by Christy Latchford

Can we all take a moment and agree in a collective halleluyah that Fall has finally arrived? I think we can all agree that when the late summer heat wave hit last month, those with air conditioning were beyond grateful and those without deserve some sort of prize for surviving.
I think perhaps it is also that after the last two years of which many of us are still reeling that my inner child who loves Christmas has been rearing her head again desperately wanting attention; sorry little one…you must wait a bit longer. First, we must take the time to enjoy the blessed arrival of Fall!

October is classically the month my mom starts arriving home from her morning pup walk with handfuls of leaves to decorate and pay homage to her favorite season. This year I felt the tug towards that as well, but my practical side has always resisted due to their short life once picked. Googling about I ran across an article on how to make waxed Fall leaves, oh my!

What does one need to make this happen you ask? Leaves, paraffin wax and a crock pot (or warmer of some type). Could it be that simple? Yes. Paraffin wax or bee’s wax melted (not boiling) is perfect for dredging leaves through (once or twice) to preserve both color and form for several weeks! I will give a recommendation here as well that using clothespins to suspend leaves whilst drying helps to keep wax from settling into natural curves and looking clumpy. The soft texture once leaves dry is divine and as long as kept out of the sun to prevent the wax from remelting, will keep the vibrant colors of Fall alive until my inner child wins out and the explosion of Christmas takes over…

As we approach the end of another dry summer, the subtle shift in the weather has begun. Although I am sure we shall have a few more Cloverdale hot days, the promise of Fall has started to arrive. The hustle and bustle of holiday overload, school projects, laughter heard in the air of sports being practiced and, if we are lucky, peppered into the mix are moments of down time where we get an opportunity to relax, and for those who delight in it…time made for reading.

Well, on Sunday, September 19th, the grown-up addition is finally being installed next to the kiddos free library on Muscat. As Louise Penny is my favorite author, I was inspired to make a bench top for the grown-up locker so one could rest for a moment while checking out the books. My husband Brodie made an exquisite top of red oak and I painted my favorite Louise Penny quote on the top.

“Three Pines is a state of mind. When we choose tolerance over hate. Kindness over cruelty. Goodness over bullying. When we choose to be hopeful, not cynical. Then we live in Three Pines.” ― Louise Penny

I wanted to keep it simple and not worry about being perfect, but I also wanted to ensure it would hold up to the elements. It was an opportunity for clear liquid epoxy! So simple to mix, applying is simple as it is self-leveling and after 3 days you have a top that can survive just about anything. The best part is it can be used for a myriad of projects, both big and small. My mama and I often say that Cloverdale is as close to Three Pines as you can get, so being able to share the quote with any who visit this new addition makes my heart smile. Not to mention, it is a pretty good reminder.

As we all dive into our first post-Covid summer I reached out to my tribe to get some ideas on how we can all support each other and our community while re-engaging with society. HUGE thanks and love to Savannah Snyde, Jenn Craig, Ashley Porter and of course my mom Jude for helping round out some great ideas!

1. Consider bringing a water bottle along on walks with your pups through neighborhoods, so as they do their business you can sprinkle over their tinkle so to speak to help keep it from burning lawns that are running on precious little water and to show respect to those who have worked hard to keep lawns green.
2. Rock it old school and bake a yummy treat to either welcome a new neighbor to the neighborhood or an old one to remind them how appreciated they are.
3. Offer some of the fruits of your labors in your garden to an elderly friend/neighbor in need.
4. If you know someone is older or disabled in some way when walking, take their paper from their driveway and put it on their porch to save them from going out into the heat.
5. Offer water to your mail carrier, garbage pick-up guys or honestly anyone looking in need!
6. When out walking, carry a bag to pick up garbage along the way.
7. The chalk revolution does not need to end with quarantine! Leave a message of hope or even a bucket of chalk so kids walking by can color and create some joy.
8. Remember to ask permission before hugging someone as you may not know what their current anxieties are on the subject.
9. Embrace patience. Everyone has been through the same storm the last year +, but not all in the same boat. Slow down and be mindful that we all recover from traumas at a different pace, so be kind.
10. Lastly and one of the most important, as many of us celebrate the mask restrictions being lifted, please remember many will still be wearing masks and often it will not be Covid related at all. Again, an exercise in respect, we have no idea why others may still have a need. Don’t take it personally, just be happy that you don’t have to any longer and let it go.

