Rudely Gesturing Squirrels

I had written this post before the latest terror attack in the UK happened, so I wanted to point out that the whimsical tone isn't exactly syncing with my mood at the moment. To be honest, I don't know if I'm angry or sad. I'd hope it is the latter, but it is difficult as a parent to once again watch young people out living their lives being targeted for violence. I don't know why it makes a difference-murder is murder, but it seems so much crueler directed at people just starting out. I want to try and understand how hopelessness turns to murder, but I can't. I do know it isn't something inherent in an ethnicity, religion, or economic status that persuades people  to carry out these acts-and that's terrifying. We want simple explanations of the sort we get from politicians (which have become all that much simpler in both senses of the word thanks to the limitations of Twitter) so we can be reassured these actions are the behaviour of a cultural and ideological Other, when we know damn well it isn't. I don't know how you reach people that feel so ostracised from society that they're willing to go out in a hail of bullets whether in a high school, a nightclub, a church, an airport, or a concert. I certainly don't know, and based on what I'm reading today, no one else does either. I'd be wary of anyone claiming they do. 

So yes I'm sad, and probably angrier than I'd like to be as I'm trying like everyone else to process the world we're living in. I just finished teaching a unit on 20th Century Tyranny, so it isn't as though I'm blind to the horrors human beings are capable of inflicting on others. No, history is choc-full of people behaving horribly, and I've always been struck by how easy it is to persuade people they were in the right. Perhaps that's our greatest flaw as human beings that we are so susceptible to manipulation and so prone to elective, collective amnesia that we're willing to do it over and over again. We're painfully slow learners. The internet was supposed to bring us all together, but I guess that didn't go to plan. 

Anyway, you don't come here looking for profound insights and that's a good thing too as I don't have any. I'm better at listening, and that's what I've been doing and will continue to do because you learn more when you shut up. I'm no diplomat, but I'm pretty sure you don't make peace by name calling and threats of more violence. If you want people to behave humanely, then you'd best lead by example. If our leaders aren't up to the job, we'll have to do it ourselves. You learned it before you could read, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We might as well give it a try since nothing else seems to be working. 

I'll now return you to the original post.

Yeah I know they only have four fingers but that's clearly an, "Up yours."

I know my squirrels wouldn't behave like that as they're trained and hand fed biscuits. The Blondin family now includes three new babies that have been cautiously approaching me for their treats. I'm a godmother! To celebrate, I went ahead and bought the Irregular Choice Nibbles McNutty shoes, but they didn't really match this outfit, so that's another post.

Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Mexican top-Etsy
Shorts-K Mart
Flip-Flops-Hand-Me-Ups
Mexican cross-body bag-Thrift World
Vintage Laurel Burch earrings-had 'em since the 80's
Fragrance-Bat Sheba by Judith Muller
Rings-Mum's
Cazal frames-Mum's

 I've found some interesting items in the thrifts lately.

 This Coventry brooch is rather beat-up, but at .98 cents I couldn't leave it.

 This bangle and brooch were also .98 cents.

 This is the Carol Dauplaise necklace I mentioned finding last weekend. I still haven't worn it.

The details are really pretty. It looks quasi-Celtic to me.

 These hats were $3.00 each. The white one has a trio of hatpins that would sell for more than the hat (the two lucite ones anyway).

People ask about my specs on the blog, and in life so I thought I'd give a better look at them. They aren't sunnies, just tinted a bright blue. Originally, they were my mum's, purchased in the late 80's. She had them set with a very dark brown tint. These would have been very strange specs for a 50 year old, suburban white lady in the 80's. Cazal as a brand was made famous in the US by Run DMC. My mum was as far from a rap fan as you could get, so we were a little surprised when she came home with these. My dad was a little surprised when he found out she'd spent something like $500.00 on a pair of frames. I think she knew she was dying, and wanted to splash out on something really nice for herself. I kept the frames for close to 25 years before I finally felt enough time had gone by that it wouldn't be weird for me to wear them. I had them set with my prescription, and went for the blue tint. These are big, heavy specs! By the end of the day the bridge of my nose is numb. Considering mum's lenses were much thicker and heavier than mine, I don't know how she managed to wear them day after day. She was tougher than I realised. 

 The sides are open, which created an odd optical illusion until I became accustomed to them.

The plastic strip at the top keeps them rested gently against my forehead. Compared to other frames, these tend to collect less eyemakeup on the lenses. I don't know if that design feature helps with that. I notice they require less cleaning than other pairs. So that's the story. 

Monday is here again, so we all have an opportunity to start the week afresh. I hope yours goes well. Peace.

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.

Brocade Tights

 I've recently reorganised my wardrobe and as a result made a discovery-I own some very strange tights.  What possessed me to purchase shiny black and purple floral tights, I can't say, but I was happy enough to try them out on a chilly autumn morning.

