Nautical But Nice

I'm back in stripes, this time of the horizontal sort. I don't know why navy and white scream spring to me, but year after year I find myself reaching for a way to ease some white into my wardrobe before summer arrives. Might have something to do with the buckets of cold rain currently pouring down.

the terrible weather does mean taking photos indoors, which is challenging on a bright day. I appreciate the dark house in summer when the tree keeps us shaded and cool, but it is frustrating when it comes to photography. Truth be told, I'd rather have the shade as a lower energy bill will always be more important than good photos. I'm a bad blogger. Where are my priorities?!

Here's the kitchen view-florescent light ain't no friend to the pale.

Outfit Particulars:
1970's polyester skirt-Goodwill
Knit Pendleton jacket-Goodwill
Tee-K Mart
Vintage Naturalizer bag-Goodwill (I think)
Wedge heel sneakers-Goodwill
Lucite brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Thermoset necklace-Sequels
Quartz bangle-Goodwill
No lippy because I had my teeth cleaned. I swear, I'd feel less naked going bare-assed.
Still no perfume, but I was delighted to see K Mart is now selling Florida Water cologne. I bought a bottle and I'll be dousing myself in it as soon as the weather warms up. For five dollars, you can't beat the stuff for refreshing cologne-unless of course if you don't like the medicinal anise scent. I love it.

 I don't want to jinx it but I am shocked this bracelet hasn't shattered yet. I'm not a graceful person, and I'm unfortunately a bit hard on my vintage.

That lucite ring is as heavy as it looks. I'm probably burning calories typing with it on my finger.

Probably not. I'm off to find some lipstick. Hope you're enjoying Spring where you're at.

Get Your Own Litterbox!

It was a beautiful, windy, unseasonably warm January day in Nebraska, so we headed out to make the most of it. We did a bit of thrift shopping, and then made our way to Heron Haven to see what wildlife might be around.

While we were in the bird blind with some other people, this muskrat swam over for a photo. Danny said he spotted another, and I announced if I saw a second muskrat, I'd have to sing. That got snickering from the older people. Thankfully for everyone the second never showed up!

Muskrat muskrat....

Luckily, I don't know any songs about mallards. 

Or Canada Geese!

Outfit Particulars:

1970's polyester maxi dress-Thrift World (years ago)

1970's polyester jacket(came with a dress)-Salvation Army (I think)

High heeled sneakers-Goodwill

Handbag-Long gone shop in the abandoned mall

Vintage necklace-Garage sale

Earrings-Garage sale

Lucite bangle-Hand-Me-Ups

Fragrance-Amouge Gold (I could barely smell it-must be the jasmine anosmia kicking in)

Before I leave you, I must show you something we saw for sale at Goodwill.

WTF?!

Look, I like cats, but I wouldn't want to share a toilet with them. I can't get the boys to wipe up the seat, how neat do you think a cat would be?  Is changing the kitty litter that big of a deal? Has anyone with cats used this thing? I'm trying to be open minded but I don't think I could share a toilet with a pet no matter how much I liked it. Just imagine how outraged a cat would be if  I sat my fat ass down in the litter box to drop a turd. There's some things you just don't share. Or, I don't anyway. I'm kinda judgmental that way.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.

Cat's Entertainment!

*Updated 

We just hit -17 degrees F. (that's -27 C ) and it is only midnight-it will get worse before it gets better. It wouldn't be shocking in February, but for December, this is very cold. I need to go out tomorrow-wish me luck. I think it is going to be an alpaca socks sort of day.

Meow.

 We have an ice storm and sub-zero temperatures headed our way tonight, so I spent the day out and about doing errands. I'll brave the cold, and reasonable amounts of snow, but ice is not worth the risks. We took treats to the Friends of the Library volunteers today, and even managed to visit a couple thrift stores before heading home. I'm going to take advantage of the snow/ice day to do a bit of baking and stocking the freezer with meals. Anyway, no reason to go out looking like a bundled-up frump when I own such a warm faux leopard jacket.

I had my bag on the counter at Hand-Me-Ups as I was paying for my purchases and the woman at the register tried to ring it up! We had a good laugh because I'd bought it there a few months ago, and she'd remembered seeing it around the shop. Generally speaking, if it didn't come from Hand-Me-Ups, it came from Goodwill or Thrift World. My shopping universe is quite narrow.

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage Polyester dress-Fairytail Costumes

Faux Leopard jacket-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage Corde bag-Hand-Me-Ups

Belt-Goodwill

Gloves-Thrift World

Hat-Nobbie's

Bakelite bangles-all over

Vintage lucite and shell earrings-garage sale

Christmas brooches on jacket-Can't remember-probably goodwill

Fragrance-Nahema

As a matter of fact, I did watch SCTV when it was on. Why do you ask?

