Wednesday Hodgepodge

"While it sometimes feels like time is standing still Wednesdays sure do roll around fast! Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back to From This Side of the Pond (click the graphic) to share answers with the universe." 

1. This time last year where were you?

We had just found out that we would be moving in a month. That turned out to be one of the hottest, sweatiest months imaginable, both in weather and in the speed at which we had to pack, clean, and move things down fifteen floors and then across town. But it happened.

2. In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink?

Pink in clothes, yes. In decor, not so much, although we did think about turning one upstairs wall sort of desert rose when we were moving in. Right now it's several shades of brown. I think they used up their extra paint, one brown wall at a time. But it was too hot, and we were too rushed, so we left it as is. We still have the paint samples, though; it might happen some day.

If you think you see two shades of brown in this photo, you're not mistaken.

3. Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn...which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain.

Not sure about that one right now. 

4. Are you a 'reader'? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two.

I always have books starting, middling, and sometimes finishing. Right now I'm trying to finish Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis, by Terry Lindvall. It's not just a book of funniness, more about the big idea of life as comedy vs. tragedy. I also have two new books on my Overdrive account: Together: Why Social Connection Holds the Key to Better Health, Higher Performance, and Greater Happiness, by Vivek H. Murthy; and Simply Living Well: A Guide to Creating a Natural, Low-Waste Home, by Julia Watkins.

5. Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend.

Just a rose: playing Rack-O with my husband (Father's Day gift from one of our daughters).

Linked from the Wednesday Hodgpodge at From This Side of the Pond.

Thrifting and Unthrifting

Part One: Thrifting, mostly purple

We heard that yet another thrift store re-opened, so we went there today.  The bag, tops and cookbook are from that trip.

Canvas tote bag

The More-With-Less Cookbook, 2016 edition

Tank top #1

Tank top/camisole #2

Purple and gold bracelet my daughter found at the antiques mall: thrifted and gifted (thank you!).

Part Two: Unthrifting

I posted about hemming a pair of white pants. I bought this green pair during the winter, which were also too long. I decided to use them to practice hemming pants while keeping the original hem.  I didn't sweat as much over these.

These unfinished-wood magazine holders came from a yard sale years ago. I've used them as is, but I've decided to sand them a bit and spray-paint them brown.

Finally, a book I read in the winter and was going to re-donate, but changed my mind. Wardrobe Solutions is a 1999 book by Susie Faux, who is famous as the originator of the phrase "capsule wardrobe." It's a bit dated, but I think I'm going to keep it around a bit longer, just for fun.

Quote from the archives: The grinding of separate axes

"At least for a moment we all saw, I think, that the danger of pluralism is that it becomes factionalism, and that if factions grind their separate axes too vociferously, something mutual, precious, and human is in danger of being drowned out and lost.” ~~ Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets

Welcome-Summer Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back to From This Side of the Pond (click the graphic) and share your answers. 

1. Saturday marks the first official day of summer! Whoohoo! Your favorite thing about the season?

No snow on the back deck.

2. Love it!, labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

Labour of love: a new book out this week. It's a labour of love because I've been working on this project for almost two decades.

3. What's one thing currently causing you to seethe? One thing currently making you smile?

Seethe: plenty of stuff, but this isn't the place to unpack it.

Smile: Also plenty of stuff. Getting my hair cut yesterday was a Good Thing. Ending the procrastination on hemming a pair of summer pants was another. I think I can I think I can. (I'm wearing them today.)

4. Of the following to-dos found on a summer checklist (here) which three would definitely make your personal list of summer want-to-dos?

roast marshmallows over a fire, go berry or peach picking, dangle your feet off the end of a dock, sit on a porch swing, watch the sunset from a beach, nap in a hammock, go barefoot in the grass, collect seashells, play tennis, go fishing, build a sandcastle, catch fireflies, eat a soft serve ice cream cone, make a pitcher of Sangria, swim in a lake, stargaze, ride a bike, paddle a canoe or kayak, make a summer road trip, throw a frisbee

Sitting on the sand at Lake Huron would be nice. Beach pebbles, maybe, not seashells.

Do you make an actual list?

No, I take summer as it comes.

5. Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on in order to celebrate?

Splurging to celebrate splurging? That's a first.

I saw a cottage-shaped tea set at an antiques market that I would have liked to splurge on; maybe another time.

Linked from the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.

Quote for the day: Whose fault?

"I do not hesitate to say that the constantly recurring misery of our age, 'Labour Unrest,' is to be laid at the door, not of the working man, but of the nation which has not troubled itself to consider the natural hunger of mind and the manner of meat such hunger demands."  ~~Charlotte Mason, "The Scope of Continuation Schools," Towards a Philosophy of Education

Imaginary Vacation Wardrobe, Copied Shamelessly

So here's the story.

I have been reading The Vivienne Files website and its imagined travel wardrobes for a few years now; I've used them for inspiration as well as entertainment. But yesterday's post was the first time I ever thought, "I have most of those clothes, in the same colours."

So I thought I'd put my clothes out in the same way Janice did, just for fun, as if I were going away with Mr. Fixit for a few days. Maybe to that place up north we stayed at almost thirty years ago.