Er...maybe not.
Something about autumn makes me want to focus on leg wear-perhaps the knowledge of snow to come, and heavy boots until spring is a motivation. In a few weeks, I'll forget about whatever great tights are lurking in the drawer as I pull out the fleece-lined leggings, wool socks, and long undies. ,Until then, I'm enjoying the mild weather, and my collection of" WTF Was I Thinking?" tights.

 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage 70's sweater-Can't remember
Canadian Made jacket (more like a tailored sweatshirt)-Can't remember
80's mini-Can't remember
Tights-No clue
Necklace-Garage Sale
Earrings-Garage sale
Bakelite carved ring-Hand-me-ups
Bangle-Salvation Army
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Boots-K Mart
Fragrance-4711 (I needed an inoffensive fragrance to wear in a crowded space)

I'm getting ready for the holidays today by putting up a couple jars of vegetarian mincemeat. It needs at least a month to properly soak up the booze, so although it doesn't feel like mincemeat weather, I'll be chopping/grinding fruit today. I use fresh cranberries in mine which isn't traditional, but it adds a nice contrast. Cranberries also gel quickly which helps move the cooking along. I haven't tried using a slow cooker for mincemeat, but I'll bet it would work. 

The Barmbrack is baked for Monday (it does better stored a few days before eating) and another malt loaf which has become a staple item at our house (it also requires a few day's storage). Next week there will be Election Day Cake (essentially a fruit cake) and Parkin for the 5th. Then, the serious baking begins. I don't do a large Thanksgiving, but we put up the (artificial) tree that day, and there must be gingerbread men to hang on it. I seal them in clear plastic treat bags and tie them with ribbon so that they can be eaten should anyone be overcome with a desire to steal one from the tree. The boys blame that on the squirrel but as he has his own special biscuits we bake for him I consider it unlikely he's the culprit.

 The Haunted Physics Lab was great again this year.

 Oooh, scary!

 Ha ha!

 Nerds!

Have to run-the game is on. Go Cubs!

It Only Took Forty Years

My first big baking, "Fail" came in home Economics class when I ruined a batch of Seven Minute Frosting. Over the years, I've tried at least a couple dozen times and either it never reached spreading consistency, or it formed large lumps of solid boiled sugar within the frosting. It bothered me. I'm rather good in the kitchen, and I can make everything from fondant to buttercream without difficulty-so why on earth couldn't I manage a stupid Seven Minute Frosting?   Needless to say, today was a special day because what you see there peeking out from the coconut is a perfect seven minute frosting-no shards of hard candy enclosed.

I had to rig-up a double boiler using the basket of my food mill and a metal mixing bowl, but it did the trick, though the "seven minutes" was closer to fifteen. No matter, I made Mr. ETB the coconut cake with a lemon filling as an anniversary present (he adores coconut and lemon) and Danny marked the date in the cookbook with a note beside the recipe reading, "Mother didn't ruin it." No, no she did not.

If I thought my (then) elderly Home Economics teacher were still alive I'd track her down and send a photo. I remember her as rather severe and intimidating. After demonstrating numerous times that I could neither sew nor cook, she suggested I consider taking "Shop", advice which I followed. I was much better with rulers and saws than measuring cups and yardsticks.

Seven Minute Frosting from Better Homes and Gardens Cake and Pie Cookbook 1966

2 unbeaten egg whites
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup cold water
Dash salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place all ingredients except vanilla in the top of a double boiler. Beat 1 minute with an electric mixer or rotary beater. Place over but not touching boiling water and beat constantly until frosting forms stiff peaks (about 7 minutes or in my case, fifteen). Remove from water, scrape into a clean mixing bowl and beat in vanilla extract. Beat until frosting has a spreading consistency-about 2 minutes. This makes enough to frost a 2 layer cake or about 24 small cupcakes (not the mammoth ones you see today). 

I baked a bread as well since the oven was already hot and I was going to be home all day. Danny made an interesting lima bean and tomato stew for supper that went well with a crusty bread. He's still making dinner every Friday and staying within a budget. The stew was incredibly cheap, so he gets to keep the difference (quite an incentive to be thrifty).

Around the time I was flunking Home EC, I started collecting the "Skulls". At one point I had more than a dozen, but these are all that remain. These aren't true Momento Mori" pieces (which I love but cannot afford) but they became a sort of trademark style of mine for many years, often worn on both hands. It was funny as I wasn't terribly tough looking, and they seemed so out of place with Laura Ashley dresses. I'd completely forgotten them until Danny mentioned something, and I went looking through my jewelry chest for them.

