Summer in the City

We're in the middle of a proper heatwave (107 F/42 C) that will probably stick around until for a few days. It is terribly humid, which just adds to the suffocating feeling. Our neighbours are moving today and we were joking that at least it isn't raining. What else can be said? I feel bad for them, and they're moving to the deep south where summers are even worse. I'll miss them though-they were a nice family to have next door. 

I've been making sure to splash some water on the plant leaves for the various insects and caterpillars needing a drink. This hungry caterpillar (it munched through several stalks of parsley) will eventually be a swallowtail butterfly. 

This one is invasive and destructive though-and definitely not welcome in the garden. They're beautiful, but bad news.

Our ceiling is scheduled for plastering/painting the second week of August, which is fine. Hopefully the heatwave will be but a memory and we'll be able to open the windows as the anti-mould treatment they need to use is definitely not something you want to breathe in a closed room. I'm looking forward to getting things put away, but I've also been using the chaos as an opportunity to go through and get rid of some stuff I no longer need. I also had time to dust the perfume trays which took hours. I've cleared out several bottles of that as well knowing I won't miss most of it. These days I've more or less settled into wearing the same few fragrances though obviously as the seasons change I'll want different stuff. Right now I've been enjoying wearing Coriandre as it plays well with high heat and humidity. 

I've been stuck in bed for the past few days (just more of the same being same, but annoying as hell) but on the days when I do need to get dressed beyond a pair of shorts and tee shirt, I'm struggling to put things together. Nothing really fits right after a thirty pound weight loss, and I'm not going to go out and buy new clothes knowing this is going to be temporary (sooner or later my body goes back where it belongs, and I stopped trying to interfere with that years ago). I don't mind wearing oversized clothing, but I do mind wearing ill fitting clothing, so that's been bugging me a bit. In cooler weather I can rely on sweaters instead of dresses with gaping arm holes. I'd settle for a cardigan that didn't slide off my shoulders when worn open. 

See that bagginess at the back of the top? That drives me mad. Then, I put a cardigan over it and forget about it until the cardigan starts sliding around. As for something bugging me I could actually do something about-I packed away the winter coats hanging in the hallway. I'll guess it is finally safe to do so, though as a friend pointed out, we're only about a month away from September and it could, in theory, snow. Midwest living is never dull. 

There's a new thrift store that opened nearby. They're a bit more expensive than the typical thrift shop (though they are also a true charity and the money goes directly to the cause) but they also have better-than-typical stuff. If I required attire for an office or upscale event I might turn to them for clothing, but my life being what it is, that's not the sort of stuff I would wear. The accessories however, are very, very, good. This vintage copper and enamel set were sold separately in different parts of the shop (I wonder if they even knew it was a set when pricing it) and ended up being quite the bargain. I adore copper, and this set has already been worn a few times since being purchased. I can see it becoming a summer staple with the shiny white enamel. Anyway, that was a pleasant surprise and as the shop is across the street from the post office, it is in a spot I frequently need to go by anyway. 

Sometimes, I find incredible things in unlikely places. Dan wanted to call in at the antique mall to look for some baseball cards, so I went along not expecting to find anything interesting for myself. Well! What I found were decidedly not antique, but worth the ten dollars I splashed out for a brand new, unworn pair of Irregular Choice shoes. 

They're a bit large, but nothing a few holes punched in the strap can't solve. I've never owned a pair of magenta shoes. Aren't they absolutely beautiful? Dan found some good baseball cards as well making the trip successful for all concerned. 

The yellow 70s pantsuit from Sears made an appearance. Hideous, sure but that's half the fun.

Let's have a better look at those flares. That's 1976 for you right there. The blue shell top is also vintage and has the obligatory zipper in the back so you don't disturb your hair getting dressed. 

Vintage Walborg raffia bag to complete the look. I'm happy the summer bags are getting a bit more wear than last year, even if I'm not going out all that much. Given the recent resurgence of the virus (thanks, Covidiots!) I'm limiting my trips out again . I never stopped wearing a mask, and it turns out that was a good decision. I'm having a hard time feeling sympathy for people that had access to the vaccine and didn't take it, and I'm going to be seriously angry if I (a person taking immune suppressive drugs) get a breakthrough case because of some ________( fill in the blank with the expletive of your choice). Anyway, crowded stores are going to be a firm, "No" for me and I'll go back to shopping early in the mornings or late at night. I'm worried about what will happen when school re-opens and offices go back to full capacity, but other than doing what I've been doing for the last year, there isn't much more to be done. Sorry-what was I taking about? Oh that's right, summer handbags. Sorry if I got a bit off topic there. 

This is a super-lightweight cotton dress originally from a fast fashion house (Forever 21) that ended up in the window at Hand Me Ups, and for a dollar I really couldn't refuse. I'm not exactly built for strapless dresses but I'm also not built for 107 degree F heat so we're all getting out of our comfort zones these days! When my weight eventually restores I'll likely turn this into a maxi skirt, but for this summer it is just about perfect. 

Looking forward to a haircut when the weather cools off. No point trying to do anything with it in summer as it will just frizz up the minute I step outside. I've been giving it conditioning treatments because it seems like the thing to do. The lovely young woman working at the Sally's took the time to help me check the ingredient list on the various hair masques as I'm allergic to mangoes and avocadoes (both in the latex family) and they're popular ingredients in products for curly hair. Even with new specs it is near impossible for me to read the tiny print of cosmetic packaging. It was very kind of her to help. I'm long past being embarrassed by getting old.

This dress is very old-I bought it new in the early 90s (I think. It might have been late 80s). It has a bit of stretch in the fabric and as a result can accommodate a wide range of dress sizes without looking too big or too small. I mean, there's a limit-I couldn't wear it over a size 14 without looking like I'd been squeezed into a sausage casing, but otherwise it is quite wearable. So I wore it😀 

Here's the dress back in November of 2013!

and 2014

and 2018...

Anyway, you get the idea-I wear it a lot.

Grabbed the opportunity to wear another summer bag and an arm full of bangles (Only the large brown one is Bakelite, but the imposters do play the part well). 

Our postman brought a package all the way from the UK containing this beautiful bag (and a bracelet I forgot to photograph) from the lovely Mim of Crinoline Robot. To say I adore it wouldn't quite capture the delighted scream I let out when I opened the package. I have very little snakeskin(must pronounce it "SNEK") in my collection although I love it. This is going to be my autumn go-to handbag as I wear so much brown and black. The beautiful bracelet will I promise get photographed for the next post. Thank you Mim for being such a good friend and knowing my taste so perfectly. I might not have any clothes that fit, but I have the best handbag in Omaha (if not Nebraska). 

That's about it from here for now. I hope summer is going well where you are. Stay well. Don't let anyone breathe on you.