I'll Have a Blue Hawaiian Without You

A Blue Hawaiian cocktail sounds pretty good right now, but I'd need to go out and buy Curacao. Better stick to Pimms and lemonade instead.

 I found this dress in a box I'd forgotten about, and have no memory of having purchased it. It isn't vintage, but it easily passes. I was in the mood to wear something cheerful. How'd I do?

I waited in the car while Mr. ETB popped into the Indian market for curry leaves (and a deep-fried snack he ate before returning to the car). Bored, I photographed my new (to me) vintage shoes, but the real star of this photo is that blue sky out the window.

 Car-selfie using the mirror on the sun-visor. I was really bored. I think the "fried snack" was probably plural, as he was in there quite some time.

 Outfit Particulars:
Jones New York dress-can't remember
Blue vintage beads-Goodwill
Flower pin-Tiff and Tam
Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage sandals-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Hair Flowers-Tiff and Tam
Fragrance-Guerlain Guet Apens

I made the first sweet corn of the season to get summer started.

 Yes, I own corn-on-the-cob dishes, and plastic holders for the ends. I live in Nebraska. That's not an excuse so much as an observation. It took 16 years, but I've, "Gone Native."  I still don't like football. Sorry.

I have more corn and vegetarian hot dogs for our dinner tomorrow, and then we're off to the park to practise Danny's pitching. I never thought I'd be purchasing a baseball glove for myself, but he needs someone to pitch and catch with. I went to the used sporting goods store and found an exceptionally nice glove for $14.00. I'm a better catcher than pitcher. I'm a bit wary as two of my worst childhood injuries happened playing baseball, with the worst seeing me knocked-out in a neighbour's yard. I've had more concussions than an NFL player (that's not an exaggeration). It probably explains quite a bit about my personality! Fell down the basement stairs head-first, baseball injury, drove my bike into a car in the alley (miracle I wasn't run over but it was my fault. I still feel bad for the fright I gave the poor old man driving), fell from a tree, ice skating injury...and then there were the broken bones. So yeah, I'm thinking about wearing a batting helmet to play catch with my kid in case he beans me with a hard ball. I can't afford any more brain injuries. 

I had a very lucky visit to the Goodwill "Up North" that I rarely visit. Three full, unused bottles of perfume (Tuscany per Donna 3.4 oz, $3.99 Clinique Happy (meh) 3.4 oz, $4.99 and Shiseido Zen, $2.99) and an extravagant, over-the-top Carol Dauplaise necklace from the 80's for $4.99. I spotted it in the case as soon as we walked in, and I stood there waiting for someone to open it lest someone else come along and buy it out from under me. We came home and I did a bit of research-it sells for a nice chunk of change online. Mr. ETB was impressed that I could spot it right away, but after so many years, I've become good at spotting quality. That's part of my logic for not shopping with a phone. I see people looking things up before buying them, but I prefer to trust my gut feeling. At least if I'm stuck with it, I'll enjoy the item. Anyway, I was clearly chuffed.

I hope everyone has a good week.

The Judgement of Plaster of Paris

Sorry, had to. 

You can't take me anywhere. 

I'm confident I'm not the first person to take advantage of a photo-op in the statue area of Mulhall's garden centre. Now give me my golden apple and I'll just be on my way.

What is it about statues that encourage silliness?  

Memorial Day is the official point (in the US) where it is considered acceptable to wear white. I don't give a toss about that rule (or most others for that matter) but it has been far too cold for a gauze/cheesecloth. We finally had a nice day with sun and temperatures in the 60's, so I broke out the white and headed to Mulhall's. Mulhall's is my "Happy Place."  I never leave there in a bad mood. I never leave there with any money, but still-you can't put a price on happiness. They have a rewards membership programme, but that just encourages more spending. I came home with a few more pepper and tomato plants, as well as yet another bay laurel. I keep killing them. This one is already Christened, Apollo III. I also purchased a jelly-feeder for orioles. Less than 24 hours after hanging it, the orioles started coming to our balcony. I didn't think we had orioles, but I guess I was wrong! 

