Where the Wild Things Are

Some may recall that when I last blogged, I was being swamped by family concerns.  The above photo was taken on Thanksgiving afternoon.  By the following morning, my father-in-law had passed away.

His passing, though not unexpected, was the third significant death for DH in the space of two months.  And though DH did not ask me to stop blogging, my own intuition said I should.  We had a house full of family the following week as well.  One result was that I had to miss a talk that Kitty of the Flint Hills had arranged for me to do on "green" dressing.

We were busy settling my mother, pictured here as the Rastafarian in the center,  in to her new apartment.  We had only begun to move 50 years accumulation of memories to her new digs.  That process continues and probably will through most of this summer.

And to make matters even more complicated, the deadline for my retirement decision was fast approaching.  On February 12, I indicated my intent to retire.  DH was like a little kid, he was so excited about the decision.   But, I still had to complete a 25 credit hour teaching load, the heaviest load I've ever carried in my entire teaching career.  I fulfilled the last of those responsibilities by walking through graduation last Thursday.

Cautiously, I think it is safe to resume blogging, though with my main reason to "dress up" now missing, it is hard to say what shape my posts might take.  I've lurked enough to know that bloggers have been accused of 'peacocking', to know that Google Reader will soon be a thing of the past, and to feel such distress about working conditions in Bangladesh.  That last is enough to make one want to go naked.

I've had so many imaginary conversations with my "gang of blogger friends" in the past few months and come to have so much respect for those who manage to blog through the deaths of their parents, their spouses, their health problems, etc.  It is good to be back.

Above you'll see the crew of cooks for Thanksgiving '12.  It was a poignant day for me, as once M. returns to Montana in August, it will be the last time in who knows how many years I will have had all of my daughters with me for a holiday.

Visible Monday: Missing in Action

Sometimes life just doesn't seem to care that one is a style blogger who likes to post several times a week.  Since I have lasted posted, I've graded 75 papers, learned that my father-in-law is hospitalized, dealt with a problem about which my lips need to remain zipped.  On Saturday, I attended a baby shower hosted by my sister; I arrived to discover that she had been hospitalized for a kidney stone!  This coming week I'll begin to move the first of my mother's belongings so that she'll be settled in before Thanksgiving.  And we are hundreds of miles away from the storm that devastated the east coast.

High points of the week were the hundred or so trick-or-treaters who came to our door.  This is my grandson in his tricked up cardboard boxes.  I heard that there was a 6 foot "wild thing" from Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are roaming around town, but it was a 9 year old girl dressed as an old woman who gave me my belly laugh for the week.  She stayed in character to the point that her halting gait and palsy made it impossible to get a good photo.  And she confided that her family had gone on ahead of her.

A package from Krista at Peetee's Palace was another delightful surprise.  I've coveted one of her bright sugar skull bracelets for months.  And what a way to lift my spirits about the raft of things we're contending with at the moment.

I've tried to take photos at the end of my work day, but in most of them my fatigue and worry is showing.  Forgive the vanity that keeps me from sharing most of them with my readers.

Nothing very special about this except the collection of nut & seed necklaces around my neck, 3 strands.

Today, in a small burst of daylight savings optimism, I took photos of what I thought might be blogworthy.
Tonight, I discover I've managed to lop off the top of my head in EVERY photo!  So, have a laugh at my expense!

This charcoal gray dress by Ralph Lauren has a high waist also like last week's plaid.  While in theory I love the scoop neck, in reality there is a difference between the skin on my neck and the skin on my chest.  I pulled out this silk scarf that Citizen Rosebud used to wrap up an item I'd ordered from her and the blues and purples gave it just the touch of color (and cover) I needed.

I probably won't do much better visiting blogs this week.  I have two stacks of papers to grade in addition to everything else.  And I'll be so glad when this election is over!

I'm linking up to Visible Monday, mostly as a way to let everyone know I'm still kicking.  Hope to see you there.

Visible Monday: Dressing Quietly

DH and I are en route to a funeral as this posts.  This is NOT what I'm wearing, but I do want my readers' help dating this dress.

I know that it is vintage--it has shoulder pads and the fabric is rayon, suggesting the 1980s.  But the empire waist, a profile I've grown attracted to in the past year, suggests the late 1960s.

