fall – Leah Wise

month in review: 10/14

November 11, 2014Posted in thoughtsTagged fall, journal, month in review, october, party, pie, shenandoah, skyline driveLeave a comment

When’s the last time I did a Month in Review post? Why, it was January 2013!

I’ve been reading Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly and in it she cites research that indicates that those who are acutely aware of what they’re grateful for are more contented. That makes a lot of sense to me, but often I’d rather not “waste” time contemplating the good things; I’d rather distract myself with activities or blogs or online shopping. But I’ve been feeling awfully restless and discontent for no real reason, so I think it’s time to give this another try.

In October, I (often with Daniel in tow):

coordinated the thrift shop’s anniversary sale
attended a beautiful wedding
partied it up at a friend’s birthday party
visited with college friends who came to visit
picked apples at Carter Mountain Orchard
ate delicious, home cooked apple pie thanks to the friends who came to visit
sight saw on Skyline Drive on a foggy day
sang a solo part in the church choir
moved my fair trade blog over to Blogger (and got 1,070 views in the first month!)
wrote about lessons learned working at a thrift shop
went on my church’s 2nd annual hike
helped secure funding for the thrift shop’s maintenance fund
watched Fright Night with friends on Halloween
started reading Silence by Shusaku Endo

a beautiful day in the neighborhood

November 10, 2014Posted in UncategorizedTagged 50 mm lens, adventure, canon eos rebel xs, charlottesville, color, fall, fall leaves, landscape, photography, walk2 Comments

This fall is the best fall. Today is the best day.

I went on a meandering walk through my neighborhood this afternoon and discovered the loveliest views. It’s 65 and sunny. Neighbors are raking leaves, listening to music, and taking walks. The roads are quiet and the squirrels are out in crowds stocking up for winter. I was under the impression that most of the houses in my branch of the neighborhood were built in the early ’60s, but a few steps off the main road I discovered a Free Will Baptist Church and houses that must have been built around the turn of the 20th century.

I-64 lookouts

October 30, 2013October 30, 2013Posted in life in photosTagged 64 scenic lookouts, blue ridge mountains, charlottesville, fall, landscape photography, photography, valley, virginia, waynesboro1 Comment

I-64 boasts 2 lookouts between Waynesboro and Charlottesville. Since it’s a divided highway they’re only accessible going east from Waynesboro, so I have to wait until I have reason to head out that way to take in the view. This week I remembered to bring my camera along on a thrifting excursion, so I stopped at both lookouts on my way back home.

What a lovely fall day!

I asked the Century Link man who was stopped with me to take my photo. Thanks, Century Link man!

It’s days like these that make me fall in love with Virginia all over again. I’m lucky to live here.

Click on any image to see an enlarged version.

take a walk

October 5, 2013October 5, 2013Posted in life in photosTagged albino deer, bee gif, charlottesville, fall, fall leaves, insect photography, landscape, mountain view, nature photography, virginia, white deer, wildflowers5 Comments

Last Sunday, I took a walk right before golden hour hoping that I’d spot the mystical white deer that roams our neighborhood. I didn’t then – though we spotted it grazing in our yard last night at around 9:40! – but I did spot a patch of wildflowers pouring out from a neighbor’s yard into the sidewalk. It was full of bees and flies and late afternoon sunlight. I love this quaint little neighborhood with a mountain view and mature trees.

backyard

December 18, 2012Posted in life in photosTagged backyard, canon eos rebel xs, charlottesville, fall, landscape, macro, nature, photography, shallow dof, virginia, winter4 Comments

I haven’t been able to get out much lately. Between being poor, the weather looking like the above every other day, and Daniel being bogged down with schoolwork, we’ve been hesitant to get out there and enjoy the Virginia landscape. But I’m pleased to tell you that even our meager, rented backyard holds treasures: a pebble-encrusted walkway, a rotting pumpkin, mangled vines, and a bit of yellow in the neighbor’s yard.

live/wear

December 2, 2012Posted in inspirationTagged abstract, cardigan, elle decor, fall, interior design, livewear, modern, outfit, ruche, supermodernity, tapestry bag, tights, wedge sneakersLeave a comment

livewear

This outfit is a bit crazy. But this room is a bit crazy, in a good way. Who would have thought to mix a tangerine, oriental rug with graphic, modern art and über contemporary accents (apparently Elle Decor)?

