it's rainy outside

and it's chilly. disclaimer: okay, it's sunny out right now, but when i started this post it was rainy. we have actually had amazing weather here lately. did you see the pictures from my brother's visit? it rained only once when he was here and it was brief. our weather now is fairly normal (i'm still pretty new to oregon), so we all know how to hunker down and deal with it. just like if you live where it is snowy and cold, proper gear is ideal.

i've talked about the gear issue before here. i have a way better understanding three years in now. we each own several rain coats, because you need different levels of warmth. everyone has rain pants, we have different thicknesses of gloves, scarves and hats. a great need to feed into my knitting habit i might add. :) it's the same thing with boots and coats, there are lots of different products and it's so awesome when you get your needs met. i have found several ways to meet my needs.

1. organic cotton leg warmers from maggie's-

i got these my first year here thankfully at our local co-op, and there's only a few months i don't wear them. there's a saying here "if you don't like the weather wait 10 minutes". with that in mind layers are the best. you want to be able to put on and take off as the weather fluctuates and changes. these fit the bill. i also wear knee highs a lot, especially if i know it's going to stay cold all day, or better yet, a pair of maggie's tights.

2. what i wish i purchased my first year, but am so glad i now have are silks-

i don't do poly anything next to my skin, and i just assumed silks would be spendy. but i keep an eye on sales and free shipping for land's end, so i scored a tank and leggings that were very affordable. i love these! i want to get a long sleeve shirt and another pair of leggings for when these are being laundered. silk feels so good. they are thin enough if i need to step into a rest room to remove them, i could pop them into my bag easily.

3. neck warmth-

the very european look of wrapping a fine cotton scarf on your neck i get now. if i can keep something warm on my neck it makes a huge difference in how cold i feel. i have some fine cotton scarves, but i have also knitted myself several soft wool scarves in various shapes and designs that i wear all day, not just outside. my favorite is the dolores park cowl by six one seven . i'm knitting myself my third one! i think i must make the yoshimi loop scarf too, you just can't have too many scarves.

4. my soft star moccasins-

these are the best. i walk in the house, take off my shoes and put them on. they are elastic around the ankle so you do not have to worry about tripping out of them. when you order a pair they are made to fit your feet. you can choose your materials, and colors. and the folks who own/work there are the best kind of people. go to the site and read all about them and how they got started. i actually bring them with me to people's homes that don't have a wood stove, i like to stay warm, what can i say!

-other ways to stay warm: coconut hot chocolate from this months online mothering magazine**

-i really want to make these from five green acres

-loving the new iron and wine, i cannot get enough of his music

** i am so sad to hear that mothering magazine will cease publication. mothering was a lifeline for me having my first child and wanting to attachment parent in a place where that was not the norm. i've heard it said a lot, and i feel it myself, it grew up with my kids and it will be sadly missed. thank you for the 35 years you did publish and reach out to all of us.