I'm Thankful For...

Turkey was great, dishes are done and I am beat, but I thought it I'd take a bit of time to go though the things that I am thankful for right now.

I am thankful that my husband is still with me, that my son (for all his teenage faults) is in my life and that my parents are healthy and financially secure.



That it's President Obama and not President McCain.

I'm thankful for my online friends (Kim, Jen, Lisa and Tina), my "phone" friend I have never met (Angie) and my dear friends here in Arkansas (Kim and Tracey).

LOLcats

Paula Dean and her awesome, oh, so bad for you recipies.

The scroll-down fug.

That the Obamas provide political eye candy.



Fang, Rosie, Bell, Nico, Alley Cat and Cheif. They annoy me, but what is a life lived without creatures who give you unconditional love and loyalty.

That Glen Beck and the teabaggers are doing their best making extremism look, well nuts.

That LOST will soon be back (I watched The Constant the other day).

Welbutrin, Ambien and my new thyroid medication.

YouTube...yes, YouTube because it allows me to find so many videos of artists like Elvis Costello, Queen and Dusty Sprinfield. and watch Doctor Who a day after it airs in the UK.







You guys....my 64 minions.

And all of my wonderful customers who allow me to work at home and away from the public.
That's a good thing.

There are many more, but that's all that is coming to me right now.
What are you thankful for this year?

Happy Thanksgiving, LOLs and Creepy

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

I've been out of pocket for a bit, but I'm back.

This has been the week from hell.

My parents came to town.

No really, I love my parents, it is just that we live with 3 dogs and 3 cats and, well...I'm not the most motivated homemaker so the place needed to be CLEANED.

Really, really cleaned.

And the dogs were the worst.

They had baths....it wore me out....there is a reason we do not do that often.

So I did all house cleaning and then I set to shampooing my carpets.

Which is one of those "I bet this is one of the many demonic Basement Cat punishments in Hell" chores I avoid.

Got them done, went to bed and woke up to some heinous dog diarrhea all over the fucking place.

sigh

Since I have the need to do the picture perfect holiday (yes me of all people) I also made the batshit crazy decision to DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS.

I know, nuts.

But all is now pretty.

I've got NOEL poodles (post about them later this week) on my 60's Danish Modern buffet along with the creepy Santa head (that at the moment The Teen has hidden away because he says the eyes follow you) and my most awesome tree is up.

The great aqua Santa tablecloth (paid way less then that) is on the kitchen table with a little silver tree and I baked 2 pies till 2 AM this morning.

Apple and this Paula Dean pumpkin pie.

Delish

Almost time to put the turkey breasts in, I've used this Sandra Lee recipe for a couple of years for both Baked chickens and turkey and it always comes out great.




There will also be rolls, mashed taters, dressing, green bean casserole (double the Durkee onions), corn and raspberry cranberry jello stuff.

Official name is Festive Cranberry-Pineapple Salad, but I normally leave out the nuts.

Yum.

Yes, that is one freakycreepy "boy riding turkey picture" up there.

Dammit, Where did that kid hide my Taser?

True Story.
Mom can't get kid to take a shower.
Mom calls local sheriff Dept.
Local Barney Fife comes out and takes a Taser to the little miscreant....with mom's permission of course.

Jesus tapdancing Christ, Welcome to Arkansas.

Screw Tasers y'all, it is time for this state to make it legal for teachers and parents to carry a nice long cattle prod with them, that way the little smart asses can't get too far away before you can reach out and give the little shit what for.
Man, raising a kid will be so much easier now that we can tell our misbehaving kids "straighten up or I'll get Dep. Fife to Tase you Jimmy Bob....now pick up that plate".

Can one still Taser their younins' after 18 if they are in college or is 18 the cut off date and then it is considered assault?
Just checking since mine is getting pretty close to 18.

The Dead

I'm sure everyone has a favorite movie.
Mine is The Dead which was John Huston's last film.
It is just a lovely, beautiful movie based on James Joyce's novella of the same name.
I read Dubliners years ago and The Dead has always stayed with me.
Joyce is normally hard to read, but that collection is very accessible and well, here, just read this lovely last paragraph:

"A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

How can you not fall in love with that?

So we went to see the movie when it came out and I try to catch it whenever on TV.
Last night I downloaded it from Amazon and I am so happy I did.
Just as lovely as I remember.





As a bonus here is Ewen McGregor (no Frank Patterson, God rest his soul, but still lovely) and Susan Lynch singing The Lass of Aughrim over the closing credits of Nora...another movie I quite like.

Vintage Rhythm Step Shoes

I just listed a great pair of vintage Rhythm Step shoes.
While I was doing a bit of research on the shoes I found this and this and this ad in Life magazine.
Enjoy.