Are you missing the craft fair scene? In search of handmade, local gifts? Handmade is almost always best and Carolyn has some great items and lots of Christmas ornaments, so give Carolyn Ramos a shout! This one-woman show does the woodworking herself and has been doing so for about 40 years. Carolyn cuts, sands and hand paints her ornaments, signs, and other wood pieces. Her work will make you smile and you will feel great knowing your money is staying local. Carolyn has some great wood welcome signs, yard pokies – including lots of different Christmas ornaments, in case you’d like to get a jump start on the season.

Each ornament made with heart and signed with one too. To see what she has on display, call 707-894-2037, but please leave a message or email smokey-bears-one@sbcglobal.net and you can have that craft show shopping experience!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and Covid numbers sadly on the rise, preparing for Thanksgiving this year will be a new kind of stressful for many as they decide how to safely celebrate. When stress threatens to dampen the joy of a holiday, utilizing a bit of humor is just what the doctor ordered.

Embrace the joy of Thanksgiving in all of its pumpkin glory and take some Covid humor from when TP was flying off the shelves and marry the 2 in celebration?

You’ll need: Toilet paper, fabric of whatever makes you smile in a 18” square, cinnamon sticks for the stem or driftwood and a fresh sprig of leaves or a green ribbon tied around the stick of choice. Super simple to do with a touch of patience and the kiddos can help as well.

First unwind a bit of the TP and bulk up the sides a bit, set on your piece of fabric and then slowly tuck the fabric into the hole in the center. Second, go ahead and insert the cinnamon stick or twig and finish with leaves or a green ribbon. Sure, it may take a few attempts to get your shape the way that makes you smile, but imagine how much laughter could be generated by gifting guests or family members with some holiday cheer that also has a purpose! This year may not look like what we are used to, but with an open heart it can still create some great memories!

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life” – William Morris

One of the great blessings of the universe is that even in a year like 2020, Fall still arrives with a change in weather, holidays around the corner and its fair share of stress. This summer I discovered Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga). The word originates from a Norwegian word that means well-being and also hug, hence my obsession!

In The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, the concept is broken down into a simple manifesto: Atmosphere, Presence (think turning off your phone!), Pleasure, Equality, Gratitude, Harmony, Comfort, Truce, Togetherness & Shelter. Sounds simple enough yes? Yet in our current culture of constantly running about taking the time to slow down has become seemingly impossible for many. I offer ten examples of how to embrace Hygge and incorporate into the craziness of the world today.

1. Set a consistent time of night before you go to sleep and turn OFF your cell phone.
2. Cook a hearty meal with loved ones.
3. Read a book, enjoy a hot beverage.
4. Open the curtains for natural light.
5. Ride a bike and enjoy nature.
6. Putter in the garage.
7. Linger after dinner instead of clean up.
8. Grab a cozy blanket and watch a movie.
9. Sit outside and watch a sunset, sunrise and wave to a neighbor.
10. Take a moment and feel gratitude for something that happened that day.

In a time when technology has seemingly become king, there is a rebellious band of us running the other direction. Pictured is the little free library for kids that I recently crafted as a gift to Cloverdale.
“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” – Kathleen Kelly, You’ve Got Mail.
Cloverdale already has two Little Free Libraries but I wanted to make one just for kids. I spent hours scavenging
Pinterest for ideas, applying for a LittleFreeLibrary.org charter
number so those traveling through town can find it as well and a plan was hatched! Time to order pieces, multiple trips to ACE, dig out needed chemicals and ask for donations of books and then I dove in, letting my imagination take over to create what will be safe, weather tolerant and accessible as you walk by.
After ordering a metal locker online I started to build around it and infuse some fun and
creativity, transporting me back to my childhood as Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” was my muse. A little whimsy
and humor, some paint, ModgePodge, E6000 epoxy,
Gorilla Spray Adhesive, the list goes on. If you would like to check it out, swing by
Muscat Drive.
Going forward in Cloverdale Connect, I will share DIY projects by myself and other local residents who share the desire to create and inspire others, challenging that although technology is certainly here to stay, it may in fact not be king.