On overheard conversations, the real cost of blogging, a cozy Dorset novel, and a Ralph Lauren video that will make you want to mend something
What a weekend. Sausage races, the Brewers winning Game Two of the World Series, the farmers market, dinner with friends, baking, and life in general. I am going into this week a little tired to be honest.
It is also a big week ahead. I have my annual mole mapping at the dermatologist (this, friends, is what real self care looks like, not a spa day, a full-body skin check), Trunk or Treat, Halloween, and the best part: my mom is coming to celebrate my nephew’s birthday. And then the week closes out with my second favorite day of the year. Daylight saving. The clocks fall back on November 1st. I know, I know, the hisses and boos are coming. But I love it. It tells my brain, my body, and my house that it is time to settle in. Cozy season is officially upon us. And you gain and extra hour of sleep.
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Something I Could Not Stop Thinking About
I want to go back to something I mentioned on Saturday about Instagram and impossible standards. This weekend I overheard a conversation about someone I know. Two women were talking about a mutual friend, saying she had lost a lot of weight, that she looked good now. And then one of them said, “probably Ozempic.”
The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. Partly because the comment was unkind. But mostly because in this particular case, the person they were talking about has been walking, going to the gym, eating well, and working incredibly hard. Not taking Ozempic. Not that it would be anyone’s business if she were.
It made me think about how quickly we diminish someone else’s effort. How fast we decide we know the reason, the story. And how little we actually know.
If you are going to gossip, and most of us have at some point in our lives, please do it in your own home. I have overheard conversations in airports (yes, the Atlanta Heartsfield airport), in gyms, in coffee shops, about people I actually know. You never know who is in earshot.
A Note on Blogging
I have mentioned this before, but I want to say it again clearly. Blogging is not free. There are real backend expenses, and it takes a significant amount of time to write posts, bake recipes, and keep everything running. The last quarter of the year is when most content creators earn the bulk of their income for the year.
So yes, there are ads. Yes, I share gift guides and links to things I use and love and hope you might too. Many bloggers who have eliminated ads have moved to Substack with paywalls or to Patreon. I am still here on WordPress, still free, still showing up every week. The ads help make that possible. Do I love them? No. Are they necessary? Yes.
If they are too much and you need to unsubscribe, I understand. But you will be missed, and you will be missing something: the community of women who gather here and the friendships that have grown out of this little corner of the internet. We are always glad you came, even if you have to go.
On the Nightstand
The Postmistress of Puddlington by Liz Trenow. It is 1934 in the idyllic Dorset village of Puddlington, and Hester Smith finds genuine joy in her work as the local postmistress, cycling her route every day and bearing quiet witness to the lives a single letter can change. But when war arrives five years later, that same role becomes a heavy thing to carry. Hester is suddenly the one delivering news no one wants to receive, and the community she loves is shaken by battlefield losses and a shocking death closer to home. What holds the story together is the women of Puddlington: the vicar’s wife, the bohemian lady of the manor, and Hester herself, finding ways to face the unimaginable.
On the Screen
Polo Reimagined from Ralph Lauren. Three Japanese artisans, Sasaki Yohinten, the Sashiko Gals, and Brown Tabby Works, take classic Polo pieces and transform them using traditional textile techniques, including sashiko stitching, into something entirely their own. It was created to mark PoloFest in Tokyo. The video is less than five minutes long. Pour yourself something warm and watch it. The line that stayed with me: mending is not just an act of conservation. It is an act of optimism. I have been thinking about that ever since.
Outfit of the Day
Corduroy, in thi case pants in the Fall and Winter is one of the coziest fabrics. Layering it is even better. A stripe shirt, a fair isle sweater and a wool coat will keep you cozy inside and out.
Outfit Seperates
Have a good Monday, friends. Tell me: are you rooting for the Brewers, or Tampa Bay, or are you sitting this one out entirely? And did you do anything this weekend that made you happy you did it?
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You Might Also Enjoy:
Kate Heartfield’s historical fiction, Lucy Worsley at Hampton Court, and a cosy autumn weekend
On MY Radar
Love the idea of embellishing my mending. I will keep that one in mind. This weekend I returned home (always wonderful) from a 5 day trip to Historic Savannah, a city I had not visited before. It was a small group tour, well planned, and had the added joy of seeing a long time friend I had not seen in years. You know those few people that you can just pick up where you left off? She is that person. And Savannah is gorgeous in the fall. But ah, home.
Sharon it sounds like a lovely weekend.
Savannah is a beautiful place. I have been lucky enough to travel there many times over the years, for work and pleasure and have a trip coming up again soon. What was your favorite place to eat? And your favorite thing to do? See?
How wonderful to hae such a friend, I have 3 just the same and the minute you walk into a room life picks right back up. It is so comforting.
Welcome home, enjoy the comfort and coziness.
Love your blog – and I will continue to read and enjoy. Ads are a small price to pay for so much information: book recommendations, recipes, fashion, musings and, links to life-enhancing sites. You are a welcome site in my inbox each time.
Oh, and thank you for the reminder about gossiping. I believe with social media, we forget that we are in public and people can hear us. Now, can we talk about people shopping while having a phone conversation on speaker phone? Ugh!
Thank you for all you do to make your blog a treasure.
Since my husband is from Milwaukee, of course our tv is fine-tuned to watch the Brewers. . .closely, ha! I do have my corduroys on (always makes me think lovingly of the beloved children’s book). Lands End has a Fair Isle sweater similar to the one you show, and it is on half-price sale right now. I wore one of their Fair Isle sweaters for twenty years, so ordered a new one. Your book selection looks interesting. November 1 is my daughter’s birthday (born just a few minutes after midnight much to the relief of her religious grandmother), so we have another reason to celebrate the advent of Cozy Season!
I look forward to your posts! I’m anxious to read about the sausage races……..
Did I miss it somehow?