day 44: blue jean

day 44: blue jean

Blue Jean — whoever invented it is a genius!  Apparently a collaboration between Jacob Davis and Levi Straus!!

 

I particularly like it in a dress!  Although I used to have an overall dress that I loved in the ’70s — I think we called them Hogwashers.  Wish I could find one like that again… but this is a close second, and probably a bit more flattering.

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Time to head back to the coast today, but not before connecting with My Daughter the Chef– who I never get to spend enough time with!  Of course, there is dance practice and an online zoom jug band sing-along and jam tonight!

 

blue jean

You can probably guess why blue jean works for me — and I especially love this little pintucked tunic/dress from Chico’s. One of my Goodwill finds… and I haven’t worn it much.  But it works well and a Jacket/modern-day lab-coat!

blue jean

I played around with the Scarf, and even tried it as an obi style sash…. but in the end, I think I just like it down.  Breaks up the color blocks, and makes it interesting.

blue jea

You can see that I have been practicing my Appalachian Flatooting and Clogging– the page is still open on my Lenovo Chromebook Duet ! Trying to make a habit…9 am every day!

blue jean

Josef Siebel fisherman sandals — I actually had a pair just like this about 20 years ago — wore the heck out of them.  Imagine my surprise finding them at the thrift store  — brand new… and in my size!

The scarf is another thrift store find… LOVE it!

blue jean

Thanks for joining me on my blue jean post.  Stay tuned for the next 56 days of #tracywearswool!

.

Be well!

–Tracy

 

blue jean

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

crazy

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

day 43: downtown

day 43: downtown

Here’s what I came up with for today!

 

Downtown — at least once a week, I like to go out and get all my errands and shopping done. 

 And maybe have a little happy hour.  But it is Lent right now –In case you didn’t know – and I have given up… Alcohol.  And I am doing the old-school fasting.  So shopping  YES… happy hour NO!

And quite honestly, I am trying to pare down my consumption – I try to recycle clothes, and still support small businesses.  I try to go ethically produced, but that isn’t always easy.

Today, I skipped Goodwill.  But I will be back next week.

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Errands and some shopping –Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet, and the pharmacy.  I spent a bunch of time experimenting with my hair, made phone calls, knit on my sweater while listening to podcasts… and worked from home.  Hopefully be able to sit in ob y weekly Uke Jam tonight!

 

downtown

I woke up to extremely big, extremely wild bed head!  SO first wash, and played around with it.. couldn’t quite get it as “edgy” as the stylist… but I am pretty happy with it!

Woolamina covered with a thrift store Eddie Bauer pink flowered shirt!

downtown

I’m pretty happy with the way this came out… still slightly girly, but not over the top.  Pared up with a pair of KEEN slip ons, some tights, and a canvas bag that I borrowed from Number 1.

downtowbn

On the counter is my Lenovo Chromebook Duet  —  I love this –use it for my dance practice, and also to hold all the music in a dropbox folder for any music jams that I have coming up.  Tonight is the Portland Wednesday Uke Jam! (flips sideways and has an 8.5 x 11 screen!)

downtown

KEENS, who doesn’t love them!  Especially when they are a slide-in that goes with just about everything all year round.

And if you support your local National Public Radio… you might just be able to get one of their “WAIT, WAIT, DON’T TELL ME” canvas totes.!

downtown

Thanks for joining me on my downtown post.  Stay tuned for the next 57 days of #tracywearswool!

.

Be well!

–Tracy

 

downtown

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

crazy

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

day 42: hair

day 42: hair

Yep — did the hair thing… and boy was it liberating!!

 

I haven’t had a real haircut since September 2017.   And a lot has happened since then… not just the 2 feet of hair that I grew!

But it was getting too long, and weighing me down, literally and physically.  So… time to let it go. Since I couldn’t take you all with me… I made a 1-minute video of my amazing #transformationtuesday with Lori at Pure Salon in Portland.

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Mostly… the hair… but also knitting, dance practice, shopping and meeting with the person helping me design and build an amazing garden area.

 

Here’s what I came up with for today!

