There is no shame in how much I love color in our little cottage.  It just makes me smile and that's exactly what your home should do.  So when I set about refreshing our little coffee station I sought out ways to add a mix of color and pattern to make the whole area pop with sunshine.


I am big proponent of shopping your homes nooks and crannies for decor before bringing in more stuff.  Chances are if we bought or brought it home, at some point I loved it and if that's not true then their is no reason for me to use our limited storage and wall space to keep it.


I knew I had enough room for a small shelf on the wall and was set on having my husband cut a piece of scrap wood for me to paint, when I remembered I kept a small galley shelf  (similar) when I redid the bathroom.  And as luck would have it, it fit like it was meant to be there.


Both the glass canisters and the colorful fruit enamel ones have been around for quite awhile and the pretty floral Pioneer Woman dish was being used on my fireplace mantel plate wall, which is about to be changed out with fall decor this week.  (When you shop your house, you get used to holes in the decor of other rooms until you work your way back there.)


Once those major pieces were in place, the rest of it came together as a matter of necessity for a functioning coffee bar.  Coffee, filters, pods, teas, creamers, mugs...those things we reach for every single morning are now within easy reach.


Friends and family always have fun choosing from my large collection of cups hanging on my mug rack which get changed out seasonally.

So have I missed anything?  What coffee bar necessities do you have at your hot drink station?  I did a full video tour on my YouTube channel.  I will link it below.

xo, Patty

Here's the link to the coffee bar tour.  While your there, be sure you check out the cottage style videos I have of the rest of our little cottage and hit the subscribe button so you don't miss the change to fall.

I feel it in the air, that subtle change from summer to fall.  For those of us living in mild climates the signs are a lot less obvious, just the hint of cooler mornings and that breeze that comes in right after dinnertime, but the changes are there none the less.

I pulled out my totes full of fall decor and couldn't resist setting a few pumpkins out on display.  Nothing over the top just a couple of reminders that these days of 90+ weather won't last forever.

It seems the older I get the sooner that feeling of being behind with the holidays approaching sets in.  

I have never been one of those whose gifts are purchased in October and November and the wrapping is finished by the first of December, so that's not what I'm talking about.  It's more just that desire to prepare the cottage for gatherings, afternoons of tea drinking, snuggling under a new handmade blanket and weekend baking sessions.


I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic when it comes to the holidays.  I will always dream of getting things just right, creating special memories, preparing little handmade gifts for friends and starting new traditions with the grands.


So as I begin clearing out the happy colors of summer to make room for the warm tones of fall, it's more than just a change of decor, it's a whole new chance to bring family and friends together in a home cheerfully filled with love.  With August nearly over and September less than two weeks away, the holidays will be here before you know it.  Time is flying by...

Is it just me, or do the holidays seem to come faster and faster every year and with it, that sense of falling behind?

xo, Patty

For a quick peek at my pumpkins on display, here's the link to my YouTube video.  If you're not already a subscriber, I'd love to have you subscribe.

I am a pinner...What I mean is that when I am looking to start a new hobby, learn a new skill or begin a new project, I start pinning.  And ever since I decided it was time we started eating healthier meals made from scratch with as many of our own home grown ingredients as possible, I have been pinning recipes to my Pinterest Boards like nobodies business.

One of the ingredients that seems to come up quite often are herbs.  While I have always grown herbs for their ease and beauty and occasional jar of pesto or mint infused mojito, I thought it was high time I started growing a few of the most commonly used cooking herbs and actually used them in recipes.


So I went to my local nursery with list in hand and bought sage, oregano and thyme to add to my already established collection of rosemary, basil, parsley, mint, lavender and chives.  I am determined to add a couple of herb inspired recipes to our weekly menu and will be starting with this Browned Chicken Thigh recipe and this Ginger Beef with Rice Noodles dish.


I also purchased a couple of seeds packets for herbs that I couldn't find in pots or that don't do well in the heat of the summer and will grow them as soon as the weather cools down including cilantro and dill.


Do you cook with herbs?  Did I miss any of your favorites?  I put together a free tutorial on how to over winter herbs if you don't live in a mild climate like me and want to use them all winter long.

Also new for me this week is my foray into baking all the things from scratch.  Today I am starting my first sourdough starter plus I am beginning my adventure through Martha Stewarts Baking Handbook.  I know, I know, who are you and what have you done with the old Patty?  She's still there, just feeling the need to eat healthier as I get older.

I will be sharing how I liked the recipes and maybe even a cooking video or two over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube so be sure and follow me there if you don't already.

Have a wonderful week my friends!

xo, Patty

Here is the link to my YouTube Video tour of my herb containers.  If you don't subscribe there, I'd love to have you join me.



Just in case you want to start your own herbs in teacup pots, I found these cute things on Amazon!