Finding Myself In The Closet

Last month I took a self-portraiture class, and I found that I responded to some of the prompts by reaching into my closet and dressing up. 

I wasn't trying to play a character, if anything I was allowing myself to be more me. 

I reached for two coats that I never wear because I'm not sure how to wear them, but I thought they would look pretty in photographs.

The funny thing is, that once I wore them around at home, I felt so comfortable in them.  Perhaps it's because they brought out a part of myself I wanted to express. They captured a delight I rarely allow myself to feel with clothing.

I tend to go for the daily "uniform" that serves as the backbone of my wardrobe. 

The green alpaca coat in the first photo, I knit a number of years ago.  I wrote about that process at the time, and also mentioned why I don't wear it more often on my "about" page.

The velvet coat was a gift from Mr. Savory one Christmas.  I have never worn it, not being sure if it was an indoor garment or an outer layer, but when I put it on with jeans, it clicked.  It felt elegant but not fancy, and it was fun to twirl around in on a frigid winter day. 

I hope I experiment like this more often.  The class offered me a comfortable environment to come out and play.  Life can't be all parkas and black wool overcoats!

Eating Citrus

We've been eating citrus all winter.  Edible sunshine.

 

Clementines. Cuties. Grapefruit. Blood Oranges. Minneolas.

 And, of course, drinking the morning orange juice.

 But our conversation has turned to how impatient we are for summer fruit.  March and April are the hardest.  I dig into the freezer for last summer's blueberries and try to remain creative, baking with local apples from our winter CSA. 

I remember my mother telling me that when she was a child she received oranges in her Christmas stocking.  It's hard to conjure delight for something that has become so common. 

Looking at these photos together refreshes me a bit, though.  Look at all that sunshine!

The First Saturday Of March

I begrudgingly accept the fact that while I may be ready, spring simply is not yet here (at least not as of last Saturday, the first day of March, when this photo was taken.)