I bagged up sorrel and set it out by the sidewalk with a note to help yourself-no one took any! I have pounds and pounds of sorrel and there's only so much schav I can eat. I might need to start leaving it at people's doors. Our cool weather resulted in the bumper crop from hell. We're about to be overwhelmed with peas as well, but

I can freeze those. Ah well, I guess you can have worse problems. Sorrel makes a nice sauce for fish, so I can always do that.

This is my first wear of this beautiful Judith Leiber belt. I was so happy to find it at New Life Thrift. If I ever find a Judith Leiber handbag I'll probably fall into a coma from the shock. I'm happy with the belt. White accessories can look naff, but not this belt! It is heavy, and well made but not adjustable. It is a bit large, but I don't care. 

Outfit Particulars:

Gauze blouse-K Mart

Gauze skirt-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage Air Step handbag-Can't remember

Judith Leiber belt-New Life Thrift

Gold shoes-Goodwill

Shell earrings-Sears

Whiting and Davis vintage panel bracelet-Goodwill

Damascene bracelet-Goodwill

Gold bangles-various places

Fragrance-Vintage formulation Diorissimo

 My skin is finally healing with the multiple salves I'm using now. I'm happy it wasn't my wrists as that would impair my ability to wear bracelets and that would be like running around stark naked (or as we say, "Starkers.").  What do you call it when you walk down the stairs naked? Starkness descending."

 Want to know how much the ointment cost? With insurance, it was $2.00. That's the price our insurance company negotiates for it. Without insurance a tube of generic ointment would have cost $869.00. I often wonder if the people screaming about being forced to buy insurance have ever had a serious case of allergic eczema? The second salve cost $35.00. I have no idea what that would have cost without insurance and a coupon from the drugmaker. This isn't some rare disease people are unlikely to contract-everyone gets a rash at some point in their life. I don't know about you, but I don't have eight hundred bucks sitting around to pay out of pocket for a rash ointment. Yes, our premiums are high, and yes there are co-pays, but if rash ointment costs this much I shudder to think what it would cost if I broke a leg. Young, healthy people have accidents too.
*Steps down off soapbox*

On a happier note, I baked my first cherry pie of the season. These are sweet Bing Cherries from California. I used instant tapioca as a thickener.

 I also made vanilla ice cream because you can't have cherry pie without ice cream-not at my house anyway.

I didn't wear white to bake the pie!

I'm finishing up the syllabus writing this week and next. The paperwork for next year needs to be in by 15 July, but I feel better having it done by June. We homeschool year-round, but I build in breaks during the summer. Half-days in July gets our work out of the way by the time the pool opens. The teacher needs a holiday too.

I wonder if a fish and sorrel pie would be good? If you live in Omaha and need some sorrel, drop me an email!

Heatwave Style

No point owning gold lurex shorts if you don't wear them.

 How is everyone? We're smack-dab in the middle of another heat wave with excessive heat warnings, high humidity and all the rest that goes with it. By this point in the season, I'm better acclimated to it, but honestly-I'm dreading the next few days. Our air quality has been perfectly shit, so I couldn't spend much time outside if I wanted to, which I don't.

SK&Co. Shorts-Goodwill
Shoes-Goodwill
Purse-Goodwill
Top-K Mart
Gold Bangles-Various shops
Fragrance-Love 2 Love peach and rose-Meh. Five bucks at Marshalls, smells like air freshener.

I heard an interesting idea today if you're suffering in the heat and your children are going stir-crazy. You can crush up sidewalk chalk and freeze it in cups with water to make, "Ice chalk". Sure, it will be a mess as it melts in their hands, but it sounds like great fun to me! Danny wasn't interested.

 The Boden sundress got worn, but as no one was handy to help photograph it, this was the best I could do. Yeah well, my hair looked shit anyway, so just enjoy the great pattern on my .49 cent Boden. I swear, some camera-shy clothes just refuse to be photographed properly, though I wear them all the time. It is maddening really, because I end up snapping a photo like this at the end of the day. So yay, here's a photo of my geriatric tits. You're welcome.

Boden sundress-Goodwill
Bamboo bangles-Hand-Me-Ups
Bakelite bangles-all over
Fragrance-Laura Ashley No. 1 (I imagine my fragrance choice as a sort of bitch-fight between the Boden "Yummy Mummy" set and Princess Di-wanabees in frocks with mutton sleeves. No, you really don't want to know how my brain works sometimes).

