{autumn at Chota House}

It's beginning to look a lot like autumn here at Chota House. There's a crispness in the air, and the plants are slowly turning...

 

I picked up these lovely clippings on my walk along the canal. simply lovely.

have a fabulous rest of the weekend!

xo, 

L

{Canadian Thanksgiving in the new house}

{thankful!}

This past weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving and I decided to continue the tradition of hosting a little get together. I kept it small this year (compared to the 15 guests I had last year!)
It was a fantastic opportunity to host in my new house, which is still a work in progress (!)
We sat down to a lovely chicken lunch, then went for a walk through the town and along the canal to burn some of it off and to build an appetite for the pièce de résistance--pumpkin pie!
Here are some pictures from the day:

{the house is all decorated!}

{dressed for October! black & white & orange!}

{le poulet!}

{Simla enjoys the company!}

{I finally found some pumpkin pie in the Uk!}

{in the oven!}

{voilà!}

 xo,
L

{Happy First Day of Autumn!}

It's been a busy time here and there is much to catch up on... but just wanted to post a little thing wishing you a happy autumnal day! I'm dying to try out my new wood burner--perhaps this weekend?
Here's to roaring fires, pumpkins, walks in the leaves, etc...

{pumpkin pies!}

{warm fires}

xo, 

L

{quotable thursdays}

{paperless post}

My goodness does it feel like autumn here--this week has been chilly, and mizzy & rainy & windy! But it is rather cosy, and I'm looking forward to autumnal walks & all those things! This autumn is going to also be insanely busy. So, I apologise in advance for possibly my absence here. I've got a number of conferences/talks, some away (Portugal & Germany)...& a lot of responsibility at work... but c'est la vie. Already I feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get it all done! But, one must take breaks here & there--in a few weeks I'm celebrating my cousin Choo's B-day--always fun times--& then hosting a little Canadian Thanksgiving dinner for my Canadian friends here in the UK...

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
-George Eliot

{autumn bird}

{candle apples}

{let the tweeds come out!}

{& more tweeds}

{autumn walks}

So despite the rain & the stress, there's a crispness in the air & exciting times ahead...
xo,
L

{dresses, snowflakes, stripes & sparkle}

Well, even though I saw my first snowflakes of the winter season yesterday, I am thinking about springy, fun dresses. That's probably why I'm thinking of spring dresses--I'm in denial that winter is on the way.
So, while I should be posting on stuff that conjures up ideas of lodges, skiing, cosy fires etc...like this:

{from the perfect palette}

I instead find myself drawn to stripy brightness:

{from in the city with crystalin}

{shabby apple dress via brown eyed belle -above & below}

{this one's a little more fall-like with the cable-knit tights. via pinterest with original link broken}

 to put a punch of fall into it, here's stripes with wellies:

{via pinterest, also with link broken}

So if we are stuck now with thick woolly pullies & the rest of it, make sure to add some sparkle to the mix:

{via pretty little world}

{coco+kelley}

I'm simply in love with this outfit:

{via brown eyed belle}

& if one must start dressing warmer, at least dress stylish with a funky coat & shoes when going for coffee:

{from lovely Mrs. Lilien}

Happy Daylight Savings!

L

{pumpkin carving}

I'm hosting a pumpkin carving this coming weekend. I used to do these in Montreal, and it was always a blast. I've been trolling the web & pinterest for pumpkin carving ideas & images.
I used this image on my invite:

{via i mockery}

vintage hallowe'en cards are seriously some of the most bizarre things I've ever seen:

{3 above via wordplay}

{crazy pumpkin head via vintage postcards}

{via very vintage}

{these 2 via halloween wallpaper. What is going on in these images? Telling children that you might be attacked by a policeman, or if you dangle some strange unknown square device on a string a crazy pumpkin head may follow you? ha!}

{these 6 from i mockery. Strange cats seem to be the order of the day in these vintage postcards. or a crazy pumpkin with x-ray vision! & what's with the policeman again?!}

This advert is hilarious:

{via jezebel}

I have been looking at ideas for decorations too. I love this door & flying bats. If I find time I hope to do something like this: 

{from ohdeedoh}

{from style at home}

I love this look:

{from carina gardner}

& more mice from Martha Stewart:

I also love these framed silhouettes & prints: 

{from mommy on the bus}

{the crafting chicks}

Below are some images from pumpkin carving events in my flat in Montreal. I'll be sure to post some of the actual event this year!

Happy Pumpkin Carving my ghoulish readers!!!

xo

L