Wreaths and Autumn-Inspired Door Decor

Sunflowers in Bloom Blog Hop

From the Front Porch: Falling for Apple Season (in case you missed it last week)

Shopping Notes…

(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Journaling Bible (this Bible is almost too pretty to write in)
• Blouse (comes in multiple colors, patterns, and sleeve lengths)
• Sandals (3 colors to choose from depending on size)
• Lounge Set (19 colors to choose from depending on size, great for travel and early morning sports activities)
• Dinnerware Set (can’t stop thinking about these)
• Cookbook (the OG) and Cookbook (her latest)
• Dress (14 colors to choose from depending on size; cute with a jean jacket or sweater draped over your shoulders)
• Sneakers (lots of colors to choose from depending on size; I have my eye on these)
• CC Cream (red color correcting cream with SPF 25)
• Storage Cubes (multiple patterns available)
• Lunch Box Ideas (over 100 lunch and snack box ideas)
• Pullover (ordering this version because I washed the Crewneck version and it shrank a bit as it’s 100% cotton)
• Shirt Dress (the subtle stripe is so pretty and the sleeves extend all the way to the wrist)
• Press-on Nails (a manicure in minutes; lots of designs and styles to choose from)
• Tea Mug (4 pretty colors to choose from and would make a great gift too)
• Cookbook (125+ recipe ideas to explore)

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo