Trees, cloud, blue sky, yesterday in my backyard, which is becoming more a forest with each passing day . . .
Today:
*Emily Dickinson --- I'm 1800 words in, out of a maximum of 2K, but I have still to start talking about the second book, so that's the challenge. The goal today is to transition into that book and discuss it, and to try not to stress about the word limit, because that's what editing is for.
*dog walks
*new dog sitter coming for a meet-and-greet at 4, so I need to pick up some dog treats for her to offer Dora. I'm nervous about this meetup and hope it goes positively.
We had a good choir practice last night. The sight-reading surf-through-it experience can feel defeating sometimes, because I'm not that great a sightreader or singer, but last night it was pretty exhilarating. For priestly ordinations on Saturday we're singing a motet by Antonio Cifra (1584-1629), and a nice bombastic ninteenth-century piece by Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger (1839-1901), as well as a lot of service music.
More of yesterday's clouds --- the sky was really spectacular. Today looks like being much the same, with a high of 83F, very pleasant.
Wearing today:
*Secondhand vintage Erika&Co. linen-cotton pinafore dress, bought November or December 2023, last worn May 28
*Secondhand Eileen Fisher pink merino tank, bought January 2023, last worn May 31
*Secondhand Birk Mayaris, bought April 2024, last worn yesterday
On a warm day, this outfit is obviously simple and fine. But if I want to "style" it, and also if I want to be not chilly in the house, I can add one more thing to it.
*Secondhand J.Jill linen-blend cardigan, bought early spring 2023, last worn --- April 12? It's been that long? Really?
Anyway, good to get it out again. I really like it as a low-contrast top layer with this dress. I also have this same cardigan in navy, and that one gets more wear, but truly I love them both for their long, slim, vertical lines, their lightness, and their ease of wear. They go with so many things and add a nice gleamy little touch to anything I wear them with.
Wet hair with LUS 3-in-1, but no other attempt at styling. We'll see how it dries. I imagine I'll just put it up in a claw clip tomorrow to go to Blowing Rock: easy and out of my way seems to be my hair theme these days.
I'm not going to get it trimmed before the trip --- I keep saying I'm going to, but then I find that I only want to let the layers grow more. At this length, with the layers where they are, it's easy to deal with for updos and half-updos, and I don't want to upset that applecart. The ends also seem okay, considering that my last haircut was at the end of October '23. I'm not sure what length I want, but I like where it is right now: not too long, but long enough for some versatility. It's a lot easier to have good hair days when you can put it up somehow. I think I'll probably wash it again Thursday or Friday, then plan to wear it up or in a half-updo to ordinations on Saturday, and wash again on Sunday, so it's relatively clean for travel. That'll get to me to Bergen just fine, where I can shower and be good to go.
Trying out my travel packing cubes, which arrived last night (possibly some photo recording of these to come), then to work.
LUNCHTIME:
My whole trip wardrobe (except the kimono), washed (machine, cold, handwash setting, Tru Earth laundry strips) and hung to dry. Socks will go on the drying rack indoors, because I don't have any clothespins.
I'm loving this palette of blues and greens (and teals, which really are just blues and greens in one color). There's also my Camellia, which I hand-washed separately since it's redyed and still kind of runs, but that blue will fit right in with everything else.
As soon as everything dries, I'm going to go ahead and pack it, since I don't have any of these clothes on my to-wear list this week. The packing cubes work pretty well --- maybe not THAT much better than the laundry bags, but maybe I'm not squeezing enough into them to make that big a difference. My six (?) dresses fit handily in the already-compressed large pouch, but I might try them in the next size down --- OR put my leggings in that large pouch as well, and see how much space that saves. I'd like to stuff my jacket into one of these pouches, to compress it as much as possible.
Now to eat lunch, and back to work.
AFTERNOON UPDATE:
OK, my review of 2K words, maximum, is now 2500 words and not over yet . . . I'm glad to have to take a day off tomorrow to clear my head. I've just been grinding out too many of these essays lately to feel very fresh or clairvoyant.
Clothes are drying on the line.
Jacket actually fit into the smallest of my packing cubes, and is now a tidy little packet in my day pack. Hiking boots at the bottom of the day pack --- that works. Rain pants also in day pack. There's still plenty of room for my belt pack/cross-body bag in the top, and for at least one book and a sweater and the kimono.
It'll all fit, and I shouldn't have to pack anything in the checked bag, though I might slip my nail scissors in there to be safe. I think I can bring them in a carry-on, but I'm always nervous about that kind of thing, because I'd hate to lose them, and to have to track down another pair. I should be able to get all my main clothes into one larger packing cube, and my socks and underwear into another. Toiletries in a clear bag in the top pocket. Power block in the side of the pack, so that I can charge my phone in airports without having to use the airport chargers directly.
It's all good.
EVENING UPDATE:
Dogsitter successfully met and lined up.
Mail held for two weeks, starting Monday.
Clothes mostly line-dry by now.
Essay trimmed and focused on the front end, which will make writing the rest of it easier. I hope.
Little eye of round steaks marinating in salt and pepper, balsamic vinegar, and coconut aminos. I guess I'll do green beans as a side.