Late-autumn Park Loop road in morning sunshine. There's just so much beauty, right here, all the time, and the feeling of stepping from the town into the woods, just by crossing the street.
Dora likes it too, in those fleeting moments when she's not behaving like an utter wingnut. Stop and smell the leafmold, Dora. Stop and smell the leafmold.
It's Sunday, and I'm dressed for Mass already. The husband and I will take separate cars today, because this is (for complicated and rather stupid reasons, thanks to the previous college provost) the last week of the semester, at least in person. They're sending everybody home for Thanksgiving and not inviting them back until after Christmas --- and as much as I love having my college kids home, let me tell you right now that two months might start to seem like a little much for all involved --- with some vague idea that classes will continue remotely, and exams will somehow happen without the heavy use of AI. It is devoutly to be hoped that this experiment will not see any repetition, but in the meantime, even having had a year to prepare for it, everyone is frantic. The situation is, shall we say, sub-optimal.
So, he's going to stay and work this afternoon, and I'm going to come home and think about Fulke Greville and walk the dog. My new steam-cleaner should arrive today as well, so depending on when it does turn up, there will be some experimental blasting of bathroom grout, about which I am stoked. But first, to church!
Wearing today:
*Wool& Fiona dress (M) in Teal, bought November 2022, last worn November 8. Total wears this year to date: 21
*Secondhand Pure teal cashmere cardigan, bought spring 2024, last worn yesterday.
*My grandmother's Scottish wool scarf, very old, owned for years, redyed by me in Rit Indigo in the summer of 2023.
*Snag merino tights, originally Sand Dollar, bought spring 2022 and redyed Jacquard Sapphire by me in the summer of 2023. Still need toe-hole mending, but going strong nevertheless.
*Secondhand Birkenstock Melrose graphite suede boots, bought summer or fall 2023, entering their second season of very regular wear.
It's about 45F out right now, still fairly chilly, but with a pleasant projected high in the mid-60s Farenheit. Should be a nice day. I'll put on a coat to walk the dog, and maybe keep it on to go to Mass, but I won't need it by the time I come out.
Cool sunny weather does invite the wearin' o' the suede. I bought this pea coat at Goodwill some years ago for $7.99 --- it's possibly the best buy I've ever made, just in terms of getting something for almost nothing. It's real suede, beautifully lined, just a great jacket. I don't wear it nearly as often as I should. Both my boots and this jacket have been waterproofed (I should probably redo that, actually), but if it's raining: nope.
So then I forget to wear the jacket at all, and last year I tried to sell it, because I wasn't wearing it enough. It didn't sell, so I'm committed to wearing it more. I have plenty of outdoor-wear jackets, puffer-style, Gore-Tex, vest --- lots of very warm waterproof layers for all kinds of bad weather. But I really should not wear those coats on nice days when I'm going out dressed for Mass (or a dinner date, or whatever). If it's raining or snowing, sure. But if it's pretty, as it is today, I should wear the gorgeous suede pea coat and enjoy it. When I put it up for sale last year, I was sure someone would snap it up immediately, but not so. Clearly I'm meant to own it.
Meanwhile, speaking of enjoying things, I am still enjoying this dress two years on, even with a mended hole right in the front of the skirt. I really love it layered with these tonal teals and blues. One good thing about whittling down my stock of Wool& dresses is that I wear these favorites more and don't forget about them. As tempted as I am by more dresses --- because I mean, yes, I am always tempted by the prospect of another dress --- I'm really at my maximum in terms of what I can reasonably wear, and I'm glad to have my true favorites in focus.
If I bought anything else, I would have to sell something else, and I'm not ready to do that at this time. I have some things in my sights as possible sales, but I think I'll wait till after Advent and see how matters stand. I haven't been wearing my Flax skirt, but in Advent, with my purple-every-day rule, I might find that I do wear it more --- and then I'd need to weigh whether that's enough to make me keep it. It's a nice skirt, but do I love it that much? Skirts are so iffy. I really prefer dresses and only have skirts for a little variety. Even my very favorite, that green Garnet Hill lantern maxi, doesn't get worn that often, compared with my dresses. I'm really glad I have it, but even it isn't a staple in the way my dresses all are. I could probably let go my vintage April Cornell rayon maxi, too, and not miss it.
Not putting anything else up for sale right now, but I am certainly thinking about culling --- and not just so that I can buy more things. I don't need more things. If anything, it's my husband who needs more things, although I have outfitted him nicely this fall. He's thrilled with his new navy wool blazer and with his two pairs of wool trousers, which are currently at the alteration shop being hemmed. He's happy with the new ties I've bought him. And last night the final pair of trousers I had ordered him --- a pair of 100% cotton khakis --- arrived, and he needs to try those on as well. With the two new blazers (gray microcheck and navy), the heavy tweed blazer he already owned, which is still holding up well (though the lining needs some repair), and with potentially three pairs of nice trousers, plus several good shirts, plus ties, he should be set for any work week or dressy occasion. He likes to dress nicely, and so it's a pleasure to dress him.
Now that we are all dressed, I had better let the dog out and get on with things.