Life Lately

 

1. A lovely and inspiring picture-text from a dear friend.
2. Indian take-out. That channa masala was hands-down delicious.
3. Spring pattern mixing. Polka dots and floral always on my mind.
4. Polish groceries. Pierogi and herbal tea, mm.
5. Dear Friend always gifts the best teas.
6. A relaxing and fun-filled visit to the coast (where the guest room appropriately provided some very New England literature).

A quiet morning reading Frost

Sweater: H&M, Vintage dress: thrifted, Shoes: H&M

I have been on a Robert Frost kick recently and got caught up in this poem, Spring Pools, this morning. I kept poring over the words and images embedded in these few lines and really found myself feeling them. I may be wearing a springy dress and not wearing tights, but don't let that fool you - the air was chilly despite the sun. Birds and little bugs were out, but really, let's not rush the change of seasons too much. While I love full-blown spring as much as the next person, let's hold on a bit longer to that winter thaw. It's an awfully nice little span of time (though we didn't get much of one this year, I can pretend and enjoy this poem all the same).

Poker Face

I could not, in fact, keep a poker face while taking these photos. This bit of pasture is outback near our chicken coop where my dad keeps a radio playing to ward off prowling predators (gotta keep those hens and eggs safe). I wasn't paying much attention to the background noise until a particular anthem from a few years back came on. And it made me laugh. Who doesn't like a little Gaga on their Easter Sunday?

  

Vintage cardigan: thrifted, Vintage pin: gift/Etsy, Skirt: thrifted, Tights: Hue via Marshall's, Wedges: Target

Speaking of Easter, I hope those of you reading (who celebrate) had a happy one. This might just be my favorite Easter get-up in recent memory and that partially has to do with this buttercream cardigan. It's been designated to my collection of favorite spring cardigans and has been in some of my favorite spring outfit sets here on ye old blog (this one and this one). Isn't the color just delicious? As for actual buttercream (heavenly stuff!), I'd had it on my mind for the past few days and satiated my want of it by making some brown sugar cupcakes with buttercream frosting for dessert today. Also delicious!

I suppose since it's in some of these photos I'll talk about my little purse. I've wanted a vintage straw/basket purse for about as long as I can remember, but all the ones I ever come across are either in tatters or smell weird (or, exaggerating aside, have something not quite right about them). So, I don't know, 6 or 7 years ago I stumbled upon this small basket at Pier One, tied a vintage scarf to it and voilà! a basket bag with vintage flair was born.

And, finally, I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Little Bunny Foo Foo! 

 

Peonies, a puppy and an old key

I'm convinced one of the best things about June is the arrival of peonies. Maybe it's the best thing; watching their buds slowly open and noting the few overeager petals peeking through before the rest of the bloom is ready. Then... hello blossom! Everyone is happy to see them: humans, bumblebees and butterflies alike.

There was only a short window to be out enjoying the sunshine today. The pup and I ventured out through intermittent rain showers to play and laze around the yard. She and I are good friends, but she had a bad case of missing my brother today. The poor thing gets so sad when he's not at home. She's sly, though, and knows how to work a tummy rub out of me. And I can't resist petting those soft, velvety ears.

It was also a good day for a quick little D.I.Y. session. I have a small collection of old desk and skeleton keys and decided to put one of the neglected rusty ones to good use. All I needed was some emery cloth from the hardware store and velvet ribbon from the craft store and a new necklace was born. Oddly enough, all of my old keys seem to end up as necklaces. Is that too much of a good thing? Nah!

Corduroy in June (and grandmother approved)

Shirt: Target, Necklace: self-made, Skirt: thrifted
Belt: gift from Erin, Shoes: H&M

Sometimes I have a hard time separating certain textiles from certain seasons. Somehow it feels odd to be wearing corduroy (albeit a fine wale) in late spring (especially since we've already had an early & unpleasant taste of hot humid summer - ugh), but this skirt's fabric weight was quite perfect for this past Saturday. It was warm, but not too warm and the air quality wasn't oppressive. My grandmother even mentioned how much she liked my skirt and remarked how the slightly-above-the-knee length was always her favorite. She spent her twenties in the mid-to-late '40s and early '50s, so having her tell me she likes my stuff is always a treat. Everything was so nicely made and impeccably tailored back then that one looked good without even trying. I'm sure that ladies of that era didn't always feel that way, though, but I digress.

P.S. I'm reallyyyy excited for the new Bon Iver album that comes out two weeks from today! I've been listening to the Blood Bank EP and the newly released tune ''Calgary'' nonstop for the last few days. Can't wait!

Floral ephemera

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

In the fragrant evening air

Just a few glimpses into some of those late spring evenings when the air is saturated by all that's in bloom. How I miss those lilacs already. Oh, and here's an I-can't-believe-someone-let-this-dress-go sneak peek!

Sunset on the hills

I was going to include some lines from a Longfellow poem to accompany these recent sunset photos until I remembered that it's titled Sunrise On The Hills. My brain and reality were about 14 hours removed from each other, apparently. I can still talk about Longfellow though, can't I? Last summer I found a delightful edition of his complete poems at a town-wide yard sale. The woman whose table I found it at sold it to me for half-off and told me she was happy to finally meet someone else who enjoys Longfellow. I thought that extremely nice of her considering that for a book published in 1902 and in very good condition she could have easily charged me an arm and a leg for it. Her full asking price wasn't even a lot - $5 whole dollar and she would only accept $2.50. Thank you kind yard-sale woman. Since then when I need some solace from things, I gingerly open up my little book and read to my heart's content. I always fall asleep when reading Evangeline, though. I will make it through to the end one of these days!