 In other news, I bought yet another dotted polyester dress. Yeah, I'm hopeless but I swear this one is different from the others. Ahem. What does that make, six? Seven? Why they're all blue (save for a single one in pink) I don't know. Didn't anyone wear red in the 70's? Or perhaps a nice earth tone like avocado? I know they're out there, it just means I need to spend more time in the shops.

These shoes have kitten heels that catch on everything, so I typically only wear them around the house, or to take out the rubbish. Last week, I was wearing a housedress that had seen too many washes, a badly stained pinny,  my hair was in rollers, and I was trudging along in these shoes with an overly-filled bin bag when a new neighbour stopped to introduce herself. I'm guessing she was dazzled by the shoes and didn't notice the rest. Nice shoes can work miracles.

Sears 1970's polyester dress-Goodwill
Shoes-Goodwill
Bag-Etsy
Earrings-New Life Thrift
Flower-Tiff and Tam
Fragrance-Jovan Woman (Still the best bargain chypre I know of still being made)

Nothing says, "Summer" like a barkcloth wrap skirt, and a brightly coloured linen blazer. I went ahead and threw caution to the wind because, 111 degrees F! I still needed the blazer though, because we're crazy for our air-conditioning in Nebraska. I did manage to get out for a walk this evening, but it was like breathing through a hot sponge (sea sponge, not the cake variety though I've baked a few that would withstand use in the tub). I have to be careful in this sort of weather as I don't really sweat much anymore, and my body isn't able to cool as easily as it did when I was younger. 

Vintage barkcloth skirt-Thrift store in Boston

Handbag-Jenerations in the Crossroads Mall

Necklace-Goodwill(?)

Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

Linen-blend blazer (part of a suit)-New Life Thrift

Shirt-K Mart

Fragrance-Ombre Rose (I only wear it when I feel contempt for the world and want to subject people to the olfactory version of their behaviour)

Lucite bangle-Goodwill

Green bakelite bangle-Goodwill

I simply had to wear this skirt one more time before moving it along. I adore the frog, but the skirt really is (and has always been) too large for me. I have a similar skirt in a wrap with a frog on the back pocket, so I'll keep that and re-home this great piece of 70's casual wear. We stopped by the abandoned/feral mall on Dodge Street to see the Douglas County Fair. It was basically a quilt show, and a few 4-H projects. It took all of ten minutes to see, but the quilts on display were magnificent. Our county is largely urban, and though they've been trying in recent years to make the whole thing more attractive to participants and visitors, it just isn't getting the momentum it needs. Moving it from downtown to a centrally located mall was a good plan though, and the parking is free. The winning pie was rhubarb, without a lattice crust which is encouraging as I'm planning to do rhubarb/blueberry for the State Fair, and I suck at lattice crusts! I'll cut attractive shapes for vents and hope for the best. I might also do a treacle tart because that's the sort of thing fair judges like (though the thought of eating it sets my teeth on edge-and I like sweets). 

1970's novelty skirt-Goodwill

Cardigan-Goodwill

Sleeveless tee shirt-K mart

Ostrich handbag-Goodwill

Bangles-all over

Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups

Necklace and brooch-Hand-Me-Ups

Fragrance-Arpege (Yeah, not great in hot weather, but I'm still feeling contempt for my fellow human beings and as I can't go about expressing it verbally, I let the perfume do the talking(shouting). 

I just checked the weather station-we're at 114 degrees F. That's about 45 degrees C. and our dew-point is 78. Remind me of this around February when I'm again complaining that it is cold and snowing. 

What a difference six months makes!

Last One in the Pool is...Wait, Where is Everyone?!

We had the pool to ourselves this morning. We were there for an hour and a half without anyone even poking their head through the gate. It was a bit cloudy, but no rain in sight. School is out-where is everyone? I really hope they aren't spending summer sitting at home texting their friends on smartphones rather than getting outside and you know, interacting.

Outdoor photography has been a challenge of late. The high humidity fogs the lens on the camera the moment you step outside.

Frequent lens wiping helps-but you need to snap the photo quickly as it will only steam up again. 

Outfit Particulars:

Eileen Fisher linen-rayon blend suit (also has a matching skirt)-Hand-Me-Ups

Tank-can't remember

Straw bag-Goodwill

Sandals-Goodwill

Earrings-K Mart

Fragrance-Cabotine Rose

 I'm a day late with Caftan Sunday, but I hope you'll find this one worth the wait. It is a silky, nylon parachute material, and judging by the uneven seams-home sewn. I paid .49 cents for it figuring I'd recycle the material into something else.

When Vix mentioned how much Indian block print gauze skirts and dresses were selling for, I nearly fainted. I have some I've been wearing (to shreds) since the late 70's, but this one was something I happened upon in the Goodwill last week. I paid .99 cents for it-and it has the all-important (to young people paying crazy amounts of money for these) metal bells at the end of the drawstring waist. I don't really care for it, so I'll look for someone with more money than brains to take it off my hands. 

The sleeveless shell and matching linen jacket were purchased years ago at Talbot's. There was a matching skirt as well, but I have no idea what became of it. I don't wear the pieces often, but when I do it is always a delight. I like the embroidered pattern on the linen, and though it wrinkles a bit, I still feel wonderful wearing it. It might seem strange to keep something that gets worn once or twice a year, and I suppose it is. That said, I wouldn't dream of parting with either piece and will probably still be wearing them when they're threadbare. Quality Irish linen is worth hanging on to. 

Outfit Particulars:

Linen shell and jacket-Talbot's, early 90's

Indian block-print skirt-Goodwill

Straw bag-Goodwill

Quartz necklace-garage sale

Quartz bangle-Goodwill

Shell earrings-World Market

Fragrance-Eau de Gaga (BEST ten bucks I've spent in a while)

"Stand like this and act like you're flapping your wings!"

"Like THIS!"

Sigh. I suppose the neighbours already know we're bonkers, so no point denying it. 

Well what do you know? We've made it through Monday. Onward!

Look Out Summer, Here I Come!

This bag is about forty years too late in my life (where were you in the late 70's when I desperately wanted one?) but I bought it anyway as it was in excellent condition, and I'm sure I'll eventually find an occasion to wear it. The thing is heavy -literally, not in the sense of, "Whoa dude, that's heavy."

I completed the syllabus and paperwork for next year's classes and posted them off to the Board of Education for approval. If all is well, I should have my certificate back in a couple weeks. When I was putting together the second semester history course on the Roman Empire, I tried to include some popular movies for fun. Spartacus, Ben Hur, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, all made the cut, but I knew I'd never get away with Life of Brian. Overhearing me complaining that I needed more Roman farces, Mr. ETB went ahead and ordered something for me as a surprise. Well! That certainly was a surprise. I can't use it for class (I don't think some of the jokes would play well in 2016) but it will be fun to watch. I have no idea where in the world he found it.

I've been promising to show some more of my Collins-style bags. There's one more in my collection that didn't make the photo. I recently bought a large bucket of assorted plastic gems, so I am prepared to do the repairs required.

As we approach the Fourth of July, I've been getting wear out of my favourite pieces of Americana. This skirt, hand-sewn by a quilter in Texas is one of my all-time favourite pieces. I'm not a huge fan of flag motifs, but give me an eagle, or Washington crossing the Delaware, and I'm all over it! This skirt has a bit of the "Stars and Stripes", but in a way that's more historical than in-your-face, nationalistic. I get a bit fed-up with our symbols being hijacked by people that wish to use them in an exclusionary way. 

Outfit Particulars:

Texas-made skirt-Goodwill

Cotton peasant blouse-K Mart

Vintage Hand-Tooled shoulder bag-New Life Thrift

Vintage tooled belt-Hand-Me-Ups

Bracelet-Goodwill

Necklace-Yard sale

Earrings-K Mart

Sandals-Goodwill

Fragrance-Taylor Swift Incredible Things (Not terrible, in an air-freshener sort of way)

 The garden is coming along nicely.

I was a bit disappointed with the cone flowers as they were expected to be pink and green (they're neither). They haven't really taken on the cone-flower shape either. Oh well, sometimes you don't get what you expect in gardening. 