I tried to pick up not only the color scheme but also the sense of texture and playfulness of the room in my outfit, accenting a gray chiffon dress with a patterned cardigan, carpet bag, and statement wedges. I’d like to lounge on that couch and peruse an art book for the afternoon. But I’m not sure I’d like to live here full time. Super modern isn’t really my thing.

While doing some “research” for this post (aka, looking up words to get some context for my thoughts), I stumbled upon this Wikipedia article on hypermodernity/supermodernity. So long, post modernism? Even fashion can be intellectual.

images & inspiration

November 30, 2012November 30, 2012Posted in inspirationTagged composition, crafts, diy, fall, fashion, images, inspiration, internet, photos, pinterest, set1 Comment

I love the composition and timeliness of this photograph by Elizabeth Messina for The Huffington Post.
Stripes and polka dots in fall colors appeal to me.
Inspired by Downton Abbey’s Season 3 wardrobe.
I’ve seen a few building projects that use unfinished crates from Michael’s, but this is one I might actually do.
The setting of this image makes very little sense, but I like the outfit and the stacks of books.
A photo by Paper Crowns, a Charlottesville blogger!

It’s almost time to write a four months in Charlottesville post. Isn’t it weird that it’s practically December?

end of season

November 25, 2012November 26, 2012Posted in life in photosTagged apple, apple picking, blue ridge mountains, carter mountain, charlottesville, fall, friends, hike, orchard, photography, virginia, winter2 Comments

We’ve heard a lot about Carter Mountain during the last few months. The orchard opens to tourists when apples are ripe for harvesting in the early fall. Most apples have been picked by this time of year, but we thought we’d take the trip anyway (it’s only 10 minutes away from our house) since Andrea was in town.

The view was more extraordinary than I expected so close to home and we all had a lovely time walking through the orchard (but the hike back up to the parking lot was torturous). We collectively picked one apple as a souvenir. I still haven’t eaten it. It’s probably going bad!

tree lighting

November 24, 2012November 24, 2012Posted in life in photosTagged black friday, charlottesville, christmas, downtown, downtown mall, dusk, fall, holiday, photos, season, tree lighting3 Comments

We headed downtown with my sister yesterday evening to witness the annual downtown Christmas Tree Lighting. Since we arrived early, we stopped by the coffee shop to say hello and pick up an iced mocha and mini muffins.

The tree lighting was a bit anticlimactic, but the weather was mild (though a cold front blew in swiftly last night) and the sky was teal after the sun set. After the tree was lit, we got some dinner at The Whiskey Jar, then shopped around before heading home.

I didn’t manage to get a single clear picture of the lit tree, so the above will have to suffice.

Today is my sister’s last full day in town. We plan to buy a tree and make the house festive this evening. Christmas has been a letdown for me the past couple of years. I really want to invest time and energy in the season this year – I want to do things the right way and be thankful and warm and content.

on wearing pants

November 16, 2012Posted in inspirationTagged cold weather, curvy, fall, ideas, inspiration, jeans, jeans shopping, mossimo, outfits, pants, pattern mixing, pear shaped figure, skinny jeans, style1 Comment

I do not like pants. I’d much prefer to wear a skirt or dress every day. There are a few reasons why I turned my back on pants: 1. my hips (ahem, and behind) grew disproportionate to my waist during my growing-up years (but really, who’s to say what’s disproportionate?); 2. the search for proper fitting jeans is endless, mind-numbing, and degrading; 3. skinny jeans with too little stretch are rather constricting; 4. I lived in Florida, so I didn’t really need to wear pants.

But now I live in a clime where fall and winter are real events, not just markers of time. The weather has been mild for the most part, but I’m beginning to regret walking from my car to work in a dress and knee high socks. My thighs are numb by the time I arrive. I need to suck it up and wear some pants (that sounds like a sexist metaphor, but if it weren’t sexist, I’d say that I just created a pretty great double meaning in that sentence).

I forced myself to brainstorm outfits that aren’t atrocious to get myself excited about jeans-wearing.

jeans outfits

Sheer shirt layered over tee + pattern mixing
Striped shirt + cardigan and moccasins
Casual graphic tee + cozy accessories
Tunic and flats + oversized sweater

Do you like jeans? How do you dress for cold weather?

