“For several weeks now I have had the sense of something about to come to an end—that old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air. . .another fall, another turned page.”

Here in the Oakland hills September means glorious sunsets and warm—sometimes too warm—days.  The deer grow bold and forage for food under our noses.  Every night as the golden hour begins they cross the road from the open space and sniff around my front yard hoping to score some fallen apples.  Yesterday I played peek-a-boo with an antlered buck as I made my way to and from the mailbox then sat on the front deck reading the latest issue of the New Yorker as he and his family milled about under the oaks.  They made good company for turning pages.

Here are some other lovely things I observed this week—

Beautiful DIY blue wrapping paper

A cool but vertigo-inducing off-the-cliff dwelling in Australia.

Helpful humor for household dilemmas.

How techies limit tech time for their kids.

Two very different work spaces for two talented fashion designers—Vera Wang’s monochromatic zen office and Diane Von Furstenburg’s colorful library office .

And speaking of fashion, I’ve mentioned before that my daughter Claire designs sets for the fashion industry.  It’s always fun during NYFW to see what she’s been up to.  Check out the Barbie-pink suburban house surrounded by pink gravel and pink shag carpet she worked on for the Marc Jacobs Spring 2015 fashion show.  Wow!

 AP Photo/John Minchillo

 Happy Weekend All!

After reading Jackson Lander’s chilling account of being bit by a black widow spider, I’m cautiously eyeing the fall crop of spider webs around my yard.  Though Landers writes that black widows are notoriously shy and likely to stay clear unless threatened, he was still caught unawares when he stepped into a water shoe to go fishing. Unbeknownst to him, an industrious black widow had turned his shoe into her citadel and she needed to defend herself against his wriggling toes. Alerted to potential danger, I put down Lander’s story and looked in my nearby gardening clogs where, sure enough, there was a newly formed spider’s web. Clearly there will be no more mindless slipping on of said clogs to cut some late season cosmos. No siree.

Other things that caught my attention this week–

How women’s travel patterns influence city planning in Vienna.

Victorian novelist George Eliot’s relevance for modern-day “Girls.”

The perfect packing list for Paris in October or the East Coast when I head out to Parent’s Weekend next month.

Things that work and look better with IOS7 (not so sure about the new graphics, are you?)

And finally, some wry commentary about the Top 5 IOS7 ringtones.

Happy Weekend!

The night before our wedding, my oh-so-chic Aunt Carole and Uncle Curtis gave us an elegant bud vase made by the Stueben Glass company. Recognizing that we didn’t have a clue about fine art glass, they let us know that this little vase was something of value. That it might be an heirloom someday. We took note and carefully packed the vase away for the next 32 years. Since this last move, however, I’ve put it where I can easily see and use it. Right now it’s sitting on top of my piano, holding a red gerbera daisy that we brought home from a performance of the AXIS Dance Company last weekend. Every time I look at it, I’m delighted by the little bubble in its base and regret that I haven’t used it more often.  What was I saving it for?  A tea party with the queen? So far no royal invitations have been extended. But now that the vase is out of its protective wrapping, I’m definitely ready should her royal highness decide to drop by.  Are there things you’re saving for the perfect time and place that should become part of your everyday world?

Here are a few other useful and beautiful things I enjoyed this week:

1. As the oldest of nine children, I can verify that families are messy. But as this essay shows, knowing the good and the bad in our family’s stories can help support and sustain us.

2. Last year I had two opportunities to be the Mother of the Bride. Which made me ever so curious about what Barbara Kingsolver had to say about her recent turn as a MOB.

3. After five years, I’m still mourning the demise of my local stationary store. Now I have to rely on the internet for unusual, artful products like this design notebook.

4. Speaking of design, here’s a lovely little tale by Christopher Neimann about making an app. The take away quote for me: “Simplicity is not about making something without ornament, but rather about making something very complex, then slicing elements away, until you reveal the very essence.”

5. I’m intrigued by the knit fungi produced by American artist Leigh Martin for her 52 Fungi project. See a few samples at her web site or collected at The Jealous Curator. Just another example of how different, and therefore delightful, we all are.

Happy Weekend!

Like a tipsy party guest, oxalis—with its day-glo yellow blossoms and exuberant growth patterns—can be a pain to those attempting a manicured springtime garden display. Here in the woodland hills of Oakland, however, outrageously cheery swaths of oxalis are as welcome as a sunny patch of daffodils in a proper English garden. Also, did you know that another name for oxalis is false shamrocks? So just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day, I’m counting my good fortune that my backyard is lit up with oxalis like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Here are a few other things I felt lucky to come across this week:

1. Peggy Noonan’s advice for a new pope could apply to all of us.

2. While we’re on the topic of religion, I loved what Anne Lamott had to say about being a Christian.

3. Ever wonder why you seem to encounter the same issues over and over in your life? Martha Beck’s musings on labyrinths resonated with me.

4. Speaking of mystical practices, I’m enjoying tracking the stages of the moon with Deluxe Moon.

5. And though I don’t have a smidge of Irish blood, it’s still fun to celebrate St. Paddy’s day—perhaps with some Irish soda bread or these fun rainbow jello parfaits.

Luck o’ the Irish to you all this weekend!