Yesterday we drove out west of town, toward the South Mountain range and the little town of Fallston. There are produce stands out that way, and we stopped at one and bought a box of "deer apples," the imperfect "seconds" that they sell at a discount ($7 for a big box), sometimes to hunters wanting to bait stands, but also to people like us who just want a lot of cheap apples. Today the house is full of the smell of apples dehydrating, in the air fryer and in the oven. I've set some out for eating, and plan to bake with others, but I want to dry as many as possible to use over the winter.
We also got ice cream at Redbone Willy's, which is something of a landmark, out by itself at the intersection of Highways 27 and 18.
It was a beautiful afternoon, dry and sunny and warm, but not sweltering.
The week is supposed to be pretty hot, with highs in the high 80s and low 90s. Bit of a drag, when you want it to be fall, but around here, this IS fall.
Wearing today, in a complete departure from the last few days:
I thought I'd trot out some things I've hardly worn in months: this pair of thrifted sage-green shorts with a J. Jill cotton tunic top my mother bought me some years ago. It's soft and flowy and I've always liked it, though on reflection, I don't know that the pale color does that much for me:
It might just be that I've still got the hangover of this stupid virus or whatever it is that apparently wasn't Covid --- still coughing, though not quite as much. Anyway, I can't really go too far wrong with blue, but this is a bit on the baby-blue end of the spectrum, a little pale and white-based for my coloring and contrast.
BUT I like it, and I like the combination with the sage-green shorts.
The only way I like to wear these shorts is with something flowy and unstructured and feminine, to balance out their tailored lines. Otherwise, things get pretty blah.
Meanwhile, check out this shawl which a friend has crocheted for me, a massive labor of love:
It's really big, and it's really heavy. I'll probably wear it instead of a coat for much of the winter. The colors are lovely, and the texture is nice and soft --- it's a merino-acrylic blend. She also gave me a brooch to wear with it, which was an idea I'd had when I realized how big it was going to be, so that I could pin it and wear it like a cloak:
It's unpinned here, but you get the idea. I feel like Joseph in his coat of many colors. I'm also just overwhelmed by my friend's generosity. AND as I continue to contemplate future dress purchases, I will be keeping in mind what I could wear with this: blues, purples, greens. I'm going to need something long-sleeved, too, so that I could just wear a dress by itself with this shawl. At any rate, I will look very striking all winter long.
But now it's hot, and I need to walk the dog, so shorts it is.