Digging Out–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 3

“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches.” ~ E.E. Cummings

Callie told me the KittyCatS Winter Wonderland was an editor pick in the Destination guide. She was excited because there was beautiful fresh snow fall at the sim so everything was glistening and white. I freaked. See, Callie is from Calliefonia (her spelling, not Jerry Brown’s), and she really has no concept of snow or snow management. Where I am from in the hearty northern midwest, snow needs to be displaced as soon as it falls to prevent slipping, sliding, tripping, icing, and resulting lawsuits. You must immediately get out there and shovel it away. So I put on my fringed jacket from Paolla Flux that I got at Shiny Shabby, pulled on my jeans from Hilly Haalan (skin tight, baby) and boots from Senzati0n Domenitzo from Shiny Shabby. I whipped out the shovel I got at the Tannenbaum Market from Redd Columbia (she’s back!) and took advantage of the shoveling animation.

Thank goodness Tommy Fairplay and Shylah Honey are giving out this hair for men and women in the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar. It’s great for men or women and includes ALL the hundreds of colors they make in hair and a separate HUD for change the texture on the beanie. And it’s warm! Umazuma Metaluna has made a set of luscious skins for the Arcade that include the sort of seasonal sparkle you need for a fashionable look.

Get to the KittyCats Winter Wonderland to hit the calendar for this great hair, see the sights, ride the carriage and skate, and rest assured—the walk is shoveled. You won’t slip.

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Kirby-Women’s Non-Rigged Mesh by Tommy Fairplay and Shylah Honey for *~*Damselfly*~*, available December 3 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Daisy 3 (honey) by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery], available at the Arcade *

Eyes: .ID. September Eyes / Blue-Gray by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.01 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.4 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Jacket: {Reverie} Nico Fringe Jacket – Navi – Maitreya by Paolla Flux for {Reverie},available at Shiny Shabby*

Jeans: [hh] Cassidy Jeans MAITREYA SIZE by Hilly Haalan for Hilly Haalan *

Bag: C L A Vv. Fringed Sling Bag Denim by ThePierrot for C L A Vv., available at Shiny Shabby*

Shovel: -RC- Snow Season Shovel – Red by Redd Columbia for -RC- Cluster, available at the Tannenbaum Holiday Market

Boots: Essenz – Missouri (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Shiny Shabby *

Additional poses by Luna Jubilee for !bang

Cookie Time—KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 6

I think baking cookies is equal to Queen Victoria running an empire. There’s no difference in how seriously you take the job, how seriously you approach your whole life. ~ Martha Stewart

It’s Saturday and I simply don’t want to get up and get dressed. I want to mosey around the house and do housework and bake Christmas cookies in my pajamas, so Ivey Deschanel gave me the perfect opportunity to do so with her pajama bottoms, today’s gift for the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar. I paired it with the top to an outfit Moonbubble Gothly is giving out as a gift and the grooviest slippers from Parallaxx (they even have paws on the bottom).

Queue Marlowe recently put out this disheveled up-do, which suits this look ideally with its casual loop of hair and wild tendrils and bangs. My plain but pretty skin is from Syane Cisse, and of course, I pulled out accessories from Redd Columbia, because.. cookies, right? (I have approximately 12 dozen cookies in the freezer already for the holiday. Want to offer me your favorite cookie recipe? I want to get it!)

Hair: AD – mash – dark browns by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: [sYs] SKIN – LOU M01 (brown brows) by Syane Cisse for [sYs]

Eyes: #adored – firstborn eyes – green by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Top: [ bubble ] Oh Deer Sweater by Moonbubble Gothly for [ bubble ] *

Pants: :::Sn@tch Party PJ Pants (Leopard)::: by Ivey Deschanel for Sn@tch, GIFT available exclusively in the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Socks: *UnTone Quilt* Mokomoko Socks / border green by chocolat Yifu (no longer available)

Slippers: [Phunk] Rudolph Slippers (Women) by Parallaxx for Phunk

Props: -RC- Milk and Cookies (milk) and -RC- Milk and Cookies (milk mustache) plus -RC- Cookie Maker Girl Or Guy Tray (drop) by Redd Columbia for -RC- Cluster and Gingerbread Cookie ! by TahitiSweetie Firelight

Mixer: BWish – KitchenAids – Red by Aria Pixelmaid for BWish

Raking Leaves

Here by the baring bough
Raking up leaves,
Often I ponder how
Springtime deceives,–
I, an old woman now,
Raking up leaves.
~ Thomas Hardy

The hour has been added back to our days and now the days grow dark quickly where I live. I spent the afternoon in the rare sunshine (it’s been raining a lot), raking up the birch tree leaves that have fallen in my front and back yard. I got what I fear is one of my last bike rides in for the season and dumped the gangly tomato plant at the curb. The herbs are safely inside, sunning in the kitchen window. The hibiscus is unhappily standing in my office (not sure I can get it through the winter—probably not).

A warm sweater is what is needed now—and this long sweater dress from Angelina Eizenberg does the trick. I love the colors stitched into the sweater, the big cowl neck and how it covers my bum, which gets cold outside. Of course, I can’t give up my capris just yet, so these darling short jeans from Siddean Munro (she doesn’t just do feet, folks!) are the ticket. Rustic boots with a handy color-change HUD from Tash Porthos keep my feet warm and cute too.

Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher have just released a new skin—Nina. It’s become the reigning principal among the top skin makers that makeups and a variety of looks is the way to keep things going and Shyla’s keeping up with the best of them. Of course we have again the subtle makeups, the beautiful eyes and brows and the gentle blush. And underneath the big sweater, there is a gorgeous body, of course. Truth Hawks made my casual and cute ponytails—much less little girl than just easy wearing.

Days decrease,
And autumn grows, autumn in everything.
~ Robert Browning

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Marleen by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Nina Sk 3 BR by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for -Belleza- *

Eyes: Glossy Gold Dust EYES by Candace Hudson for Hudson’s Clothing Co.

Sweater: ~*INDIE ROSE*~ MESH Roll Neck Sweater Dress – Black by Angelina Eizenberg for Indie Rose Designs

Capris: Slink Crop Split Jeans Black by Siddean Munro for Slink *

Boots: [d.l.s.] :: MESH Suede Color Change Combat Boots by Tash Porthos for Dirty Little Secret *

Rake: -RC- Leafy Rake by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

Poses by by Willa Whybrow for dfo and by Trieste Minuet for !bang

*aG* NarrowTree Small Autumn by Alir Flow for alirium

-RC- Leafy Rake Leaf Pile for jumping! by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

The Fall: Leaf-covered ground by Lyle Maeterlinck for Bloodlines

~*Forest Floor*~ Birch – Small by Uni Ninetails for Forest Floor

The Outdoorsman

My brother, Peter, is an outdoorsman. He has a hard time being inside the house—says it makes him claustrophobic. You can generally find him outside puttering around, putting out salt licks for the deer or tinkering with the Gator (some ATV thing he’s gonna break his neck on) or chopping wood for Mom and Dad or checking his deer stand for the 20 millionth time. He’s a quiet guy but pretty restless. He says the air is clearer out there. The rest of us think winter stinks; he thinks it’s a fine opportunity to throw on a sweater and walk around outside.

I managed to catch him out in the back field, going to shovel some path for the bunnies or something. He has on his new favorite sweater, one he got from mappy Handrick, which is a great turtleneck normally, but he is wearing a scarf he picked up from Jon Ree, hiding the neck. His jeans are from mappy Hendrick too; plain and versatile, they have a nice blue tone that isn’t all washed and wussy. Boots are his trusty worn Somas from Eponymous Trenchmouth.

My brother is actually a handsome guy (he’s related to me, of course). His skin, from Maximillion Grant, gives him the manly look he needs. The thing is, Maximillion has been making men’s skins in SL for a long time so he knows what a guy needs. He even looks great in a dorky hat, this one from Sienia Trevellion. (“My hat is not dorky! It’s so macho you can’t even understand because you’re a girl,” he told me.)

I convinced him to take off his sweater (when I told him some of my girl friends actually read this blog). He wants to make sure you see his ripped abs from all the woodcutting. (He refuses to acknowledge that Maximillion has given him these abs.)

It snowed last year too:  I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.  ~Dylan Thomas

Hair: >TRUTH< Ben – cocoa by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: LOGO Eternity Tristan Skin – Chestnut – Stubble Bk by Maximillion Grant for LOGO*

Sweater *ARAI* High neck knit_black by mappy Hendrick for *ARAI*

Jeans: *ARAI* Nonwash Denim by mappy Hendrick for *ARAI*

Hat: sur+ [trapper cord grey] by Sienia Trevellion for sur+

Scarf: MTP Warm Scarf Saddle Blanket [mens] by Jon Ree for Mustang Trading Post

Boots: SOMA 2 Gray/Black by Eponymous Trenchmouth for Jeepers Creepers

Shovel: -RC- Snow Shovel (red) by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

Blizzard Warning!

