Twee To Be You and Me

 Some days, it takes all the florals you own to get out of bed. Grey, damp, cold-I won't go on describing what greeted me when I looked out the window this morning. Yesterday was so gloriously warm and sunny I was able to throw open the windows for the first time since autumn, but it seems Mother Nature has reminded herself it is still February in the American Midwest, and if I want cheerful, I'll just have to find it in my wardrobe. Yeah well, I'm up to the challenge.

But first, here are a few views of Towl park in Omaha yesterday. I'm sure most of that snow was gone by day's end.

 Hey, that tree is where I wanted to walk! What nerve. I had to walk around it, in the snow/slush. Thanks a lot, tree.

 These trees were better behaved. We stood there taking in the sound of several red bellied woodpeckers calling.

So that was yesterday's nature walk. It is about a mile if you walk the entire path around, and unless you knew the park was there, you'd drive right past it. We're so lucky in Omaha to have all the beautiful parks we do, scattered throughout the city.  There's an Earl May garden shop across the street so we stopped -in to see what seeds were arriving. I bought a packet of cumin which I plan to grow in a couple of massive containers in back of the house. I might buy another large bag bed for it-I haven't decided. I am incredibly excited at the idea of growing my own cumin seed. I also bought more viola seeds because I'll want the candied flowers next winter for cake decorating. 

Our neighbours (the bad ones) have moved-out and there's major renovations going on in their house. I have no idea who will be moving in, but I'm putting together a welcome basket with some packets of seeds, and a nice pot to grow them in. We have a lovely street of neighbours, and with the exception of the people that moved, it is very quiet here. Hopefully the new neighbours won't have the police surrounding the house and telling them to "Come out with your hands up" over a megaphone. That was a fun day. Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for us.

 Outfit Particulars:
1990's silk skirt-Hand-Me-Ups
1980's blouse-Goodwill
Cardigan-Goodwill
Satin shoes-Goodwill
1960's evening bag-Hand-Me-Ups
Bangles-all over
Rings-all over
Clip-on flowers-Tiff and Tam at Walgreen's
Tights-Leggs
Vintage clip crystal earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Cabotine Rose

 Too much? Eh, whatever.

 I wouldn't try this look in summer as I might attract real bees.

Moving along (get it, a motion shot? Ain't I clever?)...

I neglected to post an outfit from Sunday that I later thought was worth noting, so briefly: 

 Hey, that's not me! That's a Merganzer.

 These were some escaped domestic geese that decided to go live at the DeSoto Wildlife refuge in Iowa. I'm sure the Canada goose is looking at them in the way people look at me in my wilder outfits. "What the hell is that?"

 Ah, there we are now. What were the odds that I'd have an ultrasuede skirt in the exact shade of teal as my new boiled wool jacket? If you're me-pretty good!

 Outfit Particulars:
Country Shop cashmere poloneck-Marshall Field's 80's
Geiger boiled wool jacket (80's, I think)-Hand-Me-Ups
1970's Ultrasuede skirt (part of a suit)-Goodwill
Tights-Walgreen's
Flower-Tiff and Tam
Handbag-Goodwill
Boots-Hand-Me-Ups
Earrings-Old, can't remember
Necklace-Mum's
Fragrance-Vintage forulation Diorissimo

Hope the week is treating you well. 

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.

Meet Flora, The Gardenia

This was my anniversary present, a gardenia bush (tree?). It has a yellow bloom on it at the moment, and several buds ready to go, and it smells wonderful.

I've never seen yellow gardenias (only white) so this was a pleasant surprise. It can't live outside in our climate year round, but as soon as it warms a bit, the container can be moved to the patio. For the moment it is bunking with the other warmth-loving plants like the laurel and lime tree.

Here are the cuff-links I bought Mr. ETB. from Etsy seller Clammy's Closet They are embroidered on vintage tie material, and quite purple which the photo does not show. He liked them very much.

I'm rather excited at the prospect of having real gardenias to wear in my hair this summer.

Bumble Bee Meets School Bus

When I bought this dress Mr. ETB remarked that it looked like a home economics project-that got a failing grade. It does have quite a bit going on from the collar, to the wide sleeves, to the wild pattern. Still, I don't think it would fail home ec. as the seams are well done, the hems are trimmed, and the construction is pretty solid. If anything, it suffers from a bit of an identity crisis-not quite knowing what era it belongs to.

I'm pretty sure this is 1980's, but it lacks shoulder pads. Personally, I think it needs them, but then you'd never be able to wear a sweater or jacket over it. The sleeves are nearly impossible already. Still, I found an old blazer that seemed to work.

 

 

I still look like I'm wearing a school bus, but the jacket balances the craziness of the yellow.

 Anyone for a game of Tic-Tac-Toe on my bottom? Extra-large writing surface!

 

 Still, for all the faults, I really do like it. This dress is such a "fuck you" to convention. The person behind the design clearly didn't worry about being subtle. And let's face it, I'm unlikely to run across anyone else wearing the same thing (though I'd absolutely buy her a drink to celebrate her good/bad taste if I did).

Outfit Particulars:

1980's (I think) linen dress with Made in Hong Kong label (that's not much to go on, I admit)-Goodwill
Belt-thrifted
Black and white vintage dangle clip earrings-Thrift World, Millard
Black blazer-bought it new in the 90's
Bunny pin-Hand-Me-Ups store .99 cents
Palm Tree brooch-Hand-Me-Ups-Store .99 cents
Yellow hair flower on clip-Tif and Tam

 

 I suspect I'm not alone in harbouring ugly clothing simply to revel in the craziness of it. That's OK-I won't tell.

80's Does 50's Dress

I went to the Seed Share in South Omaha today, so it seemed appropriate to wear some flowers. Buttons:

In my hair:

On a brooch:

This isn't the sort of dress I usually go for (because I remember having dresses like this when I was first working)but I thought it had potential with the right accessories and jacket.

The seed exchange was held at the Sheet Metal Worker's Local, and they had some pretty impressive examples of their work on display:

 

I thought that was pretty neat. There were tables set up with seeds to choose from. We brought some flowers, melon, and corn taking in exchange some rocket and two varieties of spinach. Our library system has a seed bank where you can check out up to six packets per season, and bring back the seeds you harvest for next year. It is a pretty fantastic thing.

 

So many great seeds to chose from. There was plenty of oddball stuff too, but we have limited space now.

 

Outfit Particulars:

Jacket-Thrifted

80's dress-New Life Thrift (a buck, I think)

Shoes-New-ish, K-Mart sale

Brooch with bakelite beads-Hand-Me-Ups store $3.99

Rhinestone Brooch-old, can't remember

Niello bracelet-Goodwill $2.99

Coro Earrings-Thrifted

Belt-Thrifted

Hair flower-Tiff and Tam

Rings-Thrifted

Handbag-Goodwill

 

I really looked like hell this morning, but after a little caffeine, I came round

Ahhhhhhhh

Need to do a better job on the manicure though.

OK Dearhearts and Gentlepeople, you know the drill

Happy Weekend.