Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #43

Time to replace my lovely autumnal wreath from Lynch Creek Farm with one more suitable for winter!

Last week was very quiet around here, and I did not go into town at all so there was no need to dress up.  I did wear slightly less casual apparel (i.e., nicer than barn clothes!) for Thanksgiving, so that is the outfit that I am sharing today.  When the weather turns cold I most often wear a sweatshirt, long-sleeved tee, jeans, wool socks, and warm slippers around the house.  My Thanksgiving outfit was pretty much the same except that I decided to wear corduroy pants and a "nicer" sweatshirt and tee, which are still too new to wear for barn chores:

Clockwise from top left: Indian Believes Ethnic Horse Sweatshirt in Camel (color modified slightly to resemble my much less expensive version); L.L. Bean Women's Perfect Fit Knit Cords in Black Coffee (similar to mine); L.L. Bean Women's Daybreak Scuffs in Graphite/Puffin (design no longer available); L.L. Bean Women's Scoopneck Long-Sleeve Organic Cotton Tee in Natural (similar to mine); Center: Bombas Women's Merino Wool Calf Socks in Oatmeal.

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I highly recommend both the L.L. Bean scuffs and the Bombas wool socks for keeping your feet warm on cold wintry days.  An added bonus is that for every pair of socks sold Bombas will donate a pair to a homeless shelter, so each pair you buy will keep your feet warm as well as the feet of someone less fortunate - they are a great Christmas gift!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration, even if you decided to avoid large family gatherings.

Now it is time to turn my thoughts to the upcoming Christmas/ Hanukkah/Winter Solstice season, which will also be a solitary celebration here, but at least I can make the house look festive and bring out the seasonal apparel.  I do highly recommend the wreaths from Lynch Creek Farm, which arrive fresh and oh-so-fragrant with the scent of evergreens - they have so many designs to choose from, although they are selling out of some of them fast.  Have a great week, and stay safe!

Foodie Fridays: Red Cabbage and Delicata Squash

This is the time of year to cook winter squash, and since I have never cooked or eaten a delicata squash before, I decided to give it a try.  I was especially intrigued by this variety of squash because the rind turns soft and is edible after cooked.  I found a recipe that combined this squash with red cabbage on a website called The Good Eats Company.  The only thing I changed was to use cinnamon instead of white pepper in the red cabbage.  I served this side dish with cheddar cheese pierogis (available in the frozen food section of the supermarket) and enjoyed it.  Next time I will add more seasoning to the squash (I only used a light sprinkling of salt and it could have used more) and might even brush the slices with some maple syrup just after they come out of the oven for more flavor, but I will definitely make delicata squash again!

Red Cabbage and Delicata Squash

2 T. olive oil
1 delicata squash
salt and pepper to taste
¾ C. finely diced red onion
8 C. (about 2 lbs.) finely shredded red cabbage
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 T. light brown sugar
3 T. red wine or apple cider vinegar

Cut the ends off of the squash and cut it in half lengthwise.  Scrape out the seeds.  Slice into 1/2- inch crescents.  On a large baking sheet, toss with 1 T. olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.  Spread out the slices.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and set aside. 

In very large sauté pan, combine the red onion with 1 T. olive oil over medium-high heat.  When the onion begins to sizzle, turn the heat to medium and stir frequently until it begins to turn translucent and tender, about 10 minutes (adjust the heat to prevent browning).

Add the red cabbage with 1 tsp. salt and 1 C. water, using tongs to coat well.  Cover the skillet on high heat and bring to a boil.  Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the cabbage is mostly tender.  Add the cinnamon, sugar, and vinegar, tossing well, and cook, covered, another 5-10 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent scorching (add a touch of water if it looks dry).

Top the cabbage in a serving platter with the roasted squash. May be served warm or at room temperature.  Serves 8.

This 'n That Thursdays: The Pandemic Popularity of Cottagecore, Part 4 - Two More Vlogs

My version of a cozy, cottagecore-inspired Thanksgiving table.