We have been issued a blizzard warning today. It’s a little alarming because normally we don’t get those. We get snow—sometimes lots of it—but it doesn’t blow around like we are on some arctic substation (which is what I presume “blizzard” means). Of course, I am complete wimp and let someone else do all the shoveling and shopping while I whimper under an electric throw in front of the fire. (Yes, really, I have an electric throw.)

However, IF I were going out (and that’s a BIG if), I would be bundled up. This fur coat from Govindra Galatea does the trick with its piles and piles of lynx furs and cushy comfy hat. (And the skirt layer is kind of puffy, which will hide the 3 layers of long underwear I have on underneath.) My boots are cozy and comfy from Shibuki Aeon with great leather laces up the back.

My glorious skin is the group gift from Tricky Boucher. I do realize this is a bit tan but I intend on maintaining this beautiful skin tone by teleporting to a beach sim as soon as is practical. I am looking forward to seeing Tricky’s new line. It’s been too long since he did a release.

They do say that SL is a place for fantasy. Well, seeing me shoveling is its own form of fantasy. Gaze on cuz it’s not happening… ;)

Now that the worst is over, they predict
Something messy and difficult, though not
Life-threatening….

The shift of the wind matters again,
And we are so simple, so happy to hear
The scrape of a shovel next door.

~”The Blizzard” by Phyllis Levin

Hair: >TRUTH< Chalice – almond by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Erika Sk group gift by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-

Outfit: Winter Cat Coat (kot zimy), flex prim coat and prim hat by Govindira Galatea for D3volution!

Tights: [MG fashion] knitted socks – red brown by Maria Gherardi for MG Fashion

Boots: * M’z winterboots brown * by Shibuki Aeon  for M’z

Shovel: -RC- Snow Shovel (snow)(black) by Redd Columbia for –RC Cluster-

Knit Happens

I have recently taken up knitting. I had tried before and never quite got the hang of it but this time I am rocketing through an Irish cable scarf. An SL friend has a partner who likes to knit; when she found out I was taking a class, she said, “Our evil plan is working.” Then someone showed me ravelry.com and gosh, it was all over…

Going to Maria Gherardi’s store, I was reminded of what I want to learn to knit. First there are the stockings. I really need to learn to knit socks. Maria has done a terrific job with these, using a checkerboard pattern with a standard ribbed cuff (done k2, p2.. I think). The gorgeous shrug is done in a chain (which turns out not to be that hard to do if you have a cable needle, incidentally) in a glorious shade of “petroleum.” She does more with it, though, by making the sleeves a sort of puffy shape that adds a lot to the shape of the silhouette.

Underneath is a little outfit with “jhodpur” shorts that has a great funky shape and beautiful texturing. Maria’s clothing comes in a variety of colors—that is her forte—rich, beautiful tones in a wide variety. In fact, it’s kind of difficult to choose when you get there, she provides such a palette of choices.

This glowing skin from Fergie Finesmith has the bold eyeshadow colors I wanted and the skin tone that goes well with such saturated hues. I top it with one of Truth Hawks’ new hairstyles, this with the streaks set on blonde—I chickened out with the pink streaks. And I love this necklace from Jon Ree. He does absolutely gorgeous turquoise work.

I bet you’re all wondering what you’re getting for Christmas this year…. Well, coffee cozies, of course.

Knitting is very conducive to thought.  It is nice to knit a while, put down the needles, write a while, then take up the sock again.  ~Dorothy Day

Hair: >TRUTH< Tara Streaked (Plain) – seaspray by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Razzanova Skins Vanity – Alizee – Gourmandises  by Fergie Finesmith for Razzanova *

Sweater: [MG fashion] Crocheted Shrug – petroleum by Maria Gherardi for MG Fashion

Outfit (Top and Shorts): [MG fashion] Miriam (plum) by Maria Gherardi for MG Fashion

Stockings: [MG fashion] knitted socks – charcoal by Maria Gherardi for MG Fashion

Necklace: Necklace — Two-step turquoise by Jon Ree for Mustang Trading Post

Boots: *GF* Short Lace-Up Boots –Black by Cerberus Noel for G Field

Knitting Needles: Steel Knitting Needle Set by Ida Keen for ! Knit This

Coffee Cozy: -RC- Nana’s Knitted Coffee Cozy by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

P.S. A shout out to my evil co-conspirator, C….