How about a cocktail? As I'm dressed feline, let's try a

Barking Dog

1 oz. gin

1 oz. dry vermouth

1 oz. sweet vermouth

2 dashes bitters

Stir well with ice. Strain into glass sand serve with a cherry. 

Here's a little song Mr. ETB wrote

(to the tune of "That's Entertainment")

Oh their paws

when they're playing with string

Oh their eyes

when they're looking at things

and their ears

when they're listening to things...

Cat's Entertainment!

Yes, he has hundreds of these songs, most of which I can't put in print. 

Checkin' Out the Birds

Has it been another week already? Sorry about that! 

Can I make it up to you with a picture of a Bald Eagle bringing food back to the nest for a pair of fluffy eaglets? Don't worry, it was just fish (I saw that video of the eagles eating a cat too). We spent Saturday at DeSoto National Wildlife refuge in Iowa as part of Global Big Day. Danny was able to spot over forty different species of birds, adding a few new ones to his life list. On Sunday, we visited Towle Park, Standing Bear Lake, and Heron Haven, all in Omaha which resulted in several more new birds for his life-list. May is Migratory Bird Month, and we've been seeing plenty of them. 

Not a real bird.

 Real bird.

For those who might be interested, here's the lists for Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday at DeSoto:

House Finch

House Sparrow

Common Grackle

Mourning Dove

European Starling

Blue Jay

Red Bellied Woodpecker

American Robin

Great Blue Heron

Canada Goose

Tree Swallow

Red headed Woodpecker

Brown Headed Cowbird

Chipping Sparrow

Harris' Sparrow

Barn Swallow

Northern Cardinal

Grey Catbird

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Wild Turkey

American Coot

Yellow Rumped WArbler

Northern Waterthrush

Golden Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Mallard

Swainson's Thrush

Least Flycatcher

White Breasted Nuthatch

White Crowned Sparrow

Blue Winged Teal

Eastern Kingbird

Double Crested Cormorant

Eastern Bluebird

Baltimore Oriole

Sunday, between the three Nebraska locations we spotted:

Common Grackle

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Harris' Sparrow

House Sparrow

House Finch

Wilson's Warbler

Brown Headed Cowbird

American Redstart

Northern Cardinal

European Starling

Common Yellowthroat

Canada Goose/Cackling Goose

Northern Waterthrush

Mallard

Wood Duck

Red Winged Blackbird

Blue JAy

Black Capped Chickadee

Great Egret

Chipping Sparrow

Baltimore Oriole

"The Lesser Great Plains Twitcher."

It doesn't sound like it would be exhausting, but dawn to dusk birding two days in a row takes a great deal out of a person. Well, this person. The twitcher is doing fine. I'm glad he was able to spot a few migratory birds he'd wanted to see. There was a great moment where he was showing photos to a couple of wildlife biologists trying to get an I.D. on a bird he'd seen. The three of them were huddled over a camera and bird guides debating the various eye stripes and wing patterns on the bird. My fourteen year old self wanted to shout, "Nerds!" and run from the room, but I was rather impressed by the way Danny was able to discuss the finer details with people who care about such things. 

I'll try to give you a condensed version of last week's better outfits. 

Top-90's Norton McNaughton-Filenes(?)

2000's Liz Claiborne skirt-Hand-Me-Ups

1960's vinyl clutch-Goodwill

Clarks sandals-Hand-Me-Ups

Shell bracelet, earrings, and coral necklace-Hand-Me-Ups

Then, there was this one:

 (Too large) Top-K Mart
Skirt-Goodwill
Naturalizer sandals (brand New) $2.00 at Sequels
Vintage macrame handbag-Goodwill
Glass beads-Both Sarpy County Historical Society Yard Sale
Earrings-Sears(I think)


And this one:

Vintage KoKo Knits top-Goodwill

Taffeta skirt-Goodwill

Vintage Naturalizer peep-toe shoes-Thrift World

Vintage Handbag-Goodwill

Shell earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

Fragrance-Vintage formulation Azuree (I can still smell it in the car!)

In-between all that, I bought a swimsuit with a matching sarong at Target:

I'm a sucker for Marimekko.  In fact, I liked it so much I went back and bought a top and matching shorts. I'm wearing the top here:

I wish the sleeves were a bit less wide, and perhaps a bit shorter, but that is something I can easily fix on my own. The fabric is cool and comfortable and launders nicely without wrinkling too horribly. The matching shorts give the overall appearance of a romper when worn with the shirt, and it will be a nice thing to have this summer...if we ever get summer. Today it is raining, and in the 40's. 

Outfit Particulars:

Skirt-Sears, ages ago

Top-Marimekko for Target

White bracelet-Souvenir of Canada-Goodwill

Silver Mexican bracelet-Goodwill

Earrings-Can't remember

Jacket (top photo)-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage blue vinyl handbag-Goodwill

Lucite necklace-Sequels

If you've made it this far, thanks! I hope I don't sound as scatter-brained as I feel at this point, but it has been busy, busy, busy of late. I did notice that they have started putting out chairs and filling the pool , so if we ever get some sun and warm temperatures I can take myself over there to relax and fall asleep in the sun (is there any better luxury in life?). Until then, it is all end-of-the-school year madness, and next year's syllabus writing. Teaching Grade Six is the best-we get to do earthworm dissection in biology. 

I hope things are going well where you're at. Have a wonderful week (And if you fancy some inexpensive Marimekko togs, get yourself to Target quickly. Danny thinks I should go back and get the bikini just to horrify the plastic surgery junkies we see at the pool each summer. I just might.). 

Spring Boots, and Other Season-Straddling Items

A pair of off-white boots were just the thing as our weather couldn't decide if it was spring or winter. I had boots like these in the 80's (didn't everyone?) but didn't think to hang onto them. Thanks to pack rats donating their 80's boots to the Goodwill, I'm happily reunited with what is turning out to be  very practical footwear. Leather, $5.99 Goodwill

 Uh oh, there's a spot on my boot. There's a family story about my uncle, aged about three stopping still on the street and crying because there was a spot on his new, white shoes. He wouldn't budge until my poor grandmother got down on her knees and wiped it off with a handkerchief. When I bought the boots they were filthy, but in otherwise good shape. As my nan is no longer around, I had to clean them off myself. I did a rather good job-they look like new. 

This dress is gigantic (the bust must be at least 50 inches) but rather than do alterations, I stuck a blouse beneath it and wore it like a pinafore. It has an Italian Label, and I would place it either late 60's or early 70's by the print and colours (in the US anyway, that sort of thing persisted into the mid-70's, but I suspect the Italians were ahead of us fashion/design wise). It is a very casual dress made of barkcloth, and was probably intended for wear at home, or possibly on holiday. How it ended up in Council Bluffs, Iowa is interesting to imagine. 

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage Italian dress-Goodwill

Talbot's cardigan-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage leather boots-Goodwill

Vintage Act III blouse-Goodwill

Handbag-Jenerations (in the abandoned mall) Omaha

Vintage woven metal and enamel earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

Bangles (2 Bakelite, 1 brown not)-All Goodwill

1970's Enamel brooch on cardigan-Goodwill

Fragrance-Chanel #22

For the days when the weather behaves, I have a lovely pair of vintage Selby shoes to get me between seasons. These are " Old Lady Shoes" but perfectly appropriate as I am an old lady. 

I don't ordinarily bother with back and side views of a pair of shoes, but the details on these were just too nice, and I had to share.

These shoes set me back two dollars at Sequels Thrift Store (in the Dairy Queen) in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I do love that place. 

One of my other favourite haunts for a good bargain is New Life Thrift. I found this set of lucite bangles (there's a red one too) and the quartz bangle sitting there in the case unnoticed, and unloved. You know what a soft-touch I am, so rather than feel bad about the lonely bangles wondering why they were abandoned in a thrift store, I took them home. I should stop anthropomorphising my vintage.  

Anyone care to place a bet how long the bangle lasts before it slips from my wrist and crashes to the ground in a million pieces? I lost a nice glass bangle that way, and it is the reason I don't own any jade-I am too careless for anything that delicate. 

This necklace? Plastic. So much less nerve-wracking to wear. 

Oh would you look at that? No, really I have no idea what I was looking at. This must be my day for, "Glancing downward photo." 

Hey, how about that bag? 

It was falling apart, and it could still use some serious repair, but for a dollar I thought it was a good purchase, flaws and all. 

Some patience and a bag of assorted seed beads will take care of that.

Outfit Particulars:

Home sewn (not by me) skirt-Goodwill

1980'sBill Blass jacket-Hand-Me-Ups

Silk novelty top-Goodwill

Vintage Selby shoes-Sequels

Caron of Houston vintage handbag-Fairytail Costumes, Omaha

Vintage Lucite and quartz bangles-New Life Thrift

1960's clip earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

Plastic Necklace-Shop-Ko

Fragrance-Annick Goutal Eau d' Hadrien (for that fresh lemon scent that says, "I just washed up the dinner dishes!)

We're due for more snow tonight (I promise, no singing) so I'd better go cover the garden with the fleeces. I harvested a large bowl of spinach, sorrel, and pea shoots to serve with tonight's salmon salad. I'm sure by this time tomorrow, we'll be eating hot soup. 

P.S. My first Gladiola is pushing up through the ground.