The Long Of It

As the weather is changing, so am I, and lately I've been in love with long dresses and skirts. Not necessarily of the maxi-dress persuasion, but more like the pictures below. They look so comfortable, elegant, timeless and attractive. So I've been on the lookout for dresses of this nature.















Unfortunately I have been grabbing these awesome photos over time and cannot credit where they came from. I did not take these pictures. I do know, however, the last is Bonnie of Flashes of Style.

Fall

First, a mini update: I didn't get the position I interviewed for. Sad, yes, but okay. I was supposed to be interviewed today for another manager position, but they closed that one for interviews. Sad, yes, but okay.But I did inherit a full-time position in the deli, which is where I currently am, and I'll patiently await a manager position.

Anyway, the weather is finally changing to the point where I think I can actually start layering. I have only within the past year realized how much I absolutely love layering clothing. Oh, how I love fall!!! The leaves here in Columbia are all changing and beautiful. I love my city...it's really quite attractive! My other job (which I'll be letting go soon) is a home health job and I get to drive to different parts of the city for my clients and I love finding different routes to get to their houses. One of my clients likes to bike, so we go to the Katy trail, which is lovely. Of course, just looking out our windows is pretty.

I'm always so inspired with the weather change. I have an abundance of crafts to get started, books to read, recipies to try.... And I think a reorginization of furniture is due.

As for what is currently happening: I'm reading North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell. It's amazing. I've seen the BBC movie adaptation--which I love--and the book is even better than that. I'm almost finished with it.  Also, I have made my first official fall dessert: Pumpkin Pie from scratch. I love making it from an actual pumpkin and not a can. It tastes so much better. And the good thing is it makes extra filling, so I have enough filling for two more pies in my freezer when I'm feeling like having a delicious dessert....so they wont last very long. I'll probably pick up another pumpkin to make pie filling out of. Mmmmmm. If you'd like to make it, I follow this recipe, and make my crust from crushed gingersnap cookies and butter. Also, I've been making lots of one pot recipes. Last night I made black bean and sweet potato soup. It's absolutely yum. We'll feast off of it for a couple of days, and then I'll make something else, hopefully equally delicious. I'm at a pause as far as art projects go...mostly because I'm really wanting to do furniture modification, so that's been what I've been brainstorming.

Anyway, that's where I'm at right now. Hopefully I'll have pictures to post of some progress in my art endeavors and other things that are happening here.

opportunity knocks...

I'm not sure exactly why I'm as nervous as I am. Today I have a job interview for a management position at work. It would be in a department that is still under my awesome manager (seriously, I have the coolest manager over my area!). So I would really like this position. Getting this position would mean a lot-- it would be full time with benefits; it would be a 7am-4pm Shift; and my manager and another manager I respect would assist me with the transition and anything else I would need help with. Also, this means that I could finally quit my other job! That's something I've been wanting to do for a while. It's been very straining to work two jobs...to go from one to the other really makes for the longest day.

I'm not familiar with the person who will be conducting the interview, but if it's who I think it is, then I need to appear entirely confident. I need to somehow get across my ability to be a leader, though I have no formal managerial experience. Thus, I am nervous....and excited....and hopeful.

Anyway, pray that I get it! I think they will let me know within a day or two. I'm the last person being interviewed for the position. I'm hoping they see the leader in me. I know she's there; I just need to make sure she's obvious. Because clearly, I'm the best person for the job! (Positive thinking!)

Another time and place...

I will often think that I was born in the wrong century, sometimes just the wrong decade, and often the wrong country/region. God made me in my mom's belly, so I was supposed to arrive in the winter of 1984 in Phoenix, AZ. But still...   Lately I've been reading some very enjoyable classics. I'm finishing up Bleak House by Charles Dickins, and I just had a reread of Jane Eyre. My next book to start will be North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell--a book I've been anxious to read since watching the BBC miniseries on it.  Reading these books have been a wonderful escape from the things that clutter up our world today. Don't get me wrong.  I do see the value in technology, computers, cell phones, cars, freeways, an abundance of restaurants... I also see their disadvantage. I miss the value of a patiently awaited letter from a friend. A quiet walk down a tree-shaded lane. A warm, home cooked meal. Sometimes I just want to silence the busyness and just rest in the peace of slow time.  This morning I got together with a friend to catch up and pray. It was relaxing and encouraging. After I walked back home through the neighborhoods full of trees, the birds were talking, the squirrels were gathering acorns, skiddish as I passed them. It was a cloudy peaceful morning and I was glad to partake in it.

