Music That Fills The Heart Unceasingly

I am sitting here listening to Iron & Wine and letting my thoughts consume me. This happens often. My sister was telling me the other day how much she likes the song "Flightless Bird, American Mouth." I am led to believe this is only in part because the song is featured on the Twilight soundtrack. I told her I think it's great when movie soundtracks feature great songs and gave her an errand: download more Iron & Wine songs on iTunes. Now, what about my thoughts? I am finding it hard to believe that it has been 3 1/2 years since I saw Iron & Wine live. It is one of those things that really seems like just yesterday. Reality, however, insists on having its own way by trying to fray and blur the edges of my memory. I will not give in so easily and can still see and feel the vulnerable, confused, 20-year-old version of myself on the mend from a broken heart; captivated and sweetly intoxicated by the beautiful words and music that Mr. Sam Beam weaves together. By the end of the night the tears that had been brimming on my eyes slid slowly down my cheeks. I wasn't sad that the set was coming to an end, but simply releasing the thank you coming from somewhere deep inside me.

I know it is late in the day, but Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! I hope you had a great day enjoying family, friends, and delicious food! :)
We did something a little different this year by having dinner at my Uncle and Aunt's house. While there I snapped these photos of today's outfit:

Cardigan: Old Navy
Blouse: Anthropologie
Layering tank, tights & shoes: Target
Skirt: Gap

The detail on my tights is hard to see in these photos. They are an overall white polka-dot pattern with a vertical floral design running down the outside of each leg. Next time I'll try to get a better shot of them!

Sweet Dreams

An ode to flannel sheets:

freshly laundered,
smooth and soft
you make nighttime much more cozy
when the outside world meets with frost.
a sleep so pleasant, restful and deep -
with a heartfelt thanks to you
little dreams dance on merry little feet.

An Award

I have been given the Butterfly Award from Andrea at a cat of impossible colour.


I was pleasantly surprised to receive an award whilst being so new to Blogger! Thank you again, Andrea! Some of you were readers of mine when I made my "blogging home" at Xanga.com. I was happy to make the switch to Blogger earlier this year after my days at Xanga began to dwindle. I had blogged there on & off for nearly five years, but it was time to put that piece of me to rest. With that said, the rules for this award are to pass it on to seven favorite blogs. My choices are:

Erin at Ip & Aud (My best and dearest friend who asked me to begin blogging again!)

Erin at Veggie Kiss (Am I cheating by awarding the same person twice? What can I say, I love Erin's blogs!)

Lexie at little boat (An old acquaintance from Xanga!)

Nadine at Strawberry Kitten

the tea drinking english rose

The Clothes Horse

Amelia at Ambiguous Alliteration Ambomination

Refreshing

Sipping fragrant tea

steaming from cup and saucer
Releases worries.

Out of Season

A red-winged blackbird
flitting thither, to and fro
delighting in life.

Snowflakes & Sunshine

Tonight I am reflecting on how precious friendship is. I had a wonderful visit this afternoon with an even more wonderful friend. She makes the big things that weigh on my heart seem so much smaller. Her smile can comfort me as much as her hugs. She is a true kindred spirit.

Earlier in the day I was walking across campus to the library when seemingly out of nowhere the wind picked up and snow started to swirl in a fury. Despite the frosty assault on my uncovered ears, I was quite taken aback at the beauty I found myself engulfed in. A particular scene from Gilmore Girls then crossed my mind. Here, I'll share.

Puff Sleeves

I am procrastinating again. The damp and dreary day is the perfect setting for tackling my text book, but I just feel like something cheery/exciting/fabulous should be happening instead. Sigh. I would like to get through at least two more chapters this afternoon. It is without a doubt completely doable, however my interest level hasn't been at full attention lately. Press on and endure I must!

I do have something fun to look forward to this evening. Each Saturday PBS airs an episode of Keeping Up Appearances. I go over to my grandmother's to watch with her and we usually end up in stitches laughing over Hyacinth's social climbing escapades.

Other things that are always fun: puff sleeves & cameos!

Jacket: vintage, thrift shop
Cameo brooch: dollar store (Yes! $1!)
Blouse: Gap, Jeans: Old Navy, Shoes: Target

I affectionately call the jacket in these photos my "Elizabeth Bennet jacket." It is the closest I have come to finding something as beautiful & elegant as all the Regency-era costumes I've seen in Jane Austen adaptations. Is it funny to give articles of clothing names? In addition to my "Elizabeth Bennet jacket," I also have my "nerd cardigan," "Peter Pan tights," and "Laura Petrie* dress." I guess my reasoning for this is that naming pieces of clothing makes them all the more fun to wear!

*For who may not know, Laura Petrie is the character played by Mary Tyler Moore on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Weep You No More Sad Fountains

This clip features Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility singing "Weep You No More Sad Fountains," a beautiful and anonymous poem collected by John Dowland in the 1600s. The poem was put to music by film score composer Patrick Doyle for Emma Thompson's 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel. Can I just tell you, I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I have watched it more times than is probably healthy for a person. I never seem to get enough! I watch it when I am feeling a little down or when I'm feeling happy and just need a Sense and Sensibility fix. I'll have it playing in the background while I busy myself with other things or at night as I drift off to sleep. Each time I sit in admiration of the direction, musical score, costumes, and the characters. Oh, the characters! A few years ago I purchased the soundtrack and it is quite often my daily car companion. "Weep You No More Sad Fountains" and the song Marianne sings toward the end of the film, "The Dreame" (lyrics by poet Ben Jonson), are performed by opera singer Jane Eaglen. What a voice! To further channel my inner nerd, I recently borrowed Emma Thompson's screenplay & diaries of the film from the library. I've never read a screenplay before, so I figured my first might as well be one of my favorite films. I'll leave you now with the lyrics to "Weep You No More Sad Fountains."

"Weep you no more sad fountains;
What need you flow so fast?
Look how the snowy mountains
Heaven's sun doth gently waste.
But my sun's heavenly eyes
View not your weeping,
That now lies sleeping
Softly, softly, now softly
Softly lies sleeping.

Sleep is a reconciling,
A rest that peace begets.
Doth not the sun rise smiling
When fair at ev'n he sets?
Rest you then, rest, sad eyes,
Melt not in weeping,
While she lies sleeping
Softly, softly, now softly
Softly lies sleeping."

Swallowed By A Sweater

Here is a first.

I have come across many blogs here in blogland in which the blogger shares her personal style. After admiring so many lovely and style-inspiring posts, I have decided to share some of my wardrobe creations as well. This may not be a regular occurrence for me, but I will add to the hodge podge of my blog with some outfit pictures from time to time. With that said...

Here I am today:

Shirt: Target

Scarf: gift
Skirt: Levi's outlet
Cardigan sweater: H&M
Tights: Marshall's
Shoes: Target

Today's outfit was an attempt to 1) stay warm against the chilly temperature and 2) pretend that winter isn't coming. It was an overall success (thanks in part to the supremely cozy elk/reindeer sweater I am snuggled in). However, the days are limited where I can freely wear my flats and not worry about trudging through the snow!

Now that was fun, wasn't it? ;)

Side note: A BIG thank you to my sister who sweetly agreed to take these photographs. I have to rely on other people's digital cameras for the time being as the display screen on mine so rudely decided it wasn't going to function properly anymore.