There are certain intersections and thickets I look forward to passing on my running and walking routes through my neighborhood, and I call them “happy corners.” Whenever I approach, a sensation of well-being and pleasantness passes through me; something about the lay of light, or the spill of tree branch, or the routine quietness of those vistas satisfies. I took a photo of one of my happy corners above, and even looking on it now feels like a warm exhale. The layers of verdant green, the spray of flowers, the charmingly wonky wooden gate in the background. It’s like the curve of a cheering smile.
I also love every yard with a little library in it, all the yellow homes on my route (yellow is to me the happiest wall color), and this one house a few streets over whose yard is always impeccably groomed, and which has these charming trellis flowers that spill down over the kitchen window. I always look at that window vignette and imagine eating a croissant and coffee there — what a mood elevator.
Do you have happy corners in your neighborhood, too? Can you describe them for us? What makes them special?
Post-Scripts.
+What do you love most about your home?
+The magical memories of our favorite meals from our childhoods.
Shopping Break.
+A gorgeous tall heeled boot for under $350. Heel height is perfect. SO GOOD in the chocolate raisin color for fall. Imagine with a smart denim dress like this, this, this!
+A charming sailor-style knit for under $200. I’d pair with jeans like these.
+Speaking of those jeans — they’re a perfect comfortable base layer for living in…how I’d style:
CITIZENS JEANS // PAIGE SWEATSHIRT // RALPH LAUREN HAT // FALKE SOCKS // RDV TOTE // BIRKS
+I found myself at Faherty the other day and kept adding pieces to my cart — it’s exactly right for early fall weekends spent at home, organizing and baking! I love these striped knit pants (paired with a big navy sweater or even an oversized button-down), this sunwashed cotton rollneck sweater, and this rugby sweater. Pair all with Birks and a book from our fall reading list.
KNIT PANTS // ROLLNECK SWEATER // BIRKS
+Into chunky bangles for fall.
+Perfect striped shirtdress, under $120. Also adore this one in solid white or black; CO vibes! You can wear white now — just layer with a warm white sweater and brown suede accessories.
+Adorable initial cups for littles.
+The cutest cocktail table, and I love the idea of this rattan side table as a bed side table to add texture!
+Only a few left of this adorable floral print quilted vest for girls (under $30). While we’re talking kids’ outerwear, love the fleeces Boden puts out each year!
+I LOVE all things Crown Affair and recently made the switch to their finishing spray (light-hold hair spray), which smells divine and keeps things in place but not crispy. I also can’t live without their leave-in conditioner. I apply to my ends after every shower.
+Altuzarra is having a spectacular sale and I can’t get over this dress with the gold buckle detail, or any of the discounted bags: my favorite straw style (wear this all summer), a fab bucket style bag, or this sueded beauty.
+Another fab ME+EM new arrival. Loveeee everything about this dress.
+Obsessed with these pants. Color, shape, everything!
+We all need a suede belt for fall.
+A great under-$100 field jacket — love plaid option.
+Cutest wide-leg patterned pants for girls.
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Happy corners: A statue of the virgin crowned in oranges holding the infant Jesus, his hand outstretched, and whenever we pass we leave flowers or oranges in his palm. The duck pond with all the quacking mama ducks and the springtime ducklings. The produce markets with their red awnings and quiet bustle. The cathedral steps and the bells ringing the hours. When the mountains are crowned in clouds. The passageways between streets in the old town, their ceilings painted with clouds and flowering vines. The one house with a statue of a happy German shepherd mounted above the gate. A playground shaped like a massive owl. The benches outside the library shaped like open books. A staircase that passes by the gelato shop…by the top I’m always ready for a scoop! The fountain my children play in. The cafe that nearly always has a friend grabbing an apéro. Thé socca guy who remembers my kids’ names and that they like extra pepper. The ludothèque with its rack of costumes and soft play and nursery sweetness.
I love these!!! An owl-shaped playground?! Perfect.
xx
I love this prompt about happy corners in the neighborhood — such a great reminder that glimmers are everywhere! For me, it’s seeing all the trees heavy with fruit. Our town was historically an apricot orchard. There are also so many nectarine, peach, plum, and citrus trees as well as apples, figs, persimmons… it’s an embarrassment of riches! Although I always joke to my husband that our home sits on the only square footage of land that does not have a fruit tree (the previous owner may not have wanted to deal with/care for them?). So we rectified that by planting a nectarine tree after we moved in. But I digresss… the Little Free Libraries in the area also give me joy, even if I don’t borrow a book. It is such a thrill to see what books are in there!
I LOVE this, and I love the fact that you planted a nectarine tree to participate in the town’s legacy! How cool?!
xx