Mountain Climber (Latte Drinker)

You ever see those women and men who walk around in heavy duty outerwear.. you know, the ones that wear the state-of-the-art quilted coats from places like The North Face or Patagonia, coats that could be worn in Antarctica to view the March of the Penguins while keeping oneself in relative comfort. These are the same people with heated seats in their Volvos and iPhones in their pocket (so their tushies don’t get cold and they don’t miss any e-mails). They WOULD be down south, wind slapping their face red, tears turning to icicles, BUT… there is no decent latte in Antarctica…

Damen Gorilla of Adam n Eve makes it out as if these vests are for hearty women, women who are adventurers, who climb prim mountains and brave the frigid cold. (“For the adventurous women…. those who prefer not to sacrifice their style whilst halfway up the mountain, navigating through the north west passage or fording a giant delta somewhere..”) Well I spoke to him about that, and I called his bluff. He admitted it’s all for the ad. He just wants you to get the vest because it’s well made and good. I would agree.

Damen has crafted a well-designed sculpty vest combined with terrific textures (and I show the white here because white is darn hard to make right). It fits well, covers well (sometimes the avatar bleeds through the sculpty in odd places on prim jackets but not this one), and is versatile. I would recommend it for any mountain-climbing cappucino drinker!

I slipped on some jeans from Sumi Sorbet/Tuli Asturius (complete with strawberry and too tight to wear long underwear underneath), wore a sweater and earmuffs from Antonia Marat and stuck a cup of latte from Redd Columbia in my hand. A sweet casual ponytail from fri.day and relatively unmade-up skin from Lorac Farella, and I am SO ready for that mountain.. or hill.. or walk from the coffeehouse to the bookstore in the next block. Yeah…

The finale to this outfit are a pair of sweet little Ughs from Eponymous Trenchmouth. Now, I could walk around in these all day—they are like slippers—sheepskin inside, supple suede on the outside—a recipe for toasty feet. (Yes, I realize these are “not real,” but Epy makes them so well, I just FEEL warm looking at them.)

“Gimme a double latte, soy milk  with a shot of vanilla and a tinch of cinnamon on top, please”:

Hair: fri. – Allison.2 – Jealous Red by Parvarti Monday for fri.day

Skin: Pulse Skin-Life/Tone 4 Warm m1 Black brows by Lorac Farella by Pulse Skins *

Vest: Adam n Eve – Adventure Jacket – Ice White by Damen Gorilla for Adam n Eve *

Sweater: /artilleri/ Marius knit sweater *red* by Antonia Marat for /artilleri/

Jeans: *sUmi* jeans regular by Sumi Sorbet for Tuli

Earmuffs: /artilleri/ Knit earmuffs! (MOUTH) *red* by Antonia Marat for /artilleri/

Boots: Ugh – Silver LF by Eponymous Trenchmouth for Jeepers Creepers

Coffee: -RC- Nana’s Knitted Coffee Cozy by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

Today’s Laundry

In honor of yesterday’s blog about “tomorrow’s laundry,” I thought I might show you today’s laundry.

I don’t do my laundry at the laundromat. I keep it all at home. In my home studio. In my photosphere. Yeah.

So here I am, setting my hair, doing my laundry in my little feathered mules (cuz every girl has to have those), listening to KCRW and loading this fabulous washer and dryer from Redd Columbia that includes accessories and poses. (I LOVE the stuff at RC Cluster. Go when you need a day of laughter.)

I put on these dainties from Annyka Bekkers because they are so sexy and so versatile all at once. Wear the bra underneath a low cut top for a sexy peekaboo or traipse around the house in the set (as I do, clearly). They are great textures—no ghosting in the pieces and well fit to the avatar mesh. Lorac Farella’s subtler Honesty skin from the Altonia line is sexy and fresh.

These mules from Melanie Zhao are for every girl in SL who has too many shoes but still needs more. I mean, how often are you going to wear feathered shoes but in the privacy of your sim? I just don’t see them going over well at the Velvet or Franks. But they are perfect with a box of chocolates (or a basket of laundry).

“Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains, a pretty violent image there. I think if you’ve got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it, maybe laundry isn’t your biggest problem.Maybe you should get rid of the body before you do the wash.”

~ Jerry Seinfeld

Hair: Angry Housewife rollers in hair by Leetah Moxie for Curl Up N Dye

Skin: Pulse Skin – Altonia-Honesty by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins

Bra and panties: *blowpop* Yvette set – Nude by Annyka Bekkers for *blowpop*

Shoes: ~*ZHAO*~ “MOSCOU” by Melanie Zhao for Zhao Shoes

Washer and dryer and all accoutrements: -RC- Clustyclean Stackable Washing Machines (black) by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster