Blue Jays + Map Lichen.

The blue jay shouts from his branch. He administers his harsh warnings, a helmeted head busy with the business of food and enemy. He squawks, and loudly, sending smaller passerines scattershot across the yard. He yawps for what he wants at the bird feeder; he mobs the owl that nests too close to his family; he yells — vigorously, cantankerously — at the hawk, as the jay knows himself to be easy prey because he is slow of wing. He is just doing his job. He has no conception of his own beauty, the welcomeness of his blue against this drab January, the shock of his size in the tree’s palm. Sometimes I look at the jay and think of the dinosaur: winged, bigger than we thought. He is my husband’s first bird of 2026, and I don’t care if it’s fairylore: I will keep each of his sightings pressed to my heart like a locket. A grimoire waiting to be opened. The magic nested, waiting.

Meanwhile, I discover that there is a kind of non-vascular plant called a map lichen. Plants that take on the shape of diagrams. Ah, but nature always offers the answers. She whispers them to us. She shouts them to us from the branch. Am I listening?

Post-Scripts.

+What the trees teach me.

+Come: meet me at the trees!

+Those hard, jadeite places.

Shopping Break.

+This $75 sweater jacket (originally $250) was very popular with Magpies over the weekend! While you’re there, this continues to be one of my most-worn weekday bags. Carries SO much and I love the Goyard-esque shadow lettering on the sides. I have it in the fun green color.

+I found my new Citizens barrel leg sweats on sale in a really cute color here! Matching sweatshirt here.

+Another great elevated athleisure pick: Alice Walk just launched a double-faced lounge set!!!

+Updated my Shopbop hearts! This includes several items that are a part of their additional 25% off off sale (just launched today), like this chic striped duffel; these minty-fresh Cloudmonsters (my favorite sneakers for walking / everyday adventures); and this fun quilted denim jacket.

+Not on sale, but I am loving these barrel leg jeans in this lighter wash (just wore for the first time over the weekend — the wash is so fab).

+I wore those jeans with these neutral sneakers, which filled a big hole in my shoe wardrobe! I find myself reaching for them all the time. I love the low-profile silhouette; they look really flattering on the foot, sort of like an Adidas Samba.

+Julia Amory re-released her Majorelle caftans! I had one that I absolutely wore into the ground — I threw it on over swimsuits, wore in the evenings when I wasn’t ready for pajamas but wanted something pajama-adjacent, paired with dad sandals and flat sandals for everyday outings, etc! Love a caftan.

+Cutest patterned lampshades at a great price.

+After sharing my wishes for a legato 2026 here, I have convinced myself I need a proper teapot. How gorgeous is this or this?

+Kilte is running a big sale: love this fair isle and this knit set!

+Such a cool jacket.

+Leset vibes for much, much less.

+Brushed cashmere cardi for $129!

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