You Belong To Me

One of my favorite songs (no not the damn Taylor Swift song)......














I had no idea* who Jason Wade was, but I loved his version on the Shrek soundtrack.

*I do now.

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veteran's Day y'all.....

Why dogs are better then cats.



(I love my cats, but really if you come home from being away for months and months all they would do is hide under a bed and the pee on your shoes.)

Got the vid via Balloon Juice who posted it from a Mentalfloss
post that has more dog/soldier homecomings.

Vintage Street

The picture above was taken by a woman named Vivian Maier who's street photography was purchased by John Maloof at a Chicago auction. He is slowly posting her photographs at Vivian Maier-Her Discovered Work.

I love vintage photographs that are candids of real people just going about their daily business. There is something honest and striking about her photgraphs.
Via No Pattern Required.

Caledonia

Dougie MacLean

Happy Satan Day!!

Yes we celebrate Satan's birthday around here.
sigh...
Screw you evangelicals, leave Halloween alone and let the rest of us have our fun.

Vintage Halloween pictures maybe some of the creepiest things ever.




Have a fun Halloween!

Vintage Links

Detail of Vera Scarf

*Vintage Fashion Guild's "Fresh Vintage" where "VFG trade members will be posting a few of their newest listings."

* Atomic Tuesday over at The Girl Can't Help It.

* Fashion Bulletin Board over at Kickshaw Productions

* Fuzzy Lizzie has a couple of interesting posts one on Vera Neumann and the other on intarsia knit sweaters.

* Smart interview with Holly of Past Perfect Vintage is up at blog catalog, nice and concise tips on buying vintage clothing.

* Another post on the Vintage Fashion Guild is this week's Fashion Parade; Back-To-Black.

New Arrivals at Sew-Retro Vintage Patterns

Just a few of the new vintage patterns available at Sew-Retro Vintage Patterns.

1960's Pauline Trigère

Pretty 1930's Frock


1930's Dress with Unique Zip Neckline


60's Vogue Empire Waist Dress


1950's Halter Dress with Cape




1951 Swing Coat

Hey, yes that is an advertiser!!!

Jesus, I think I forgot to welcome Tina, What-I-Found Sewing Patterns, as my first real advertiser.
Seriously, she's the bomb and I am not just saying that because she paid me.
"I travel all over the country finding great sewing patterns, both old and new for all ages, sizes and eras. I think vintage sewing patterns are art, I think they are history, I think vintage and new sewing patterns are practical."

Great patterns, great prices and she is pretty darn nice too.
Now go by and take a few patterns off her hands.

Nikki Heat

I love Firefly.
I love Nathen Fillion which means I find Castle* a nice little show.
I love mysteries, which means every time the show is on I tell my husband "I wish Castle was a real series of mystery novels."

But look.
Not books about Castle and Beckett, she of the

oh

so

many

awesome

coats*,
but Heat Wave the Nikki Heat novel Castle has written with Beckett as his muse.
AARRRGGGGHHH
Can NOT believe I missed this.
And now I am broke and the new Dresden Files is coming out and I.Must.Own.Both.

Wonder just who is the author writing under the nom de plume of Richard Castle.

*If you watch the show, you will know what I mean. My theory on the coats is that she buy very basic clothes, shoes and has a no nonsense purse, but what she splurges on is awesome jackets and coats.
**You also know this means that if I had a Kindle already I could have downloaded a copy and would be reading it right now.

Cheif

Here he is under my desk.

Kitty Paws!

Off to watch Dollhouse and drink a very tall Kahlua and Cream.

Christmas is Coming

My list for Christmas was going to be quite easy.
A flat screen monitor and a Dell Mini.
I had decided the Mini would be perfect for me to surf the internet on the sofa and download e-books to read.
I've flirted with the idea of a Kindle, but I'm just.not.sure.

Now all I want is the Nook from Barnes and Noble.

Think Pink

Pink and Red Floral Vintage Day Dress

Think Pink in October.
10% of the proceeds from each pink (or with a touch of pink)
will be donated to the Susan G. Koman Foundation for The Cure
in honor of Mary Catherine Lamb.


Pink 50's Nightgown Bust 44

Pink and Silver Vintage 50's Prom Dress

Updates at Damn Good Vintage

Here's a roundup of the items I've listed in the past week.

1940's Black and Silver Lurex Dress Bust 42

1950's Dyed Full Slip B44

Early 60's Cocktail Dress from Mr. Mort

Vintage 50's Golden Copper Silk Shirtwaist Dress

Vintage 50's Pink, Black and Gray Rockabilly Dress

Pretty Multi-Colored Shoes, DelLiso Debs

Vote for Bitsy

Awwwww, Cutest Dog Contest.
How freaking cute is she?
Go vote for Bitsy.