 

hair

I started thinking about a cut because I had all these loose ends… and they were getting worse over the last few months! But what I thought was hair breakage was actually new hair growth. Didn’t realize how much it had grown! High time for a change!

hair

I kept it easy, and just wore Woolamina with a belt and a white cotton shirt over the top…. and a black puffy vest for outside. Paired with the standard tights from the GAP and some Sperry rain shoes.

hair

I was super comfortable, and Lori listended to what I was looking for in a cut — easy to care for — no old lady hair, something a little bit girly that worked with my 5 cowlicks and babyfine hair.  

 

hair

The end result was better than I imagined! I had taken pictures in on my phone… but this was just perfect.  And I think that with the new growth, my hair is thicker than it has been in years. Can’t wait to wash and play with it in the morning!!

hair
hair

Thanks for joining me on my hair post.  Stay tuned for the next 58 days of #tracywearswool!

.

Be well!

–Tracy

 

hair

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

crazy

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

day 41: drive my car

day 41: drive my car

 Drive my car? I was happy to be taken up on it for the drive to Portland… so I could spend a couple of hours on #1’s sweater.

Usually, I am always the driver on the trip. Mostly because I am the only one with opposable thumbs.  Comes in handy for things like… driving, and knitting.  Also good for getting the coffee cup up to your lips and not spilling all over your dress.

But today, I had a ride-along. And…actually the first “other person” to drive my car since I got it 6 months ago.

Which left me plenty of time to work on my Sweater #2 for the year — I am planning on 12… and a little behind…. but not much.  This one is knit top-down, in one piece on THESE — best needles ever!  I’l do  page when I am done!

More on knitting… check out gypsywagonknits.com

 

drive my car

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Driving to Portland –well riding, actually.  And then some general loafing, blogging… and checking out the new  module for my 

Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging Class

 

Here’s what I came up with for today!

 

drive my car

I couldn’t decide what to wear with Woolmina, but I wanted to try to incorporate this linen/cotton jumper.  Alone… it looked like I should be in the kitchen baking something or part of the Target Prarie Dress Challenge.

drive my car

First, I paired it up with a little crop sweater from #1’s closet — I showed it a few days back…. and it was ok — but nothing to write home about.

UGGS are the go-to for schlumping around, keeping the toes warm! (worth the cost to get the originals!  — believe me, I’ve tried…)

drive my car

Next I paired it with my Banana Republic Plaid Flannel — also showed a few days back.  Warm and comfy, but looked like I was going to cut up meat, or go out to milk the goats. (Nothing against goats… or milking, or even meat cutting!!)

 

drive my car

Then I ended up with this burnt orange oversized Rafaella vintage sweater… and Bingo!!   I liked it.  I think I needed something bright and dramatic to go with the blandness of the pinafore.    Interestingly enough, that sweater has been on my donate radar more than a few times since the challenge started!

drive my car

Thanks for joining me on my “drive my car” post.  Stay tuned for the next 59 days of #tracywearswool!

... and especially tomorrow after the epic trip to get the hair all cut off!

Be well!

–Tracy

 

drive my car

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

crazy

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging with Tracy: Week 4

Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging with Tracy: Week 4

I heard that if you can’t laugh at yourself…don’t take up Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging. It’s week 4…

And actually, I made that up.  But for me it makes sense.  This week has been challenging and fun… and I have laughed a lot at myself in the process.

I never understood that term… If you can’t laugh at yourself… who can you laugh at?  Personally, one of my favorite activities is laughing at myself. But I also like to laugh at other people… but not in a mean way.  We are all just funny creatures.  And the more we try… sometimes, the funnier we are.

That is the way it was with my dancing this week!

Thank goodness… my motto for this is “PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION.”  Takes a lot of the pressure off.

Week 4 is all about the legs!! And that means moving the whole leg.  And I got my legs all worn out!! And confused.  Heck, I am still working on getting those knees bending at the right time!

I laughed when I was practicing.  I laughed as I tried to make videos, and I laughed while I watched those videos. And that is a good thing.

One nice thing about making these videos is that it gives you a whole different perspective — you can see exactly what you are doing wrong and what you are doing right.  And I know that we are our own worst critics… so I have to take it with a grain of salt, too!

Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging Videos – Week 4

Video 1 the first “all about legs” sequence that I learned this week — the fancy step + old fashioned.  I think a couple of Old Fashioneds beforehand might have improved my form… but also may have been my undoing!  It was fun, though, and turned out to be my favorite!

