Reader on the Roof

 

It's official, autumn is here.  At this point every fashion, photography,

and food blogger can be seen twirling joyfully like Maria in The Sound

of Music (sans the mountains and song-bird voice). In the land of four

seasons - not to be confused with the 1960's American band that shares

the same name - everyone celebrates the death of nature. This is most

evident through the smiles we display whenever we hear that crunch

of dead leaves beneath our feet - oh, how sadistic our pleasures can be!

I'm no different than the rest of them, my uniqueness does not apply

to autumn, I too get school-girl giddy over the season. Who doesn't

love the ability to layer after a summer of relentless heat? I know

I do - I mean, boy, can Canada ever get hot! This is the time of year

we all get that itch to bake. Cooling temperatures are less apparent

when you're boiling up in the kitchen from all that heat emanating

from the oven. And speaking of autumnal baking and cooking, our

desire to be in the kitchen revolves around the basic human need to

fatten ourselves up before winter - let us not pretend it is anything

but! Before the age of grocery stores with their never-ending supplies

winters were hard and people actually died. This is what my mind

turns to when I think of autumn - that and red, lots and lots of red. 

Outfit:

Glasses c/o Firmoo

All else thrifted

Must Love Dogs

This is Hunter, my brother's five month old Siberian Husky. From

how I talk about Kobe (who may have been jealous he wasn't chosen

for pictures) it may come as no surprise that I come from a dog-lovin'

family. Ever since I was a baby we've had a dog in the house. I moved

around a lot when I was younger (stopped counting at 25 houses), but

the family beagle, Charlie, was always there with me. He sat with me,

he walked with me, and he licked my tears when I cried. He died when

I was 16 and to this day the thought of my furry best friend brings tears

to my eyes.  When I moved out on my own there were two things that

stuck out to me: how I needed to buy houseplants for that homey feel

and how quiet my place was sans a dog. Despite the countless protests

and warnings from family and friends I went and got myself a little

pup. Being twenty, I understood where people were coming from;

it's hard work to have a dog. Although I have given up a lot just to

own a dog (I once dreamed of teaching overseas), I couldn't imagine

my life without Kobe in it. Having a family that only Shameless

makes me count my blessings, it has been wonderful having some

stability in my life, some unconditional love in my life. A dog is a

faithful companion, one that will greet you with a happy face and a

wagging tail. Dogs don't criticize or hold any prejudices, their joys

are simple and their lives carefree.  I cherish the moments I have

with my dog, whether it be the cuddle on the couch, the peaceful

walk on the beach or through the woods, or how he lies down beside

me resting his head on my feet. As the saying goes, " A dog is

the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

Outfit:

Thrifted  // Floral Dress

American Apparel // Blue Dress

Thrifted // Hat

Thrifted // Boots

The 21st Century

Almost on an everyday basis I am grateful for my existence being of

the 21st century. Majoring in history while in university, I've been

to my fair share of school get-togethers where the topical question

of what-decade-would-you-chose was posed. I would reply to the

question with a question, oh-so wittingly I would ask, am I a man

or a woman? While each period in time has its alluring factors, I

can't help but feel that longing for a past era has an air of hopeless

sadness to it - think Marion Cotillard and Owen Wilson in Midnight

in Paris. As I grow older I appreciate what living in the 21st century

entails; a forbidding of violence, freedom of thought - to a certain

degree, modern conveniences, improved health care, a growing 

acceptance of the world's differences, et cetera. What has come a

long way from the humble beginnings of animal loincloth is fashion.

We all know this. We've seen the torturous constricting corsets made

of whalebone. We've seen the white powered wigs. We've heard of

the days of only being in possession of a few dresses. This is the 21st

century though, an age of individualism. Stepping out of your house

you might see a woman with cotton candy hair, another may don a

floral crown like a blushing pagan maid.  We have our Audreys and

our Marilyns. We have long skirts, short skirts, full skirts, and tube

skirts. And if skirts are not for you, then you have jeans, cargo pants,

slacks, and dress pants. It's a giant melting pot of styles! I do say, we're

pretty lucky to have such choice and the ability for such indulgences.

My brother's five month old husky puppy. 

Outfit:

DIY // Floral Crown

All else Thrifted

The White Fence

There's just something about white fences, whether it be a picket fence

or a horse fence, that causes you to experience an overwhelming sense

of nostalgia. They symbolize comfort and simplicity. They conjure up

images of a manicured suburban home or a quaint pastoral setting. They

turn our minds to ideas of tranquility, calm, and the American dream.

If there's anytime of year that we sentimentally yearn for days of past,

it has to be autumn. With all the delicious baked goods we're brought

back to the kitchens of  mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers.

With nature being the center of attention during its time of change

we're brought back to a period in human history when nature was our

master. When the mornings and nights are brisk and each day we have

less sun, we're brought back to our childhoods and the first days of school

where we donned our blindingly white new shoes. Isn't it remarkable how

each season connotes varying and specific meanings and sentiments?

Outfit:

Thrifted // Hat

Thrifted // Dress

Thrifted // Belt 

Spring // Flats

Summer's Flower

New life plan: become a sunflower farmer. How beautiful life would

be to wake up in the morning and see hundreds of sunny faces smiling

happily at me. These cheerful flowers would be my friends and family.

They would bring joy to each and every day. They would bring new

meaning to simplicity. My music would be the murmur of the bees and

the leaves rustling in the wind. My hands would be covered in dirt and

I would exclaim that my fingernails are never clean. At night, on the

porch of my farm house that overlooked my fields of yellow, I would

 sit in my wooden rocking chair and bask in the night's warm breeze.

Care to join me in my overly romanticized world?

And now back to reality. Autumn is just around the corner, and the

signs are beginning to show. Some trees are eager to change and their

tips are the colour of fire. The nights are reminiscent of the peak of

summer, but the nights hold a coldness to them that has me bundling

up for warmth. The farmer's market has exploded with apples and

pumpkins, and pies of both. Fields are full of rolled hay and yards

are full of cut wood.  While I do find myself drawn towards

warmer colours, I'm not ready for the tights, boots, or sweaters just

yet.  I want cute flats and bare arms and legs. The time for layering

will come, there's no doubt about that. On a recent thrifting outing

it would appear that autumn was on my mind, for everything I chose

belonged to the brown colour spectrum, such as this linen dress. 

Often considered a drab colour, I find brown to be down-to-earth.

Just say these colours out loud: burnt sienna, caramel, coffee, copper,

chocolate, chestnut. Doesn't that make you all warm inside - and maybe

a bit hungry? I'm happy though, autumn seems to be the only time

of year that wearing brown actually gets you compliments!

Outfit:

All items thrifted

Mountain Mania

I'm torn. And no, not torn a la Natalie Imbruglia circa 1997. I'm

torn between wanting to be a mermaid and swim the world's waters

for the rest of my life and wanting to be a mountain nomad.  I don't

think it helps that I'm listening to William Elliot Whitmore's deep

husky voice and the playing of his banjo. Paul would run into the

woods and never come out if he had his way. Kobe, I think he'd

pick the ocean - being a baby city dog, he's actually kind of afraid

of deep, dark forests. Maybe this island is ideal, an island of 

equilibrium.  And although these mountains don't compare to those of

British Columbia, where the tips seem to tickle the clouds, these

are remarkable in their own right. These photos are from our way

back home, driving again along the Cabot Trail. This time we made

stops at quaint shops nestled between trees up in the mountains and

drove through more small fishing villages that hugged the coastline.

Every minute of this drive was spectacular and breathtaking, and I

think we're going to come to come back in the heart of autumn when

the mountains are exploding with colour. Just imagine the sights!

- Oh, do I have plans for you, lobster trap. - 

Outfit:

Thrifted // Jean Jacket

Thrifted // Shirt

Thrifted // Skirt

The Artful Badger // Necklace

Gifts from Paul // Rings