The Watercolour Dress

 This dress has been in my life so long I no longer remember which relative handed it down to me. It seems as though it has always been there, at the back of the cupboard waiting to be worn on the most unpleasantly warm days. The bodice is lined with a second layer of the same tissue-thin, gauze-like cotton that the skirt is, but a half slip is absolutely necessary on the bottom. I have a very lightweight, pale pink slip purchased just for this dress back in the 80's. When it finally succumbs to age, I don't know what I shall do. A practical person would begin seeking out a replacement now, but well, you know.

A worrying sign is the side-close metal zipper is starting to catch. The only thing worse than replacing zippers is finding a short, metal side zipper that won't chew-up the lightweight fabric when it invariably does catch. My pessimism on the subject is rooted in experience. For the moment, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and as the dress is large enough, just pulling it on over my head and not bothering with the zip at all. 

 The return of Summer Hair, held up in combs and festooned with flowers. As a young woman with a short hairstyle, I would shave the back hairline on my neck (after an idiot remarked that I had a, "Hairy neck"). As a grown woman with a strong sense of, "Fuck You" and an ever stronger sense of laziness, I don't bother. Imagine, being made to feel self-conscious over something as silly as a hairline! Needless to say (but I'll go ahead and say it for readers that might benefit from my wisdom gained with age) if someone finds fault with you, be it a hairy neck, or anything else, run! Oh and also, wedding rings don't flush easily. I hope this has been helpful advice.

 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage dress-No idea, whatsoever.
Shoes-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage Japan-made straw bag-Goodwill
Vintage West German-made necklace-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage earrings-New Life Thrift
Vintage Sarah Coventry brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Hair flowers-Tiff and Tam
Fragrance-Vintage formulation Geminesse

In other news, Walgreen's is selling Wonder Woman lippy. It is very sheer-almost a gloss in weight, but I was surprised how good it was for practically pocket change. I went back to purchase a few more and they were nearly sold out. I should be embarrassed buying this at my age, but I'm not. I wasn't embarrassed buying the Star Wars makeup either-that Dark Side mascara was actually good stuff!

Someone is having fun with the garden signs at the library.

If you look closely you can see my photographer reflected in the door's glass. I wish the Cubs would start winning a few games-the photos look so much better with a WIN flag hanging as a backdrop. Come on Cubbies, win some games.,

Hope your weekend was nice.

Back to Ghoul

Sooner or later, summer had to end. Good riddance, I say. Bring on the decaying fallen leaves, the bonfires, black lipstick.

Black lipstick! Wait, What?!

Don't forget over-the-knee-boots.

Outfit Particulars:

1980's polyester crepe dress-Goodwill
1990's rayon crepe coat-dress-Goodwill
Over-the-knee boots-Goodwill
Vintage needlepoint handbag-gift
Necklace-Can't remember
Earrings-K Mart
Black lippy-Katy Kat matte lipstick by Covergirl (Sigh, yes I bought Katy Perry lipstick)

Danny seems to be going through a Helmut Newton meets David Lynch phase with his photography, but it worked well for this outfit. I'm not sure we've ever taken photos in the cellar, but he seems pleased with the effect of the low light photos.

We're off to the fair tomorrow, so hopefully we'll have good news when we return. They have a website, but no one has bothered to post the winning entries on it. They've been slow to adopt technology, so maybe next year. There's free wi-fi being offered this year at the fairgrounds, which seems like a step in the direction of progress. They probably know you can't get anyone under 30 to go somewhere without wi-fi.

Be good little bats and ghouls while I'm gone.

You May Now Wear White, If You Care About Rules

We've made it to Memorial Day weekend, the accepted start of summer in the United States. You wouldn't know it by the freezing cold (and rain, but thankfully not freezing rain, though that isn't impossible) but if you are the sort of person that cares about fashion rules, the white shoes and bags can come out of storage. 

I think we all know how I feel about fashion rules.

I don't have the sort of constitution that could manage a trip to the pool for the opening weekend in this weather, but there's a birding hike at one of our beautiful State Parks on Sunday. Sure, it will be muddy with all the rain, but that's what old boots are for. I might have a difficult time convincing the boys to tag along, promise of rare warblers or not. 

I'm going to plant the string beans and patty pan summer squash tomorrow as well. It feels late, but though we are slow to warm in Omaha, I know that it will be sweltering well into October. 90 days to harvest leaves plenty of time to grow. This year, I'm doing the squashes on a trellis. I saw a similar construction at last year's fair and I was determined to give it a try at home. The tomatoes and basil are struggling in the cool weather, but if they survive then they should be the stronger for it. We have the tiniest tomato on one of the plants, and a few flowers, but that's it, and they're all rather small. The smallest of the varieties that is barely growing is called (wait for it) German Johnson. 

Ahem. Moving along...

 Hey everybody, I found earrings to match my necklace. Cool, eh? 

This dress was a gift from my dad, late 80's-ish (the era, not his age). I've removed the shoulder pads to make it more wearable. It wasn't my style then, but I could see why he thought I might like it-the cold rayon, the tasteful floral print, the wearable colours, etc.

Still not my style, but perfect for this sort of weather. Unlike so many rayon dresses, this is lined with an acetate that neither clings not creates static. It is a rare day that I can wear a dress or skirt without the addition of a slip. That alone makes it a keeper. 

I think I like the sheer white tights. Maybe. I keep thinking they make me look like a nurse, but all the nurses wear surgical scrubs these days. Pity the poor fetishists. What I really need are pale pink tights like Talbotts sold years ago. They matched my skin tone perfectly, but I might have been alone in that as they were discontinued. Anyone know where I can get pale pink sheer tights? I'll love you forever if you do. Aw, I'll love you forever anyway!

Outfit Particulars:

Dress-80's, gift

Vintage Margaret Smith handbag-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage Naturalizer pumps-Thrift World

Cloisonne bracelet-Goodwill

Necklace and earrings-K Mart

Yellow cardigan-Goodwill

Lippy-Revlon Fuchsia Fusion (say that ten times fast)

Fragrance-White Shoulders (I reek in honeysuckle and rose, even if the garden does not)

We found the most disgusting mould growing in the mulch tonight. I made Mr. ETB dig it out. It was yellow, and sickening and is nicknamed, "Dog vomit mould." I guess that's better than the "Dog penis" mould we had all over last year. 

Really, in MY garden! How dare it?!

So what about you? Do you wait for a certain date to wear white (or wear velvet after Christmas), or do you wear whatever you fancy? Do tell.

Whatever you're wearing, I hope you have a lovely weekend. 

Orange Sherbet

In the US (and maybe Canada?) we have a couple frozen confections that would also describe this dress but I was afraid putting, "Push-Up" or "Creamsicle" dress in the title would bring some strange search engine hits-and then they'd see this polyester creation and be disappointed because nothing kills a boner faster than a dress like this (unless you're a real sicko, in which case-knock yourself out, love). No, the pleasure in the wearing of this dress is all mine.

 Apologies for the mirror photos. My photographer is having asthma again, and the medication makes his hands quite shaky. Poor kid, he finally gets over being sick most of summer, then the allergy induced asthma starts up again with the moulds. The first hard frost cannot get here quick enough as far as I'm concerned. I love summer, but listening to Danny hacking away like a guy whose been smoking a pack a day for fifty years is hard to take.

Tomorrow I finish up with the dentist (for now) and then pretty much do nothing for the rest of the week because the one car is in the shop, and the heat is going to be insane. Mr. ETB thinks I'm going to let him take the bus on a 98 degree day (I'm not) and I'm sure as hell not going out. The pool would just be like bathwater anyway.

 Know what's good to cook in hot weather?

 Indeed. Tastes better when you have a special plate too.

 OK, it was BBQ tofu, but it made killer sandwiches. They're eating the leftovers tonight because I'm a "cook once, serve it for days" kind of homemaker. Thankfully, they don't object to re-runs.

Outfit Particulars:
1960's orange polyester home-sewn (not by me) dress-Goodwill, .99 cents
Shoes-K Mart
Flower pin/hair clip-Tiff and Tam
Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Hat-Goodwill
Bangles-thrifted
Fragrance-Innisfree
Lippy-Revlon Jungle Peach (who the hell names these?) a vintage re-issue that probably should have stayed in the 60's with robin's egg blue mascara)

Let's see if we can get a better look at that...

Huh. It looks better in the photos than it does in person. You'll have to take my word for it, this is the strangest, dullest, matte orange lippy I've ever encountered. That's how they sell this stuff-good lighting.

Light orange dress? That's s sure-bet! (Sorry, I had to).

 

 

The Only Frost I Want in May is on a Glass of Lemonade

We have a frost warning for tonight. I guess if I can't count on real flowers in the garden, I can always wear one from my collection. We brought the gardenia inside This is a strange spring to be sure, but snow in May isn't unheard of, though it is definitely unwelcome.

I've learned to keep a few warm cardigans handy for our flaky weather.

Danny dressed Orson because he looked like he could use some colour. Poor Orson, the indignities he'll have to endure.

I bought this dress a few seasons ago on deep discount. I like it very much, but it doesn't fit as well as what it attempts to mimic (that is, a 1970's dress). The cut is uninspired, and the quality isn't the best. I think the only reason it hasn't fallen apart is because I so rarely wear it. It wasn't cheap before going on sale, and it isn't "fast fashion" in the sense that it is intended to be disposable-but it is shoddy. I could be misremembering, but it seems that even the cheap fashions of the 70's were made with finished hems, were decently stitched, and had sleeves that were the same length.

Outfit Particulars:

 

Dress-Sale a few years ago

Cardigan-thrifted

Blue necklaces-Goodwill

Earrings K-Mart

1960's Handbag-Thrift World

1970's shoes-Thrift World

Bangles-thrifted

Owl Ring-K Mart

Lippy-Revlon Limited Edition Icy Violet (a re-issue from the 40's...where it should stay. Cripes, I look embalmed)

 

Orson is wearing:

1970's earrings

Tiff and Tam hair flowers

 

I never imagined I'd be giving outfit details for a stuffed wombat. Oh, the places life takes you!

 

 These are the craziest shoes, with the gum heel and all. Still, I had to buy them for .98 cents. They're comfortable too.

 

Danny is outside snapping photos with an old film camera. He was so excited when I bought him some 35mm film today, and showed him how to load it. I have a feeling my downstairs powder room is about to become a darkroom, but that's OK. I like to encourage his hobbies, and as long as it doesn't involve large raptors shrieking and projectile shitting, I'm happy to oblige. Thank god the bird banding is over for the season. Photography is a nice, quiet, clean hobby. You can photograph the birds.

Speaking of raptors, I don't mind this sort of owl. Hoo would?

I'll get my hat...

Orson wants you to know, no wombats were harmed in the making of this blogpost...but he's mildly annoyed.