What's become of fashion?

It's Summertime and the living is easy.

Extra easy for many of us perhaps.

My type of Summer clothes - casual, comfy, linen and cotton.

All from Poetry.

Are you getting dressed?

You know, dressed as in going through your closet, picking out an outfit, 

accessorizing same with cute shoes or sandals, perhaps a summer straw bag, 

a hat, snazzy sunglasses . . . . . . and of course a coordinating mask!

If you are, I admire you. . . . . and I am trying to do better, getting out of

 gardening gear, cooking aprons, lounging in old leggings, and doing grocery

 runs in yoga pants.  I do enjoy a good hat often - see why below.

Have you bought any new clothes for Summer?

I haven't, and probably won't this year.  

I did dash over to J.C. Penney when I heard they were closing before the

 pandemic hit, to stock up on their $7 classic cotton tees in black, white

 and navy, because I've always found them to be the best, and can replace

 them annually without feeling guilty.

Why anyone would pay $70 for a plain 'designer' T-shirt I've never understood.

The only times I've been out, as in away from the house and garden, or along

 our street, for three months, is for the weekly grocery shop, a few Sunday

 afternoons in my daughter's garden, and a trip to nail salon and hairdresser

 when they re-opened because I looked and felt quite horrible! 

I am now a reddish brunette with a couple of inches of grey silver (sounds better)

 hair. No more hair coloring, I'm going cold turkey with the growing out while I don't

 have to travel.  Keeping hair professionally trimmed and in good condition is

 a must, and although it's not going to be easy I'm thinking it's now or never! 

I really don't fancy myself as a redhead once I reach my eighties!!!

 I'm also somewhat curly/wavy now, and have grown out my bangs - no more

 blow drying whilst "locked up", just a little scrunching with a gel product - it's

 easy, takes no time, and does help disguise the roots a little better than

 a stick straight bob. . . . . . and I'm ready to go right out of the shower - except

 of course there's really nowhere to go!

The most 'dressing up' I've done was for Father's Day out in the hot garden - my

 cool and comfy zebra print caftan, wide-brimmed hat, sandals, and elephant

 print mask. . . . . . and I actually remembered to wear earrings.

Being 'fashionable' really is the least of concerns these days, after all who even

 knows who you are behind the mask, sunglasses, hat brim, let alone if you are

 wearing makeup or have curled your lashes.

Have you tried red lipstick with a mask, not a good idea!

We are no longer perfectionists trying to impress. Now we just want to show we care, 

both for our own health, and for that of others who bump into us in the snack foods

 aisle because they didn't see the directional arrow, or still insist on standing too close

 in the check out line, sometimes without a mask which is really pushing the envelope.

😷

You are trying new snacks aren't you?

Healthy ones of course such as quinoa and black bean tortillas - so good

with olive tapenade hummus. . . . . . and of course a chilled aperitif 

these lovely late afternoons on the porch.

Peregrine Falcons. . . . . .

Above, meet Woodsie & Maddie - the last two brothers to fledge (preceded by

 brother Hank, and sister Xander who accidentally fledged when she fell off

 the edge a few days too early when exercising her wings - but thankfully 

was rescued from the parking lot below, rehabbed and is fine).

Confession time!  Much of the last couple of weeks, and this weekend, 
were spent glued to my laptop screen.  
I've been addicted/watching the hatching, growing, and then fledging of the four 
precious Peregrine falcon chicks from their nesting area on a 13th floor
 window ledge of an office building in Manchester, NH.

This building was actually where my husband worked for a few years early
 in his career - and visited many times on business for his company in the years
 following when we moved away from Manchester, first to Massachusetts and
 then in 1977 here to Raleigh, NC.

This pair of handsome falcons have raised chicks on the ledge with the sheltering
 box, perch, cameras etc., for many years and the annual springtime process has
 a large following of birders and bird lovers from all over.
Watching those tiny balls of white fluff grow and thrive, and with such caring
 parents, has helped me with the stress of being self-quarantined during all
 the sadness of the current time in our country and around the world.

Maddie & Woodsie enjoying their time together - they were 

exceptionally loving toward each other, once even lying next to each other 

and Maddie putting his wing over Woodsie, which was very sweet to see.

Woodsie - last to fledge on Sunday evening. . . . . . . .

. . . . . after several hours of mom and dad bringing food, dangling it

 before him but flying off with it and not allowing him to eat - cajoling him to

 fledge and meet back up with his siblings on a lower roof where the real 

training in flying and feeding would begin - Woodsie, flapped his wings and

took a leap of faith from the perch!

   

Parents assist their youngsters with finding food for another month or so,

 then the babies are on their own and fly away to find a home elsewhere.

Apparently these parents will return to this nesting site throughout

the year. . . . . hopefully they'll have another family next spring.

Mom telling Woodsie last evening, "it's time to fly away baby boy."

Second confession - I took hundreds of screen shots and videos of the 

falcons - just sharing a few here before I head off to work on learning

 how to use new Blogger today. It's pouring rain and dark and dreary so

 no garden chores required - a good day to stay in and focus on

 something I've been putting off for too long!

Here's to a good week ahead. . . .I'll be watching my garden birds only.

Porch update -

I've just purchased a console-style table for the 'dead space' at the end

 of our small but much used front porch.  Some of you may recall I used to

 have a vintage potting bench there which eventually became too shabby

 and had to go.  I've missed it though as I enjoyed styling it in the summer

months with birdhouses, plants, lanterns and candles etc.  
I don't buy a lot online, however when browsing outdoor tables, this
 cedar-stained eucalyptus wood version, which matches our front door, 
popped up on sale, perfect measurements, can be used outdoors
 under cover, and lots of room for display and holding snacks, drinks etc.

As it has rained many days, and been very humid, we haven't sat outside
 for a while, however dry sunny days are back and we'll be out there often. . . . .still

waving to passersby, enjoying a late afternoon aperitif, and admiring our work

in the garden as we continue to remain at home most of the time.

Cheers!

Puttering and pottering about -

My little place of peace and happiness was constructed in the back garden.  

Nothing fancy, now almost twenty years old but still standing strong and sturdy. 

It has electricity to run a heater or fan, but not water. A gathering place for everything 

garden-related. . . . . . .plus anything waiting to be rehoused, sold on, given away, 

taken to the thrift shop, thrown away etc. I probably should re-paint the exterior

 but can't bring myself to cut down the climbing akebia and ivy!  

The floor I painted and stenciled long ago with blackberry vines is fading. . . . . but 

is still visible enough to allow me to recall all those hours on my knees - I could 

never do that now!

This window was so dirty - now I can even see my neighbor's camellias still budding.

On a sunny, cooler day this week I spent about four hours out here.

There was not a lot to throw out, it was mostly taking items into the kitchen to

 wash, vacuuming every surface, and reorganizing storage space.

 Many of the china pots, birds, lanterns, bowls of shells etc. will be moved 

outside to the baker's rack and table on the back deck, or into the gazebo, 

now that the pollen season is just about over.

The gazebo is my other 'home' where I can enjoy the garden views,

the birds at the feeders, an afternoon cup of tea, an early evening aperitif,

supper as the sun falls silently in the west behind my chair, and now the 

weather is warming - even writing my posts and reading yours.

Bluebird nest box and akebia vine on the potting shed wall.

We haven't been shopping in over a week but need to make a

quick run tomorrow morning for salad greens, veggies, milk etc.

We will pick up a dozen fresh eggs pre-ordered from our local 

Farmers' Market which reopens tomorrow for the season.

Strict social distancing and loads of rules in place.

Then we'll head back to the nearby roadside strawberry stall

for more of those delicious berries - strawberry shortcakes 

have been a real treat on several evenings.

Good wishes for your weekend.

Doesn't every day feel like a weekend day now?

Some changes will soon be coming in places with lesser

known cases of COVID-19 - unfortunately not here though.

I'm expecting things to continue as they are for a while longer -

'rather safe than sorry' might be the way to go.

Stay well, be strong dear friends.