 I was pleased they still fit, given all the swelling in my hands. As I've aged, my hands have become bonier and my fingers though swollen, seem to have less fat on them (of all the places I could stand to lose weight, the Universe sees fit to take it from my shoulders and fingers. I mean, WTF?).

On my other hand are two rings I had as a teenager (centre two) and two that belonged to my mother. It was like being reunited with old friends, and though it has been years since I've worn this many rings at once, it felt absolutely right-at least until it was time to start kneading dough and washing up. I have a nice little ring holder in the powder room, but it wasn't made to accommodate this much metal.

As a collector of vintage I sometimes overlook items I purchased new, and have had in my possession long enough to become, "Vintage." I used to object to the 80's being called vintage-now the 90's are. In the 90's I remember being pleased that slip dresses were back in fashion as I'd saved the white one  from the late 70's I had to have after Debbie Harry wore one on the cover of Parallel Lines. Now, they're back as a 90's revival (though I've gotta say, wearing them over a poloneck is stooooooopid. In fact, it is so stupid it requires the "oooooooo" spelling).

I'm going to make an effort to dig out some of my older items I take for granted to feature on the blog. Eventually, someone will turn to Google images looking for a picture of the white poloneck with tiny red hearts printed on it that they bought in 1978, and I want to be able to help. I've been selective about what I've kept, and for various reasons they are important to me (though in the case of the poloneck, probably not important to the history of 20th Century fashion). It will be nice to give them some time out of storage, even if I wouldn't ever consider wearing them again.

Did you have any trademark looks you've abandoned over the years?

Have you ever successfully made seven-minute frosting?

Come Armageddon Come

I've written and deleted so many posts over the past few weeks I've stared wondering why I bother at all. I suppose that's a good thing-the impulse to edit that saves me wishing I hadn't hit the Publish button. Oh, there's nothing exciting to report, just that I don't like my general tone of disgust. I mean, yeah you'd have to be in a coma to not be disgusted, generally but as I'm not prepared to do anything about it, the tone seems a wee bit out of place on a blog set up as an entertainment. If the content of these posts seem a bit thin of late it is because I (like everyone I know) am insulating myself against a bleeding ulcer by meeting the anger with a shrug, and trying to keep things generally positive.

Maybe this was a bad time to be reading, It Can't Happen Here aloud with the kid.


Here's something to love about America...an entire wall at the small supermarket devoted to crisps/chips. Know what's on the opposite wall? Soda! Oh, there's produce too, but that's over in the disused corner by the loading dock because only livestock and weirdos eat that shit.

America! America! 
God mend thy every flaw
Confirm thy soul in self control
Thy liberty in law.

Sigh. Sorry, it is that "tone" thing again. Besides, no one knows the lyrics to America the Beautiful after the first verse anyway.


Oh hey, everybody look! Clothes!

The skirt is vintage (late 70's/early 80's but the top came from K Mart a few seasons ago. I seem to be going through a Hawaiian phase as I counted over a dozen skirts, dresses, and shirts as I unpacked the summer clothes. Come on, you'd buy something with a label that read, "Hilo Hattie's Hawaii" wouldn't you? You know you would! Anyway, I'm seeing a wardrobe trend which means the huge hair flowers can't be far behind. My columbines are trying to bloom in the garden. I expect they'll open by tomorrow (fingers crossed). 

Better keep the cardigan handy, just in case. At least I've moved to a cotton cardigan, and am hopefully done with the woolens for a bit. 

Outfit Particulars:

Cotton top-K Mart

Hawaiian skirt-Goodwill

Cardigan-Hand-Me-Ups

Shoes-Hand-Me-Ups

Straw bag-Goodwill

Bracelet-Garage sale

Earrings-K Mart

Rings-All Over

Necklace-Salvation Army

Vintage seahorse brooch-Art Show

Fragrance-Lucy B Tiare and Coconut 

I've embarked on a new project of creating a master list of my perfume collection. I wanted to have them sorted by house, category of fragrance, vintage or not, etc. I thought this might be helpful so I don't end up with (several) multiples. I'm all for hoarding scents I like, but no one needs multiple bottles of Tigress. Probably. Anyway, when you own hundreds of perfumes it is no small job getting them listed, and I'd abandon the project except that I'm better than halfway through. Really, what was I thinking? This is going to be a never-ending project. 

My kid just bought a computer with alienware that you can use as a touch screen and talk to. It addresses you by name, so he set it up to call him, "Dave." His name is Danny. He wants to hear it say, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that." All day I have been thinking he's calling me from another room when he's just been talking to the bloody computer. It'll serve him right if he gets jettisoned into space. 

I'm off to try and improve my mood. I'll start with dubbelzout but I think we all know it will end with Boodles. 

Hope your week is treating you well. 

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.