It's SNOW Good!

Explodingdog.com, I love you.

I love snow. I really do. Growing up, we lived in Southern Missouri where snow wasn't a huge thing, but Tornados and violent thunderstorms were. I also lived in Iowa as a very young child, which meant crazy snow and being bundled up in snow suites. And then? Nebraska. Talk about frozen tundra. The thing about Nebraska and winter is that it's completely flat and mostly tree-less, so covers from snow drifts and wind are nonexistent. I learned to love snow, to drive in snow, to really rejoice in the still and beauty of a slow snowfall. And now? Living in New Jersey, and with the most recent perpetual snowfall (19 inches in Central Park?!), I continue to love snow. It's a pain to drive in, especially with my little Toyota Yaris with its tiny wheels, but it's a trooper and it gets the job done. I love walking in the falling snow, schlepping through the piles, dreaming of snow ice cream, flying through stand-still snow falling on the highway, and relishing over a hot cup of coffee while it falls still outside. Call me nuts, but snow is part of what makes me most happy. Most get stressed about it, but I don't. (Okay, except when Tuvia is forced to drive to work and spins out on the highway and ... grrr ... )

So here's to snow, beautiful, fluffy, everywhere-all-the-time snow! (Which, I might add, we schlepped around in around midnight tonight on our way back home hanging out with the awesome Modestly Fashioned and Mr. Modestly Fashioned. We were blown away by how much snow was out there ... )

Itching for Fall

The weather around these parts (Teaneck, that is) has been nice and cool (and by that I mean mid to upper 70s), which has me itching for Fall and Winter. Stores already have placed sweaters and winter skirts out, and that means tis the season: Get ready, here comes the changing leaves and cool weather that allows those of us of the modestly dressed variety to blend in more comfortably (not that we need to, but I'm just saying).

Inspired by the weather, I reached to the back of my closet for my long Brown Corduroy skirt, and it's a little big on me, which is always a nice feeling when you go for the winter clothes, right? Topped it with a tissue tee and a sweater I picked up recently, and you have this little number, which screams of the blacks, grays, and browns of Fall and Winter.

Sigh. Here's hoping Fall arrives soon! Worse comes to worse, I'll just head back out to the Poconos, where Fall started a few weeks ago (I need to take pictures!). Here's a touch of detail on the sweater, which, might I add, is a perfect changing-season sweater because it's a halfsies sweater -- short sleeves, cropped top, and fairly lightweight. It makes the transition smooth!

The outfit broken down:

Tichel/Scarf ~ CoverYourHair.com ($6?)
Ankle-length, Brown Corduroy Skirt (Land's End, last year, $25.00, on sale)
Target Tissue Tee Undershirt ($10.00, I think)
Cropped Gray Sweater (Conway, $10 ... yes, $10)

Oh, and this photo? Taken with my brand new Canon Powershot SX20 IS. LOVE IT. Thanks Tuvia, you're a real mensch.

Poems and Pants

Ode to the Gray
Winter's tree stands tall and naked;
Branches barely there, it rises
like a puff of smoke
amid fall's remaining
shades of flame and rust.

I really, really miss writing. I think of little blurbs while in the bathtub trying to relax or while bouncing along on the 55 or 36. I used to carry pen and pad with me all the time. But now? Well, when you're crunched up in winter coats, people with newspapers spread out and shoulders broad and impeding ... it's hard to pull anything out of my bag to catch a few words.

On an unrelated note: One of my favorite things about Shabbat -- and this might seem really silly or shallow -- is that while the rest of the world is sporting jeans and sweatshirts for casual Fridays, I am wearing my best, anticipating the night's services where I can welcome in the sabbath and really, finally relax. Most people see their nice shoes, black slacks and nice sweaters as the constricting confines of the week's work and hustle-bustle ... but for me? Those slacks and sweaters are my gift of peace for just one day, after a week busy and tedious.