A Simple Little Jersey Dress

Shopping on Carnaby Street in London at the famed store, Biba's.  Buying lingerie at boutiques in Paris or dresses on 5th Avenue,
New York, the world was mine as a Pan Am stewardess.  Whatever was "hot" in the world was at my fingertips. At the time, the look was mod and mini and that is what I wanted. I would just schedule to be on a flight to that destination and buy or drool over the hot fashions... This was the 60's. 

By the 70's, I was home with two little children and a husband just finishing law school.  I was working part time and trying to make enough money to help pay our bills.  Now, clothing was something I borrowed. Luckily, my sister-in-law and friends were the same size and swapping clothes was something we always did.  One of my friends was working at a clothing boutique, and always wore the most cutting edge fashions.  At the time, I remember, Diane Von Furstenberg and her jersey dresses were the most sought after pieces to wear.  I had a rehearsal dinner to attend, and immediately went to Helena's closet to borrow one.

The dress fit perfectly and could be worn today, 35 years later and still look great.  The colors were just right for fall and the pattern, timeless.  From that night on, I have loved Diane Von Furstenburg fashions.  I think this was one of the first designs Diane Von Furstenburg had made and brought to America.  It was a shirtwaist dress and a classic, before her signature wrap dress became popular.

It was at least 25 years later before I actually bought my own wrap dress.  I remember the first night I wore it.  

Jimmy had taken me to a romantic little French restaurant.  I felt like a movie star wearing it and decided the wrap dress was going to remain in my wardrobe.
Since that first aqua and indigo blue jersey wrap dress,  I have bought others.  

Each time I wear one, I still feel as special as I did in the original.

          And, I still like to borrow and share the creations...

Yosemite

It is hard to believe a fire could be so massive as to have burned 357 square miles of the most breathtakingly gorgeous land  I have ever seen - Yosemite National Park. As I think back, I can see the giant sequoias,  the deer, the chipmunks and other little animals scampering, I can smell the pine forest, and feel the cool shade which the trees offered, 

I can hear the birds singing and the leaves rustling with the wind. Now, a blaze that began 16 days ago and is not expected to be contained for another 18 days has changed that land forever.

It's amazing how reading about this horrific fire, has sparked wonderful memories of a short vacation to visit my sister, Joan and her husband, Fred.  They were living not far from Yosemite and the highlight of my visit was an excursion into the Park.  A spot they had loved and wanted to share with me. The drive began with the red clay soil, and shrubbery of cactus and tumbleweed, becoming rolling hills that soon gave way to steep and winding narrow mountain roads and dense forrest on either side. It seemed as if we drove forever surrounded by lovely forestry.  But then, we were at the heart of Yosemite.  Looking up and seeing the massive waterfalls, 

                                                                                   Upper yosemitefall.jpg  nps.gov

being surrounded by the highest mountains and feeling so tiny in this, God's land.  What a beautiful creation...

We spent the day hiking and pretending to be Ansel Adams as we photographed so many of the sights which he had made famous with his black and white photography. 

We had lunch at, and toured the magnificent Ahwahneewww.yosemitepark.com/the-ahwahnee.aspx Hotel.  

Photo from the Ahwahnee website

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We saw campers and campgrounds, picnickers, hikers, climbers, photographers, artists, people reading, people meditating,  all breathing in the fresh air and the wonderment of this heavenly vista.

El Capitan.jpg  jspencerv.blogspot.com

Let's hope the fire can be extinguished soon, so future generations  can enjoy the majestic sites as I had seen them.