Outfit Post: 7/4/12 (Plus Washington Pictures)

Shirt: Gap Outlet — Skirt: Thrifted — Leggings: Target — Flats: Thrifted (Born) — Necklace: Thrifted — Earrings: Gift from Katie!

Sailboat skirt!

As you can see, I eschewed the traditional red/white/blue for my 4th of July visiting with my mom and stepdad. But hey, sailboats still feel pretty American! And it’s summery as heck, which was my other priority. As you’ll see in a few pictures, my family tends toward a non-traditional celebration anyway, so it felt appropriate. (In case you’re wondering what I’m looking at in the top picture, just follow my eye line. Hello there, large slug!)

We were lucky and the weather was gorgeous the entire time I was there. (Now that I’m in California again, I weep one or two bitter tears to look at these pictures because I know tomorrow’s going to be in the hundreds here. Noooo, come back, beautiful seventies!) Mom and Everett live on top of a hill that overlooks the valley (and the neighbor’s backyard–sorry, neighbors!), and it’s super gorgeous during the golden hour. Siiiiigh.

We would have watched the fireworks from here if there had been any–the town couldn’t afford them this year so they got cut. Oh well! We still got to see a variety of verrry tiny fireworks from all the surrounding towns that could afford to have them–almost as good, right?

Also, my parents have been growing various vegetables since they moved to Washington, and their towering artichoke plants made me feel like I was in Day of the Triffids. Just a little. Then I got to behead some of them and I felt a little better. Take that, defenseless thistle plants!

In celebration of the 4th, Mom made paella–in a paella pan from Spain that’s older than I am–along with tomato and cucumber salad and some artichokes from the garden. Not pictured: the tri-tip my stepdad grilled that would have lent a bit of tradition to the proceedings. Oh well. (The paella was better anyway.) Some of their friends came over and we spent the evening eating, chatting, and playing cards. Well, if you count Uno as “playing cards,” since the friends that came over have a six-year-old daughter.

I also ended up playing dolls with her, which was an unusual experience for me; I tend to find children a bit alarming in a different-species sort of way, but we got along well enough. It was also pretty cool to check out the dolls, which were ones my mom still has from when she was a kid. Those Madame Alexander dolls have some pretty sweet clothes, I tell you what.

Also, as promised, I spent part of the 4th pettin’ on some dogs. Specifically, I spent it pettin’ on Toby here, who is still my wee little doggie baby despite the fact that he had his fifteenth birthday last month. He’s missing a few teeth and is a little more senile now but still looks pretty much the same as when he was a puppy, which tends to drive the ladies wild. Ahh, I miss his furry butt already.

(Okay, I also spent part of the day pettin’ on my stepdad’s new-ish rescue dog, Mr. Roscoe Stubbs, but Roscoe isn’t quite as…photogenic as Toby. I’ll show y’all tomorrow.)

**P.S. Since I said I would keep you guys updated, Flat Tire is going in for her amputation procedure today, so I’ll let you all know that it went well after we get her home. She’ll probably be spitting mad and in pain for at least the rest of the week, but losing the stump (or, as we called it, her pork chop) should improve her quality of life and lessen any back problems she might have in the future. Send her good vibes so she’ll heal up nice and quick! (Or don’t, if you’re a terrible person who wants a little three-legged cat to suffer. You know, no pressure or anything.)

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