On Saturday, Karin and Craig picked up Grey and I and the four of us headed out to Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia to spend a day at the races. Gold Cup is a steeplechase that’s been around for 85 years; the event is steeped in tradition and just oozes hunt country charm. Thousands of people flock to the race and set up tailgates that are more elaborate than most weddings: think Gorham instead of plastic silverware and Veuve Clicquot in place of Beast Ice.
Even though I’ve only been on a horseback enough times to be bucked off, bitten, and kicked in the gut, there’s something about horse racing I absolutely love. It’s a sport that has maintained its sense of charm and gentility unlike most others in America. Just look around a race track: instead of seeing most spectators wearing poly-blend t-shirts with giant corporate logos, you’ll find a sea of seersucker, madras, pink, green, and linen. And as much as I love Penn State football games, there’s something to be said about a sporting event to which you wear pearls.
So the four of us had a fantastic Saturday sipping bubbly (well, water for me), and watching the track (to be honest, the people watching was as fun as looking at the horses). Plus, it was the first time Grey and Craig met and of course our two significant others bonded immediately over their shared obsession with college sports, the annoyance of always being called Greg, passion for beer, and plight of loving women that don’t leave the house without a full face of overpriced makeup. Good times.
Karin and I clearly missed the memo that pastel is king at Gold Cup. Next year it's pink feather hats and green plaid all the way!
Definitely my favorite addition to a tailgate: the stuffed fox with a real gun and pheasant. This is a masterpiece of taxidermy!
Oh Easter Sunday. Yes, it’s technically the day Jesus rose from the dead to save the world and rid us of our sins, but somehow that seemed to get lost in the shuffle while I was looking for a preppy outfit for Ollie’s Easter Sunday ensemble. I mean, today is a serious photo opp!
Last year he wore a madras john john with white knee socks and white bucks, but this year I opted for a more sophisticated look: madras blazer, button down, khakis, and his Sperry’s. Of course, 90% of Ollie’s wardrobe is Hartstrings; they make the cutest children’s clothing.
I pretty much dress Ollie how I wish I could dress Grey. So his wardrobe includes lots of pink, lime green, and endless amounts of seersucker. He has a wide collection of hats with which to accessorize: coonskin, cowboy, and, of course, a classic navy beret.
Some people have said that I dress Ollie like a girl, but I ignore this. Pretty soon Ollie will probably be choosing cheesy poly-blend t-shirts with Dora and Diego dancing all over them and I’ll long for the days of him wearing knickers and monogrammed pastel polos. Plus, if Ollie grows up to one day wear pink tutus, I don’t care — as long as he’s happy.
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