Sunday dinner-prep still-life. I had better use up those lemons soon.
Another week, lots of work before we leave town on Friday to see the Viking's play in Dallas. I have one more essay for this week, plus a big editorial meeting --- sometime --- to set the calendar through the next couple of months. I've committed to writing a book review, so I'm reading that book, my friend Paul Pastor's new poetry collection The Locust Years, as well as a new poetry book, The Joseph Tree, by another friend, Isabel Chenot. Both excellent. I'm also making my way through Jonathan Geltner's novel of a couple of years ago, Absolute Music, and Ron Hansen's literary memoir, Hotly in Pursuit of the Real. I've hit pause on all my more Great-Books-type reading, Plato and Boethius, and also Henry James, but I will pick them up again, especially as I'm traveling.
And the dog seems to be still sick. Looks like we're going to the vet. SIGH. She's snoozing in the chair with me right now. Her stomach upset seems less bad, thanks largely to the doggy kaopectate I've been giving her, but she still wanted to eat grass in the yard this morning, and she seems less energetic than usual. She did eat up her chicken broth for breakfast, though. I think the last time she had something like this, I took her in when she grew disinterested in eating, and she's definitely still interested in eating. She was trying to lick some spilled grease off the side of the grill as we were going out this morning. And she's been following me around the house as usual. So maybe it's not so bad. But I really do want to get this cleared up before we leave town on Friday.
The sun is shining, and the high today is nearly 80F, just perfect.
Wearing:
*Secondhand Not Perfect Linen Leila dress (S/M) in Cinnamon Rose, bought December 2023, last worn April 20. Wears in 2025: 5
*Secondhand Eileen Fisher silk-rayon cardigan, first year of wear
*Secondhand Birk Mayaris, second year of wear
I had bought this cardigan thinking it would work with the color of this dress, and I'm gratified to see that I was right. My pink merino cardigan is a little too candy-colored to make a tonal layer, but this one, a little less baby-pink, a little more blush, is perfect. I almost wore this combo for Easter Sunday, but chose blue accents instead. (ETA: I really like, and maybe even prefer this combination; the nice thing is that it will look just as good with boots and tights in cold weather).
I do so love this dress. My great temptation is to save it for Sunday Best, but really, it's good to wear all the time, on an everyday basis, with just a pair of sandals and a cardigan if needed. I had a favorite winter outfit built around it ---
--- consisting of Cinnamon Rose Leila, my oatmeal Bay tank under, with my green Connemara cardigan, Sand Dollar Snag merino tights, and my brown Keens boots. The outfit came together around the brown tall boots, which I hadn't had before, and which really made this Leila work as a winter dress. The tank under provided a bit more coverage (and a surprising amount of insulated warmth), and the thick merino cardigan was a perfect top layer. I loved the play of the soft green with this delicious pink.
But it's so nice to wear this dress just as she comes. You wouldn't think that this pink was a good color for me, with its peachy undertones, but always to my surprise, it works.
And now I'd better get myself to work.
LATER
Well, after a 3-hour editorial meeting, I think I'm wiped out for the rest of the day. But at least that's accomplished, and I can start getting ahead on these essays, so I'm not caught out by my travels.
Dora is looking a lot better and more normal than she was seeming this morning. Still on her bone-broth regimen, as she will be for at least the rest of today, with frequent feedings to rehydrate after her upsets of yesterday. But she's perky, interested in things (mainly in food, but also in chasing mourning doves, those interlopers, out of our backyard). I think we can put off the vet for the time being, though clearly I'm keeping an eye on things. But we've had no more . . . incidents, shall we say. This is the best news, and the clearest indication of turning a corner.
I've ordered groceries, and am mulling what's for supper. We have a lot of cilantro ready to pick, so some chili, before it gets too hot for us to want chili, is one possibility. I also need to get some more glass noodles and make more Asian soup before it gets too hot for me to want that. Maybe for tomorrow, when the husband is out . . . he does not love glass-noodle soup as I love glass-noodle soup, so I save that for when I'm just cooking for myself.
It's also delightful weather for porch dinners.
And for porch-sitting generally --- I'm lounging on the swing even as I type this, while Dora has taken up her spot on the green-striped couch.
We've been out in the backyard in the sun, and then for a little potty-break walk across the street. Now we are reclining and taking our ease. I have done a spot of weight-lifting, and I might do another spot in a while, but for now . . . again, we are taking our ease. I need to buckle down to my Herrick essay, or else find some convincing way to procrastinate about it.