Walk the Walk...OOTD

My walking partner and I ventured out on our bi-weekly 10K walk.
We planned to walk in between the rain and got caught smack dab in the middle of a thunder and lightning storm.
The torrents of rain came down so fast we had nowhere to take shelter and we stood under the canopy of trees hoping not to get the full force of the storm.
I was worried about lightning strikes though and suggested maybe we make a dash for home...
which we did but it took us about 30 minutes to return.

We got totally soaked right through our coats, shoes, and socks.
Walking with a squeaky squish squish sound on each step.
We were complaining to each other loudly and laughing rather hysterically at how wet we were...
and it was of some comfort that we were not the only fools out in the path of the storm.

Think of two people jumping into a pool with all their clothes on and you'll get the idea of our dampened state!

OOTD 

This is how I looked before I left...

my Mondetta jacket was layered underneath my "water resistant" jacket with a tee underneath

 Gap jeans rolled up twice with Lands" End trail shoes and padded cotton Hanes sports socks.

My hair was presentable before the deluge...

This stone sits in the Humble Bungalow garden.

Boot weather is a' comin...

my Sperry boots are ready by the door.

Puddles await...

~ I'm so grateful for ~

soap and hot running water.

bath salts

fluffy white towels

and 

music

No music will be playing for awhile...

One of the cats has been very naughty and chewed through several of the wires of the cord to the plug.

We think it was Pepper as she likes to bite on cords and yarn...

several years ago

she pulled on her stitches after her spay surgery

I stayed awake two nights with her trying to keep the cat "cone" on her head so she would be safe.

She looks quite innocent here...

appearances can be deceiving.

My radio is on most of the day tuned to the CBC but all is quiet and will be until my new adaptor arrives.

I've got my eyes on a pair of red shoes for the fall...

I am going to be very very frugal and buy very little so that the Paris account will be growing and ready for next Spring.

I find it much easier to save when I have a tangible goal...

these would be fun to wear on the streets of Paris with a pretty scarf knotted at my neck.

What is on your list of things to buy for the fall?

Denim Love ~ or is it Lust?

How excited are you about your clothing purchases?
Do you get a wee bit of a rush when you find the perfect piece?
Or do you feel rather hum drum and so so when buying clothes?

Well I got really excited when my new Gap denim jacket arrived and I immediately put it on to find it fit perfectly and I love the lighter wash. I bought the Petite but in a large as I have some "considerations" up front that necessitate a bit more fabric and I do want to be able to close the jacket without it gaping.

JCrew Venus Flytrap necklace

Can you picture this with white jeans? a printed skirt? a black dress with sandals?
I can and am already imagining all the combinations possible with my current wardrobe.

Hermes scarf with a pop of red...

which reminds me I must replace those red ballet flats that wore out.

JCrew necklace gets two thumbs up.

Sherman brooch oh yes!

The jacket is soft and already distressed so my work is done people.

Now I just need to get out and wear it.

~ ~ ~

I've done the seasonal closet swap and tried on all my Spring and Summer clothes.

The good news is that there will be lots of room for clothes!

 The bad news is only two things fit!

Going from a size 14 to a 10 or 8 is exciting but it means that shopping is going to be very much on my agenda!

I have laundered and ironed all those too large items and have booked an appointment with the consignment shop in Oak Bay. I received several hundred dollars last season when I sold my clothes....it is not a lot of money but it will get me started as I need to replace the basics.

My walking partner and I are hosting a baby shower for a fabulous teacher friend who is expecting her first child in a few weeks.

It will be fun to see all the gals from work and catch up on all their news.

I had so much fun shopping for a baby gift!

Have you noticed how cute the baby clothes are these days?

What have you got planned for your weekend?

Hope you've got some time set aside for a wee bit of fun.

Thank you for stopping by...

Hostess

XO

A scarf appears out of the corner of my eye....

Some lovely things just pop up, even when I am not looking.
Last weekend as I waited for our house guests to arrive I snuck off for half an hour to browse a hospital thrift store. It is the same store where my daughter found her genuine leather Hermes belt.
Darling daughter has a real gift for finding treasure.
I enjoy looking at the vintage wares...
they each have a story and I like to think about who owned them and where they have been all these years.

This bright and cheerful scarf caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.
Vibrant, bold and beautiful colours spoke loudly and I couldn't help but turn my head.
It is in mint condition...made in England of 100% pure silk, has exquisite hand rolled edges and is signed by the designer Frankie Welch.

Worn here with my Lands' End cashmere cardigan which is several seasons old.

I think this is the 7th purchase this Fall.

For the first time in my life I am tracking what I buy and how much I spend.

Skinny Jeans, black dress pants, 2 Merino wool Tee's, a Barbour vest and the Chillox walking coat.

I'd never heard of Frankie Welch so being naturally curious I looked on the internet.

 It turns out that she designed thousands of scarves and has designed many around the political arena and many have The White House architectural details in their designs.

She wanted to study with Frank Lloyd Wright but he refused her request saying that he did not teach women!

I do not recognize this building or if indeed it has any significance.

Perhaps it is a Virginia landmark.

I love the bright tones and how they perk up my basic greys and blacks.

Knotted twice ~ it's so simple.

I plan to pair this scarf with my red ballet flats.

~ ~ ~

"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. 

Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. 

Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up."

~ Allen Klein  ~

Seattle getaway...part 3...one is not enough but 4 might be too many!!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!....there was a large parade in Seattle on the 13th....firetrucks, those futuristic looking steel DeLorean cars, bagpipers, men in uniform, Irish water spaniels, kilted men and women, and later we discovered a festival. Green was the theme...shamrocks, green garb, hats, beads, costumes, a sea of green...it was wild!  There were Irish dancers on stage, face painters, stalls for all things Irish....

I salute the Irish today...my grandmother and her kin....the Hollins clan!

We have been going into Laguna for years. They were one of a few retailers that sourced and stocked quality arts and crafts pieces. Wellers, Rookwood, and Gruebys in matte greens would take my breath away.

Cacaphony of colour and form.

We browsed inside but did not buy, The Humble Bungalow is full of pottery...and most of it green!

One of my goals was to hunt for a pair of ballerina flats, I had a vision in mind and I looked long and hard and did not find what I was envisioning...I know my dream pair are out there I just haven't seen them yet.

I did not let that deter me in my quest for footwear...it started so innocently...Mr. HB and I had embarked on an early morning walk and found ourselves outside The Nordstrom Rack, (I'd been there before!) we were there before they even opened!

There were a few other couples, Starbucks in hands, noses pressed to the glass...eyes on watches checking the time...and a rush ahead as they hurried in.

After a cursory check of the leather bags I headed upstairs...to shoe territory...hundreds of shoes, maybe thousands...in size categories on shelves stacked 2 and 3 high. I tried on an obscene amount...."When in Rome"....I narrowed it down to 4...

(I was planning on another edit but Mr. HB said "just get them all"

A man after my own heart!)

The shoe reveal....

Stickley, the Bungalow cat was "somewhat keen"(YAWN) to see us after our weekend.
She had been tended to lovingly by her favorite Bungalow Gal, lovely daughter.
I insisted that she humour me and see what would come out of the bag.

Born Bow fronts

(Yawn, I am not amused)

Sperry loafers

(Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?)

Anne Klein loafers

(Closing my eyes now)

Miz Mooz

(You woke me up, now I see red!)

Loafers are a standard and basic shoe for me so I got 2 pairs as replacements for my weary ones.

The antiqued Borns are just for fun, and the Reds are to replace my BCBG girls flats.

I am doing a happy dance now!

I have some more loot, see you tomorrow....

Red shoe diary...there's no place like home...

Salad anyone?.....or rather, Harumi Ota meet Mee Too...I feel like clicking my heels together...there's no place like home...there's no place like home, Judy Garland at her freshest.

I love orchids and I have some young paphiopedilum orchids... aka Lady Slippers, in the background.

(I only grow orchids that are able to survive in my kitchen environment)

Mee Too...Tyler Red Patent Leather shoes with Kitten Heels!

Not even looking...they popped up into my radar...on sale, comfy, and will be wearing them with dark denim jeans, crisp white shirt, masses of pearls, circulating books at school.

A cause for a celebration and some bubbly...I have been looking to replace my worn out BCBG red flats for quite sometime now...Mr. L said to daughter "Your Mom really likes red shoes!"

I do!  I do! I do!

Who doesn't?