But first I'd have to do something about those off-white wide-leg not-so-cropped pants. You remember those? They've been hanging unworn because I did not want to risk maiming them. 

Today I thought, time to fish or cut bait. So I found some directions online, measured, cut, pressed, pinned, and sewed. They are now a reasonable length, and I can now put together the  Anniversary Vacation Variations.

Janice started with two scarves featuring pink and/or teal, so that's what I did too. (Both from Ten Thousand Villages)

Then she found tops, jewelry, and shoes in those colours. I don't have any pink or green shoes, but the other things came close. (Most of the clothes are thrifted. The pink t-shirt is new from Northern Reflections.)

Teal t-shirt, teal tank top, teal earrings, necklaces, scarf, navy shoes

Pink t-shirt, pink lacy top, earrings, necklace, scarf, white sneakers. I have a dark pink longer tank which could have been the second top here, but I decided to go with the dressier one. Anniversaries are supposed to be romantic.

Off-white cardigan, beige cocoon wrap, off-white wide-leg pants, bone pants, brown shorts (I don't have white ones); bone shoes which are not great for walking but that will make it through, say, a church service; and a pair of striped flats

From here on the photos are copies of the outfits that Janice came up with.

[Pink t-shirt, brown shorts]

[Pink t-shirt, cardigan, pants; and then the other cardigan and pants]

[Teal tank top, pants]

[Teal tank top, shorts]

[Teal t-shirt, pants]

[Teal t-shirt, shorts]

[Pink top, cardigan, pants, tote bag, shoes; I didn't take a picture with the shorts]

Some of the things shown above are fairly new, like the beige cocoon sweater and the brown shorts which are recent thrift store finds. I also found this print top, which looks black here but has deep teal and pink flowers and bits of brown, so it  goes well with just about everything up there.

What else would I add to Janice's list? I discovered that my teal Chrysalis Cardi is a good match for the top. Here it's playing a skirt, but it could also work as a wrap or a jacket. Or an extra dress.

Maybe a hat, a summery purse, and a bright pink/magenta cardigan.

Either a white lacy sweater, or just a t-shirt.

I also have a tank dress that goes well with the cocoon sweater.

Probably a pair of jeans, and a sturdier pair of running shoes in case we went walking somewhere bumpy/dirty. And a jean jacket or something like that in case things cooled off.

I think that would do it.

Happy Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hodgpodgers, you know the drill! Click on the graphic to add your own post, and to see this week's other entries.

1. What's something you could do today to feel more peaceful?

Listen to some Bach Cello Suites, and to what Yo-Yo Ma says about them..."Maybe I will use the listeners' ears..."

2. June 2nd is National Rotisserie Chicken day. Who knew? Are you a fan of rotisserie chicken? You've purchased one at your local market for tonite's dinner. Will you serve as is or make something else using the chicken?

Not something we do! But we do make chicken salad with our own leftovers.

3. I read a list recently (go here to read more) of 20 of the most beautiful places in America. How many of these have you seen up close and in person? Of the sites on this list that you haven't seen, which would you most like to see?

Antelope Canyon Arizona, Kenai Fjords Alaska, White Mountains New Hampshire, Crater Lake Oregon, The Palouse Washington and Idaho, Grand Prismatic Spring Wyoming, Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Horsehoe Bend Arizona, Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii, Antelope Valley California, Lake Tahoe California, The Berkshires Massachussets, Maroon Bells Colorado, Angel Oak South Carolina, Acadia National Park Maine, Grand Teton National Park Wyoming, Turnip Rock Michigan, Central Park New York City, Niagara Falls New York, and Skagit Valley Tulip Fields Washington

The only one of those that I've seen is Niagara Falls. I guess I have some travelling to do.

4. What's one pretty spot you'd add to the list in question #3? Are there travel plans of any kind on your calendar right now? Does that make you happy, anxious, excited, or relieved?

The nearby trail holds its own surprises (I had already posted this photo my husband took):

Did you look close enough to see the fawn?

5. Tell us one un-COVID related thing you're looking forward to in the month of June.

My graduation from the B.Ed. degree I started in 2018. Considering I did the whole degree online, having the graduation events turn virtual isn't a bad thing, because I wouldn't have been able to go anyway!

Linked from the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.

Return of the Intentional Thrifter

Part One: The Stuff

Some doors have re-opened for us.

We have found a few treasures. Mr. Fixit's were mostly the kind that go into the workshop. These are mine:

A newer book about William Morris-style decorating

The Space Trilogy in hardcover

Vintage copy of Our Island Story (We have a newer one, but this was hard to pass up.)

Book of inspiration for Mr. Fixit

The box on the left is a set of tiny porcelain candleholders, plus red candles, slightly larger than birthday-candle size. You can see what they look like in the table photo.

Earrings

Jersey top

T-shirt dress (the scarf is just so you get an idea of the colour).  

Fringed scarf in bright pinks and greys

Part Two: The blue t-shirt dress that goes with everything

(The new scarf is okay here, but it's better with a grey dress)