Not in the Virginia Blue Ridge anymore, but my own neighborhood was an autumn cathedral in the sun yesterday.
I'd brought in a bunch of Bright Lights Cosmos at the end of last week, and they're starting to go off now. Still, they make a glow in the dining-room window.
Today I think I'm going to let the dog out briefly, then feed her and go get my hair cut. I've got to pick her up meds, too, and some more pill pockets, to be ready for the dogsitter while we're gone. Yesterday afternoon I started putting my metrical-forms course together (thank GOODNESS for Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, who have basically handed me my lessons on a platter, in their 1974 edition of Understanding Poetry). I also knocked out an essay on Ezra Pound's "The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter." One more of those to go before I'm caught up through next week.
I'll also pack today: black clothes for the funeral, but otherwise just Willow. It'll be warmer in Memphis than it is here, in the mid-80sF, so things will be very Team Basic. Just remembering to put in my long silver necklace and some gray Snag tights to wear with (sigh) heels . . .
Today is . . . if I were doing a 30-day challenge, which I might or might not be . . . Lucky Day 13. It's 38F out right now, quite chilly! But the high is going to be 73F, so it won't stay that way. I think Teal Willow + leggings is the way to go, with a pullover to take off when the day warms up. I'm finding that even at the height of a warmish autumn day, I'm perfectly comfortable in leggings which a month ago would have felt like too much. The bamboo/cotton leggings I wore yesterday were perfect, but merino-blend leggings also work just fine in this transitional weather.
Otherwise . . . gosh, I'm tired this week. It's been a good month, but so hectic, and I've had more to do, that I really have to do, by deadlines, than I've had to do in years. In hindsight, this was probably not a good time to decide to go gallivanting over literally the entire American South on various separate occasions, but anyway. I'm grateful to have seen the people I've seen, and I'm glad I'm going to see the people I'll see later this week, but still . . . gosh, I feel tired. And it's the kind of tired where I console myself by thinking, "You can spend ten hours in the car not driving, but reading an MFA thesis, because you're behind."
ANYWAY. I'm also grateful not to have to make decisions about my clothing right now. It's great to wear a dress that I can air out overnight and just put on again. Or as I'll probably do on Thursday, because of the funeral, sleep in and then just keep wearing the next day, and the next.
Wearing today (surprise surprise):
Ocean Teal Willow + thrifted Allbirds navy merino/tencel/lyocell leggings + thrifted Birk Rosemeads.
Here we are, various angles . . .
Feeling comfortable, cozy, easy --- but dressed. I do love these Allbirds leggings very much, I have to say. They were a fantastic secondhand purchase back in the spring, before we went to Norway. Now that I've torn up my all-merino leggings, I might allow myself to keep an eye out for another pair of these in another color. I do still plan to mend the merino leggings and wear them --- just haven't had time even to rinse them out yet (I Grandma's-Secreted the bloodstains, and they're just sitting, waiting for me to have a minute). But they're never going to look as nice again, and will probably be relegated to hiking and pajama and base-layer wear. I honestly don't know that I need another pair of leggings, though. Even with the merino ones out of commission, three pairs --- in navy, green, and teal stripe --- might just be sufficient, especially since I have so many tights. In fact, I really should NOT allow myself to look for more leggings. What I should do is wear the tights that I have, because I do like them. So there.
But I do love these leggings. They're comfortable, they're substantial, they're breathable, and they fit well. Like all-merino leggings, they don't hold smells. I can wear them many times before they need a wash. So maybe what you should do is keep an eye out for a pair of Allbirds merino/tencel/lyocell leggings secondhand, because they are more than worth whatever reduced price you find.
I also continue to be glad that I chose a Willow dress in a long length. I love my regular-length Willow, but find that this one is a lot more versatile and easy to wear, especially when I'm wearing her day after day. I haven't yet worn her with a belt, because wearing her loose feels so easy, but I definitely could. Almost halfway through . . . 30 days, maybe . . . and I haven't come close to exhausting the possibilities.
What I really wish --- here's my fantasy for the day --- is that they'd release a Willow in the same Iris Blue as the Rowena. I'd much rather have the Willow neckline. THEN I could have a dress to wear for a 30-day in Lent, which would accommodate all the spring-temperature fluctuations as this dress is accommodating the autumn ones . . . and would still be completely wearable even in the summer. Again, I was surprised to find my 3/4-sleeve dresses comfortable in July and August, but I did find exactly that.
Also noting that my poor little Camellia dress probably won't get worn at all in October. If it's cold, I could wear her as a base layer, though. Having some newer dresses really highlights how worn that original dress is starting to be --- though that's good, from the standpoint of having a dress to hike in that I don't mind exposing to additional wear and tear. I suppose it's only natural that some dresses would fade out of regular circulation, though my hope and expectation is that most of these will look good enough to wear regularly, even in "nice" situations, for years to come.
Better get on with this day now.
LATER:
One essay written. One syllabus finished. And one haircut accomplished.
It's short! And some of the layering is a little strange, I think. But I think I like it. At any rate, I won't have to get it cut again for quite a while.
Actually, I think I like these layers better than the rather mullety layers I had last time. My hair looks neater, anyway. I won't have to worry about it on this roadtrip --- I can just run some gel through with my wet hands and go. And this cut will work whether my hair wants to be wavy or straight. I think it'll probably be very wash-and-go. I was afraid I looked like a soccer mom, but again . . . I think it's all okay.
And there's nothing like taking a little hair weight off to get the mind moving. It's not even 2 p.m., and I've finished the two major tasks I wanted to accomplish before I leave town again. Now to pack, change the sheets, tag the dogsitter with some instructions . . . all the little things.
LATER:
I'm pretty much packed for our funeral trip. In my backpack:
1. My black outfit: bamboo swing dress + black pencil skirt + black Mary-Jane heels (which I hardly ever wear, but which will be okay on my feet for one day) + slate-gray Snag microfiber tights
2. Underwear + change of bras
3. Purple crocheted poncho + purple cashmere pashmina (both thrift buys from my stay with Marly last month --- I probably won't need them, but IF I need a warmer layer, I'll have them)
4. Changes of shoes: Birk Papillio wedges, red Xero Cassie Mary Janes
5. Nightgown
6. One extra pair of Snag tights --- in blueberry.
7. Toiletries + jewelry + hair clips + diffuser
I'm going to repeat today's outfit for the road, and Willow will just be my default when I'm not at this funeral. I'll sleep in her Thursday night to get my hours in. It's going to be quite warm in Memphis, so I shouldn't need much in the way of layers. I will have this alpaca cardigan with me, plus the aforementioned cashmere items.
This should really all be enough. And it ALL fits in the carry-on pack.