Rena Rowan

Yesterday, my mother and I embarked on a quest. We were looking for a formal dress. If you've ever done so, you will know well just how the racks and racks of dresses, all too expensive (I was going to pay for it myself), and all too immodest (don't even get me started). The long dresses tend to be long, but slinky, and the short dresses are full...but short. So our last stop was Sears where we found it. This lovely color of red that I had only imagined existed just popped out at us and I tried it on.

My dress is the Rena Rowan Short-Sleeved Taffeta Shirtdress. It's not quite as long as I would have liked, but it's much more versatile than a gown, so I can wear it to semi-formal events as well as formal. It also looks very 1940's (you've probably noticed that if I like something lately, it looks 1940's. Go figure.) Can't wait to wear it!

A Trip to Pseudo New England

For you people who live wherever there is such a thing as fall foliage, this post might not mean too much. But in Texas, the weather is mild and the trees are either bare or green. All year 'round. There is really no "fire" to speak of...except in Lost Maples State Park. This lovely little pocket in the midst of the hill country was at peak this weekend. So we bundled all five-plus-one of us into the van and drove. ("Plus-one" = Patience)

It reminded me of scenes in Narnia and the leaves just about make their own light.

All these beautiful leaves looked so much like those fall decorations they sell at hobby stores!

I'm always so thrilled when Patience wants to get in the water. It's funny, though, that she'll go to just about any measure to avoid swimming.

Walking in bliss...

A red carpet! So elegant.

Three sisters. The water was freezing but *looked* so clean!

More walking in bliss...

Patience looking at her idea of heaven (wide open spaces).

Fall foliage is absolutely gorgeous!

Longing for Winter...

You would, too, if you lived in Texas after this summer (right, Texans???? Of course right.) .

But not to complain.

Today, I got the extraordinary treat of getting to go to the Gil Shaham master class with my violin teacher. It was wonderful. It was like a lesson...only I didn't have to practice for it and be nervous because I wasn't playing! ;)

Oh, and by the way: I got three blog buttons up in the "Link to Me" under my header...check them out!

Update: My mom had a person put one of her photos on an improper webpage, so I am taking all the photos that are recognizably me off the blog. So that explains why all those pictures are gone.

Beret: Hat in French

Here are some pictures of the beret I just made...It's turned out to be very 1940's. I just started a 1940's style skirt with this lovely fall suiting solids plaid. It's very classic--and classy. But back to the beret. It was very fun to make, as well as providing a way for me to learn to use four needles...or five. By the way, the second picture is more representative of its color, though. You can't really see in the pictures, but its worn to one side, almost over the ear.

A flower

Just thought that I should post something instead of staring at my computer screen and going "uhhh."


Yes, I took this picture...with my 4 megapixel camera.