A weak catalog moment...please let it pass

I received my Talbots Spring Catalog yesterday.  Oh my.

I love Talbots.  Yes, they are/were for old ladies.  But they have some really nice classic pieces and if you're going to have to buy a good wool pencil skirt, then buy the best you can afford.  It really will last you forever. And as I cannot afford couture, Talbots is often the best I can afford.  I have had a charge card with them for 25 years.  Yes, 25 years.  For awhile, they made me a little nervous because the clothes had gotten quite frumpy.  Then the new CEO came on board and they did a survey which showed even the old ladies who were previously their target market, weren't shopping with them.  Time to retool.  So they are working at becoming more relevant to stylish women of any age.  And it seems to be working.  Look at these beauties:

A basic silhouette, but the color combination of the black/khaki/turquoise is simply gorgeous.

I really did gasp when I saw this blouse.  Go to the Talbot's website to see the details.  Beautiful!

It's a spring weight cashmere sweater.  And it's fitted.  Who can resist?

Remember the preppy 80's denim skirt?  This is not that. 

And then they have this chambray ruffle thing.  I can't stand myself, I just want it!

A platform is but a dream at this point in my life.  Having sprained my right ankle FOUR times, I can no longer wear anything over 3 inches without being in immediate and agonizing pain.  But the color is so perfect.

Ditto on these guys.

But I could wear these little guys. 

These are those fab platforms again, but I had to post this picture because I like that they are using Dayle Haddon in their catalogs.  In her sixties, she's still beautiful and I struggle to find beautiful women over the age of 20 in the catalogs anymore-:).

No, this is not a Talbots photo.  But while I was thinking about beautiful women over 20, Carmen Dell'Orefice came to mind.  In her late seventies, she is probably one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.  I pray my hair will be that beautiful when it goes all white, but that's a pretty tall order.

And just one more photo to get my point across.

While I won't go out and buy these items, I do appreciate their beauty and the craftsmanship in their contstruction.  As a daughter of a seamstress, you can't help but notice certain details, fabric, color, etc. 

Fortunately, I've hidden my charge card and given my Fibro. Fog, I'm sure I can't remember where it is.  Lucky me!



Friends

Drawing by Cecil Aldin

I don't have many "real live in-person" kind of friends, but of those few, I have some good ones.

Last night, I had a great meeting with the Nerd Club.  The Nerd Club is made up of my neice and nephew and moi.  We all write in one form or another and so our meetings surround the writing process, our goals, our frustrations, etc.  I used to babysit these two (they're cousins, not siblilngs, btw) and it's a real pleasure to know them as adults.  The photo above is of lazy puppies - a non-activity we have elevated to an artform!

Regarding the artwork, I LUV Cecil Aldin's work.  He was an illustrator known for his animal drawings, particularly dogs and horses.  I draw animals and can only dream to do work as beautiful as this.  But I keep trying-:)

(Gene and friends)

And then this afternoon I had a lovely visit with two girlfriends.  We met through our boys but have our own friendships which are a treasure  This was our first outing sans boys and we've decided on a monthly visit because it was glorious to sit there without boys!  Now we didn't sing and dance ala Gene, Debbie and Donald, but a great time was had nonetheless.

Of course you knew it wouldn't be too long before I posted a Gene photo.  For you newer readers, I adore him.  I could watch Gene Kelly movies 24/7 and be quite happy, thank you.  His dance sequences are mesmerizing and I could rewind over and over to see them. This particular shot is from Singing in the Rain. 

I've often read of the importance of being with friends.  You live longer, you're happier, etc.  But with this HP Life, it becomes so difficult to find the time.  But I can say I came home last night feeling cheered about life, and then today as well.  I must remember this.

Work day tomorrow and the CO Boy is after me to crawl in bed and draw. 

So that's what we shall do.

Library Love - The Dust Bowl in photographs and then some

Most everyone has seen this photo taken by Dorothea Lange in the thirties. 

For those of you who haven't heard me gush about our new library, well...it's just the best thing ever.  The selection is like a bookstore and I wander the shelves finding the most interesting things.

This past week, I checked out "The Dust Bowl through the lens: how photography revealed and helped remedy a national disaster," by Martin Sandler.  Lots of Dorothea Lange photographs are included as she was part of the WPA work at the time.  The book is a wonderful combination of visual history with a text that is just as interesting and readable.  Yes, I knew about the hard times.  Yes, I knew it had an incredible impact on those who survived.  But this book put such an amazing light on it and showed the power of the photo in terms of making others aware of the issues.  Issues from ploughing up all the grass, leaving nothing but dust, to families having to make the decision to pull out of their homesteads or try to stick it out when they'd just sold the tires off of their car for food.