I've begun to collect quite a lot of vintage, but I'm not very schooled in dating much of it and I'm in the market for an excellent reference book on the topic.  Are there books like this?  Or is it a skill that one gradually learns in the collecting process.

I hope to post again on Wednesday, but in the mean time, I send sincerest wishes for any of my readers who may be holed up due to this impending storm, for the safest possible week.

This post is part of Patti's weekly Visible Monday.  Come join the fun.

Leathers

One of the materials DH uses in his antique organ repair is leather.  When he told me what he had spent on the first piece he bought, I showed him how one could thrift leather garments in the same texture and finish he needed for his projects.  Little by little, we've built up quite a stockpile of leather skirts over the past year, not all of it put to use on the innards of his organ.

I was ecstatic when I realized that leather was on trend for this fall--not so much because I wanted to wear it but because I'd have fun listing it in the new "store."  I've had success with most of it--one pair of men's Ralph Lauren in DH's size (31 x 36) made its way to Australia, making a male customer there very happy.  However, this pair of women's did not sell and I suspect it had something to do with the quality of the photo I posted.  These are new with the tags still attached.  And while the tag says they are an 8, they fit more like my usual 10.

What do you think, am I too old to wear such things?  I know that IllusClaire carries hers off with a great deal of style, but then she actually rides a bike too and has good reason to wear them.  And every time I see her in them, I'm reminded of a road trip my girls and I took back in my single parent days.  We found ourselves all caught up in the motorcycle traffic coming and going from Sturgis, South Dakota.  At first, it was more than a little intimidating and then the girls, captive in the back seat, befriended these bikers by waving and making funny faces.  At one point, we made a pit stop at a gas station in some remote western town.  We were standing in line, taking our turns, for the one-hole ladies room when a "gang of girls" in full biker leathers rolled up.  And seeing the line, they walked briskly past us and into the one-hole men's room.  My little girls were in deep awe!  (Credit for this memory also goes to Shybiker who wrote about a ladies room dilemma earlier this week).

Now tell me, would you wear leather?

A belated Plaidurday Post Tartan

 Some of my readers know that I've been taking a stab at selling on eBay.  I'm so new at it that I'm still in my "trial" period and making newby mistakes.  On the one hand I'm astounded at the money to be made on some items and dumb-founded at what doesn't sell.

I was so excited when I found this vintage pair of Hang Ten (a brand I wore in high school) high-waisted plaid pants.  The listing for them on eBay has come and gone with very little interest so I've decided to try styling them myself.  In the first photo above, I brought the rayon back to life with my steamer, added a simple black tee, and last season's heeled oxfords.  On my little finger, I'm wearing a ring that features a pair of googly eyes.

In this second styling, I've changed out the tee for a crisp black blouse (by Bitten) and added a blazer on the left.  I'm alarmed at how thin I'm looking and thinking it is about time for a hair cut.  My hair had been curled right before these photos, but my arms aren't long enough to reach the end of the strands!  And, I've nearly cut my feet off in many of the photos...evidence I haven't blogged in a month.

This third styling combines ALL of the plaids in my closet, in the spirit of mixing prints.  What do you think?  Too much?

The blouse/shirt is by Tommy Hilfiger and the bag is something I found at Goodwill.   The clogs were brand new at the Salvation Army.

And in this final look, I've covered up the Hilfiger shirt with a wool sweater by Gap.  You'll see that my hair caught a breeze, but I had no business adding a wool sweater with the humidity we've had the past several days.

The loafers are by Cole Haan.  Everything has been thrifted.

Serene, bless her heart, published the link to my eBay store today, so if you really can't wait to see what I've been up to until I'm officially open for business, go have a look at the Elegant Bohemian.

And, if you're interested in these size 10, true vintage tartan pants, the first one who claims them can have them.

inVisible Monday:

I have had my cast off for nearly a week.  The comments I've been leaving are "exercise" to loosen up the stiffness that remains in the wrist.  As anyone who has worn a cast knows, the skin underneath flakes like crazy once the cast is removed and I have been working on that problem, taking my first unsupervised bath.          

             

The novelty of wearing a cast quickly wore off after the first week of being showered and shampooed by my dear husband.  He was very attentive to do this for me and we even took photos one morning, with the cast all wrapped up in Press and Seal.  And after he had blown dry my hair.  For the first week or so, he even helped me dress so that I could keep styling.  After one outfit in particular nearly required the help of the department secretary to button my trousers, I decided that autonomy was more important than looks.  I slipped into the mode of wearing jeans and a long-sleeved tee even to work, something I haven't done in several years. 

