{a fond farewell to summer}

. . . lovely to be back again after a stunningly beautiful weekend filled with sunny, sunny skies and balmy mid-afternoon breezes fitting for the last long-weekend of the summer -- even as the early mornings turn crisp and it's nearly time for soft scarves, tall boots and elegant trenches, one last look at the perfect loveliness we leave behind . . .







{images: 1 - country style; 2 - collette dinnigan; 3 - Rooms to Inspire in the Country by annie kelly; 4 - Living by Design by john stefanidis; 5 - belinda merrie; 6 - house & garden; 7 - michael graydon; 8 - oberto gill - all images via the ever-inspiring brabourne farm -- thank you, felicity!}

{croissants on a friday morning}

. . . and as we reluctantly bid summer the fondest of farewells, farewell, also, to magical mornings like these, until the warm summer sun shines again . . .

{p.s.} breakfast in paris

{image: maisons côté sud 2006 via linen & lavender}

{a fond farewell . . . }

. . . one last, longing look at the things we leave behind . . .

{images: 1 & 2 - atlanta homes and lifestyles via greige; 3 - côté sud aout - sept 06 via linen & lavender; 4, 7 & 8 - michael trapp via desire to inspire; 5 - atlanta homes and lifestyles via greige; 6 - côté maisons via linen & lavender; 9 - photo by joanna henderson via oliveaux}

{inspiration: grey + white stripes}

. . . the perfect late-summer look

{image: prue ruscoe for vogue australia via follow studio}

{fashion inspiration: antonio berardi, london}

. . . after the beautiful nostalgia of revisiting the photographs of our countryside picnic once again, was happily reminded that there are still many perfect summer days left and still time to wear sexy summer whites, and what could be better than the elegantly cuffed trousers and tailored jackets, little white dresses with flouncy skirts and delicately sheer and lacy blouses paired with city shorts and strappy sandals of antonio berardi's resort collection?

{images: style.com}

{scrapbook: a countryside picnic}

. . . spending most of our summer weekends away in the countryside, markets and antique shops on saturday mornings, leisurely dinners that last until nightfall and, most wonderfully, a summer picnic on a perfect july afternoon, deep green leaves flickering in sunlight, intermingling with battenburg lace and the scent of sweetheart roses, champagne and the glimmer of vintage cut crystal, fine floral print china and fresh strawberry tarts, and most of all, the air filled with a dreamy and magical light . . .

{p.s.} our last picnic

{images: photography by p & this is glamorous © august 2010, image five - excerpt from a quote by henry wadsworth longfellow, also used here}

Friday Fabulousness....

....via here....

....Kate Moss appears on her 30th Vogue cover above....to the left is her very first (which actually I think I prefer...)

via Dress Design Decor

....Chanel Resort....

...via Nibs

Emily Blunt looking absolutely beautiful on the cover of the September issue of Elle magazine....

Once again, my week has flown by....the children have been busy with activities, my brother came to visit, we went to the movies, went into town and shopped up a storm.....phew!

As part of my "Summer of Reading"....I read two fabulous books this week.

  

 

"One Day" is without question my book of 2010...I absolutely loved it, literally couldn't put it down, could relate to so much of it and just fell in love with the characters. Please please read it!

"The Glass Castle" was also an excellent read....a quite astonishing true story of the author's very tough childhood with some absolutely jaw-dropping moments of "parenting" (in its very loosest sense)....I found it incredibly moving and actually cried when I finished it....

I have also been trying to catch up with "Grey's Anatomy"....I am only a very new convert to it....started Season 3 tonight.....and am loving it....so much for early nights this week!

This week-end will be spent packing and preparing to go away to France next week....lots to do still!

Finally, I am dedicating this post to Jean P.....I have no email for you Jean....so can't write to thank you for leaving me a couple of very special comments....I was truly so touched by what you said, more than you can possibly imagine, your words will stay with me for a long time....

Thank you so much....my very best wishes to you....I hope you read this.

Happy Week-end everyone!

(this made me smile!)