Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Fashion Rules and Striped Ground Squirrels

These two things have no point of intersection, by the way, in case you were hoping for an essay in which the fashion rules of striped ground squirrels was in the offing.

First, fashion rules. On some level, it seems like one should be aware of these things, but I have remained embarrassingly unaware. About 10 years ago, someone let slip to me that we are not supposed to wear white before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. I feel a little haunted by that revelation. In my ignorance I could wear white whenever I felt like it, but now, having received the Law of Wearing White, I am aware of and accountable for this Fashion Sin. Today someone told me that she wouldn’t be able to wear neon green very much longer because of the time of year. Okay, not that I’ve ever had neon green in my wardrobe, but what’s that about? She also told me that the Law of Wearing White includes white shoes. What?!? Please don’t tell me anymore.

Now for the striped ground squirrel, my latest postcard painted from a photograph I took a month ago.

I call him “Stripey Guy.”

If there’s a fashion rule about deleting blog posts, I don’t want to know about it, because I’m used to doing it in the morning.