Farm Farewells

A few weeks ago one of my father's uncles passed away. I didn't really know him that well, but I felt honored to attend a memorial service in his name at the farm where my dad grew up. It is absolutely amazing land and I am proud to say that the owner, another of my father's uncles, recently sold easements of to The Nature Conservancy to protect it from future development and to keep it strictly agricultural, all 150+ acres of it. It will still stay in the family. It was once a thriving dairy farm, and now there are still a few animals but the land is used also for cranberry bogs. It was a beautiful service. The night was perfect and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and an old fashioned pot luck dinner. My sister and I took some pictures that attempt to show the land's beauty.

The Bounty of the Ocean by the Littlest State by the Sea

I don't think there's anything as wonderful as a perfect summer Sunday, which is what I was lucky enough to enjoy this past weekend. It started off as a trip to Rejects Beach (Note: for you non Newporters, Rejects is a public beach that is directly adjacent to Bailey's Beach, a very exclusive private beach club that the Trumps belong too. My friend Sarah used to work there and had many Ivanka sightings. They have cabanas, drink service, and many other perks. There is even a sign in the sand that tells us commoners to stay off their side. It's quite funny actually. I wonder if some plebeian was drowning on the Rejects side, the Bailey's lifeguard would come and save them.) Anyway, I went to the beach with Tiff, and Pat was kind enough to join us. He had to leave though because his back was turning into one big freckle. There were pretty big waves and we were playing in them and body surfing for quite a while. I haven't done that since I was a kid.

After the beach, we were invited to a cookout, Newport style. That means not a hot dog or hamburger in sight. Instead were panko, garlic, and parsley filled grilled little necks, boiled lobster, steamed mussels in a wine broth, steamers in butter, grilled cajun tofu, and cucumber salad. Yuu-uummm. Thank you so much for Tania and Jay for one of the best dinners that I have ever had. All the seafood was fresh, local, and delicious. I made a toast to "good friends, good food, and the bounty of the ocean by the littlest state by the sea."

Outfit Note: To the beach Nicole wore a mix and match Victoria's Secret bikini and Salvation Army sunglasses. To dinner she wore a vintage yellow dress that was a yard sale score, a vintage belt from a thrift store in North Carolina, vintage thrift store earrings, and Steve Madden peep toe flats.

Happy Belated Birthday America!!

The first week of July is my all time favorite week of the whole year, due to my birthday on the 1st, the fourth of course, and all the wonderful festivities that accompany both. Fourth of July is a really big deal in Rhode Island. Bristol, just over the bridge from me, hosts the oldest fourth of July celebration in the country. This year being its 223rd. Pretty Impressive. I don't care much for the parade or the fair or the bands but I do love the all night parties on the parade route where we laugh at old people setting up lawn chairs and blankets at 4 am so they get the best seat in the house, or on the street I guess. No skinny dipping or jumping off of sailboats in the harbor this year though, shucks. At least Caitlin saved her feet from the barnacles and I didn't throw away my wallet again.

The third of July if you will, started off with a nice trip to Block Island with Caitlin. It was slightly frightening only due to the fact that the day before a coast guard ship collided with the Block Island Ferry. Don't ask me how that happened. Luckily there were no casualties. We took a nice walk, went to the beach, and slurped down some native raw oysters while waiting in line to get on the ferry to go home. Yum. I also ran into two boys that I went to high school with that I haven't seen in years. Holla Jay and Ricky. It's a really small state, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Outfit Notes: On the block island trip Nicole wore a lovely Banana Republic cami, Forever 21 shorts, vintage belt, vintage sunglasses, and my favorite vintage hippie shirt of all time. As much as I despise seagulls, I love this shirt. For the third of July party she wore an altered red with gold stars vintage romper (it used to be a halter with capri length legs), vintage wood and leather platforms, a dollar store tiara, and enormous fake gold "Cancer", like the zodiac sign, earrings. (Side note: I once wore these earrings to a Lukemia benefit, realized my snafu halfway into dinner and discreetly took them off and hid them in my purse.)

Take Two

Gee whiz, I haven't posted in a long time. So many things have changed in the past few months. I have a wonderful new apartment in downtown Newport with a roof deck that overlooks the harbor, bridges, and steeples of really old churches. I live with the wonderful Miss Julie who keeps the place looking beautiful, the herbs growing, and the house smelling like fresh baked organic cookies. We love to go on adventures, so if you need some partners in crime, let us know. Old friends have returned and new friends have entered my life and I couldn't be more grateful for all of you. This summer has been incredible so far and I know that more great times are sure to come. The shop is doing well and I am so proud of myself for listing new things every week. Of course I still have tons more stuff hanging around, which will hopefully go online soon.

The future: make things!! I have piles of amazing vintage fabrics and a head full of ideas. Now if I could only get my little hands to follow suit! Stay tuned for more blogs, more vintage, and more of everything else too I guess. Hot summer fashion is on its way!