sunshine

Tomorrow is the 4th of July which of course no one mentions here. Or least, not in the Dot household. It's like the World Cup: once England was knocked out last Sunday, as Mr. Dot patiently explained to me 'no one cares anymore, Jill.' I guess it's the same for the Colonies gaining their Independence..

Thank you for your thoughtful comments: Andy, my nephew, is much better, and he's going - with his girlfriend, and the rest of my sister's family - to my mother's beach home on the end of Long Island for the weekend. We're up crack of dawn, Mr. Dot is already showering and I've got to post and pack: up to the glorious Herefordshire countryside, staying with the Dot-in-Laws, seeing a whole pack of old Herefordian friends in for the weekend, including someone's twin baby girls. And hopefully, swimming in a water hole his brother Marcus loved.

As I pack, all I care about is staying cool. Last Sunday, while Germany slaughtered England (sorry, honey) and we played in a ping pong tournament at a party, I developed this hideous heat rash on my stomach. So frankly I can't think about anything past swimsuits and the lightest of clothing. Can't even post street shots of people in clothing, my head is only aimed at the water.

Dug up this old shot from somewhere wonderful. I couldn't remember who took it - it didn't seem possible to use a tripod on sand - and then I remembered, this is from one of our countless winter holidays in the Carribean, me and Mr. Dot, so he must have been the photographer. And he never took photos back then!



Swimsuit by a British designer who still has a shop in London, I believe (blanking on her name: she did these waffle materials, and I bought that same swimsuit twice). That Breton top was that iconic American sportswear brand - not Abercrombie & Fitch, but something like it. Ray Bans, prescription, as before, and skirt and hat, stylist's own.

My sweet friend Stephanie (Style Odyssey) asked why I still have everything: A), I'm a pack rat, but it's also because if I like something - a pair of shoes, a flower even when it's dried, a person - it's hard to let them go.

Have a glorious, sunny weekend everyone! Celebrate YOUR independence! Go forth, and multiply.