Re-routed

Happy Thorsday, little friday and thankful thursday!  I have up a post about a leash failure on the girls’ blog, if you are interested.  

I’ve tried to stuff this post down so it wouldn’t insist on being written, but… here we are.  I did control myself and didn’t rant on Facebook as soon as it happened, but a few of you have already heard this tale.

On Saturday, we were enjoying our usual very long walk, over the river and through the woods.  Remember, we were INVITED to use those trails.  However, the private road to get to said trails is owned by someone else, and as I had feared when we began walking to the trails, that someone finally stopped me and told me to “stick to the main road.”  He was nice enough about it, and no, I didn’t point out that his neighbors (who have to have a legal right of way) had given us permission to use their trails and the road we have to travel to get to those trails.  I don’t know the terms of their own access agreement, and I don’t want to start a turf war.

The girls don’t understand why we now turn around at the “end of state maintenance” every single walk.  They were NOT amused yesterday when we made a loop – twice – to cover the miles I wished to log.  I have a back-up option we’ll exercise this weekend, but as with Gretchen’s attack, it irks the daylights out of me that we cannot just step out of our back door and walk the paths we’ve enjoyed for over a year now.

So, I’m still very thankful for the INCREDIBLE neighbors whose generosity gave us many months of awesome walks in the woods.   I suspect they’ll straighten this out when they hear of it, but somehow, even my inner six-year old self couldn’t find it in her to call them on Saturday and tattle on the other neighbor.   In time, we’ll pass on the PUBLIC road, and they’ll ask why they haven’t seen us on the paths, and we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

We were happy to see our horse friends back in their field too.  They’re older and frailer, but I was elated when both dogs dropped into obedient heels and just walked on by.  Can you see how close they are to the path?  Gg was within INCHES of the horse closest to the fence, and she stayed the course without any barking, spinning or pulling!

And of course, I’m very grateful for the alternate route proposal.  It will require a short drive, but it too offers exposure to other dogs, horses, and a very large neighborhood with miles and MILES to walk. 

What are you thankful for today?

 

What the flower?!

This is actually a royal purple, but that hue is so hard to capture, either through photos or editing…  I think it’s a weed and not even a true wildflower, but if you know what it is, I’d like to know too!  It stands about 30″ high, if that helps?  It’s growing wild along the edge of our property, up the edge of the neighbor’s driveway.  (No, not THAT neighbor or the wonderful trail neighbors…) 

Edited to add:  Thanks, Nancy!  It is indeed columbine, and in fact, this photo is identical.  Wonder if my neighbor would mind if I dug up a couple of plants for my house?

In the as Chan tries to clothe herself saga, the beige blouse I own is an epic fail, the PANK blouse I bought yesterday is even worse, and a sequined pewter tank I own might could work if I decide I’m up to doing sparkles and lace in the same outfit.  Right now, I’m thinking I’m going to just go with the dress I bought to wear for the dinner weeks ago.

Right?  There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?  It’s not ubber fancy, but it’s pretty, happy, comfortable… and in my closet ready to go.  In fact, it may be machine washable. 

After wearing “winter clothes” on Monday, it’s supposed to be near 90 today.  Crazy weather.

What has you puzzled today?

They Remembered!

Some of you are well aware that I don’t believe in coincidences.  Everything happens for a reason, according to a master plan…

… and the dearly departed boy-dogs remembered me on Mother’s Day.  Mugsy’s red roses are in blooming overdrive.  Like most of our landscaping, the roses were neglected and not pruned over the winter, but they seem quite happy in their wild, neglected state.   It really made my day to see the roses open up right at Mother’s Day. 

No coincidence, to be sure.

 

Fred’s yellow roses aren’t as happy or as prolific as Mugsy’s blooms, but that’s kinda’ appropriate, as Fred was generally more reserved than his alpha, older, terrier brother.   They’re both still very pretty, sweet-smelling flowers.

If you are a mom, I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.

How was your weekend?

Top Me Off!

Dressy Bessy courtesy of Amazon

I tried to come up with some cute play on Dressy Bessy, and now that I’ve gone in another direction, I remember her guy pal, Dapper Dan.  Dan rhymes with Chan, but…

Regular readers know that I love dresses because I can leave the house without over-thinking, without wardrobe stress.   But sometimes, I forget that I suffer from serious analysis paralysis and I purchase separates.  Well, that and it’s just the way of the world; I suppose that short of workout attire and jeans and tees, I could only buy/wear dresses…

Anyway.  I’m now consumed with finding the right top to pair with my new lace skirt for the League’s May Dinner, which is also the final celebration of our 80th anniversary of community service.

