Fresh daffs in the little daughter-made vase, on the Monday before Ash Wednesday. Color and cheer.
We won't do much of a Mardi Gras celebration this year, as my husband has meetings tonight and tomorrow night, but I think I'll go ahead and grocery shop today, and get a few little treats. I can tuck something nice into his lunch for tomorrow, in any event.
But we are supposed to have bonny, blithe weather all week, in the 60s, 70s, and even 80s Farenheit. No complaints here.
I'm very consciously not wearing anything purple today and tomorrow, my own tiny private little Mardi Gras observance, even though purple is one of the colors for Mardi Gras. What I am doing is glancing through my style album, which at this stage feels like the best way to track my wardrobe, what I am and am not wearing in any given period, and over the whole course of the year. At a glance I see, for example, that over the last week, Willow, Fiona, and Camellia got a lot of wear. I didn't wear Sierra or Audrey at all, and Maggie only once. It's good to have a record, and a visual record is that much more immediate. I might, at any point, feel that there's some clothing item that I'm "not reaching for," but I can see in an instant whether that's actually true, or whether it's just that the last week or so has given me that impression.
Now, I think it's actually fine to wear some things more, or some things more some of the time, while other things rest or wait for an occasion for which they're the exact right thing. But it's good to be able to see and know your patterns --- I find that helpful, at any rate. Today I can say to myself, Maybe I'll lead with something I haven't worn in the last week, and that in itself is a plan. AND I can see precisely what that means: something I haven't worn.
Today that's Sierra. Wearing her with this thrifted blue linen shirt tied over, old cotton-blend leggings (that are going to be sprung at the knees and need washing after this, so I'll probably just sleep in them until I do wash them), old EVA Birkenstocks. I've had these Birks for four (?) years? Five? I think only four, but I'm not sure anymore. At any rate, you can see up close and personal what kind of shape they're in:
And unlike regular Birkenstocks, they're not reparable. Now, these are fantastic shoes. They're unbelievably comfortable. They go with virtually anything. They're waterproof. I love them. But they are really coming to the end of their useful life, and I kind of doubt I'll buy another pair, although I'd never say never. I do like having waterproof shoes. But my new Xero Jessie sandals, which I am saving for real sandal weather, like after Easter, are that way. I could walk through a creek in them, no problem. So are my Xero Colorados, for that matter. I have that angle covered, it occurs to me. BUT looking closely at these shoes makes me glad that I have sprung for another used pair of real ones, which should arrive today.
Wearing my lower-profile glasses today, too, for a change of pace.
LATER:
Forgot to update my 2023 reading, which has become a Monday feature.
Novels
Offshore, Penelope Fitzgerald
Aiding and Abetting, Muriel Spark
Hard Times,
Nicholas Nickleby,
Our Mutual Friend,
Dombey and Son, all Charles Dickens
I think I might reread In This House of Brede for Lent. It always makes me want to pray.
Nonfiction
has kind of gone to the dogs the last few weeks. I just cannot. I need to pick Understanding Poetry back up for this reading group I'm supposed to be in.
Poetry
Various as always. I have recently written on Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Crowe Ransom, and Eugene Lee-Hamilton (if you said, "Who?", you're not alone).
Bible and Spiritual Reading
Deuteronomy, Psalms in the 70s, almost to the end of Mark's Gospel, in something like Chapter 35 of Book 3 of The Imitation of Christ.
ALSO:
My new Birks are here!
They're real leather, not the faux-leather Birki material, and aside from some staining on the footbed, they're in very good shape. Soles are barely worn. Cork footbeds themselves are almost like new. The leather shows a little wear, but not much. This was a good $15 purchase, let me tell you. And it's warm today, so I'm wearing them happily indoors and out. I won't forget my dear Birk Floridas, but it's great to have a pair in better condition.
I've also given my Tari boots a good brush and cleaning with some suede/nubuck cleaner and renewer, in a kit that I've bought. I wish I'd bought it earlier and used the waterproof/stainproof spray on those boots, but they've cleaned up nicely in any event. I continue to wear them as my "good" boots, on Sundays and any other dressier cold-weather occasion. I want them to last, and think of them, too, as good travel boots, if I were packing to go somewhere cold. They're so lightweight and can be crushed/folded down to fit in a small bag --- still such great boots.
Anyway, realizing that I need to throw together an early dinner, but there you have all the updates.
PS: Have now started reading The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, because this IS my Dickens year.