That Vintage Girl

The stars have aligned for a truly magical October in 2026 with five cozy Saturdays culminating in a magical Halloween on the last Saturday.   This rare cosmic alignment won’t return until 2037! But the spirits have cast one more magical spell.....as midnight passes on All Hallows' Eve, time itself will bend as the clocks fall back one hour granting an extra hour of bewitching enchantment under the October moon. 

June 21 marks the delightful return of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This celestial milestone launches the start of long days filled with sunshine and clear nights filled with velvet skies sprinkled with stardust.   There are only 92 days of summer before the autumn equinox arrives in September.  This is the perfect time to get your notepads and start making your summer wish lists.   Make every golden hour count and turn these next few months into unforgettable adventures!     

A spectacular botanical event occurs when the desert regions of California receive the right amount of autumn and winter rains followed by cool and sunny springtime days with just a whisper of wind.  The dormant seeds of wildflowers awaken from a long dream and begin to grow and blossom simultaneously, transforming the barren landscape into a spectacular display of super blooms. Depending on the region, the blooms can peak between February to May.  Some common wildflowers include poppies, daisies, lupine, verbena,  and primrose. However, due to the unique combination of weather events that must occur, the super blooms do not appear every year, but when the do they are a majestic reminder of nature's beauty and resilience.  Popular Super Bloom Locations in California Channel Islands in Ventura County Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in the Antelope Valley Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo Figueroa Mountain in Santa Barbara County Diamond Valle...

The thought of rainy days often conjures a feeling of confinement and a forced pause from the routines of daily life.  But there are many ways to turn a gray day into a cozy and peaceful retreat and to seize the opportunity to unplug from the daily grind.   Rainy days provide an opportunity for rest and  rejuvenation. The sound of raindrops creates a soothing and calming sound. It is the perfect time to catch-up on reading a book, watching a movie, working on a deferred hobby, or just watching the rain from a cozy chair with a cup of cocoa.  Rainy weather also fosters a unique sense of community as people gather indoors or brave outdoor walks and exchange smiles under their umbrellas. Rain is also nature's irrigation system that rejuvenates and sustains the beauty of our ecosystems. These things remind us to appreciate the simpler things in life and find beauty in the change of seasons.  In the words of the 19th century English author John Ruskin: "Sunshine...

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." Norman Vincent Peale The magic of Christmas transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Throughout the world, Christmas holds a significant and special cultural touchstone. It weaves together cherished and diverse festivities and traditions with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. From the joy of gift giving, to decorating our homes, to baking and dining with family and friends, the spirit of generosity and human connection brings a unique enchantment, making winter feel bright and hopeful. Christmas magic is in the collective embrace of joy, reflection, and shared humanity which fills out hearts each December.  May your Christmas by merry and bright. 🎄

The autumn months are filled with many wonderful holidays and opportunities to enjoy what the new season brings.  I started with an October wish list which is simple but includes many must-dos to celebrate this wonderful time of year!   Start decorating for the autumn season. Prepare my autumn wardrobe. Take a walk in the park to see the crimson and golden colored leaves. Visit an orchard to pick autumn fruits. Add potted chrysanthemums in autumn colors to the garden. Make an autumn wreath. Make pumpkin spice latte. Bake autumn sweets for family and friends. Visit a pumpkin patch. Make pumpkin soup and bake homemade bread. Bake a pumpkin pie. Prepare a costume for Halloween. Read mystery novels and watch scary movies. Visit a haunted house. Take a sunset walk.  Start autumn decorating. Prepare autumn wardrobe. Take  a walk in a park to see the fall foliage. Visit an orchard to pick autumn fruits like apples, persimmons, or pomegranates.  Added potted chrysa...

This summer I had a wonderful opportunity to visit a lavender farm in Ojai, California called Frog Creek Farm .  The farm is open seasonally for a few weeks in early summer to pick bundles of lavender when they are in full bloom. The enchanting aroma of lavender drifts through the air as you walk through the lavender fields.  The farm also has a lovely lavender shop with homemade lavender products for sale.  I was so charmed by the lavender farm that I got inspired to plant some more French and English lavender in my garden.  In addition to being fragrant and beautiful, lavender attract bees and butterflies.      Bundles of lavender. The lavender shop.  Fields of lavender. Many different varieties of lavender too.  Lavender picking supplies include baskets and umbrellas.   Some of my lavender bundles.  The lavender shop on the farm.  Inside the lavender shop. Homemade lavender products for sale.  One of the ...

One of my favorite flowers is the Matilija poppy.  It is native to southern California and blooms in the spring and summer months. It is a wild flower that grows naturally in coastal and desert regions where there is well-drained sandy or gravely soil. It is a very drought-tolerant shrub that loves sunshine and is loved by pollinators. It is also called a tree poppy because its stems can grow up to 8 feet tall!.  But what is most spectacular about this flower is that it produces large four to eight inch scented flowers with white crepe-like petals and a golden center.   The Matilija poppy was collected and scientifically catalogued as Romneya coulteri in the 1830s by Dr. Thomas Coulter, an Irish botanist. In the early 1900s, it was cultivated and introduced to gardeners by Theodore Payne, an English horticulturalist who called it the "Queen of California flowers".  In 1890, the Matilija poppy, California poppy, and Mariposa lily were contenders for the state fl...