On this post, a great fall salad I love, an earth friendly alternative to Amazon, my upcoming fashion event, protesting on October 18th, and new garden books.
How was your week? Are you getting the fall feeling where you are? We had some cooler weather and I loved it! On our street the trees are turning bright red and orange and crunchy leaves are on the ground!
I’ve got my orange leaf wreath back out. It’s real leaves and they are preserved. It’s going on its third year. Above is last year’s front porch. I still need my mums and pumpkins. I am slow getting things October cute and I blame it on being sick this week.
Griffin came home from Utah for a few days and came down with a cold as soon as he arrived! Now Max and I have one as well. He’s back in Utah all better and packing up to move home in a week or so. I am recovering from the cold, so this post is not as long as usual as I am dragging here.
The kittens are growing. They now have their cat tree next to Max’s desk and they love sleeping there together. Pretty soon they may be too big for co-sleeping this perch.
Persimmon Season!!
Persimmon season is here so don’t forget about these babies that are good for you and look cute on the counter. I eat them in salads and as a snack with crackers and cheese. As a lifelong Californian, these are so fall to me! Our neighborhood has homes with some lovely persimmon trees. I get mine at the Farmer’s Market usually.
Make sure you get the round ones (fuyus) that are pumpkin shaped. As my grandmother would say, eating the fruits and veggies in season provides a lot of what you need at that time of year. Persimmons have vitamin A, C, and B6, which help your immune system. They also are a great source of fiber, manganese and potassium.
My fall salad I make with pears, persimmons, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), and baby gem romaine, (plus kale if I have it). It’s a tongue twister! I call it the P word salad. For an authentic fall dressing, mix 2 parts walnut oil, and 1 part apple cider vinegar, with a drizzle of maple syrup, salt and pepper to taste and whisk. It is as good for you as it is delicious.
Grove Collective
Last week Grove Collaborative a ecofriendly home goods site, offered me to try out their service. Since I use many of the brands they carry, and I have been trying to persuade more of us to find Amazon alternatives, I agreed. Earlier this year I shared options for those stuck on Amazon, and this was a place many of you said you use and love. I appreciate that they are focused on eco-friendly home essentials and they try to help you reduce your footprint with packaging options and even a plastic tracker.
I also feel so much is out of our control in this country. This is one thing I can do to make a difference with my own dollar- where I shop and by choosing better for the planet. As Jane Goodall said, I’m working on my own little piece of the puzzle here in small ways.
What I ordered…
I love that everything came in one box and literally arrived within one day! If speediness is a reason you are using Amazon, you would be happy to hear Grove is fast, and they don’t send all your items in separate boxes.
I choose my favorite Seventh Generation laundry soap. I also use Dirty Labs laundry booster to brighten whites, so I tried Dirty Labs delicate laundry detergent for your pjs and nicer items. This cool Nellie’s Wow Stain Stick is from Canada and comes with no plastic around it. You just wet the stain and rub the stick on the spot- and it works. The only packaging is the box!
I also chose these reusable stretch wraps for food covering. I have beeswax, but these really work well and stay on! I also needed a bamboo spatula for eggs as I threw out all my black plastic ones, and a new set of produce shopping bags for my fruits and veggies. We somehow lost most of ours.
I had room to add two more things and so I picked a 20 pack of Kitsch Recycled hairbands which don’t pull or catch your hair, and Tree Free Tissues made of bamboo. They came in small packs and were just in time for us coming down with colds. :/ Griffin said they were so soft he took a few packs with him back to Utah.
I plan on doing a monthly order from Grove. They also have specials like 40% off any item, and an extensive clean beauty department with Osea, Juice, Weleda, Alba, Three Ships, and so many others. You can get household items, cleaning products and beauty all in one place.
Our box is also being upcycled….
New Garden Books!
I’m thinking of what things I can add to the yard this fall and a few good books came on my radar last week regarding gardens.
Drink Your Garden has more than 100 botanical cocktail recipes from these farmer-bartender sisters in Washington State. Lovely photos too.
