Adventures in an Apple Orchard

   All week the forecast called for rain on Saturday.  But yes, of course it wouldn 't be sunny

  on Paul's weekend off.  I keep telling him he has angered Mama N in some way and now

he needs to atone for his wrong doings by performing some sort of ceremonial dance in 

her honour.  He foolishly declines. (I jest) Anyways, when I woke up the sun was all shy

 and was hiding behind the clouds so we decided to spend this gloomy day at the museum. 

But as I stood in front my closet once again saying the trite line, "I have nothing to wear,"

the weather changed. Yep, the clouds vanished and the sun shone brightly, solo in the sky.

That's how long it takes me to get dressed. The weather actually changes. Since the sun was

out we thought it was a great opportunity to finally go apple picking. I'm so glad we got to go.

   I've never been apple picking before. I might have gone when I was little, but who knows. I

certainly felt like a little kid and looked more ecstatic to be there than anyone else though,

 including the five year olds. As soon as we arrived the smell of apple was in the air. If I

closed my eyes (and I might just have) I could imagine I was slicing freshly picked apples

in my country kitchen with yellow walls the colour of butter, plaid curtains on the window,

oak cabinets, and the late summer's cool breeze sweeping in through the open door.  I was

definitely daydreaming like I was Anne Shirley. It was so pleasant there that Paul's shyness

was momentarily forgotten and he actually allowed me to snap a shot of him. See. Told you

my boyfriend is real. He's not made up.  I  do wish I had worn a girly dress with some move-

ment, that way I would have looked perfect frolicking through the rows of trees. Instead I felt like an out-of-place city slicker in my harsh black and knee-high boots. 

Outfit:

All Items Thrifted

(Except my tights of course, never thrift used tights.)

Orange Obsession

The weather lately has been B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. October usually

doesn't have such fair weather.  No complaints there. With these sunny

 days my friends and I have been able to get in some more biking

adventures.  I'm no pro biker or anything, it's strictly recreational. If

it's raining, count me out. It's a fair weather kind of friendship. So yeah,

I'm pleased with this prolonged sunshine. It's layering time though and

this outfit felt incomplete sans a scarf, not to mention I wanted to be

totally matchy-matchy. Indeed I felt very ready for Halloween and a

bit like a pumpkin in my black and orange ensemble. October is so the

time for this colour combination though. Come to think of it, I believe

I would have a made a splendid kindergarten teacher. I just need the

tacky festive jewelry and I'm all good. For a while I had my heart set

on being a teacher; I got a Bachelor's Degree and did two a half years of

volunteering in elementary schools. Now those aspirations are a thing of

the past. Obviously the degree is not worthless, although right now it's

simply acting as decoration, framed and hung on a wall in my bedroom. 

It would probably be of more use if I got it made it into a blanket, at

least it would keep me warm at night. As for the volunteering, I would

not ask for any of those hours back. Being around kids made me feel

like I was Bill Cosby hosting Kid's Say the Darndest Things.  They're

usually more pleasant to deal with than adults too. I am comparing that

to the waitressing and cashier jobs I've had - and hope not to have

again. As you get older it's interesting to look back on your life and

see the various phases you've gone through. And I'm not even 25 yet!

That's just a taste of what's ahead of me. Also, before I go, I just wanted

to point out how clean my shoes are! They're not new, nor is it the

first time I'm wearing them, I've just never worn them to the dog

park before. It certainly makes a difference. I just wanted to show

you I am capable of staying clean. Glad I cleared the air on that one.

Outfit:

Thrifted Skirt

Thrifted Lace Dress

(worn as top)

Spring Shoes

Thrifted Scarf

Thrifted Belt

Thrifted Ring

The Scarlet Sweater

Nine posts in September. A measly nine posts. I've wanted to do more,

believe you me, but when you're a slave to your partner's schedule, you

take what you're given.  This whole relying on Paul to take my pictures

has got me thinking about my independence - or lack there of.  I have a

tripod, stored away somewhere unused due to the absence of confidence.

There's just something about setting up my camera and posing in front of

it all by myself that frightens me more than heights. Props to all those that

do this, how envious of your determination and courage I am!  It's just left

me feeling a little dependent.  I believe this is irking me because I was

raised by a strong, independent mother who always taught me to rely

on myself and not others for what I want.  Create my own dreams 

rather than wait for them to come to me.  Still, with all this in mind

my tripod remains untouched, my timidness continues, and there's

the realization I'm no Nellie McClung.  I'm no heroine, I'm more like

the doubtful best friend.  Sigh.  I want to be the heroine of my life.

So, how does one become fearless and in control? Where's the how-

to for dummy's when you need it? Would there even be such a thing?

I'm pretty sure I said before that bare-leg season is done. How wrong I

was! This is good news though. Now my pasty legs, that despite spending

plenty of time outside this summer remained remarkably pale, can get

some last minute sun. Soon enough I'll be Randy from A Christmas Story

and only my nose and the apples of my cheeks will be exposed to receive

the needed Vitamin D.  But for now the options for layering are endless.

 I was a little too warm in this cozy wool sweater but my heart was set

on this outfit - an outfit that made me feel as if I should be at the front

of the class teaching a bunch of kindergartners.  All I needed was a 

delicious, deep-red apple. 'Cause you know, teachers walk around with

apples in their hands. Proven fact.  I don't know about you but when I 

think of apples my mind goes to the evil stepmother in Snow White, not

kind, happy-go-lucky teachers. That and apple crisp. Nothing beats hot-

out-of-the-oven apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Not much anyways.

Outfit:

All items Thrifed