Christmas Week Cafe Style. . .

Up and at 'em early yesterday (Friday) morning to shuttle the Young Master to a doctor's appointment, so a perfect excuse to shower, shave, and dress like a reasonably civilized person once again. Even when the appointment is not your own, it's best to avoid showing up in a windbreaker with white socks peeking out from between pants and shoes. As I have, no doubt, mentioned here many times before, professionals and service people alike tend to react and speak differently to you when you are well-dressed.

Anyway, I liked the combination of items pictured so much that I kept everything on once home again and engaged with my own leisurely pursuits. Some hours later, the Grand Duchess suggested we run a few errands together, dangling an invitation to one of our favorite local cafes before me. How could I refuse?

Conveniently enough, we also dropped by my tailor where I took a wonderful new pair of J. Press corduroys for hemming. These were Christmas gift from the Grand Duchess, and they should be ready for pick-up by Tuesday afternoon next week. Just in time for New Year's Day.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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Mid-June Thursday Style. . .

A nother pretty typical variation on the theme for late spring, summer, and very early fall. I'm a huge fan of Madras and have several such shirts in the seasonal rotation. Lightweight, exceedingly comfortable, and even dressy when pressed and tucked in, which is the usual way of things here at Totleigh in the Wold. Now, if I had my druthers, I'd still rather be skiing the trails in the upper half of "The Mitten" (of Michigan), in the Upper Peninsula, or Ontario. But summers ain't so bad either, and I'd look pretty funny walking around in cross-country ski attire during June. -- Heinz-Ulrich

The Power of Ideas. . .

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A Lazy Saturday at the End of June. . .

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