Today on weekend meanderings, I’m welcoming October with an Autumn Spritz recipe, fall sweater edit, wine country farmhouse tour, and more.
Happy Saturday, friends!
It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on.
And just like that it’s October. I couldn’t be happier about it. How about you?
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It’s time to break out the sweaters. Our mornings are suddenly cooler and crisper. I hope that’s true for you too. Plus, it’s noticeably darker earlier and later. It kind of sneaks up on you, and I couldn’t be more delighted.
Fall is my favorite time of year, and I know many of you feel the same. I read somewhere – if only I could remember where – that fall feels more like a new beginning than January. I agree. It’s probably due to ingrained memories of shopping for clothes to start the new school year, and all the excitement around beginning our next chapters gussied up in new outfits. Although school years start earlier and true fall purchases languish in closets for quite a while before the weather catches up. Sometimes it’s hard to wait … who else remembers sweating in wool sweaters during September heatwaves. Back in the day our classrooms weren’t air conditioned and morning choices quickly became afternoon regrets.
Autumn Spritz
Let’s kick things off with a simple seasonal spritz featuring hard pear cider and – my favorite – Aperol.
Ingredients
Method
- Into a glass of crushed ice add hard pear cider, Aperol, and lemon juice. Stir and top with Seltzer (or other fizzy water). Garnich and enjoy!
In full disclosure, Jim was not a fan of this spritz. He said he couldn’t taste the pear. I enjoyed it. It’s light and refreshing and that’s my spritz criteria.
Fall Sweater Edit
It’s sweater weather. Finally. Last week my new cashmere cardigan arrived. I’ve already gushed over how much I love this style – structured fit and bell sleeves – and I know what you’re thinking – calm down already. Alright … but I’m such a fan.
My summer uniform is jeans and a white tee, and my fall uniform varies only in the addition of a sweater. I started thinking about my most worn sweaters, and these are my essentials for fall and winter.
First let me say, as an true homebody, I could live in sweat pants (these are my favorite) and a sweater every single fall – and winter – day. But occasionally I have to go out looking somewhat presentable.
I view my clothes as either cozy-at-home or out-of-the-house. No matter which camp they fall into most do double duty for my very casual life often the only variation being mascara, or sunglasses (hoping not to see anyone I know or that they’re gracious enough to pretend they don’t see me), and decent shoes. Although I’ve been known to accidentally leave home in slippers.
Cozy-at-Home
Cozy cardigan – wrap yourself in an oversized cardigan like this one, this one and this one.
Oversize turtleneck (gorgeous color – I’d probably save this for out-of-the-house) to wear over, what else, jeans … or favorite sweat pants, for a cozy at home vibe. This one ticks all the boxes, including affordability.
Crewneck sweaters – I have so many it’s hard to narrow down, but you can’t go wrong with this one, this one and this one.
Out-of-the-House
Cropped cardigans are my absolute favorite. Thrown on over t-shirts they work with jeans, trousers and everything in-between. I wear this one, this one, and this one all. the. time. This one is really cute and versatile. And this one, from Goop’s new Gwyn line, is beautiful but pricey. If you love color this one is a beauty, it comes in black too. This one in pale mocha is very similar to the very popular – no longer available – Top Shop cardigan I’m wearing in the collage.
Cashmere sweaters … no need to break the bank with this one or this one.
Oversize sweaters … to wear alone of over long-sleeve tee and button ups. I repeatedly reach for this one, this one and this one.
Cable knit sweaters are de rigueur for visits to the coast. I really like this one.
Striped sweater … obviously. This one’s more of an investment. This one screams fall and the price is right. Oh, and this polo style that I shared last week.
Sarah Anderson’s 5th Street Farm Tour
Last week we went to Chateau Sonoma’s French Bubble Club pick up party at Sarah Anderson’s 5th Street Farm where we learned that Sarah had just filmed a Homeworthy tour.
Sarah’s Homeworthy’s tour of her 1875 farmhouse debuted this week and did not disappoint. The farmhouse is one of the first five homes built in Sonoma – isn’t that incredible? I enjoyed hearing Sarah talk about the home’s renovation, interior inspirations, animals on the farm, and Chateau Sonoma’s origin story.
Martha Stewart Entertaining
It’s been 42 years since Martha Stewart’s groundbreaking book Entertaining was published. It was my very first decor book and I poured over it again and again … for years and years.
Somewhere along the way – 42 years and many moves – I lost track of the book. Periodically I searched for a gently used copy – prices shot through the roof after last year’s Martha documentary on Netflix and The Many Lives of Martha Stewart on CNN. Not to worry, Entertaining is being reprinted for release November 4th. It’s the same book, original content and layout, on upgraded paper. Pre-order here or here.
I recently bought Martha’s new Gardening Handbook. And I still look through her original Gardening Month by Month book from her Turkey Hill days.
At one point I had all her books … and one of my favorites was New Old House chronicling the complete restoration of a farmhouse near Turkey Hill.
Martha was on the Lipstick on the Rim podcast last week which was very enjoyable. She’s promoting her new beauty line, Elm Biosciences, launching its first two products, A30 Elemental Serum and Inner Dose Daily Skin Supplement.
House of Guinness
We just finished the first three seasons of The Gilded Age … fourth season coming in late 2026 which seems an eternity. To ease our withdrawal pains we’re starting House of Guinness, an eight-part period drama fictionalizing the rise to power of Ireland’s Guinness brewing family.
It’s interesting that none of the series is actually shot in Ireland. Penrhyn Castle in Wales plays the role of Ashford Castle in Ireland, the one-time Guinness family estate.
Penryhn Castle | Credit: David Goddard via Getty
Ashford Castle is now a 5-star hotel and spa … one of Ireland’s best. First Class Jerk warns that the series will only increase the hotel’s popularity so book now. Ha! I’d love to.
Back to The Gilded Age. Have you see it? I didn’t watch it initially because I read a less-than-stellar review. When will I learn not to believe everything I read? I loved the series particularly the way they fictionalize real situations and events like the societal rise of Alva Vanderbilt, the Metropolitan Opera opening drama, and arranged marriage of Consuelo Vanderbilt to the Duke of Marborough, the Homestead strike and the expansion of the railroads.
Odds & Socks ~
- Laundry Love by Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Guy and the Laundry Evangelist, was a revelation to me and I wrote a very popular post about how it changed my laundry routine. My only criticism of the book is there’s no index. I refer to the book so often and without an index it can be cumbersome. Apparently I’m not the only one who feels this way and our long national laundry nightmare is over … Patric released an index and you can get access to it here.
- Local friends – mark your calendars for Flaunt’s Mother Denim holiday trunk show on Friday October 17, 10-4. The event includes fan favorite chainstitch embroidery station. I’ll remind you again next week. In other exciting Flaunt news, the shop now carries Veronica Beard!
- Also for locals, Walnut Creek’s Historical Society’s holiday teas are on sale now.
- “It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.” ~ Jane Goodall … what a loss of a kind and gentle soul, the kind of woman our world needs more of, now more than ever.
Current Favorites ~
That’s what I have for you today.