Hints of blue

Camera: Nikon FM 10
Lenses: Vivitar Soft II 52mm, Vivitar 52 mm Cross Screen VI
Film: Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400
Click photos for an enlarged view

Inspired by the glorious days of autumn, these photographs were taken back in late October - early November. I couldn't bear not to capture the beauty I was seeing and so almost greedily set forth to ensure these scenes would remain with me always. Isn't that the driving force behind why we take photos? To hold in our hands proof that we lived through moments worth remembering not just through our minds, but visually and tangibly as well? I like to think so.

Discovering an old favorite

It's no secret that I'm a fan of L.M. Montgomery's beloved Anne of Green Gables series. At thirteen, I devoured the books one after another often bringing them to school with me to read between classes and when I could steal a few moments without my teachers noticing. The tales of Anne Shirley are among the most memorable books of my youth.

After finishing all seven Anne books I delved into reading about another of Montgomery's young heroines: Emily Starr. Similar to Anne, Emily is an orphan who finds herself in the midst of a set of circumstances uprooting her young life. Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest follow Emily from being a young girl sent to live with relatives to becoming a successful author as an adult.

Within the last couple of years, I became aware that the Emily series had been adapted for television and had aired on Canada's CBC Television from 1998 - 2002. Just this year I found out the series had been released on DVD making my hopes of tracking it down more likely. Then, one day last week I was flipping through the television guide and noticed that a digital sub channel our receiver picks up airs "Emily of New Moon" weekday mornings. What a surprise! I was able to watch an episode for the first time this morning and am already looking forward to when my work schedule will allow me to do so again. I'm also thinking of re-reading the Emily books as it's been 10+ years since our first acquaintance.

Tell me, do you have any beloved books and/or television series from your youth?

photo sources 1, 2

Country school girl

I haven't had a jumper/pinafore dress since I was probably six or seven years old. Discovering this one recently was like striking wardrobe-of-my-youth gold.

It started to snow again while I was taking these photos. I've always enjoyed catching the dainty crystalline flakes in my palms to watch them immediately melt.

Jumper and brooch: thrifted, Blouse: H&M
Headband and tights: gift, Shoes: Macy's

Wallet-friendly Wednesday

Today's wallet-friendly finds are a $2 dress and $2 cardigan. I feel a bit like Laura Ingalls in this dress, hence the pigtails. I would have opted for braids, but securing hair ties at the ends of my super fine pin-straight hair can sometimes be a difficult feat to achieve. Anyway, I love everything about this dress from the color to the fabric weight (a little on the thick side, but not heavy). It's 100% Emily approved. Other than my own spin on a Little House on the Prairie look, I could probably pass as a frumpy cat lady with the addition of the over sized cardigan. Don't worry, I'm not picking on myself. I'm perfectly fine with this or else I wouldn't have worn it ;)

Dress and cardigan: Salvation Army,
Belt: gift from Erin, Minnetonka moccasins

The sweater originally had gold colored crest-like buttons which I switched out for something a little more suited to my tastes. Other than being very warm and snug, this cardigan has another great thing going for it: pockets. If something has pockets chances are I'll like it.

P.S. Yes, we received our first round of stick-to-the-ground-and-all-other-cold-surfaces snow. Appropriately, it fell on December 1st which has come to my understanding as being the unofficial start to winter in the minds of some. Not for me though. It's still fall until the calendar tells me otherwise.

A dose of pretty imagery

photo sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Prime Time

Over the last month or so, my mother and I have fallen into a pattern of watching one of our classic TV favorites, The Andy Griffith Show, each night after dinner. With wholesome television lacking these days, it's quite nice to escape into the endearing black and white world of yesteryear.

Andy Griffith stars as Sheriff Andy Taylor, a widower, raising his young son, Opie, in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. The show is rounded out with a cast of wonderful characters including Andy's Aunt Bee - a sweet, motherly figure and Barney Fife - Andy's goodhearted, bumbling deputy.



photo source

Wallet-friendly Wednesday

I'm still working on the layout and planning of this feature. Some Wednesdays I've been sharing my finds right away while others are a showcase of what I've found on past and previous outings. I'll fall into a groove with it eventually, I'm sure. With that said, today's installment is a $2.00 dress I picked up last week:

Cardigan: H&M, Tights: Hue via Marshall's, Shoes: Target

I'm absolutely smitten with this floral print! It can easily be worn with an array of colored tights and cardigans. The possibilities are near limitless. Also, it's the newest addition to my ever growing polyester/rayon blend dress & romper collection that makes me feel like I'm in an early '90s teen sitcom. Hehe!

And, just to mix things up a bit, here's a sneak peek at what's coming next week: