Dear Readers,

Hope you are doing well as can be. How are you feeling about autumn? I know so many people feel so mixed right now. I'm looking forward to pulling out all my sweaters, and seeing the leaves turn their beautiful colors and the coziness of our home as the weather turns cooler.

However, I'm worried about what to do during cold season. In general we are going to try and stay safe as possible. But there are bound to be a few colds...

Luckily, I have been working on some beautiful projects which make me very happy. One is very cozy feeling with lots of magic and funny old lady characters and a sweet science minded young girl. I wish I had a bit more time for new projects, but the end of the summer always feels a bit busier. I have a few chapter books that I have been playing with and I like working on them all during different moments! Right now they are all a little too new to totally share. Best our house is feeling more and more cozy and home-y and has proven the test of having a few guests over!

One question I have for you all: if you have to vote would you vote for an open concept house with an open concept kitchen and living room/dining room, or would you vote for a closed/separate spaces? 

We went with an open concept and I find both good and bad with it. I love that I can see Ori while I'm working in the kitchen--and I don't have to worry about what he is up to. He can play in the living room while I work. I do find that it is a bit louder though, and during supper I sometimes wish that guests didn't have to see me at work in the kitchen. I am not the most confident cook :) Maybe this will change with time? Luke, ever the problem solver, has already come up with a really lovely possible solution of separating the spaces if we want to, down the line (FAR down the line!)

One thing that I've really been enjoying is putting up art all around the house. Including the little girl with the toadstool, which is a beautiful piece by Julie Morstad.

And this piece of art from Secret Fawn, illustrated by Elly Mackay, which is coming out next spring. Elly did an absolutely perfect job, I think. 

Luke is busy with the milling of wood for our deck. I'm so lucky that he can do so much around our land and house. I can't wait until we have our deck and my fingers are crossed that are going to be able to enjoy it a bit this year. But if it doesn't happen until next spring that is ok too. We often go for walks and admire all the beautiful gardens that people have created on the coast. One day, we hope that ours is that beautiful too.

These are our favourite chairs to sit in while waiting for ice cream. It definitely feels like it has been a summer of ice cream. We have had so much, because the Sunshine Coast has the cutest little place to get a bazillion different flavours. In the city, it was always a bit harder to get it because the spots in the West End were really busy. 

Lastly, Greystone Kids is going to welcome the new fall titles soon, and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out! I hope that they get a lot of love in the upcoming season. Teatime is SO good for learning about all kinds of teas, and Catch the Sky is the first kids poetry collection we've done. 

Ok! That's all for now! The fall is going to bring seeing some new art on my chapter book projects like Crimson Twill, and I can't wait to see it!

Warmly,
Kallie