Bluebells and Solomon's Seal by the back door.
We're going to this baptism this morning, then out to lunch with our godson W. and his family. Back here, hang out, then away again in the evening for a nice dinner and Shakespeare's marvelous, marvelous Twelfth Night.
High today is 80F.
Wearing:
*Secondhand Not Perfect Linen Smock dress (S/M, I think) in Grape Wine, bought August or September 2024, last worn March 27. Wears in 2025: 8
*Secondhand Eileen Fisher silk-rayon cardigan, bought February 2025, first year of wear
*Secondhand Birkenstock Papillio ankle-strap sandals (don't know the name), bought February 2025, first wear
I took lots of pictures (and posted more of them than usual) because it's been a while since I pulled in the waist with the ties at the back. Normally I wear this dress fairly loose, like my other Smock dresses that don't have ties as a modification (this is a standard NPL modification, one of the things you can ask for for free --- they will do up to three mods at no extra charge --- if you order a dress new from them). But I decided that it might look dressier with the waist pulled in, and as it turns out, I was right. I'd forgotten how much I love this. The bodice is maybe a hair big for the fit to be perfect when the waist ties are drawn in tighter, but it's good, especially with a cardigan over. I am suddenly envisioning that I could continue to fast from my Emerald Green Smock dress till the end of Lent, and just wear this one to read on Wednesday night at VMI. This exact outfit, this right here that I'm wearing, would work just fine.
New sandals passed the dog-walk test just now. I think these must be a narrow size 39, because my feet, which are not wide, feel wide in these shoes. BUT they are comfortable, and I love the ankle strap. They have a much sleeker, dressier profile than any of my other Birks, without sacrificing the ease of wear. I love, really, that they feel like Birkenstocks but don't scream Birkenstocks! I anticipate wearing the daylights out of them all spring and summer and into the fall.
I'm happy to have made an outfit I love this much out of all-secondhand elements. AND I'm happy that outfit repeating doesn't get boring. I . . . might not wear purple for a while once Easter rolls around. But then again, I might. Who can tell! I will be glad to reunite with other clothes in other colors, but I won't stop loving and wearing this dress.
Bout time to go. If you are the praying sort, pray for W. on his baptismal day!