Maximizing Green

The length of a sinusoidal wave is the distance over which a wave's shape repeats through consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, in other words through its crest and trough. The length of the light waves within which the color green appears ranges from 520 to 570 nanometers. The electromagnetic wavelength of green appears at frequencies between minus 575 to plus 525 terahertz. These spectral coordinates allow for quite a few shades of green in one’s closet.

In honor of Earth Day I broke out some green in the form of a maxi by J. Peterman which I’ve owned for over a decade. It’s not my fault that spring weather seems to be a little behind the curve this year. Normal temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, and around my home in Baltimore County in particular, should have been almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit today. As it was, the temps remained firmly stuck in the 50s. I am not complaining, mind you, since before too long I will be wistfully pining for such chilliness. Besides, the breezy nip presented me with a perfect opportunity to wear some of my cool-weather clothes while it’s still comfortable enough to do so.

The heavy cotton skirt, combed to a subtle sheen, is rendered in a classic hunter green, whose hexadecimal color code is #355E3B for you computer geeks out there. I paired the long skirt with a vintage flannel shirt by Newport News in olive and black Buffalo plaid (see my post about plaid at Rhinestone Cowboy), and added comfy black boots by Pink & Pepper that I found on sale at Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) last year.

I dressed up my outfit a bit by adding a dark green and amber beaded necklace and earrings by Mixit from JCPenney, a cocktail ring of jade-colored glass that was a gift from my best friend’s mother, Joyce, in Spokane, Washington, a bracelet of Connemara marble stones I bought in southern Ireland last summer, and a green and black lace hair accessory called a Dea Dread which was hand made by Thea Osato of Baltimore (http://DeaDreads.etsy.com). But even with these feminine touches, my outfit evoked memories of some of the plucky exploits I’ve undertaken in my life (read skydiving and Scuba diving, among others), about which I spoke the last time I wore this ensemble (see my post titled Tomboy Attitude).

I was lucky enough to grow up in northern California, where conservation and ecology seemed to have been ingrained in my DNA. Treating Mother Nature with respect and living with a mindset of "frugality of consumption" was a way of life there, or at least it was in my family and those of my neighbors. Now living on the opposite coast, I still make all my own compost, use my cars and household possessions until they disintegrate, recycle almost everything and give precious little to the garbage man each week.

The earth is our exquisite emerald. I was proud to honor her signature hue today.

Cheers,

Lynell