Saunders-Monticello Trail

November 12, 2012Posted in life in photosTagged brisk, fall, jefferson, monticello, path, saunders-monticello trail, trail, walk3 Comments

A new friend invited me to join her and a pal for a mid-morning walk on the Saunders-Monticello Trail yesterday. The trail was developed by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in the late ’90s to provide a scenic route and recreational opportunities on the way to Monticello, Jefferson’s estate. The landscape showcases plant species native to Albemarle County and, with the late autumn sun shining through vast evergreens and fading orange leaves, looks like a luminous, fairytale land where sprites and elves cast spells and sing songs in the brush.

The three of us discussed some of my favorite topics – feminism, the church, politics, childhood – while walking briskly along the shaded trail. The weather was perfect. I had a wonderful time.

Woodstock, VA

November 7, 2012Posted in life in photosTagged adventure, cemetery, fall, family, hangglider, landscape, lookout, parasailer, photography, shenandoah valley, virginia, woodstock, woodstock tower2 Comments

After we visited Luray Caverns, we drove further into the Shenandoah Valley. At one point, we stopped on the side of a winding mountain road to fill up jugs with spring water gurgling out of a pipe. We stopped at my father-in-law’s friend’s family’s campground to park our car, then carpooled over to Woodstock, his childhood home.

Woodstock is a tiny town with a nearly 360 degree view of mountains. We ate at one of the only privately owned restaurants in town, then traveled a short distance to the church Daniel’s grandfather pastored for several years. We explored the small cemetery in the back. I have always enjoyed the stillness of cemeteries. They put life in perspective and reveal the universality of living across centuries and places. Everyone dies. Everyone grieves.

The next part of our journey required our tour guide to drive up a narrow dirt road with corkscrew turns and no barriers to keep us from falling off the mountain. I was glad I didn’t have to navigate it myself. We saw hang gliders and parasailers at their takeoff site on our way up. We parked the car, then took a brief hike up to Woodstock Tower. A narrow steel structure, it used to serve as a fire tower, but was later opened to the public. It provides a panoramic view of Woodstock and its surrounding towns and landscapes. The cold air numbed our faces, but I didn’t mind.

There are few experiences that can transport me out of the daily – the anxieties, the anticipations, the expectations. Looking out from the Woodstock Tower stands out as a moment I’ll continually cling to for comfort. I felt peace and liberty there. I felt refreshed and acutely aware of my body, of myself. Shutting down my internal dialogue – muting the white noise – and experiencing silence within myself, I looked out, my skin reacted to the chill, I was happy, I was fully aware of that happiness, what it meant, and how long it’d been since I’d felt exactly that way.

I came back to Charlottesville with a brimming-over love for the place I live. I am proud to live here. I love this town and its majestic, natural surroundings.

water lily thrift: november picks

November 1, 2012Posted in Water Lily ThriftTagged apples, boots, boutique, cold weather, dress, etsy, fall, november, sale, shop, sweater, vintage, water lily thriftLeave a comment

I do a product update about every week at my online vintage shop, but I thought I’d feature some November appropriate items, new (to my store) and old. Click on the image to go to the listing.

Apple Pickin’ Corduroy Dress

Green Bell Sleeve Dress

Maroon Western Motif Blouse

Knit Sweater

Purple Cape

1970s Ribbed Sweater

1970s Heeled Loafers

1990s Zipper Boots

1980s Cream Lace up Boots

Slouchy Cowgirl Boots

spiced chocolate cafe au lait

October 26, 2012Posted in DIYTagged at home, cafe au lait, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, espresso, fall, latte, nutmeg, recipe, spiced, spiced chocolate1 Comment

A simple way to (literally) spice up your morning coffee.

If I had a milk steamer, this whole process would be legit, but since I don’t have one (yet), I have to get creative to make foamy, steamy drinks at home. I also don’t own an espresso machine. Becoming a barista has shown me the error of my ways: I can’t call a blended coffee beverage a latte or mocha because those terms apply to espresso only. Therefore, today I bring you a simple recipe for Spiced Chocolate Cafe Au Lait (coffee and steamed milk) instead.

What you’ll need:

Ground medium or dark roast coffee
Ground Nutmeg
Ground Cinnamon
Chocolate Syrup
A blender or Magic Bullet
Milk
Whipped Cream or Marshmallows (optional – clearly, I didn’t add any)

Directions:

Brew enough coffee for one mug.
Pour desired amount of milk into microwave safe container and heat for 1 or 2 minutes until hot.
Blend coffee, heated milk, 2-3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, 2 shakes nutmeg, and 3 shakes cinnamon in a blender or Magic Bullet for 15 seconds or until desired amount of foam is created.
Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy.