Morning kitchen, 7:30-ish a.m., late-November edition. I count myself as one of those who don't mind daylight savings time, but also don't mind when we fall back. The light in the mornings, here in the late autumn, is so beautiful, and the kitchen with its smell of coffee is warm and cozy.
A lot to do today. I have poems lined up into the first week of January, about many of which I need to write. One down, only about ten more to go. And as I think I mentioned yesterday, I seem to have begun playing with a historical-fiction project which has sent me down the rabbit hole of England in 1397, at the end of the reign of Richard II. Plus I've got to work on a book review, walk the dog, fold laundry, etc. etc. etc. No time to be bored, at any rate.
My daily Bible/Imitation of Christ: Genesis 5-6, Psalm 3, Matthew 3, Imitation Book I Chapter 3 (on the benefit of being simple rather than learned).
Wearing today:
In an antithesis to the 100-day dress challenge, I'm actively resisting the temptation just to put on the same thing day after day. I hung up the dress I wore yesterday and took down my good old Camellia dress (my 100-day challenge dress, in fact), because it's been a while since I last wore her. Today we're leaning hard toward the pinky side of purple, with this thrifted J.Jill ramie pullover. Rotating my merino tights, too --- it would have been easy to put on the gray ones I wore yesterday, but I made myself reach for navy, which I think actually looks better with this outfit anyway. Still wearing my thrifted Birk Madeiras, though, because they feel good on my feet, and I like the way they look.
I have to make myself wear scarves, because they often feel like one thing too much, but I think I like this one today: a thrifted infinity scarf I've had for years, with lovely shades of blue, teal, and lavender. Hair in a ponytail, because flowing hair with a scarf really does feel like too much.
One thing that's striking to me, though I kind of already knew it, is how much easier it is to wear this Camellia tank dress year-round now that I've redyed her this darker blue. I've always thought that I gravitated toward dustier, paler colors --- and in some color families I think I still do --- but the more I think about it in hindsight, the less I really like the memory of the original "lapis" blue color, which was a sort of faded blue-gray that became a lot more faded over time. The current color is a lot closer to the actual color of lapis lazuli, and although there's a limit to just how bright and intense a color I can wear, I think I look better in these more saturated jewel-ish tones than in some more muted shades. On the other hand, I love the softer shades in the scarf, which are kind to my morning face.
The highs today are supposed to be in the 60s, again, I think. We've had such lovely weather for the last day or so, since the deluge on Sunday morning: chilly, clear nights, but soft, bright days. The older I get, the more I appreciate the Southern winter's gentleness. I appreciate that we have winter, with enough cold weather for sweaters and coats. But I also appreciate that it's not grueling, especially when, as now, I need to give the dog a good long walk.
Actually, I know it's not officially winter yet, but the year's turn at the start of Advent feels like a seasonal turn, too. Away with the autumn-leaf motifs, in with the snowflakes, even if there aren't any snowflakes outside.