Today, the first day back to school, I defiantly pulled on my white jeans — gasp! post-Labour-Day white — and quickly found a good reason for the rule. Dirt roads + rain + bicycle = non-elegant mud spatters. No worries, those didn’t appear until the ride home. Wore the white jeans with this J. Crew linen sweater and my Vince flats. Simple, 3-piece dressing with an easy punch, imho. . . .
Class went very well, considerable enthusiasm and the potential for lively class discussions is already evident.
Then the challenge of productively filling time between class and the 4:30-5:30 Vinyasa Flow class that I’ve identified as being the best possibility for bringing some strength and flexibility and meditative breathing into the early part of my week. I usually prefer to bundle everything up and work in my home office, but the yoga class is in town and I’m trying to create a new habit. As added incentive, I talked Pater into joining me for the workout, and today, at least, that was reason enough not to bail. . . .
Instead, I had 3.5 hours to catch up on emails, set up some important committee work, prep tomorrow’s classes (including spending some time in the photocopy queue and fighting with the printer dialogue — why, oh why must new software always be installed just before classes begin!). Except for my wanting to take an afternoon nap on my office floor (resisted today, but I did wake this morning before 5), I used the time well and can see this might shape into a decent schedule.
Got to the yoga studio in time and was happy to see Pater walk in as I was setting out my mat. Afternoons aren’t my preferred exercise time, but I was surprised at how good it felt to move through the flow after having spent a few hours at my desk.
Then a boatride across the harbour, the wind picking up as we docked. . . we cycled home where P had a great Puglian sauce of lamb and tomatoes simmering, just waiting for the pasta to be cooked, and a few cobs of corn to be boiled, a salad tossed. All of this eaten as we watched an episode of Homeland together.
And then this, just outside, shortly before 8, a sky that insisted on being admired. . . .
Really, I should probably just tiptoe away now — what could I say worth uttering in the face of this beauty Nature tosses around so nonchalantly? But I’d love to know if your routines change with Fall, with Back to School. Sue posted onLa Rentrée this morning, and like her, I’m curious to know whether you’re trying to instill any new, productive habits, and if you’ve been wearing white after Labour Day, of course I want to know that as well. . .
Lovely outfit, beautiful sky, and how nice to have a yoga partner and dinner practically awaiting your return. Smart to set that up, the added incentive for the afternoon workout. Late workouts are the one thing I still struggle with on those days when the early AM is simply not manageable.
It makes a huge difference to have dinner waiting, yes! I'm very lucky. The incentive for an afternoon workout is so important as it really isn't natural for my body clock.
I really like the bold print on the sweater, especially with the white jeans. Those photos of your dusk are gorgeous. Glad your new term seems to be off to a good start.
I was surprised by how much I liked this bold graphic and by how wearable it's been. Thanks!
Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm one of those who let you down this summer, comment-wise. But it was so good to be offline for almost four weeks: first on my solitary hike through the woods of Brandenburg (you are thinking of the concertos? Right, that's the place.) And then in my almost equally solitary lakeside garden which I left spick and span after days and days of puttering around. Back to the screen now, to my annual tax declaration, tidying up the office, throwing out old papers and preparing classes which will begin Thursday next week.
As our Labour Day is the 1st of May, there is no rule about colours in this part of the world, so whether I wear white or not will depend entirely on the weather. As for routines, I can't make any plans yet, because I haven't got my timetable. I'll try to continue my yoga class on tuesday afternoon and the choir practice on tuesday night, but the rest (what days to use the bycicle to school, when to fit in a workout) will have to be decided next week.
I love your photos of the evening sky. In fact, one of my holiday pleasures was watching the sun go down "behind" the lake every night.
I think it might do me good to have a protracted period offline as well. And yes, I'm thinking of the concertos, what history surrounded you during those hikes, wondering if old JS might have trod the paths. . .
That's late for a timetable — but I'm guessing it typical and you're used to it. It's an aspect of this work that I both do and don't like, the adjustments to new rhythms, working the rest of life around a different timetable.
Very stylish, despite the drawback of later mud splatters… Sounds like a very enjoyable return to teaching and a great balance, especially when finished off with a delicious meal on the table and a beautiful sunset.
Thanks! It's been good so far, even though mud splatters have not yet caught on as the latest new thing. . . 😉
Love this outfit! (And with washing machine, why not wear white?)
I'm back to school- eternal French class, and when I registered yesterday, was happy to see many of the same faces have signed up again.
Thanks! I'm feeling the same way about the white jeans — with a washing machine why not. Although we don't use bleach here (septic tank), so they will eventually end up looking dull (at which point I'll probably take them to a professional laundry for a good whitening. I envy you the French classes, the friendships you're forming in this other language — you're probably getting very good by now.
Just wanted to say that I recall your recommendation of the Spanish clothing chain, Nice Things, and bought myself a top online from there this morning. (I saw it in a boutique window but reckoned going direct would work out cheaper) So across the pond and across the ether, I thank you for your sartorial advice. Paired with my white jeans, a new look for me this summer, I shall tip my hat to you the first time I wear it.
So pleased to have that link across the miles! It's a nice collection they have at Nice Things, isn't it? And the price points are quite reasonable, I think.
You are so "on trend" Mater! I can't remember where I saw the fashion shot of nude on white on blush…maybe Netaporter?
Sounds like a perfect first day at school. So nice to have the someone on home and kitchen duty, eh? My husband retired a few years before me and took over grocery shopping, and most of the cooking when he did. Ohhhh soo nice to come home to the smell of dinner cooking!
For years I stayed at school to work out…my school was attached to a community centre with a gym. The only way for me to ensure that I did not wimp out…was to change into my workout gear immediately after my last class. Then I would work at my desk for a bit, go to the gym and do some more work after. I'd get lots of stuff done and also battle the 4 o'clock "slump." At first I was a bit worried that students from my school were always in the gym…privacy and all. But it's amazing how much cachet you can gain with teenage boys when they see you at the gym a few times a week. They'd see me in the hallway at school in the morning, and wave and shout …"See you at the gym today, Ms B?" That memory always makes me smile.
Enjoy the rest of your week. Still like to know if you're awake after 8 pm on Friday. First weeks are exhausting!
Thanks — I do like the combo of white-nude-blush, those soft barely-pastels. . .
Isn't it great to have the domestics taken care of , food-wise. Feels so nurturing at the end of a long day.
I've debated taking classes at the uni gym, but hesitated for the same reason you did. Maybe I should take the plunge, but so far, I'm liking the yoga studio I'm at . . . and Friday? well, we'll see. . . but I was asleep by 9:15 last night!
I'm going to take a writing course, small study group starts up and tonight I am going to see author Louise Penny. I have 2 new tutoring students coming this week so for a retired person, La Rentrée is continuing. I really like your sweater. You will be able to wear it a lot.
You are busy in your retirement, clearly a lifelong learner and teacher!
Classes started for us last week, so we are into it now. The weather is hot and stormy, so minimal thoughts of fall (it was 95 degrees today with high humidity…..).
Our rentree is odd this year as empty nesters. For so many years the beginning of school was begun by loading the car and driving to whichever college was appropriate. Then it was back home to start classes. So, perhaps for that reason, it has been hard to get into a routine. I know I need to carve out time now for exercise and my quiet times, especially since my father's health is failing and there may be added long trips to care for him. Still, I seem to be stuck in short-term mode.
Love your outfit. I've never taught in jeans so perhaps I need to rethink that too.
Lynn
I hope your classrooms are air-conditioned with those temps! Ours aren't and I dread September heat even as I love having the summer prolonged.
My next has been empty for quite a few years, but I'm really interested in your description of the in-between tradition of driving the kids to school each fall after having them home for a summer. None of mine followed a pattern like that, although I did have some of them back for a period now and then before they were out for good. I wonder how yll find the completely empty nest. I was quite ready for it, four kids, nine years from oldest to youngest, almost 30 years before the house was all mine again (and then my husband retired. . . 😉
Outfit does look great, with the white and neutral lower half setting off the bold print of the top. As for going back to school, not so much, except that I'm recovering from a whirlwind trip to England, so there's a certain Get Yourself Together Lisa! going on.
Yes, and you've been switching it up on the blog as well.
Adorable outfit! I have to confess, I am always getting confused about your island and where you go to do your things. Do you teach on the mainland and then go to yoga on the mainland or is the town on your home island? Is the ride across the harbour the one from the mainland to the island? It's challenging for me to envision!
If you look at a map of BC, you'll see that there's a fair bit of the Pacific Ocean between mainland BC and Vancouver Island (which is a huge island!). In those waters (now becoming known as the Salish Sea in acknowledgement of the Salish people who have plied these waters for eons) are many small islands. Ours is nestled in a harbour, about a kilometre out) of a small city in the coast of "the big island." We have a floating pub on our island, but no other commercial enterprise. All our shopping gets done "in town," a 10minute boat ride away. Going to Vancouver (on the mainland) means first going to "to town" by boat, then driving ten minutes to wait in line for (a fairly expensive) 95-minute ferry ride. Once we get to the mainland, we have about a 30 minute ride to our condo.
And without wanting to impinge on your privacy and definitely not wanting any specifics as to location here, but can I follow up K.Line's question by asking something that intrigues me? Is there a food shop on your island or do you have to bring everything from the mainland? I'm picturing you and Pater living a Swiss Family Robinson sort of set up, interspersed with heaving a shopping cart from the nearest supermarket onto the ferry every now and then…
See above! 😉 I'll try to post soon about how close to Swiss Family Robinson our island life is. . .
Love your outfit! I wear white jeans all year. Love them in the winter with ankle boots and a cashmere sweater. Those shoes you are wearing look great. I'm thinking of buying them – are they comfortable? Do you wear them while cycling or change to a sturdier shoe?
They are comfortable! They're also a bit delicate, I.e. fine leather and the pointed toe probably shouldn't be out on the dirt roads on my island. Even the streets of Paris were a bit hard on them, and there's some scuffing going on. I still think they're worth it, but you might want to take more care than I have, although I'm confident I can restore them with some product or other.
Bold outfit and sets the standard for coming months.
Tomorrow I go to work in red, white and blue.
Pray for me…
Hope you're having fun in your lively colours, and that your students are inspired and inspiring!
It was 32 degrees here in Toronto today, and I wore my white jeans. One of the men wore his too and we laughed about being rebels. (he definitely is a little outside of the norm) Funny when you and I had been commenting on my need to conform to the more conventional dress of the men I work with!
That's warm! Too cute about your sartorial twin, especially, as you say, given our recent conversation.
Have been admiring that sweater online at J Crew. May have to try it now! Have ordered/purchased *heavy* sweaters this year that I can hardly imagine myself wearing right now, in this wretchedly humid weather. It's still sundresses for class, but I remember going to uni in Ottawa and fishing out my leather jacket in September . . .