Loft

Here’s the inspiration look from Loft.   I don’t see me adding a belt, nor will I wear a simple tee on one of the most important nights of the League year.  And there is no earthly way I’ll be wearing a scarf so snuggly around my neck; I feel itchy and choked just thinking about it.  It also seems likely that it will be about 80 degrees that evening, so… no jacket is likely.

I’ve been eyeing a simple, solid top.   gMarie is advocating for a ditsy print, and blogless Mary insists I could wear an even bolder pattern and liven things up a bit.  Marjie suggested something in the same color family, and I do have a sheer (with matching tank) beige blouse I want to try on with said skirt, along with a cream with black trim (sleeve hems and frogs?) blouse that I could probably call vintage Talbots.  (Vintage is what… 20 years old?)

What say you?

And what will you be doing this weekend?  Clearly, I’ll be shopping, at least in my own closet…

Advice for Ellie?

Board meeting bore Ellie

Happy Thorsday, little friday and Thankful Thursday!   While I do have a question for you over on the girls’ blog, we’re hoping some of you might have some advice for our friend Ellie and her mom.  See…  Ellie had to go to the vet yesterday because she is dehydrated and otherwise truly stressed out.  Her people moved a few weeks ago, and because her people work long hours, she was day-tripping with a former neighbor.  The vet and Ellie’s mom decided that Ellie’s stress comes from not knowing where HOME really is anymore.

I haven’t moved a dog in YEARS, and when I did, it was the unflappable lab of my childhood.  She was with her pack, so nothing else mattered.  I’m hoping some of you might have experience helping a dog adjust to a new house.  Ellie’s mom is looking into a dog-walker, so Ellie can stay in her REAL home during the work day, and she is trying a Thundershirt as well…

Thankful?  I’m so happy the Knight is home.  He had one last fire department trip to make, and now he’s back home, just in time to play with his new toy, a Traeger Grill.   The man might have a smoked meat obsession, but I did have a piece of the smoked bacon for breakfast…

I’m incredibly – still – moved by the women I serve with in League leadership.  They are creative, caring, clever people, and as much as I’m looking forward to the new League year, it’s going to be hard to see this leadership team become past tense.   At least one of them does read my blog sometimes, and I truly cannot thank them enough.  This has been a trying, sometimes TERRIBLY stressful year for me and the JLC, but it has been my pleasure to work with such dedicated, phenomenal women.

Who – or what – inspires you?

Loft Love

The local Loft store is great about hosting League shopping events.  I believe this is at least the third they’ve done for us.  Now… full disclosure, one of our VPs is a shared asset, but I think our local store is just wonderful like that, and perhaps the whole brand is so supportive of other women and non-profits?

More true confessions…  Loft is hit and miss for me.  I do love their basic tee better than any other basic tee in the whole wide world, and you can almost always catch them on super-sale.  I’m not sure I’ve ever paid more than $8 for the tees, and they hold up well.  They are cut slim and they are thinner than a traditional tee, but … that suits me well.

However, last night was bountiful!  I left behind peplums and a really cute woven dress (not shown on the website), but I couldn’t resist a few things, starting with this french terry maxi.  I am 5’3″ and it hits me at the ankle bone, if that helps?  It’s the most comfortable thing…  No wonder it’s listed as part of their lounge wear collection!

I had a very loose notion when I went shopping that I wanted a mint green bottom of some sort.  The Loft actually has quite a few offerings in what they call spring jade, and I grabbed a pair of crops.  I look forward to it warming up again so I can wear them!

And now, I have a conundrum.  I love lace, and was drawn to the cotton tiered lace skirt.  It definitely will be a new favorite!  I already have a dress for the May Dinner, but gee I love this skirt.  I see it paired with a chambray shirt or a dark tee for casual wear, but add a solid colored blouse… yes?  (And no, I don’t own a solid colored blouse that would work, so feel free to make suggestions!)

I did go with the not-petite length.  I find a lot of Loft skirts/dresses indecently short in the petite length.

Have you found any great warmer weather items?

Birthday Wishes

My maternal grandmother & my mother, circa 1990s

Happy birthdays!  Several dear friends have had birthdays or have them coming up, but today is my mother’s birthday, and yesterday was her sister’s birthday too.

And of course, Sunday is Mother’s Day here in the States.

For the first time I can remember, I didn’t even know which horses were running in the Kentucky Derby.  There was no Derby Party, and I didn’t even get to watch it… and still haven’t had a chance.  I hear it was an awesome race…

Now pardon me while I get back to League retreat #2 of 4.  Yeah… four.  Board retreat, done.  Leadership retreat and make-up looming, and then one more for our new focus area.

I do have some incredible leadership/change quotes to share with you, but… another day.

What are you celebrating?