Designing the Lush Dry Garden is a great manual for those who want to start the transition from lawn with inspiring gardens from The Ruth Bancroft Garden, one of the finest dry gardens in the world, with beautiful design and a focus on water conservation.
Where the Old Roses Grow, is finally available stateside and I picked it up at Kepler’s last week! I can’t wait to read about the rosarians who were saving the heirloom roses while gardeners were on the front lines in WWII. I adore Janelle and have many of her books and follow her great Substack.
I always love Gardenista books and this new one, The Low Impact Garden is all about sustainable landscapes all over the world.
Next Weekend- No King’s Day
Guys, I’ve had it with this country. I can barely read the news and each day seems to be getting harder to believe. Yesterday the NYTimes reported Republicans are in talks with our EPA chief Lee Zeldin to see how they can use wastewater testing technology to track women who use Mifepristone- or the morning after pill, as they’ve had a hard time prosecuting women for this in red states.
This time last year, I was hoping we might have the fist woman president, and a year later we are not one year into a presidency where all our rights are in danger and slowly being stripped away along with freedom of speech.
We are just one week away from what will likely be the largest protest ever in the United States. There are NO Kings protests planned in every state. This great substack We the People has more more info on the numbers. Find a protest here and bring your friends, family and anyone who is appalled at the state of this nation and what is scarily yet to come if we don’t rise up. I plan to go to the 8 miles one Palo Alto to Sunnyvale on El Camino Real.
One thing I loved at the last two protests was the feeling of camaraderie and positive feedback from so many who feel the same! It is empowering and the best part of doing these.
I hope if you care about America and our democracy and human rights, you will join me!
Alice Temperley’s Somerset Home!
I am fascinated with this incredible historic home which is so fun and beautiful in the most beautiful countryside setting.
Other Good Things
-The beautiful Rose Garden neighborhood of San Jose holds an annual fall home tour and it is a great time to get a peek at four homes in what is the most charming area of San Jose. The tour, which is in it’s 29th year, benefits St Martin of Tours School and takes place October 19th. Details here and you can buy tickets the day of as well.
-Next week Cindy and I will be sharing jackets for our October Signature Style on Tuesday! Do you love jackets as much as Cindy and I do? Ba&sh has some lovely ones and I have collected a few of theirs.
-Don’t forget this fall’s shopping and styling event is this week at Ba&sh at Valley Fair Bloomingdales, 3-5, on Thursday October 16th! Some looks I like from their fall mix that are on my radar… You can see more of the beautiful Ba&sh fall looks here.
There will be a shopping discount, a fall basket giveaway, and treats. It’s a great time to add a pretty piece to your fall and winter mix. I will be sharing styling tips and can even help pull together an outfit, or find what flatters you.
I also made an Instagram video in my closet of what I have collected of Bas&sh. These are clothes you will love for years, not a season! If you can’t make the event, and see something you like from their collection, let me know and I’ll have Leslie get you the discount and she can ship to you that day or you can contact her on their Instagram account . I look forward to seeing some of you there!
If you missed last week, it was about remembering Jane Goodall, how kindness can make you healthier, fall clothing swap ideas, and Boden coats on my radar.
Wishing you a happy fall weekend,
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs for more good things…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
If you’d like to get Northern California Style free by email, subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox every Saturday and a few times a month!
Hi Kim,
Hope you and Max feel better soon. I can’t believe what I just read about women being tracked, my goodness what has your country become. To me that is a type of stalking! Today we had mostly women marching here in Australia against abortion, wish I knew it was on, I would have gone and chanted “Not your body”! Why do people think they can dictate to others how they live their lives.
Rita, I am sick about women being tracked too. Slowly they are chipping away at our democracy little by little- much of it behind the scenes.
I agree I am for everyone choosing for themselves- including those who are against abortion, but I can’t abide those removing choices for others!
They have no idea of their lives or circumstances. And the same people have no interest in helping support or educate those kids once they are born in this country.
@Rita. I am concerned with the number of religious nutters who are in our Parliament, especially at State level. The anti abortion push is organised by a female academic, (with support from a couple of male politicians) who is particularly against late term abortions. I wish they would sod off and leave our rights alone.
Susan it worries me seeing anyone wanting to take people’s rights away anywhere. I hope these things don’t happen to you.
Good morning Kim,
I am sorry that you are feeling unwell. Rest, relax and get better soon.
The cats are adorable! I love that they snuggle and sleep together.
I have not decorated for Fall this year, it’s been too hot. I do have three little pumpkins in the kitchen and their bright orange color makes me smile whenever I walk through.
Speaking of orange, the persimmons are beautiful, as is your salad. I will have to get a few and make it, it looks delicious!
Janell is such a wonderful writer, I have all of her books and love them, one of my favorites is her book on Paris. It is beautiful. Thank you for the heads up on the other books, I will take a look at them when I am finished here.
Grove is a great company, I used them before we moved and then never signed up again. I will have to do that as they have all of the things I use and are a great company. We can all do our part in this world, even if it is only in our “little world.”
Have a good weekend and get well soon.
xo
Thanks Elizabeth. I am already better thankfully. I understand about the decor. We need chilly days before I want to get my pumpkins out.
I have that Paris book too. Janelle is such a great writer and photographer!
Grove is so good! I don’t know why it took me so long to use them.
Aw thanks have a good weekend too. xo
Unsubscribing. Not here for politics.
Sharon, Did you miss last weekend’s post about kindness?
All kidding aside, it is not politics, but human rights now. To deny that is to be unwilling to see what is really happening. Our country is falling apart. ICE is getting large paychecks and $50 K bonuses of our tax dollars to violently arrest hard working people who are showing up for their immigration hearings. They are arresting ‘brown’ people and zip tying children – and then checking their status after ripping them from their homes. They are shooting people with chemicals from buildings who protest their takeovers.
We can’t afford to give people healthcare, or pay teachers, or help with college, but we have unlimited money for violence and cruelty. NO one is safer with this administration.
I won’t be silent about this.
Thank you!!! Everyone needs to know what is going on, and what is going on is way beyond politics. We ignore it at our peril. I applaud your speaking out.
Thanks Jenny! I so agree. I would prefer not to share it here, but it is going to only get worse if we keep ignoring it. xo
GOOD for you expressing this so eloquently as usual. I am with you all the way and we
have to keep protesting and speaking out against what is happening in our country.
I’m in my 70’s and never thought this would be happening and that our choices and
freedoms being taken away. Worse is the freedom of speech seems to only apply to
the republicans and not others.
To go after people with different views and bully them or take them to court
is reprehensible. We must stand up to save our democracy. Choices apply
to everyone even those we vehemently disagree with, This will ultimately affect
their followers and you can’t stick your head in the sand thinking it doesn’t affect my
world, yes it does. Wake up!!
Char, I agree. Soon it will be affecting everyone. Will they then speak up when it affects those they love, their families or friends ?
Eventually it will land on everyone’s doorstep. Thank you for this note. xo
Kim, I agree with everything you said. It is not my preference to pay so much attention to politicians, but I simply can’t ignore what is going on here. We will be at the October 18 protest in Austin. I’m looking forward to letting DJT hear from us, for a change. Love the kitty pics, and I have never had a persimmon! I will get one at our grocery store tomorrow and try it.
Hi, Kim! For anyone who unsubscribes there will be 10 more who sign up. Enough is enough.
Hi Kim,
Well it doesn’t surprise me that there is one person who wants to keep their head in the sand when it comes to the state of our nation. But not me, and not you, and good for you for continuing to speak up. It feels like everything is spiraling out of control right now. Every day there is more to be worried about. I am going to pull out my No Kings sign and march on Saturday. I will be going alone, (with thousands of other like-minded friends!) Santa Cruz really shows up for this and it’s supposed to be one of the biggest rallies the country has seen. I wonder if the news will report the truth…
I’m looking forward to the BA&SH event. It will be fun to be distracted for a little while by shopping and with beautiful fashions!
I’m glad you’re feeling better. The stress had been getting to me but I went and cheered Chloe’ and her BF on while they ran a 1//2 marathon this morning. The positive energy of the crowds was so uplifting. Plus the weather at the beach was amazing. Perfect fall beach weather! It helped lighten my spirit a little.
Your kitties are cuter every time I see them They have found a perfect home!
See you soon!
Xo Heidi
PS I forgot to add that you are the one who introduced me to the
Fuyu persimmons and I crave them all fall! I didn’t make it to the farmers market this morning, but I bought two boxes at the grocery store and I’m just waiting for them to soften a little before I start devouring them! Yum delicious.
No way! I should be getting a kickback from the persimmon council to something.. This is not the first time I have heard that. LOL!
Enjoy our California bounty. x
Heidi thank you for marching too. I know you have been at every one. Santa Cruz is so inspiring with so many people who are willing to stand up for democracy! I know you had one of the best turnouts last time! Let’s hope this one is even bigger.
I am so happy you can go to the event! We are going to have fun.
Yay for Chloe and her BF. I’ve been loving the weather too.
Have a good week ! xo
Love ya Susan! x
Hope you’re feeling better soon. I will have to try persimmons. And, like you I can’t believe and stomach what is happening to our country. I will be attending a “No Kings” protest in Albany, NY, next Saturday. My hubby will even be joining me. I’ve been pleased to see how many of my friends’ husbands are also attending. Which they should.
Jill thank you! Persimmons are so good.
Yay for attending the rally in NY! My husband is coming too.
I agree glad to see the men join in. I feel like it’s been so many women pushing back. xo
Good Morning Kim-
So sorry you’ve been so ill this week. The colds get worse when we get older, for sure! I’m going to try your salad, without the persimmons it sounds so good! Thanks! I have a new pair of loafers like the J Crew you posted in a lighter color from Franco Sarto and they are so cute and comfortable. Going to Pajaro Dunes next weekend so I’ll be checking out your weekend in Carmel for restaurants and outings. There’s a succulent nursery down that way which is fabulous. We are putting limestone tile on our front porch RIGHT NOW and I just noticed your gorgeous limestone on yours! Hope it turns out just as well. I do nothing as well as copy other people. Have a great weekend.
-Laurie
Hi Laurie!
Gosh agree about colds. I hope you try the salad!
Enjoy your new loafers. It’s the perfect time to break them out.
Oh have fun in Pajaro- and Carmel. I LOVE it in fall.
The succulent nursery sounds wonderful. Maybe I need to add that to my list.
Oh golly thanks about the limestone. I also probably copied someone’s’ porch!
I love it and wanted something to last that wasn’t regular cement or tiles.
I bet yours will look great. xo
Cindy Thank you for your comments! The current situation of of the country is appalling; one can’t avoid it as your neighbor may be called up as he or she is in the National Guard and will have to walk around a strange town strapped in full war gear carrying an assault rifle in the next state. What??? Unheard of a few months ago. Your neighbor may be another color or another religion and now they are afraid of iCE grabbing them even if they are American citizens..detain and zip tie first..find out later they are citizens…still detain and scare them. If it were just me I would leave this country which a loved one now has already done based on this madness. On another note I am looking through my Fall and Winter clothing and reviewing what has been put away for many months as I live in SoCal and it’s still in the 70s here. As for Fall decor I have ordered some faux Fall leaves and need to purchase a few of those grey or white pumpkins I am seeing in the markets. Does this all remind us of pre-WW2 movies where people are in denial of what is to come? The video was interesting..a pile being maintained and full of unusual treasures.
Donnie, agree completely. My good friend has a pal whose son in NG been deployed in LA for more than a month. They didn’t feed them, and let them sleep on concrete no bedding. In the meantime, he was away from his real job and being with his family…. All for a show of force by Trump who hates on LA. He didn’t take the time to care about these national guard people yet willing to give loads of cash and money to ice people- many who are convicted felons and worse. Many are those he pardoned for Jan 6th.
I am most sad about those kids and others being ripped from their homes to find out later they are Americans. That is a crime and trauma inducing to them, with no apologies. I hope they all sue the Trump administration and they will have to answer for what they are doing in a criminal court.
Enjoy fall in LA! I was there last year and it was so pretty. I need to go back.
Yes totally reminds me of those pre war films. We need to wake up.
Hello Kim,
Hope you both feel better soon.I am re watching Downton Abbey and its bliss. Never mind the house I want the labrador !!I will go to my second Kings March next week and thank you for the post looks amazing. xo
Kim! I hope you and Max are feeling better today … having a cold is a miserable business. Thanks for the info on Grove Collective, I’ve been seeing them pop up here and there and thought they were another safe cleaning brand … shows what I know. I just did a little exploring … so many things I use available there. I love the 7th Generation laundry soap too. I’m astounded by the rapid disintegration of our country. I mean we’ve been headed the wrong direction for a long time, but the rapid descent since January is unbelievable. I heard Senator Chris Murphy on a podcast this week, he said the majority of his Republican colleagues are of the mindset that it’s better to lose our democracy than see a Democrat in the White House. Truly scary stuff. And we’re living it. Well, on that happy note, I hope that beautiful, healthy salad does wonders for your health and you’re able to enjoy the weekend. xo
Go, Kim!
Glad to hear you are already feeling better. My husband and I will be attending our local protest next Saturday here in Portland, Oregon (which is NOT war-ravaged or on fire…). We have signs from previous protests, but plan to attend a “craftivism” party on Wednesday night in preparation. Let’s get everyone we know to attend! I plan to bring this up at my book club meeting Monday night.
In the same vein, as you probably know, Kristi Noem made a surprise visit here last week. At the airport, a local reporter asked her what she hoped to accomplish and she said she hoped to work towards a peaceful resolution, build partnerships… all very nice. Both our governor, mayor and police chief reported that they had productive meetings with her. The next day on the national news, she changed horses and told trump what he wanted to hear about the burning hellhole that was Portland, and that Portland Police were joining protestors in intimidating ICE agents. The protests here are limited to within one block of the ICE building, and otherwise life goes on as always. One local news station has set up a 24 hour camera to show the activity around the ICE building as it really is. Ironically, it is a Sinclair station. Additionally, all these ridiculous allegations have sparked citizens and the protests have increased.
I appreciate the balance of your post as well. Persimmons? I’ve never tried them and will seek them out! Gardening books? Added to my xmas list! Looking forward to the jacket post on Thursday!
xo
HI Julia! Awesome you will be in Portland!
I love the idea of a craftivism party! That is genius and fun. Good for you for rallying more people.
How sad Noem is just another soldier for Trump when she could actually do better. I see the Oregon people on the news and my first thought was wow what great leaders you have. They seem thoughtful, kind and engaged and invested in the state and the city.
I think most people can see that not much is happening there. I have enjoyed seeing the people dresses as frogs and the funky folks that make Portland SO cool and special.
Try a persimmon ! They taste like fall.
Thanks for being out there and caring! x
I recently rediscovered Grove too. Now I’m wondering where people get things like toothpaste/deodorant other than Amazon/Target? I wish there were a Grove version of those-type of items. Any suggestions?
Jenny Grove is good isn’t it?
SO there are five pages of toothpaste at Grove here:
https://go.shopmy.us/p-27611333
I personally like the Cocolabs which is from San Francisco- and their floss.
They also have three pages of deodorants …
https://go.shopmy.us/p-27611524
I still love the Donna Karan cashmere mist anti-perspirant I have used forever and they have it at Sephora:
https://go.shopmy.us/p-27611663
Hope that helps! xo
Hi Kim!
Thanks for always posting about the ways in which we can get involved in pushing back against tyranny. Using your platform to spread the word is much appreciated!
I also use Grove Collaborative and find it very rewarding– I’m not supporting corporate greed (Amazon) and I’m helping to make my environment better (those tissues may not be quite as soft, but it’s worth it!)
