Chic Whimsy

If you are anything like me, you have quite a few items that are staring at you from the back of your closet just begging to be worn or given away. Originally, I was thinking of doing a “30 in 30” challenge- picking 30 items to remix over 30 days, but that just seemed to be too much of a commitment for me right now. So I decided this week to pick 5 items that I haven’t worn for a long time (or ever!), and remix those pieces into my work wardrobe. Hopefully this inspires some new outfits for me, or at the very least enables me to let go of these pieces so they may find a new found appreciation with a new owner!

So I went to a local antique shop downtown where I have been many times before and lo and behold I came upon a  fantastic discovery!! They have…wait for it… a HUGE second room!!! I’ve always liked this store, everything is displayed and categorized well, but now I’m completely OBSESSED with the place!! Among the finds in the back room» a 50% off wall (where I found this great hammered pewter pitcher for $10! it has a few dents but I LOVE it), and a fabulous vintage clothing area which includes a great selection of hats (still thinking about a hat in particular that I may have to go back for!!).

I decided to use my new pitcher as a vase in the bedroom. The fall foliage is from my front flower garden, which I want to enjoy before it’s too late. This is, after-all, Minne-so-ta!! Where the falls are gorgeous, but short!!

Ever since I read “Where the Red Fern Grows” and subsequently watched the movie I vowed to never read another book about an animal again. If you’ve read the book or seen the movie you undoubtedly know why I feel this way. Don’t get me wrong it’s one of the best books I read as a teenager but also the saddest!

Well this year in my stocking Santa (knowing I love animals especially cats) decided to bring me 2 books about cats: “Dewey- The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World” & “Homer’s Odyssey”. I chose to take on “Dewey” first.

What a touching story this turned out to be! I have a cat of my own, Jackson, who we saved while on vacation in Jackson, Michigan six and a half years ago, so, many parts of Vicki Myron’s story about Dewey tugged on my heart strings. Throughout the reading, I admit, I reached for a tissue quite a few times being reminded of Jackson’s rescue and how he wriggled his way into my heart, then our home and our lives.

Since this is a story about a cat’s life, you can only guess how it ends. I knew what was coming the entire time I read on, I pushed forward but wasn’t prepared for the multitude of emotion that came flooding out, literally! I think eight tissues were needed to capture “the flood” (which also reminds me of a Jackson story, but that I will share another day). I closed the book, dried my eyes, long enough to see and picked up my own fluff-ball to hug and squeeze him tight!

I’m glad I read “Dewey”, it reminded me how everyone -human or animal alike, touches each of us. Read this book if you’re an animal lover, a cat lover or not- just to be reminded that you matter, we all matter.

~Jackson 2010~