We adopted a new dog this week — Billie, a ten-pound rescue who, once we met her, we couldn’t imagine living without. Bringing her into our lives has meant more walks, more nature, more impromptu conversations with neighbors. In many ways she has given us so much, but what I didn’t expect is how she would reintroduce us to our own lives and make them feel new again.
Out on the streets and in the parks, we notice the season more closely. In San Francisco, the leaves aren’t turning yet; there’s still the illusion of summer, a synchronized denial I’m more than happy to indulge. But soon enough we’ll face cooler mornings, darker evenings, and layered clothing to ward off the chill. Just like our wardrobes, our home too begins to demand layers.
So here we are, on the edge of fall, with the white cotton blanket still on our bed, the hallway floors bare, and the sofa waiting for something more than Billie’s warm little body to carry us into the season. These are our projects for the week ahead. Next time, we’ll show you how we’ve added the layers — but first, we’ll share a few photos of how things look before we make the changes.
And this is where we live: between ideals and compromises. We try to buy less but better, to invest in the pieces that last, and yet somehow an acrylic Amazon blanket slips into the mix, or the decade-old LL Bean flannel pajamas I once bought as a joke but now wear every night. Life resists perfection — it’s layered, complicated, frustrating, and thank goodness for that. Just like the cool air rising through the floorboards, it can’t be controlled.
So as we step into this season, from our creaky old house and our new dog’s warm spot on the sofa, we wish you comfort in your own imperfect layers — whatever they may be.