I thought I was done with cottagecore and was ready to move on to hygge lifestyle vlogs, but I did find two more vlogs that have a cottagecore vibe and I thought I would share them in this short Thanksgiving Day post.  One is from China and the other is from South Korea, so let's start with the on from China first:

Lizhangliu: Like the other Chinese vlogs I have described, this one features a young woman who lives in a rural area, this time in the Sichuan Province.  She too lives a simple and hard-working traditional rural lifestyle, growing, harvesting, and preparing the food she eats, often accompanied by one or more of her three cute cats (a mother and two half-grown kittens):

Next up is the vlog from South Korea:

Nayongsoop: This young woman lives in a small house in a rural forested area.  She and her parents built the house themselves, and are still in the process of fixing it up.  The vlog features many of the simple home improvements made as well as a number of recipes made with local produce.  I am including two of the videos, the first one her most recent and the second which answers many viewer questions about various aspects of her life and vlog:

Wish List Wednesdays: Paulownia Wood Tray and Votives Set

Once Thanksgiving is over I will be thinking about decorating my home for Christmas, and while I do not want to purchase too many items (I have a huge collection of Christmas décor back in Georgia just waiting to be packed up and moved here to New Mexico), I am really liking the Creative Co-Op Paulownia Wood Tray and Votives Set ($38.00) available from Nordstrom as a way to add just a touch of holiday cheer.  The rustic wood tray and votive holders in shades of green are appropriate at any time of the year, so I could leave it out even after the holidays.  I am really obsessed with the warm glow of candlelight right now as colder weather approaches, so this delightful votive candles tray will be making its way to my house soon!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #42

Poor little Madison!

I did not think I would be going in to town at all last week, but of course life never turns out as planned!  My poor dog Madison was still not recovered from her painful left hip issue even after two weeks, so I decided to take her to the vet and have the hip x-rayed.  It turns out that she has a bone spur in her hip joint which will always be a problem from now on, and will eventually lead to arthritis in that hip.  The vet recommended that she mostly be walked on a leash from now on, with occasional off-leash activity which will give her pain but which my Madison could not live without (she loves to run and it would be cruel to prevent her from running completely).  She was prescribed pain medication to be given sparingly as needed.  Many years ago I developed a bone spur on one of the vertebrae in my neck.  The orthopedist told me I had one of two options - have surgery done which would immediately relieve the pain but would result in restricted movement, or wait until the irritated nerve endings died from the constant rubbing on the bone spur, which would also stop the pain.  I opted for the latter and it worked, so maybe if Madison is lucky the same will happen for her.

Since I had to go in to town to take Madison to the vet, I decided to run the few errands that I had intended to do next week.  We are currently in lockdown thanks to the rather rapid surge in COVID-19 cases here.  This means that only essential businesses are open, and even those must close for two weeks if they have too many coronavirus cases among their employees (both of our local Walmarts have closed, fortunately not simultaneously, as well as our Target store).  Since only a limited number of customers are allowed in the stores at a time, we are once again waiting in line for our turn to shop.  I knew this would be happening so I allowed myself plenty of time to shop at only two stores.  It was indeed slow going, since even those who are not planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with extended family were still shopping for special ingredients for their smaller celebrations.  Everyone was very good about wearing masks and social distancing, but a few were rather disgruntled about once again having to wait in line (I do understand their frustration, but luckily most people, myself included, were resigned to being patient for the good of our community).  Anyway, this is the outfit I wore for my one public foray last week:

Clockwise from top left: E.D. Marshall Jewelers Vintage Navajo Handmade White and Brown Shell Heishi Bead Necklace (similar to mine); Ridgeway Fleece Vest in Bark (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Diabetic Women's Crew Socks in Brown; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Rachel Comey Norm Straight-Leg Jeans in Khaki (similar to my much less expensive pair); Silver Western Buckle Skinny Belt in Camel (similar to mine); NE PEOPLE Women's Basic Long Sleeve V Neck Casual T Shirt in Chocolate (similar to mine).

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Our lockdown is supposed to be over at the end of the month, unless the situation in New Mexico worsens instead of improves or at least holds steady.  Hopefully the number of new COVID-19 cases and in particular the frightening increase in the number of deaths due to the virus in the state will make people think twice about risking exposing themselves and their loved ones to infection, but I have a feeling that cases will keep increasing during this holiday season as it is truly hard for many people to isolate from loved ones during the holidays.  Please everyone, do what you can to keep yourself and others from becoming another statistic during this interminable pandemic.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving however you choose to celebrate, and stay safe!

This 'n That Thursdays: The Pandemic Popularity of Cottagecore, Part 3

From Real Simple

As promised weeks ago, it is time to leave China and take a look at YouTube vlogs with a cottagecore vibe from other nations.  These six vlogs will take us rather quickly across the globe on the way back to the United States, where we will spend most of our time in this post.  Let's start by staying in Asia just a bit longer.

Nayong's Life: In South Korea, a city girl moves to the country, adopts a cat, and lives a quiet, simple, and more traditional Korean rural lifestyle (usually updated about once a week):

Fairyland Cottage: From South Korea we jump to Ireland, where another young woman moves to the Irish countryside with her husband for a simpler life and greater connection to nature.  This vlog is updated every Sunday, and to me really exemplifies what those seeking a cottagecore lifestyle are striving to achieve:

We can now finally make our way back home to the United States, where I have found four favorite vlogs that share a cottagecore vibe!

The Cottage Fairy: First up is a young woman who moved to a tiny cottage in a very rural area of Washington state (along with her black lab and cute bunny!) to spend more time on her artwork when not at her day job as a teacher.  Once again a deeper connection to nature as well as simplifying her life were major goals.  This vlog is usually updated every Thursday:

Daughter of Old: The young woman in this vlog has spent her entire life in her rural Virginia hometown living a simple life as a freelance artist and aspiring herbalist.  However, she recently decided to seek out a new place to live and moved across the country to a family cottage on an island off the coast of Washington.  She will be exploring other areas in the future until she finds the place that feels right for putting down new roots, a place where she can once again connect with nature and live a quiet rural life.  Her vlogs have not been as frequent as usual due to the move and the recent adoption of an adorable puppy, but she has just started vlogging again and hopes to get back to updating more often:

Girl in Calico: A young woman dedicated to slow and traditional living through the seasons practices this lifestyle on a cozy Midwestern homestead.  These vlogs are not updated as frequently as most, usually about once a month, but each new installment packs so much information and visual delight into a short video that they are worth waiting for:

Letters from Avalin Cottage: This vlog is very different from the others, but it is one of my favorites!  A Southern single mom with two older children and a number of cats and dogs falls in love with an Alabama fairytale cottage that has seen better days, buys it, and is now working on transforming it into the cottagecore home of her dreams.  This sweet, sassy, and funny Southern lady is a joy to watch!  She does not shy away from describing the ups and downs of her life, warts and all, but does it in the most hilarious way.  This vlog is fairly new and there are a few problems with the sound volume sometimes, but I look forward to every one of her videos.  Updates are fairly frequent, usually at least once a week:

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This post wraps up my tour of cottagecore lifestyle vlogs that I follow on YouTube (also see Part 1 and Part 2 if you are interested and missed them).  I find cottagecore fascinating and would not mind incorporating some of the ideas into my own life.  The idea of a simple, nature-centered, cozy rural lifestyle is appealing, but the vintage, old-fashioned, romantic aspects of cottagecore do not fit with my aesthetic.  Since I am also drawn to the more minimalist Scandinavian hygge lifestyle, my next post, when I get the chance to work on it, will describe the vlogs I have found which revolve around this concept.  Since next Thursday is Thanksgiving, I know it will be at least two weeks before I can get this done, so until then stay safe, stay healthy, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wish List Wednesdays: Gorey Greetings Holiday Cards

 

I am a big fan of the artwork of Edward Gorey, so it should come as no surprise that I am delighted by these Gorey Greetings Holiday Cards ($16.95) from Bas Bleu.  The boxed set of twenty features five 5"x7" cards each of four unique designs (envelopes included of course).  The simple message of "Seasons Greetings" on the inside leaves plenty of room for your own handwritten sentiments.  2020 has certainly been one of the most bizarre years we have ever experienced, and these cards would be an ideal way to send this year on its way!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #41

From KRQE News 13

COVID-19 cases have been increasing dramatically in New Mexico lately, so much so that we are basically back to sheltering in place for at least the next two weeks.  Fortunately I only had to go into town once last week for my essentials shopping trip, and will probably only need to make one more trip before the end of the month.  Our weather is definitely headed in a wintry direction, and it is cool enough to need a coat most of the time.  I had to wear a lightweight down jacket for my shopping trip, and it stayed on all day, although I did wear it unzipped as the day got warmer.  Here is the entire outfit I wore:

Clockwise from top left: L.L. Bean Women's Long-Sleeve Stand-Up Neck Pima Cotton Tee in Black Forest Green (similar to mine); Tribal Muse African Kekeore Organic Seed Multi-Strand Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket in Black (similar to mine); MediPEDS Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch Waist Chinos in Saddle; Skinny Belt with Oval Buckle (similar to mine).

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Much as my husband would like to come to Santa Fe after the end of his fall semester of teaching, we have decided that it is just too risky, so we will be spending the next few months of holidays on our own.  Even after he retires at the end of the year, he will probably not make the move to Santa Fe until summer 2021, which means we will miss celebrating together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and Day, both of our birthdays, Valentine's Day, our anniversary in April, and every other holiday until then.  Even so, we do have plenty to be thankful for, our health first and foremost of course, so we will refrain from complaining and carry on as best we can, just like everyone else will be doing during the pandemic.  I hope all of you out there stay well and find ways to communicate with loved ones even if you cannot be together physically.

Foodie Fridays: Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Stew

Colder weather has put me in the mood for warm and hearty soups and stews, and the recipe for Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup from the Half Baked Harvest website was just the sort of dish I was looking for.  I chose to make the stove top version rather than use my slow cooker, since it was quicker and just as easy.  I did not have celery but still had some zucchini left from my now-defunct vegetable garden, so I added that instead.  Also, I used baby greens instead of kale because they require no prep work at all, and you must know by now what a lazy cook I am!

I had a large can of tomato sauce that I wanted to use up, so I replaced most of the chicken broth with the tomato sauce and left out the tomato paste called for in the original recipe.  I decided to omit the addition of cheese to the recipe as well since the cheese tortellini added more than enough of that ingredient for me.  The end result was a dish much heartier than a soup, so I call my version a stew.  By any name, this dish is just what I needed on a chilly night.  If cold weather has reached your neck of the woods, you might want to give this recipe a try too!

Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Stew

1/4 C. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6 carrots, diced
2 medium zucchini, diced
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. fresh thyme leaves (or 2 tsp. dried)
1 T. basil
1 T. oregano
2 tsp. fennel seeds
1 tsp. smoked paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1 large can (29 oz.) tomato sauce (I used unsalted)
1/2 C. white wine
2 C. vegetable or chicken broth (I used unsalted)
1 container (5 oz.) mixed baby greens
1/2 C. whole milk or heavy cream
1 lb. cheese tortellini

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the onion and carrots and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the zucchini and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic, thyme, basil, oregano, fennel, paprika, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.  Cook another 5 minutes, until very fragrant.  Stir in the tomato sauce, wine, and broth.  Simmer over medium heat for 20-30 minutes, until the carrots are tender.

About 10 minutes before serving, stir in the baby greens, cream, and tortellini.  Serve the soup topped with grated Parmesan, if desired. Serves 6.

Wish List Wednesdays: Pottery Barn Festive Dogs Stoneware Mugs

 

I am truly a sucker for canine-themed Christmas items, so of course I am loving the Festive Dogs Stoneware Mugs (on sale for a limited time at $42.50 for a set of four) from Pottery Barn! These 12-ounce mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe, and decorated with French and English bulldogs, beagles, and Yorkshire terriers dressed in holiday finery.  These mugs would bring cheer to any Yuletide celebration, and this has certainly been a year when we could use as much cheer as possible!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outift of the Week #40

 

Happy Sunday after Election Day, everyone!  Aren't you glad it is over, and we can move on to other less stressful topics?  Like the weather - the photo above was taken the Tuesday before Halloween (you can just barely see my jack o' lantern in the French door window at the back of the courtyard).  It looks more like perfect Christmas weather!  Fortunately temperatures warmed up again a few days later and our four inches of snow is long gone, although we may get a dusting of snow again tomorrow.  Such is November, as winter slowly attempts to push fall out of the way here.  My two trips into town last week were on fairly mild days so a fleece vest over a long-sleeved t-shirt was warm enough for me. 

I was actually not really planning to go into town at all last week, but my dogs keep having minor health issues so I ended up at the vet's office twice, once to take Madison in after she sprained a hip chasing a bunny (she is now on NSAIDS and leash walks for a week while she heals) and again to pick up more medication for Ruby, who suffers from occasional bouts of clostridial enterotoxicosis which require antibiotics.  I think they both know that they are supposed to go in for a bath this month and are doing their best to come up with ways to avoid the inevitable!

First up is the outfit I wore to take Madison in for her vet exam:

Clockwise from top left: Goldtone Cloisonné Enamel Flower Bell Shape Pendant Necklace (similar to mine); L.L. Bean Women's Trail Model Fleece Vest in Teal Green Heather (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); No Nonsense Women's Flat Knit Crew Socks in Denim Blue; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Old Navy Women's Mid-Rise Boyfriend Straight Jeans in Light Wash (sold out); Brooks Brothers Women's Suede Whip-Stitched Waist Belt in Copper (similar to mine); Port & Company Women's Classic Silhouette T-Shirt in Lime Green (color modified to match my similar shirt).

Later in the week I wore this outfit for my second trip back to the vet's office, and to run a few quick errands (for some reason I could only find some items similar to mine in men's clothing, even though mine are women's apparel!):

Clockwise from top left: lilagracejewellery Sterling Silver Personalized Hedgehog Necklace (similar to mine); Ridgeway Fleece Vest in Bark (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Foot Traffic Men's Equine Socks (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Lee Women's High Rise Relaxed Fit Straight Ankle Jean in Compass (similar to mine); Silver Western Buckle Skinny Belt in Camel (similar to mine); Fair Indigo Fair Trade Organic Men's Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt in Auburn (similar to mine).

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This week promises to be much colder than last week.  It won't be long before I will be breaking out the heavy sweaters and winter coats.  I have to say that I have been enjoying our mild fall after enduring such a hot summer, but I think I am ready for cold weather.  I really need to start thinking about ordering Christmas gifts, and winter temperatures should get me in the mood!  I hope everyone enjoys a slightly less anxiety-filled week, even if you still have to worry about a drastic uptick in COVID-19 cases, like we are seeing here in Santa Fe.  Just keep reminding yourself that things will eventually get better!

Foodie Fridays: Quick Avocado Toast Dinner

I tend to be reluctant to buy fresh avocados because I rarely remember to use them before they start to go bad.  Recently I discovered prepackaged diced avocado which can be stored in the fridge for a while until needed.  I gave it a try and it is actually pretty good.  I used this prepackaged avocado in a recipe from the Yoga International website for a Quick Avocado Toast Dinner.  While the recipe is almost identical to one I posted for Avocado Toast, there are some minor differences which I consider to be improvements (the addition of hummus, fried eggs instead of hard-boiled).  I enjoyed this meal so much I had it again the next day.  Sometimes I am just in the mood to have breakfast for dinner, and this quick and simple recipe really satisfies that craving!

Quick Avocado Toast Dinner

1/2 avocado (or 1/2 package diced avocado)
salt and pepper to taste
1 T. butter
2 eggs
2 slices bread
3 T. hummus (I used this brand)
arugula or other baby greens
everything bagel seasoning or smoked paprika

If using fresh avocado, mash together the avocado, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.  Set aside.

Heat 1/2 T. butter in a small pan and fry the eggs.  While the eggs are frying, toast the bread.

Spread each piece of toast with the remaining butter.  Top with the avocado and hummus.  Place a few leaves of greens over the hummus and top with an egg.  Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning or smoked paprika.  Serves 1.

Wish List Wednesdays: Aldo Pumpkin Stoneware Salad Plates from Pottery Barn

 

November has arrived, which means that it is time to think about Thanksgiving!  Even if you will not be gathering with family and friends you can still set a pretty table, if only for yourself.  There is always quite a selection of Thanksgiving dinnerware available from Pottery Barn, and while I am not in need of much, I may not be able to resist the Aldo Pumpkin Stoneware Salad Plates, which are on clearance at $39.50 for a set of four.  These plates come in two different designs done in warm autumnal colors, and I like the more modern and slightly abstract artwork.  I have several sets of dinnerware in solid fall colors which would pair beautifully with this collection (although I only have one here in New Mexico with me at the moment).  Have you started planning your Thanksgiving celebration yet?