Driving proved to be a bit of a challenge, but I could do it so long as I avoided rush hour and stuck to tried and true routes.  My right hand turns even in my responsive little Miata were very wide.  I am somewhat proud that I begged out of only two work commitments during the month because of the wrist.

DH was a little less devoted to washing the pots and pans that piled up in the kitchen sink and in seeing that our sheets were changed.  And these were the first two tasks I tackled once my arm had been freed of the resin "rock" that seemed to grow harder and harder as the days passed.

Mid-terms hit in early October and I graded 150 papers within a two week period, dragging my cast across the keyboard.   My state of mind slumped as I missed Jill and Adrienne's oxblood event, Plaidurday on October 5, and Sheila's birthday party.  I had no tulle in my closet to join the meme that Melanie started at Bag and a Beret.  I really connected with Shybiker's post about rejection, although that wasn't exactly what was happening to me.  In actuality, many of my blogger friends were keeping touch.  And Citizen Rosebud published my interview with Meg at Meg's Ragged Edge in a wondrous welcome back.

During this time, we had to put our cat of 16 years down.  DH's father was placed in a convalescent center and another friend has been hospitalized for weeks.  DH himself was trying to put the finishing touches on the apartment for my mother who will move to our address sometime in November. 

I'm a believer that accidents often happen for a very good reason.  While this was my very first broken bone, in the huge scheme of things it is unimportant.  I followed the twitter stream of Xeni Jardin while she was being treated for breast cancer and Tammy at Silverstyle's blog as she has healed from her broken hip.  (And now Gracey is all battered up).  And while I know how important presentability is when one is ill or injured, I would have to place greater value on autonomy.  I found myself understanding all sorts of things I would not without having broken this bone.  It was good to touch base with those essential values.   At left you'll see the stairs I stumbled down. That greenish tint is the moss that grows on them because this set of stairs is north facing.   It could have been so much worse.

My grandson snapped this photo of the cast removal.  He was convinced they were going to cut my arm off with the saw.  I gave him my camera and that little bit of distance seemed to help him cope.  

Finally, I did a photo shoot this afternoon though none of the photographs have been processed yet.  It's good to be back.

Visible Monday: the Purple Cast Edition

It is more than a little frustrating to be able to read blogs, but have to limit my interaction and "save" the arm for the five courses I'm teaching online, activity that is non-negotiable.  But I am following you all and know that Lisa gave a fascinating radio interview that made me want to sit down and have a long cup of coffee with her.  I know that Joyce Caprioti, one of the Advanced Style ladies, has been to Hollywood and back. 

I nodded to myself as I read Amber's musings on how our sense of time changes as we age.  I followed Lisa at Dangerous Curves adventures with her niece visiting from Japan...and found myself looking forward to the return of Iman at Mishaps and Miracles (she promises in October). 

Sacramento has been to Milan Fashion Week and I'm looking forward to her reports.  I followed Lynne's musing on posture and vision.  I know that Pam is shopping for her mother-of-the-groom gown.  I followed Krista's trip to the UK to meet up with Vix and Curtise and the gang  (I thank she influenced my first look with the cast).  I know that Vix herself felt the hot pink rub off.  I know that Sarah attended a vintage fair with big hair.  And Helga has frolicked with statues again.

I'm following Stacy, Franca and Jess advancing pregnancies.  And April's meditation of first smiles and laughter beautifully reveals the charms of being a grandmother.  I was floored by how fabulous Melanie's gift from Pao looked on her.  Tamera's series on Antietam and the lay of the land around her has been unexpectedly moving.

I enjoyed Autumn's interviews with the twins from Beauty Redefined, here and here.  I know that many of us are feeling under the weather or already swamped with school, but Erin is looking like a million bucks at KC Fashion Week.  My week wouldn't be complete about Shelley's latest post on her reading of Thorsten Veblen:  How Much is Enough.

My biggest regret is missing Sheila's inaugural swap...and I hope that this is something that's so successful, she'll try it again and again.

Just checking in for Visible Monday.  Perhaps next week I'll do a post on DH's showering and dressing me for work, if he/we can come up with something blog-worthy.