Mexican Flowers

My Mexican shell flowers are blooming! I'm so excited, as this is the first year I've grown them, and didn't know what to expect. I've tried to stagger the blooms in my garden planting things that flower throughout the season-but that doesn't always go to plan with our unpredictable weather. These will be a welcome burst of colour as we wait for the gladiolas to bloom.

The wasps and bees are enjoying the garden as well. Danny tells me this is in fact not a wasp, but a robber fly. I learn all sorts of interesting things from that kid.

Speaking of beautiful florals from Mexico...here's the vintage hand-tooled leather bag I bought last week. The inside is lovely too...

In person it looks like pale, watercolour flowers. My camera isn't doing it justice. Sadly, the Armadillo bag arrived broken in pieces from poor packaging, but the seller issued a full refund so at least I wasn't stuck with a, "Busted Armadilla". On the positive side, I get to shout, "Busted Armadilla"  to amuse my son. Sure, other people look at us strange, but when don't they? Busted Armadilla! I'll get my bag, someday. 

Keeping with the floral theme, I gave this embroidered dress another wear. 

I can't decide how I feel about it. This will never be the first dress I reach for, but on beastly hot days when the thought of sleeves makes me break out in hives, I'm glad I own it. The top needs to be closed with a brooch unless I feel like letting it all hang out (which is fine, but not on a weekday morning when I'm headed out to do mundane chores) but that's clearly not a problem as anyone that's seen my brooch collection will know. I went with this replica of a Pre-Columbian nose-ring. I do like a good museum reproduction piece.

Outfit Particulars:
Embroidered dress-Goodwill
Brooch-Salvation Army store, Lincoln
Earrings-K Mart
Vintage Handbag-New Life Thrift
Flip-Flops-Hand- Me-Ups
Square bangles-K Mart
Other gold bangles-various thrift stores
Fragrance-Eau de Gaga (Nice! It has a dominant lime note that sticks around for hours. A little leathery, a little woody, this was five bucks well spent).

 I have a few more flowers to share. This skirt *almost* matched the bag. So close-gah. I wore it anyway, but I must admit, I wasn't happy once I got outside in the light. Still, I had people stopping me to compliment the skirt, so it couldn't have been as distracting as I thought. It is harder to match poppy prints than you'd suspect!

 At least the necklace and earrings were a good match. They look like raspberries, but are tiny beads. It is heavier than it looks.

Outfit Particulars:
Talbott's cotton skirt-Hand-Me-Ups
Top-K Mart
Ted Baker handbag-Goodwill
Necklace and earring set-Hand-Me-Ups
Cinnabar bangle-Hand-Me-Ups
Gucci shoes-Goodwill
Fragrance-Sophia Vergara Tempting

Also blooming in the garden at the moment-nasturtiums, violas, geraniums, salvia, calibrachoa, dianthus, and borage. The columbines are about ready to bloom, and my mums from spring are starting to bud again. I wasn't kidding when I said the weather was strange. The poppies died (boo) but everything else seems to be doing well. We've had plenty of honey bees, but not a single bumble bee this year. That's odd too.

I hope wherever you are, something is blooming, if only in a fab print or a tooled handbag. Oh, and one last thing...
                                                        BUSTED ARMADILLA!

Let's Visit Des Moines, Iowa

"Fancy running into you here, Danny! What brings you to Des Moines?"
"You did, I was riding in the back of the car."
"You don't say. Since we're here, how about going to visit the Saylorville reservoir to look for migratory birds?"
"Fine by me."

 There were both golden and bald eagles as well as pelicans, merganzers, and ring-billed gulls (none of which managed to be photographed by me).

Danny took better photos-perhaps I'll convince him to share some with us later on.

It was blowing a gale, but the weather was still unseasonably warm. I bought this leather coat expecting a few wears before I required something heavier, but I'm pleased to report it is getting plenty of wear this autumn.

Outfit Particulars:
Skinny jeans-K Mart
Vintage acrylic sweater-Hand-Me-Ups
Boots-Goodwill about 10 years ago
Vintage 70's leather coat-Goodwill
Vintage copper Hopi necklace-New Life Thrift
Knit headband-K Mart
Velvet shoulderbag-Goodwill
Fragrance-Alfred Sung

 We caught a buffalo.

Ready to tour the State House? Great, let's go inside!

The state house was constructed between 1871 and 1886. It is the only five-domed capitol in the United States. 

I'm sure they'll have this removed shortly as it is now been deemed irrelevant.

In the case is a replica of the battleship USS Iowa.

I'm glad polishing the floor tiles isn't my job. It must take a small army to keep this place as gleaming as it is. At the front bottom of the photo is a round of glass tiles that function as a skylight for the lower floor.

I did get a bit dizzy looking up, but it was so magnificent it was worth the discomfort.

I would imagine working in a building like this would give even the lowest-tier state workers the impression that their work was important and meaningful. It might not last ten seconds after sitting at a desk and getting to work, but I would think the walk in each morning would leave an impression.

 Obligatory covered wagon painting.

 Stained glass window.

 Fake marble. I learn something new every day.

 We learned so much on our visit, I'll bet we even look smarter.

The Iowa State Capitol is closed Sundays and holidays. Guided tours are available. 

Iowa Sunrise Cocktail:

1oz. vodka

1oz. white rum

1 oz. lemonade

1 oz. Sprite

4 ounces orange juice

Splash of grenadine

In a large glass add the alcohols, then the lemonade. Sprite, and orange juice on top. Add the grenadine and it should bleed through the layers making the sunrise.

Put Down The Styling Mousse and Step Away From The Sink

 I had a roomate that called it, "Styling Mousie" which always conjured a great image of a mouse before a mirror primping to go out. 

Some days, I just can't face the blow-dryer. 

This top has been in constant wardrobe rotation because I love it, but I don't think I've ever featured it here on the blog. The gauze/cheesecloth fabric is summery, but the weight is heavy enough that I can wear it year round. I love the asymmetrical pattern, the elastic waist and peplum.  Everything about it would sound wrong on paper, and I hesitated to buy it because it looked so strange on the hanger. I'm glad I took a chance, because it quickly became a favourite piece. 

I made a mushroom pie for dinner that I think is worth sharing. It took four pounds of assorted mushrooms, which I admit is a bit much. You could use any sort of mushrooms you like-I happened to have these, so I used them. 

You Will Need:

Two crust pastry:

2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cups cold, unsalted butter cut in small pieces

Ice water (about 8 tablespoons, but have extra ready)

Combine flour and salt. Cut in the butter until fine crumbs. Add water a few tablespoons at a time until dough just comes together. Try to avoid handling it more than you must. Divide in two, and roll out to fit an 8 or 9 inch pie plate. 

For the filling:

1 pound portabella mushrooms, chopped

1 pound shitake mushrooms, chopped

1 pound King trumpet mushrooms, chopped

1 pound oyster mushrooms, chopped

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup dry red wine

8 large shallots, finely sliced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 teaspoons dried sage

A good grinding of black pepper

1/2 teaspoon smoked salt (you can omit this in place of plain salt. I use it to get a smoked meat flavour in vegetarian recipes). 

2 cups cooked long grain white rice

In a large stockpot, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until they throw off most of their liquid-about ten minutes. Add the wine and turn up the heat cooking until it burns off. Reduce the heat back to medium. Keep stirring the mushrooms so they don't stick to the pan as they start to brown. When the mushrooms are reduced to your liking, add the shallots and cook just until they are softened-no more than two minutes. Add the spices, and cook a minute or two longer. Stir in the cooked rice, and then set it aside to cool before filling the pie crust. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Assemble it:

Fill the bottom crust evenly with the filling. Cover with the top piece of pastry and brush lightly with an egg wash (I used 1 large yolk and 1 tablespoon water). Cut vents for steam. Place it all on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes at 425 F then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. for another 30-40 minutes or until nicely browned. 

Serve warm, not hot with a nice salad, and good strong mustard. 

Why did the shitake have to move house?  

There wasn't mush room. 

I don't make this often,

-just sporadically. 

Fine. Let's talk about clothes. 

Outfit Particulars:

Gauze top-New Life Thrift

Skirt-Sears, about 20 years ago

Made in Korea vintage beaded bag-Goodwill

Necklace-The Mexican Shop, Evanston, Il. about 30 years ago

Earrings-K Mart

Belt-Can't remember

Shoes-K Mart

Fragrance-Bat Sheba

 Two trends in one: Beads + Fringe.

 The necklace had small metal charms hanging off the bottom that made so much clatter I removed them. It became a much more wearable piece once I didn't feel like I had a cowbell around my neck.

Keeping with the same selection of colours...

I had to take advantage of the cool snap to wear my leather skirt. For some reason I always forget about it until spring when it looks terribly out of place. Coloured leather and suede can work in spring, but a black leather anything will be a challenge. 

 Outfit Particulars:
Leather skirt-can't remember, 80's (I mean, I can remember the 80's, just not where I purchased this)
Vintage polyester zip-back top-Thrift World
 Vintage vinyl trimmed canvas jacket-Thrift World
1970's vinyl shoulderbag-Goodwill
Tights-Walgreen's
Vintage Gaymode shoes-Thrift World
1970's necklace-Hand-me-Ups
1960's clip earrings-Hand-me-Ups
1970's bracelet-Hand-me-Ups
Fragrance-Knize 10

These are the frames I'm going to have set with lenses next (I also have a 1930's pair with ear wires that need new lenses). I *think* a darker blue would work, but grey might be good too. I know, First World problems. What am I to do?!?

I can't wear these to Raptor Rescue events or they'll try banding my leg and feeding me "mouse-in-a can". 

The frames were purchased from my favourite Etsy eyewear seller, Cherrie at JustheGoodStuff. 

My gold cat-eye glasses also came from her, and I can't say enough great things about my experience. Fantastic prices, excellent customer service, and the selection is incredible. Many of the frames (like mine) were never set with lenses making you the first owner. A quick look around the web came up with several Gaspari frames like these, but they weren't new old stock, and they were much more expensive. If you're looking for attention getting frames at a great price, Just The Good Stuff is your shop. I paid for these frames with my own dough (they weren't freebies). She did throw in free shipping and some eyeglass holders which I appreciated, but didn't expect.

Finally, there's this:

Uh...what the hell?! Walgreen's is a pharmacy, can't they find the Easter Bunny some sort of happy pill? Have you ever seen such a depressed looking bunny? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see children clamouring to sit on his lap for a photo. 

"Run, Uncle Hopper is out of the joint...and he's bent on revenge!"

Oops, it got late and I have laundry to do. Better hop to it.

Caftan Sunday-and a Visit to Lincoln

After such a long, busy weekend, it was nice to be back home, in a caftan, and relaxing in the garden. Not pictured-the tray of plants inside the house from the Spring Affair plant sale in Lincoln. I *might* have splurged. A bit. The butterflies and hummingbirds had better appreciate it-that's all I'm saying.

This caftan came home with me from a thrift store about thirty five years ago. It has a large hole in the hem that needs mending, it has been shrunk, faded, attended more concerts than I care to recall, and still makes me feel great when I wear it. Not much more you can ask of an item of clothing. 

Caftan (ish) dress-A thrift store on Southport Ave. in Chicago 35(ish) years ago. All I remember was that it was near the Music Box Theatre. I'm sure the store is long-gone. I was so pleased to have found such a nice 60's relic for little more than pocket change. I bought a set of beaded curtains at the same shop, but have no idea what happened to those. 

 The plant sale was great. The crowd was well-behaved, the plants plentiful, and the weather rainy but otherwise cooperative.

Aebelskivers. I'm sure I spelled that wrong. They're just buttermilk pancakes made in a funny Danish pan. Anyway, that was breakfast. 

When in Lincoln...stop at Ben Franklin for plastic rain bonnets and sewing supplies. 

 I told Danny if he keeps it up with the silly faces in photos, I'm going to make him go all the way back, and re-take the photo. It was a long drive, I don't think he's up for that.

As Ben Franklin store are disappearing, we thought it best to take photos by the sign...just in case. 

Outfit Particulars:

Leather Jacket (bought early 80's)

Kilt-Goodwill

Tights-Walgreen's

Shoes-Hand-Me-Ups

Purse-Target

Poloneck-Gordman's

Earrings-K Mart

Fragrance-Courreges in Blue

It should not be cold enough for a heavy motorcycle jacket, but it is. Sigh.

 Finally, the sun came out! It still isn't warm, but I'll take it.

Mr. ETB thought the combination of blue and orange was too much. Obviously, I disagree. 

 Before you congratulate me for finally polishing the toenails, I must confess that I used quick-dry polish, and only on the toes you can see. I already had my shoes on, and well-I'm lazy. I'll get the other toes tomorrow. Sometimes I only shave one leg at a time. I can't be the only one that does this.

 Outfit Particulars:
1960's polyester dress-Thrift World
Footless lace tights-Target (I think)
Necklaces-Thrift World
Scarf-The One and Only Fabulous Curtise
Shoes-K Mart
Belt-Came with a dress
Jacket-Came with belt and dress-New Life Thrift
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Earrings-K Mart
Fragrance-Eau du Givenchy (Liked it, obviously couldn't detect any jasmine in there, but it is listed in the notes. This was a generous sample gifted me by a vintage dealer. I'll get to work on a review, limited as it will be as I'm missing the main note).

 Too early for a white handbag? I don't know either.

I hope everyone has a great week.