Fine-Tuning

Stripes can be surprisingly flattering, and this jumpsuit is made masterfully in this sense. A couple of things to tell you about this outfit. First, as much as I love finding new things, I also love combining the things I already own in a new way, and that's exactly what's happening here. And second, as much as I love natural fabrics, there is a certain temperature range (around 60 F, or 15 C) when I absolutely love wearing po-ly-es-ter. I know, it sounds strange and some of you are wincing now! But to me, a girl who more than anything else is for acceptance and inclusion, there is something attractive and comforting even in polyester.

Happy Birthday, Sister! Happy Birthday, Book!

This is the way Andrei, my beloved brother greeted me on my birthday this year. :)

Now I can tell that I was born twice, both times in May. First, in 1973, in a far away town in Siberia, as a little girl named Natasha, with long red hair and blue eyes (as mama describes me). Second time, in 2016, in America, as a book author Natalia Lialina, though my red hair is now short, and my eyes became green.  

Hold On, Indy!

There are times, when an outfit I create inspires where I want to go, and there are other times, when a place inspires my outfit. This was one of those other times. Justin suggested we go for a walk in the beautiful Tumwater Falls Park near Olympia, which was featured in my blog back in 2015 (posts Days Passed and Abandoned Beauty).

California Poppies

Spring arrived early in my part of the world, and everything seems to be blooming two or even three weeks ahead of schedule. These happy orange flowers cover sunny slopes here and there around Seattle. You can often find them along highways or on big open hilly places, such as Chambers Bay trails which go over a pretty meadow and gold course, by the shores of Puget Sound, south of Tacoma. I've been wishing to find a place where California poppies (their other names are California sunlight, or cup of gold) are within reach for us photographers. But I hadn't expected to see the whole hill covered with them on my 2-hour hike today. 

Like a Russian Play

When Pantone revealed the colors of the year of 2016, I thought that there would not be too many things for me this year. "Oh good, I'll save money then," I thought. Rose Quartz and Serenity, or, translated into my unsophisticated color vocabulary, pale pink and pale blue (I know, it's not the same!), just aren't my colors. I do think they are both pretty and serene, I just did not think I would want to wear them. But appetite grows with eating, as they say, and at this point wild horses would not be able to drag me from my experiments with style. To my surprise, I soon found myself getting into pretty blues and pinks. And when I saw this dress, I fell head over heels for its tender beauty.

Fields of Tulips

It's almost the end of April, and I still haven't written about our Spring break adventures earlier this month. Sorry for being a little distracted lately - I am getting ready to share good news with you soon, but for now let me continue sharing our day trips.

April is a tulip month here, in the State of Washington. If you happen to be here any time during April, make sure you visit our famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - and if you happen to live here, I am sure you know what I'm talking about, and you most probably share my enthusiasm. Justin, Anya and I visited Roozen Gaarde, founded by William Roozen, an immigrant from Holland, in the mid-century (last century, though his family have been known for growing tulips since 1700s). Mr Roozen's dream of growing tulips in the valley of Skagit River, where soil is very similar to the one in his homeland, not only came true, but his company became the largest bulb producer in the US!

All the photos are taken either by Justin or by Anya - they both felt inspired by the sea of blooming tulips of all colors of the rainbow. You can see Mount Baker behind the fields (photo above) - the third highest mountain in Washington, an active volcano and one of the snowiest places in the world. Will you come and wander with me through these beautiful fields of not gold, but tulips? (Beautiful song, nevertheless.) 

Symphonic Django: the US Premiere in Tacoma

It's hot over here - 80 F by the sea and 90 F in the valley! But the real heat has happened last Saturday when Justin, Anna and I attended the most delightful concert - the legendary music of the genius guitarist Django in the symphonic orchestration format which was, as they say, a dream of his. Two hours of inspired, timeless, heartwarming music with the world renowned American guitar player John Jorgenson, brilliant UK born violinist Ben Powell and three wonderful local talents: Neil Andersson (guitar), Jon Hamar (bass) and Greg Ruby (guitar). And of course, Sarah Ioannides, the conductor and music director of the Tacoma Symphony since 2014 (I wrote about her first season grand opening, with the unforgettable Dame Evelyn Glennie, here). We've been to a few concerts since this dynamite lady started conducting the TSO, and watching what she is doing has been an amazing experience for which I am very grateful. It seems that the Tacoma symphonic music scene exploded in all sorts of unexpected, fresh directions.