Video 2 also “all about legs” – Kentucky Loop and Wagon Wheel.  This is me the least graceful that I can imagine.  A Hippo in a tutu might have more grace. (No, she definitely did in Fantasia!) But I got through it… and it gives me something to work on! And something to chuckle about… Like WHAT am I doing with that back leg? ( I know my Teacher is going to wonder the same thing!!!)

Video 4 of “all about legs” was the easiest for me to get —Calypsos and Shuffles 

Here is the slower version — because I think I needed to go slow to get it.. the next one is speeded up!

Video 5 of “all about legs” Calypsos and Shuffles – the faster version — not perfect, but making progress!

I was happy to get through this week — I didn’t get as much practice as I would have liked… that second covid vaccine left me feeling like I’d been hit by a tractor for a few days.  But stuff happens and I just have to take it in stride.  That is why I thought it would be important for me to post my videos… as imperfect as they are.  

My goal for next week is to practice the module every day, and also, just spend some time dancing.  So I will put on some music and freestyle every day as well.  

Until Next week!

–Tracy

week 4
crazy

Want to see more about my Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge– and the AFC Academy & Carla Gover?

Recent Posts

day 8: different drum

day 8: different drum

Those of us in the #100daydresschallenge travel to the beat of a different drum. Mostly one that resonates with minimalism, sustainability, and...

read more
day 5: belted

day 5: belted

Day 5, and I was a bit worried about wearing it belted. I just didn't want to look like a gray potato sack trussed up in the middle. I think...

read more
day 4: color me pink

day 4: color me pink

Day 4 and color me pink.    I love the color pink... and have for quite a while.  It just makes me feel happy, and I have it all over my world: pink...

read more
day 3: dress and dogs

day 3: dress and dogs

Day 3 for the dress and dogs.  yes... I have two of them.  At first I was concerned that i would be covered with dog hair... I ordered the steel...

read more
day 40: down to the water

day 40: down to the water

What do you wear when you go down to the water in the PNW?

 

When I think of going down to the water, down to the beach, I usually think of bathing suits, and shorts, sandals, sundresses, and towels.  I think of the smell of sunscreen and sandy blankets.  That is… unless you are in the Pacific Northwest.  Here… for most of the year — except for a GLORIOUS summer,  we bundle up.

But it has its tradeoffs.  Like  Bald Eagles at the beach.  Crab, Clams, and magnificent coastline with almost no people on it.  And then there are the waves.

The water up here in Washington is pretty much unswimmable — lots of rip tides and undertows.  When storms come in, we have 20-foot breakers, and tree trunks the size of telephone poles churning in the surf.

Although I miss the sunny days of my California hometown, this is pretty hard to beat.

to the water

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

to the water

What’s in store today:

It’s Sunday — so  a day of rest and reflection… and a trip down to the water.

I’ll aslo be taking daily photos, knitting, playing with the dogs, cooking,  and making videos of my dancing for my  page on Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging

 

Here’s what I came up with for today!

 

to the water

This has turned out to be the best sweater.  It is A New Day — I think a houses brand of Target — I got it when the sweaters were all $10… loved the green, and didn’t mind getting Large, becuse I like oversize.

Jacket is from the gap, with plaid liner.  Replaced the one I inadvertantly donated.

to the water

Hunter Boots are pretty much my go to out here… they are the one guarantee that my feet will stay dry and warm.  And, I just hose the sand off before I go inside.

Quality made, these will last years!

to the water

Some of you may know, I am a full-time RV dweller, and this is where I live on the beach. It’s in a fabulous privately owned RV park — The Lamp Camp, in Long Beach, Washington.

Come for a visit, and we can go down to the water.

 

to the water

Everyone deserves a great hat, and this is one of mine — Handstitched, and made by Dorfman Pacific — Perfect for rain or shine!! Under $40 — indestructable, and you can do fun things with it!

Hatband used to be a childed beaded western belt!

to the water

 

Thanks for joining me on my “down to the water” post.  Stay tuned for the next 60 days of #tracywearswool!

Be well!

–Tracy

 

to the water

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

crazy

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

Stay in the loop!

New BLOG posts delivered to your email! 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you!