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There's a blogging challenge going on to limit what you wear to twelve items.  I can't get into it.  Seems to me I should be trying to wear everything in my closet in rotation.  If I've bought it and I don't wear it's just a waste.  I buy on a whim and then never wear the new item.  It hangs in the closet or is lost in the drawers while I go back to the same few things over and over, mostly pants and sweaters. 

The concept of limiting your wardrobe artificially when so many have no choice in the matter just doesn't appeal today. 

I'm a bit down today anyway, a bit angry too.  My friend B. died on Friday.  Died or killed herself, or was killed; the police are calling it 'suspicious'.  There's alcohol and an abusive ex spouse involved.  Only God knows the truth. 

Rest in peace B, your suffering is over for this round.

Renovation Upstairs

The work upstairs continues slowly.  I'm taking the paint off the baseboards, it's a big job.  Everything else looks clean and new, so I just couldn't leave them with 47 coats of paint.

Need to tackle the trim on the windows too.  Since the drywall is thinner than the plastic, some shims will be necessary to get the trim back on level.

I find it interesting that the original baseboard finish was a faux woodgrain.  The wood itself is not hardwood, but they added this effect.  The base colour is the honey tone, with the darker overlay with a varnish type material.  Then lines have been dragged in to give the grain effect.

Some of the doors in other parts of the house were finished like this too, under several layers of paint.

Dog Bed

Of course I have a bed for my dog in the livingroom, because I've decided this time the dog will not be allowed on the couch.  This will avoid embarassing incidents when the dog walks into someone else's house and climbs up on the furniture like he owns the place.

Naturally the wonderfulness of a new soft sleeping place did not escape the cats.  So we have to share!

 Charlie has the whole bed to himself.

Gaelan and Thomas share. Love it when they get along.

Gaelan and Rory share.  The dog gets a turn.

Of course sometimes things are a little awkward when there's a major size difference!

Dog school

Took Rory for his first (with me) Good Behaviour Class.  I think I've chosen well, I like the trainer's attitude to things.  For instance if you want to let the dog on your furniture that's fine, if you want to let the dog only on certain furniture, again that's okay, just be consistent.  If I don't want to work with treats that's okay. 

Rory was very nervous throughout the hour lecture part, lots of whining and fussing, but he got much better with the advanced group when we went outside.  He seemed to pick up what was expected from the other dogs, walked nicely once he calmed down.  He even did sit stays although I didn't move far away.

I'm optimistic that I'll have a great city dog if I follow the advice Jill gives me.

I knew it would be dangerous

to take some outgoing clothing into my favourite consignment shop.  I did not look at any clothes at all, but the shoes and purses are displayed next to the take-in counter.   And I really have been looking for a pair of grey boots, not suede, preferably short.  So these are not completely an impulse purchase.

Staccato boots, grey.

this however was totally an impulse purchase...

At least I had a $6.75 credit at the store.  and the bag was only $34.00 ... don't ask about the boots!

Thoughts on Minimalism

Wandering around looking for inspiration on minimalism this morning.  there's always Metscan's wonderfuld blog to get me started.  then I found Jenifer Skinner's now defunct blog on a minimalist wardrobe. 

She identified a minimalist wardrobe as saving money.  You have your set number of outfits and only replace items as they become worn out.  Makes sense, but then I realize how much emotional comfort I've been getting from shopping.   the "I'm not old and ugly - look how good I look in these new jeans/sweater/boots "  And the thought of how boring it would be to wear the same uniform over and over.  So I go ahead and purchase the whatever, bring it home with no plan to integrate it and it hangs in my closet.  Taking up space, representing my money, my image, my so-called fashionable future.

There's part of the reason I have 12 pairs of jeans.

Bags

I really only carry one bag at a time; I can't get into a bag 'wardrobe' and changing them over for different outfits etc.

This is my everyday bag, a Kitamura.  My bags have to be very functional - they have to hold my stainless steel coffee mug, my wallet, the Blackberry and my current knittng project.  Occasionally I have to carry 81/2 by 11 inch drawings or files for work so I need a fairly large bag to be a briefcase too.

I don't like bags with a bunch of compartments; I want one big open space with perhaps a small pocket on the side for my Starbucks card and transit pass.

the red shoulder bag is from Rudsak.  I don't use it very much, bought it on sale to carry the occasional times on the weekend when I'm not toting much more than the wallet and keys.  Love the colour and it works year round as far as I'm concerned.

this is my black bag for winter, by Morris B, a Canadian company. It's similar to the tan bag - large enough for all the things I need to carry day to day, long enough strap that it goes over my shoulder, made from real leather.