cirque du printemps

It would appear that I am premiering one Modcloth dress each week (week one and two). I'm not sure exactly what drew me to this particular dress, since it's not my usual style (I usually can't pull off the shifty style, and this struck me as a mix between eighties--which I still generally steer clear of, for the most part--and flapper, which I love). In the end, the fun polka dot print and the deep chevron-reminiscent neckline won me over, and I was delighted to discover that the extra weight of the ruffles on the bottom help shape the dress so it doesn't fall flat and unflatteringly. It feels very circus-mod, perfect for a matinee of Water for Elephants, or a trip to Cirque de Soleil (both activities are currently in my hope chest for the coming months).

(soft spot for style dress: modcloth; tights: hue; shoes: seychelles; barrette: venice; necklace: jewelmint)

I resisted the urge to wear my faux pearls, which would have tumbled me over the fine line between contemporary interpretation and costumery. I knew immediately that I wanted to wear my yellow tights (sometimes you just know), and the barrette was almost an immediate afterthought. I picked up a pair of these pretty glass bead barrettes when I was in Venice (the only two types of shops I saw in Venice revolved around glass art or Carnivale masks), and I absoutely love them. Unfortunately, while this one is still entirely intact, its mate is looking a little worse for wear (a bead is missing). Perhaps two would have been overkill anyway.

On another note, I wish there were more hours in the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite pleased that we are experiencing more hours of daylight, but I still feel like I don't have enough time to do what I want in any given evening! Last night I went for my first run en plein air since last summer, and it was a wakeup call! Running outside is official far more difficult than running on the treadmill, especially around my apartment, which is evidently in the middle of a mountain range. It didn't help that despite the sunshine the air was still chilly (and my lungs paid the price), but it was wonderful to be outside again, breathing the fresh (cold) air and communing with Mother Nature--I even spotted a robin! Of course, when I got home I was faced with a sink overflowing with dishes (which I washed), the prospect of a shower (which I begrudgingly took) and the preparation of dinner (which I made, and ate) and before I knew it the night was nearly over! This is one of many reasons why I wish I could work from home--I could do dishes or go for a run on my lunch break or at slow times, maybe even chop vegetables in between checking article corrections... and have the rest of the night to spend however I pleased! As a wise sage named Calvin once said, "the days are just packed..."

weekend wanderlust

I saw this photo (above) on Kallie's blog earlier this week and was inspired to see more. I was delighted to find this wonderful collection of images by Randy P. Martin, all capturing the wild spirit of the Pacific Northwest that I've been missing lately. I want to strap some granola on my back and climb mountains and look out over majestic landscapes and just be quiet and peaceful and free for a while.

(all photos found here)

When I was in high school, I had the choice to either go to France and Switzerland with my French class or travel to Washington with the Outing Club. I chose Europe, I certainly do not regret it, and I know that I am more inclined to be the sort of person who goes to Europe than the sort of person who spends a week camping under the stars in the mountains. However, I have always had a special connection with the natural world that I will never (and never want to) shake. Someday I will hike through the Rockies and sleep in the Redwood forest and visit Big Sur, but for now I will have to content myself with gazing longingly through the window of Martin's lens. And, for old time's sake, some photos from a long-ago road trip to the Oregon Coast, when i was broke as can be and free:

a fisherman's life for me!

(Vogue China, Oct 2009)

Last night, K and I went on an impromptu fishing trip to Lake Iroquois. Since his epic failure this weekend, K has been itching to even the score with the elusive VT fishes.

While K waded into the water,

I lounged on a nearby rock and dove into my new book.

After a few minor mishaps...

...he got one!

I looked on with pride...

...as he reeled in an enormous bass!!

He ended up throwing it back because he didn't want to eat it. I scolded him for fishing merely for sport but he said that bass had a higher-than-desirable mercury content and if he caught a trout he would eat it. So I let it slide.

He didn't catch a trout. He caught another miniature bass and threw it back, then got a leech on his leg that I had to rip off. Besides the fact that the fish were no longer biting (the big bass must have spread the word that we were in the neighborhood) and the ick factor of the leg-leech, the sky was beginning to darken--so we left. But we'll be back! It was a lovely little Monday-night adventure. :)