On another note, I'm surprised at myself for not taking my outfit photos in this spot more often. In my previous post I was standing somewhat adjacent to where I am in these photos, but this post is the only other I can recall where I've set up in this exact locale. And a few other posts have featured a scene several yards off as my background. As you probably gathered from those last few sentences, I have a fondness for this hill. Beautiful and secluded, it is a panorama of unrivaled views. Well, at least in this sleepy town anyway.

Top and cardigan: Target, Skirt and belt: thrifted
Sandals: Seychelles, Locket: flea market

Big Sky Country

No, I'm not in Montana as my post title suggests. Does it? Maybe not. ''Big sky country'' is an unofficial nickname for Montana and even though I'm currently in New York, I can't help but like the way it sounds. It has, as they say, a nice ring to it. Hmm... I am donning a bison ring and thunder bird moccasins, though, which may lead the unsuspecting to believe I am actually west of the Mississippi River. Hehe. I tend to ramble. Did you notice?

Well, I selected the sunniest spot in the yard to take these photos this afternoon. I didn't have any sunglasses on me, but squinting sufficed for the duration of my running-to-and-from-the-tripod session. It wasn't a real bother as I was just happy to be outside. In (super-wrinkly) shorts! Without a coat! A cardigan + a pair of shorts is one of my very favorite outfit options. It really allows you the best of both worlds. You're not too hot or too cold, but perfectly comfortable. While speaking of favorite things, this yellow cardigan is one of them. I wear it quite often, but it's only appeared on the ol' blog once before. And this shirt. Oh, I've been wearing it about once a week since finding it (and its peter pan collar cuteness) for a whopping total of 49 cents. It's soft and plaid - what's not to love?

Vintage cardigan and shirt: thrifted, Ring: Sea of Bees, Shorts: Target, Moccasins: Minnetonka, Yorkshire Tea tote: gift from Emily

Psst! Did you see that uh-mazing Yorkshire Tea tote in that picture up there? Emily of the blog Ruby Slipper Journeys kindly sent it over to me. It was such a surprise especially since they're not available for purchase outside the UK. Thanks again, Emily! If you haven't had Yorkshire tea you're definitely missing out. It's de-li-cious. I initially fell in love with the blend when a friend of mine brought some home from England and insisted I try it. There was no looking back! The tea itself can actually be found Stateside. I see it often in supermarkets and at discount retailers. One of these days I want to start baking with it. Mm! I've made Earl Grey shortbread before, but I'm thinking that Yorkshire tea shortbread (or cake!) would be even better.

The First of May

Hello! It's May! Excitement always overtakes me with the arrival of this fine month which I consider to be the best of the entire year (hence the exclamation points). Why? It finally starts to feel like spring outside! The air is fresh, clean and fragrant! Everything that was reluctant to turn green and bloom in late April does so in May! And, the ladies in my family (my mom, sister, and I) all have our birthdays within a span of eleven days! 'Tis a good, good month.

"That is one good thing about this world. . .there are always sure to be more springs."
- L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

How beautiful the quotes of L.M. Montgomery are when the world is overflowing with warmth! Spring is my favorite time to read (or re-read!) Montgomery and while I've devoured much of her written works, there are still a few titles I have yet to get acquainted with. I think within the next few weeks I'll pick up The Story Girl, Magic for Marigold, or Jane of Lantern Hill. In the past I've been eager to read all of her books in rapid succession, but refrained to prolong the enjoyment over time. And ''time'' in that last sentence equates to more than half of my life thus far.

Shirt: Target, Scarf: gift, Ring: Charlotte Russe, Belt: thrifted
Skirt: F21, Tights: TJ Maxx, Shoes: Aldo

I know it's practically impossible to discern in these photos, but my tights are actually not white, but a creamy-oatmeal color. Great, now I'm making myself hungry! Anyway, it is absolutely gorgeous outside today. I'll be quick to hop back out once this post is finished to soak up the mild sun.

Happy May!

Sweet tooth

I hope you all had a happy and joyous Easter! Ours was the usual family affair complete with a good meal and baskets of chocolaty treats. Despite having three children well into their twenties, Mom still gives us an Easter basket each year. I am not one to turn down free chocolate! I've already raided mine several times, but I really should behave. I have a dentist appointment today. Who has a dentist appointment the day after Easter?! Haha, oh well. It was scheduled 6 months in advance.

I had this outfit schemed up in my head a few days prior to Easter. Well, several variations of it. There were tights and a different cardigan floating around in the mix, but I decided on this because it was a) simple and b) pretty. This dress had been hanging on the back of my bedroom door since last summer, half hidden and half forgotten. What a shame. It's far too lovely to forget about! After removing some massive shoulder pads (thanks, but no thanks 1980s) it was ready to go and go it will as I'm eager to wear it again soon.

Cardigan: Target, Dress: thrifted, Ring: TJ Maxx, Shoes: Target