Along with these thoughts, there are others: fall is coming and I'm excited about that. The change of summer to fall gives me an energy I crave. I believe I'm most motivated, creative and optimistic in the fall (and I'm a fairly optimistic person). For the past....oh year or two...I've been trying to grow up my tastes. I find myself not interested in some of the things I was interested in the past. I've been growing up my tastes in entertainment, though some stay the same (Jane Austin, and the classics I enjoy). I've been growing up the art I create (and how I decorate my space)--a reflection of where I'm at. I've been (slowly) growing up my wardrobe, although this is hard to do with a lack of funds. My wardrobe interests are becoming  much like my thoughts in this post--the classics. On top of that, I have a slight fascination with menswear as women's wear. Lulu Letty has been the major wardrobe inspiration alongside my novels and BBC renditions of such classics. At some point I hope to have a fully functional wardrobe. But since I want quality pieces, this may take a while. This fall I hope to have the motivation and creativity needed to be productive. I have a lot I want to accomplish and this is my season.

Maria of Lulu Letty

Alexa Chung for Madewell

A new wind.

I'm full of all sorts of art ideas. Some of them are for paintings and some of them are practical crafts (like my quilt, shelving, etc.). So I'm hoping that something comes from all of this. I will need to pick up some minor supplies, but I'm really excited about it.

Also, I think that this recent spur of artistic motivation is largely do to the change in weather/seasons. I love the change. Change/transition is my favorite season. There is so much excitement in the anticipation.

I am also eager to wear boots again.

Cheers.

Sans Makeup

It's been another hot, muggy day in Columbia. Thankfully, I had a half day at work and I've had the opportunity to shower and lazy around in the AC (which we keep at a modest 78 degrees to save money). I didn't feel like wearing makeup today. I don't normally depend on it. I wear it more out of habit than anything. But it feels nice to be a clean pallet. With doing this I realized that I normally shy away from pictures when I'm not "ready". My hair is in a state of continual growth, and without makeup, I would normally not want a camera near. So I decided to take some pictures. Even though I feel awkward and vulnerable, I do realize that they are just pictures and it is just me. I have no standard to live up to, and I am comfortable in my skin.

Eternal Honeymoon

I was looking in a book and stumbled apon something interesting. It was the story of Glen and Bessie Hyde. The adventurous newlyweds decided to have a honeymoon in the Grand Canyon, rafting down the Colorado. If they would have made it through, Bessie would have been the first recorded woman to have ventured it. Unfortunately, half way through, after making a stop for more supplies, they were not heard of for several months. With winter coming, search parties were sent out, however all they found was their raft full of their supplies, as if they had just wandered off from it. There was a cooked ham in the skillet and all their gear remained. They were never found.

I find stories like this incredibly interesting--of course, I can do this, being detached from the people and the time. If this happened to someone now, or even to someone I knew, I would feel much differently. But as it is, they are ghosts of the Grand Canyon, on an eternal honeymoon.

Friendly Nebraska Visit

This past weekend, Caleb and I got to visit some really great friends of ours that moved to Lincoln, NE last year. It was so great seeing them. Being around them and their six kids is always so fun and encouraging. And I'll admit, being around the kids makes me all the more excited about someday having my own. It was a really relaxing weekend. We helped/hung out at their First Fridays Artwalk. Their church is in the downtown area and they host one of the galleries. We got to meet some of the artists, and one of them, Robert Donlan gave a performance--basically a monologue of the meaning behind the art. It was pretty neat. For the rest of our time, we mostly caught up and hung out--got ice cream, amazing street tacos (they were soooooooo good), walked around with the kids. It was a great weekend.

Cheech and Ruth

Me and the girls, Hadassah and Fairlight

Gideon doing his pose

Aaron in his gear. Him and older brother Moses are playing football.

Moses

Haddy being adorable. She's so big! I hadn't seen her since January.

Beautiful Fairlight

One more of Haddy. Silas is the only one I didn't get a picture of. He was in time-out for a large portion of the picture taking.

Pictures by me and the Sorilla kiddos.

If today were ideal...

If today were ideal, I would be in Chepstow.

I would be drinking coffee and dining on the patio of a cafe.

I would be wearing this.

And would stroll down a park with my husband.

All if today were an ideal day.