Kitten time

When I first introduced our new kittens back in the fall this little love was named Molly. Over time it became clear that a girl's name wouldn't do as this little kitten is, in fact, a boy. So, Molly became Dexter. And yes, he was named after the title character from the TV series Dexter. It suits him well. If you are unfamiliar with the show, Dexter Morgan is both a police department bloodstain analyst and a serial killer. Hah! Let me tell you, this cat is a little terror. He jumps and bites and at times, I'm convinced, thinks he is a dog. I've also taken to calling him Fang because he always goes after the tops of my feet with his little razor-sharp teeth. Now, there isn't much skin on the top of one's foot to grab, but he manages. Oh, how he manages. That said, he can also be a sweet and loving little companion. He and his sister, Callie, are always getting into some kind of mischief (as all kittens do) from stealing peanuts and almonds from the counter-top to jumping inside the washing machine. They certainly are silly critters and supply daily laughter in ample dosage.

Black tea and Robert Burns

"Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west, the drift is driving sairly,
Sae loud and shill's I hear the blast - I'm sure it's winter fairly.

Up in the morning's no for me, up in the morning early!
When a' the hills are cover'd wi' snow, I'm sure it's winter fairly!

The birds sit chittering in the thorn, a' day they fare but sparely,
And lang's the night frae e'en to morn - I'm sure it's winter fairly."
-Robert Burns

I caught myself thinking of this poem today and how, after a storm blew in last night, it surely feels like winter now. There hasn't been much in terms of snow since the season began. A little here and a little there, but it's always been quick to go. While it's felt like some sort of pseudo-winter, I think perhaps now the sham has been replaced with reality. And, like Burns' line "up in the morning's no for me...", I could have easily stayed asleep this morning while the snow fell, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

My days of late have blended together much the same: up in the morning for work, sipping tea and reading in the afternoon, visiting with my grandmother in the evening. I find it a triumph when I can recall what day it is without thinking too hard or looking at the calendar. There's a certain peace to these cold, semi-lazy winter days that, even though I grumble through them sometimes, I wouldn't trade for the splendor of spring or the brilliance of autumn. They're quiet, predictable and ultimately comforting especially when tea, scarves and cardigans are involved!

For auld lang syne

I am not sharing any of my Christmas Eve or Christmas Day outfits on my blog this year. I planned on it, but the photos my sister and I took came out either too blurry or grainy (and I wasn't really up for trying to re-do them as there were more important things to worry about - visiting and eating, for example). That said, my family's Christmas was nice and merry; I hope yours was, too!

Even though my blogging was more sparse this past year, I have managed to compile my favorite outfit photos as per usual. So, without further ado:

January

February

February

March

April

May

May

May

June

July

July

August

September

September

October

October

October

November

{2010 review}
{2009 review}

Thank you for continuing along on this journey with me for another year, dear readers! See you in 2012. Happy New Year!

Good Tidings

I couldn't resist sharing this sweet inscription from inside one of my great-grandmother's books. A book she received for Christmas in 1898, no less! I only happened upon this just recently and apart from how delighted I was at the discovery, it was rather seasonally appropriate.

Merry Christmas, dear readers. I hope your celebrations are happy and joyful. To those who may not celebrate Christmas, I wish you joy and peace all the same. Good tidings to you!

Sweaters and snow

Sweater: Forever 21, Skirt: Old Navy, Tights: Hue via TJ Maxx, Shoes: Bass

Lately all I've wanted to wear is this sweater with this skirt. It's so easy, comfortable and just makes me happy. And, unlike last time, I'm actually sharing a few head-to-toe photos. I don't know, maybe it's too matchy-matchy, but I really like wearing my navy tights to,erm, match this sweater. What do you think? Is it too much? I'm not convinced that my saddle shoes were the best shoe option with this outfit, but it was far too slippery that day to wear my beloved pointed-toe brown flats (which I really wish I bought a second pair of...).

The snow in the above photos is all but gone and people have been whining about not having a white Christmas. I don't really care either way. Sure, it looks nice and traditional and all that, but the stuff is such a nuisance. On the other hand, I know I should care that there's no snow in the mid-December in upstate New York what with melting ice caps and endangered species. I heard on the radio (specifically, Living on Earth, Air Date: Week of December 16, 2011) the other day that several species of North American caribou are being monitored by Canada's Species at Risk Act (the equivalent of the US's Endangered Species Act) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. After hearing the piece I was really quite sad. Not caribou, too! I just want to know they exist healthily and be happy about it and not worry that future generations will only learn of them from seeing stuffed specimens at a museum. I find myself feeling insignificant when I think about big, important issues especially when so many people don't care at all. "Every little bit helps" and "everyone can make a difference" seem like rather cliched sayings these days. What are your thoughts?

In silhouette

Camera: Kodak VR35 K40
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400

While in my previous post I mourned the residual traces of Autumn and dressed accordingly, this one finds me celebrating relics of a bright and warm stretch of Summer (on film, of course).

Hanging On

Cardigan: TJ Maxx, Skirt: thrifted, Shoes: H&M

I'm hanging on to what's left of Autumn and decided today was as good a day as any to adorn myself with little bits of orange. A vestigial tribute of sorts to my favorite season now replaced by snow...