Blessed

So...second week in and I already forgot to post. Awesome. :)

The blessing that's stood out to me this week is the beauty that is my street. It's in an established neighborhood with mature trees. They form a canopy over the street, which is lined with gorgeous homes on each side. The leaves are painted in all the typical shades of autumn, and it's so pretty right now. It makes me happy.

Weather, Walking & Wind

So it's finally starting to get cold(ish), and that makes me happy. But something seems missing when you can't walk from place to place and actually enjoy the cold. I love my car, but I'm tired of living in a place where I have to have one. It takes a lot of the excitement and "unknowns" out of the day. I mean, I know I'm going to get in, listen to some music, drive a certain distance and get right back out. But the only people-watching I can do along the way is from the shoulder up, as folks drive by on the highway. And that's a kind of people-watching that safety says I probably shouldn't be doing anyway. ...But I do... Driving is boring otherwise.

**Side note: I woke up way before my alarm this morning, but forgot to turn it off. It just "alarmed", and maaaaaannnnnnnnn... it is loud. I think I just heard Billy Joel's Uptown Girl at 10,000,000,000 decibels. Maybe I just lost a little bit of my appreciation for that song. And maybe a little bit of my hearing went away too.**

So anyway. Yeah, it's finally starting to cool off here in earnest. Like, I don't have to look completely ridiculous for wearing my heavy sweaters, coats and scarves anymore. There's actually a reason to have them on. Although perhaps I shouldn't jinx it; it'll probably be back in the 70's by next week. Ugh. I was talking to someone two days ago, and it's been in the low 30's and snowing where he is. H.A.P.P.Y. :)

With all the cool weather being ushered in, we've also had a ton of wind. There have been times where I swear the Big Bad Wolf has been standing outside, trying to blow the house down. I'll put it this way... A couple of nights ago, the house was dark and my roommate was downstairs. She called to make me come out of my room because she was hearing noises and was too scared to come upstairs by herself. ...Can't say I blame her... To put it in perspective, that's the kind of wind we've been having here. But I love it. I'm a total "weather" girl. It's so much more exciting than an average sunny and boring day.

Finally, Some Rain

Let the Heavens pour!

...Because I have been waiting weeks for a chance to wear my brand new boots. Now, let me explain. Ever since high school, I've wanted a pair of Hunter wellies. For those that don't know, these are true British rain boots; chic in style, clean in line and deliberate in function. When I was younger, I didn't have the nerve to step away from the pack and rock these boots in all the glory that they deserved, so I abstained from indulging in a pair. Now that I'm older and wiser, I have no problem putting on my British Pants and rocking the look (and by "British Pants", I am referring to the copycat manner that expresses my all-encompassing yen for a nationality not afforded me at birth, since alas...I am American).

...Back to the story...

I found these while on a shopping trip with a friend, and they literally called to me from across the store. So of course, being the benevolent soul that I am, I decided to provide them with a proper home. But, as is fitting for a girl with a brand new pair of shoes (insert sarcasm here), we had no weather appropriate for their debut. So the wellies made themselves at home in my closet. Until today. The skies opened up, the rain came down, and the wellies have now officially been broken in. And if the forecast holds up, they will make debut #2 tomorrow (different set of people, no worries there). That, my friend, is exciting times.

Behold the shoes of which I speak (can you hear the soprano aria in the background??), The Hunter Lady N boot:

Doors To Life

I love old doors. I'm talking about the weighty, time-worn, extraordinary icons of a seemingly beautiful life. The kind of door that you pass on the street and can't help but wonder what kind of people go through it every day. Where does it lead? How long has it been there?

Modern doors just don't have the same drama. Any former child who, in a moment of imputence, has tried to slam a hollow-core door undoubtedly came to that painful realization. It doesn't have nearly the same satisfying bang. ...And it's definitely no good when it comes to rainy days and boredom. It has no secrets to tell. With no well-loved details to stare at, where is one's mind supposed to venture off to?

My favorite days have been when I can explore new cities and just wander around. I love the skinny, small doors. I love doors with arched tops. I love the doors with aged glass that's wavy and perfect. But I think that my favorites are the doors that have circular paneling and knob handles right in the center. (There's probably a name for these, but I've got nothin'...) Dorothy Draper used these a lot in her designs, and they're all over Europe.

If someone can be in love with a door, I think I'm in love with these. I feel more chic just by walking through them, like I'm channeling a crisp fall day. And of course, in my mind I've just ridden up on my rickety vintage bicycle. You know, the one with the little basket on the front where I can keep my fresh vegetables along with the day's bread and cheese. Of course this door is ensconced within the perfect aged brick wall, against which I lean my bike as I pull an antique skeleton key out of the pocket of my impossibly fabulous yellow coat. (Did I mention that underneath I'm wearing distressed black leather riding boots, an ivory, floaty, knee-lengh dress with a black sash, and that my yellow coat has a charcoal grey silk lining? ...'Cause I totally am, and it totally does.)


Shouldn't everyone's demeanor be happier because they get to walk through one of these glorious doors every day? I definitely think so.