I dug this beaded, lacy skirt out for one last wear to decide if I'm keeping it, or moving it out. Not much goes with a black lace skirt (except black, of course)but I gave it my best effort layering a waistcoat (or is it a "sleeveless jacket?") over a sleeveless blouse. In the end, I feel the skirt has potential-for someone else. My wardrobe rarely includes something this delicate, and black. I'm sure there's a Goth teenager out there that will wear the skirt much better than I ever will. That belt is really a necklace but shhhhh, don't tell anyone!

Outfit Particulars:
90's silk/lace/beaded skirt-Goodwill
Necklace worn as a belt-Garage sale
Shoes-K mart a few years ago
Blouse-K Mart
Waistcoat-New Life Thrift
Earrings-Had them since University!
Necklace-"                                         "
Faience and silver bracelet-Goodwill
Handbag-New Life Thrift
Prisim ring-Nordstrom's, 90's
Fragrance-Vintage formulation Cabochard

I'm going to take the next few weeks easy before State Fair preparations begin in earnest. I'm entering pies and breads this year (though not in any divisions Danny is entering because I don't want to compete with him-he'd kick my ass!). Danny will be entering jams, chutney, pickles, baked goods, and possibly some nature photography. I have a quilt to finish, and I might finally get to my repair basket (maybe). Still, all of that is on hold until I get my time relaxing at the pool. We have the July 4th holiday coming up which means a picnic, and watching fireworks from the parking lot of the college next door (they're at a much higher elevation above the tree-line and there's a magnificent 360 degree view of the city). In previous years we were able to watch the local fireworks as well as those across the river in Iowa from our excellent location. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate as it has the last couple years. July can be murderously hot in Nebraska, but I think we've managed to get that out of the way in June! We're still in the heatwave, but I think I've become acclimated to it. I went outside wearing a cardigan, and my young neighbour just looked at me like Id lost my mind. Perhaps I have.

Last one in the pool is a rotten egg!

But Just at 92, People Get Irritable

(Danny being creative with photography)

We're so many days into a heatwave (days over 90 degrees F.) that I've lost count. We're headed to 99 again today (with a heat index of a bout a million) and there isn't much relief in the week ahead. This

has led to some creative wardrobe decisions as I need to not only dress for the outdoor temperature, but the indoor as well. I find a lightweight cardigan indispensable in such situations. 

Outfit Particulars:

1990's ultra-lightweight crepe dress-Some store in a mall I've forgotten

Cork-heeled sandals-K Mart

1970's Collins-style bucket bag-Goodwill

Bakelite bangles-several places

Hair flowers-Tiff and Tam

Vintage screw-back floral earrings-Can't remember

Fragrance-Evyan White Shoulders

With the heat, creative hairstyling has been a challenge. Although this photo shows a few stray hairs, the up-do did manage to stay up all day in 100+ degrees and high humidity. I first tied the upper section of my hair in an elastic, and then brought the bottom half together in another. I then tucked them into each other, and secured it all in place with the combs. My hair is unruly, and would never hold in combs alone. Sure, my head hurt by the end of the day, but my hair didn't budge!

Lightweight cotton dresses have also been helpful in the heat. I like this dress as it dries quickly on the line (I am sooo not running the tumble dryer in this heat). I could wear this dress day after day and always feel perfectly attired. I've dressed it up and down, and added colourful accessories as desired, never being disappointed with the results. Every wardrobe has a "Go-To" piece, and this is mine for summer. 

Outfit Particulars:

Cotton dress-Thrift sale in a church

White patent slingbacks-K Mart

Vintage ostrich handbag-Goodwill

Vintage West-German beaded necklace-Han-Me-Ups

Vintage milk-glass clip earrings-Thrift World

Carved plastic (not celluloid, but a darn close copy) bangle-Hand-Me-Ups

1960's beaded dangle ring-Goodwill

Fragrance-Eau de Givenchy

I am *this* close to finishing the paperwork for school. I hope to have it sent off tomorrow morning, and I will hopefully be celebrating with a trip to an air-conditioned cinema. Danny wants to see the new X-Men movie, and I can get two hours of sleep in a cold room. Everybody wins!