Saltwater Sounds Weekly: Happy Labor Day Weekend

Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. This is where I share all that’s been happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what’s to come and the inspiration I have found from other bloggers around the web.

This and That…

Thanks for taking the time to visit today. I’m always so glad to have you here.

It’s not only Sunday but it’s a holiday weekend too! I want to wish all my friends in the U.S. a very Happy Labor Day. What are you up to on this unofficial last weekend of summer?

I don’t know about you but I’m starting to see the signs of fall. The fact that I need to wear a sweatshirt and slippers in the morning is a very big indication that the seasonal transition is here.

As I’m writing this I know there are so many people that are continuing to suffer from the extreme heat. I hope you will see relief soon and can find a way to stay cool.

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I spent my entire Tuesday with my friend Lisa harvesting flowers to dry indoors and making flower arrangements for some fall tour pictures I’m working on.

You can’t see it here but we had 10 buckets full of beautiful blooms when we were finished. We were trying to cut as quickly as possible to beat the noon heat.

My dahlias are so beautiful right now as you can see.

My takeaways when it comes to the cut flowers in my garden…

Sedum autumn joy was my FAVORITE filler this year. No matter what the month it added so much interest to my arrangements. And it has such a long vase life!
This is my first time growing yarrow and I am a HUGE FAN! Not only does this flower last a long time in a floral arrangement but it’s great for drying.
I usually plant cinnamon basil as a filler but it’s always an afterthought. I don’t give it a lot of space in my cutting garden so it gets shaded and it takes a lot to hydrate after cutting. But it is such a pretty filler and adds so much!
Dahlias will always be my favorite cut flower…always and forever!

Here’s the sedum autumn joy I was talking about. Can you believe the beautiful colors?

It will eventually turn to a deep rose color as the season goes on.

Costco has fall mums!

We took a little kayak ride the other day at the marina so I took some pics from the water of our boat for you to see.

It was such a beautiful day.

I’m looking forward to writing a post about our boat’s before and after journey one of these days. Soon I hope.

This is what I love about the Pacific Northwest. Isn’t Mount Rainier gorgeous?

A Walk Through the Garden

It’s looking beautiful out in the gardens right now and I couldn’t be happier. There’s so much color and a lot of deadheading opportunities these days.

You can see my September gardening tips and tricks for the Pacific Northwest here.

This is the view of the cut flower garden.

The asters are starting to bud. These are such a deep and gorgeous purple and I can’t wait until they pop into the fall garden.

We have more pollinators in the flower gardens now than we have all summer long.

Here’s a yellow trumpet vine growing on the arbor that “nothing ever grows on” and I’m so happy that this space finally has a plant it likes!

Stay Tuned

For those of you that want to see more of the inside of my home rather than the garden…good news! I have been working on some early fall décor which I’ll be sharing in a week or two.

Wanna Be a Wick Candle Tester?

Antique Candle Co. has another testing opportunity for you.

The Wood Wick candle tester will include a Pumpkin Spice 16 oz, Cozy Cabin 16 oz, Autumn Woods 8 oz, and a Winter Woods 2 oz. The price is $78 (originally a $100 value!).

Shop All Candles HERE!

What’s Happening at Shiplap and Shells…

8 Fall Gardening Tips and Tricks for a Successful Year Round Garden

Are you ready to switch gears from summer gardening to all things fall? I have some gardening tips and tricks for the fall season that will help you to achieve a successful and healthy year-round garden.

7 Simple Ideas for Creating a Warm and Cozy Cottage Kitchen for the Fall Season

Do you find yourself in the kitchen more than any other room in the house during the autumn months? I certainly do. Let me show you 7 simple ideas for creating a warm and cozy kitchen for the fall season.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web…

How about a fall salad? My friend Jen at Midwest Life and Style shares the most delicious autumn apple and pecan salad recipe. With fresh mixed greens, crisp apple slices, and bits of pecans this sweet salad is perfect for autumn.

My friend Meeghan at Cali Girl in a Southern World shares how to create a beautiful DIY wood bead cake stand that is perfect to use in your home all year round, especially during the holidays. With just a few pieces from the hardware store and dollar, thrift, or craft stores you can easily make a stunning pedestal stand to display in your home.

Are you ready for a light and refreshing cocktail during this last month of summer? Try my friend Juliet at Make Mine a Spritzer‘s Limoncello Spritz before the end of the season.