As always, thank you to California for doing the right thing! I wish we were ALL like California!
Kim, sorry to hear you guys are under the weather! Reminding me to get my flu shot and Covid vaccine! I pinned your beautiful salad and shared it as a Sunday Favorite today! You kitties are getting so big! Feel better! xx
Annie you are so kind! Thank you.
Yes I am getting both mine soon too. xo
Hi Kim, sorry you’re feeling so unwell, hope you get better soon. Your kitties are so adorable!
Sk must have been a very new reader! I can’t believe that some people are so unwilling to confront this new reality.
I just saw a video of ICE in Chicago arresting a 15-year old girl, dragging her out of her car, 4 cars, 8 masked men. She was yelling that she was 15 and she wanted her parents. It’s sickening.
Good luck at the No Kings protests on Saturday – stay safe please!
Hi Patricia!
I think so too, or she would know this is a normal post for me.
I think it’s not that people don’t want to hear politics as they say, but rather it’s more likely they do support what is happening.
I do think they are ashamed to admit they are okay with the cruelty happening.
I also saw the 15 year old and it made me want to cry.
Thank you looking forward to the protest and being with others who feel the same. xo
I think you could be right Kim – I often think of the lovely Tennessee couple that we met on a cruise a couple of years ago. We spent a lot of time with them and really didn’t think that they were ‘Trumpers’, but whenever I have written to them in the last year asking what they think, they just don’t engage. Very sad. By the way – I don’t have Twitter, but I read The Bulwark’s Morning Shots and saw a link to this video by George Conway advertising Saturday’s protest. If you haven’t already seen it, perhaps you can share it on your Instagram etc. Here it is: https://x.com/OfTheBraveUSA/status/1977705929589104772?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Hope you can see it. And stay safe – who knows what they will do under this new guise of fighting ‘domestic terrorism’!
Hi Kim — Oh my, your kitties are so cute snuggled up together! Your fall salad sounds delicious — very fall. I am making one with cabbage and chard, both roasted, plus farro, chickpeas, goat cheese, dried cranberries, red onion, and pepitas. Yum! Thanks, as always, for the house tour recommendation! I am planning on attending one of the No Kings events next Saturday. I can’t even believe the news these days. It is unfathomable. But, sadly, here we are. Hope you are feeling better!
Molly your salad sound delicious too. I will pop to your blog to check it out. I am intrigued by the roasted chard. It sounds very healthy for fall.
Yay for going to the No Kings too!
It’s great to hear so many are planning on going.
xo
Hi Kim,
I hope you and Max are feeling better. The transition into fall can catch us off guard once the temps start dropping, but aren’t we all looking forward to sweater weather and all those fun pieces we haven’t seen in months. I’ve been collecting denim jackets (apparently – have several), and can’t wait to start wearing them.
Your collection of Ba&sh jackets and dresses are beautiful! The event sounds so fun, wish I lived closer. Love your sweet kitties and their antics, they’ve certainly found the best home! The persimmon salad is fab! I’ll definitely be making it, but also enjoy them just cut up. Fall has all the tasty orange fruits and veggies, as I love squash and sweet potatoes too.
Thank you for always reminding us all to do our part, be kind and be part of the change we want to see happen! It’s appalling what’s happening to women in our country. And not to mention the economy too, prices go up every time I shop. I truly hope we can survive the next few years. I will check out Grove too. Love Jane. Love Diane. Both such treasures!
Thanks again for not only entertaining us weekly with your very well written blog, but keeping us aware of so many important issues that never seem to make the headlines. 💗
I enjoy your posts very much. Thank you. Could you please share where you found your baskets for your mums. I live in Pennsylvania and would like the baskets but also concerned they don’t hold up to weather. Thank you again for sharing with your readers.
Sincerely,
Brenda
Brenda thank you. They were Target baskets and are over two years old and still holding up though they are slightly covered on the porch.
This is the link:
https://go.shopmy.us/p-27764697
Hope that helps! x Kim