I know things are tough right now for so many people and we are calling this The Great Recession.  But look at the photos in this book.  It will put it all in perspective, I think.

And for some lighter reading, I just turned the last page on Rhys Bowen's first book of "Her Royal Spyness" series.  What fun!  It's 1932 and Lady Georgiana is about 28th or so in line to inherit the thrown but also penniless.  She finds a dead body in her bathtub and sleuths to find the murderer before he murders her as well.  If you like historical cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy this one. 

Finally, I'm starting a Kate Morton book, "The Distant Hours".  Here's the blurb:

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoonwith the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret.  Evacuated from London as a thirteen year old girl, Edie’s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe, andtaken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters and their father, Raymond,author of the 1918 children’s classic The True History of the Mud Man. 

It was a holiday weekend with MLK day yesterday, and the extra day was just enough for me to pore over my books.  But tomorrow it's back to work and just maybe I'll be able to steal a moment to read a chapter each night.  I'm not hopeful but we'll see!

If you're reading something wonderful that I need to know about, please chime in.  And if you're reading something dreadful and would like to warn me, by all means...chime in-:)

Gus and The Colorado Boy

He is a patient soul in his mid-teens.

He is many times the size of the little people he allows to lead him.

And the Colorado Boy wishes Gus could live in our backyard.

I love to watch them as he learns to ride.  Gus already knows how - many times over.  But the CO. Boy is catching on.  This was only his third lesson, and his first lesson back since the broken arm incident in September.  He had no problems remembering what Miss Kim had taught him.  Kids are amazing that way.

The CO Boy's papi pretended to be Gus as Miss Kim reviewed some basic reining with him.

Finally, some balance work and then a little trot to end the day.

The Church says animals don't have souls and don't go to heaven.  Well, strike me down if you like....'cuz I'm certain my sweet dog, Basie is saving a spot for Gus.





Back to Pajama Days

Fox Island in January by Heidi Malott

We woke up to snow this morning.  Beautiful.  I'm sitting inside with pajamas on.  I'll venture out today to do a grocery run and come back and huddle in for the day.

The CO Boy was supposed to have his riding lesson today but seeing how it is actively snowing as I write, it's douibtful.  He'd be more than happy to ride in the snow if his riding coach gave the okay.  He is starting  back with his riding after breaking his arm this September.

As regular LittleRuthie readers know, I treasure Pajama Days.  PJ Days are my days to remove myself from  society and they usually occur on Sundays when I'm starting to feel the overwhelming energy of everyone else.  So I sit inside my home and stay quiet.  Pajamas are required.

Today I'll probably think.about the new year. Even though I don't generally make resolutions, I like to think about the year ahead and what I'd like out of it.

But maybe I'll come back later with some resoltuions.  That'd be a first.  I'll let you know.

Why'd I switch and what's with the name?

Some of you have been with me at my old blog, LittleRuthie (LR).  I'd been there for a time, but when I decided to blog again, LittleRuthie didn't feel right (plus it's a Typepad blog, and I'm not wanting to pay up any longer.)

But also, my life has changed so much since I first began blogging at LR.  I wanted a change. 

And I sort of liked the name, "Hautes Plaines Girl".  Part of me is squarely in my world here on the Colorado plains.  I enjoy the open space and the annual county fair.  I mean, what's not to like about funnel cakes and 4H livestock judging, I ask you?  But the other part of me still wants to learn French, go to France and study and just live a life with a little less cub scouts, 8-yr. old baseball and Taco Bell.

But I'd be missing this:

The Colorado Boy's first time to sing publicly with his Papi (dad).

Or,

Colorado Boy in Utah with his papi.
And finally...

Fishing after school

So that's what's up with the name.  I'm conflicted.

Thanks Mary-Laure and Margaret for your French grammar advice.  I'm pretty sure, I'd have botched it up all on my own.  The whole gender agreement thing just messes with me.

I've missed you guys

Did you miss me??

But I've been exhausted with the holidays and work and just life.  I needed a break.


I spent time with my guys and played in the snow...


Worked for my sister at her tea room every single weekend during the holidays...




Read some books...

And just spent time being quiet.



But I'm ready to come back out and socialize...


So come by again, okay?


1. Finegan from thedailypuppy.com, 2. kenze's photostream, 3. HuffingtonPost, 4. yoga teacher training in UK, 5. Tim Holt photos, 6. petswebmd.comhttp://pets.webmd.com/dogs/slideshow-exercising-with-your-dog,