Vintage Chicks

Memorial Day Weekend

When I was a little girl we called it Decoration Day.  We would get up very early and I remember that it always seemed to be raining.  We would make our own bouquets out of peonies,iris,lilacs and what ever else was blooming in the garden.  We would put them in big coffee cans covered with aluminum foil to jazz them up and then go to the cemetery.  It seemed like it would take hours to visit every grave.  I always loved to look at the different head stones and marvel at the carving or try to figure in my head how old the person was when they died.  It was never a somber occasion, just a time for remembering and telling stories about our family members.  Now, I'm afraid the times have changed and my decorating techniques as well.  Linda and I always go and visit my Father's grave and I hate to admit it but I pre-order a large bouquet from the florist.  I do this for two reasons.  Typically in my area it is cold and wet, sometimes even snowy on Memorial day so home grown flowers are never a guarantee.  The second reason is that my Dad was a very proud man and he really enjoyed the finer things in life.  I try to buy something grand from the florists because I think he would really appreciate it.  After paying homage I hope to spend the rest of the weekend relaxing a little and working a lot on my junk room.  I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.

Paint Chip Pondering

Whenever I go to the hardware store (it happens much more frequently than I would expect) I find myself studying the paint chips.  I have been pondering for a while about a bedroom redo and no matter what color I decide on I waffle and come back to the blues.  I live in the high desert and although my town is smack dab in the middle of a lush farming community just ten miles out is a sea of sage brush.  I don't know if it is because of or in spite of my location that I am always longing for the ocean and anything sort of beachy.  My favorite place is the coast of Maine and I longingly look forward to my occasional trips there.  I guess my wander lust has truly steered me in the direction of my current color choices.  I am leaning towards Shallow pool combined with a little Sea Salt but Watering Can is a close second.  Even the names are seductive.  How could you not like a color called Porch Swing?  I spent some vacation time in the South one Summer and stayed in a charming room painted taint'green.  In Southern ese that means it ain't blue and it ain't green but somewhere in between.  I have been trying to recreate that color for years without success.  I have come close but not quite.  I guess the real problem is that I am trying to recapture a moment more than just capturing the right color. Who knew how much memory comes in to play with color selection.  But I shouldn't be too surprised when you think about how the paint companies market their colors.  There is just no comparison between a color called Hydrangea and Blue #4.  I do however refuse to be sucked into Rope.  It is beige, beige, beige, no matter what you call it.  Anyone have a preference?  Please save me from myself.

Fickle Fancier

Sometimes collections sneak up on you.  It may be something you are totally not into and the next thing you know, there it is.  It reminds me of a boy I hated in second grade.  He was just repulsive.  He had shaggy blonde hair and a gap tooth smile.  He made me sick.  Once, he brought me a chocolate rabbit for Easter and put it on my front porch.  He rang the doorbell and then ran.  I disliked him so much I don't even remember eating the chocolate and that is saying a lot.  Fast forward to eighth grade.  He was sooooooooooo cool.  He had really great hair and a great smile and I LOVED him!  My overwhelming affection for him was a total and appalling surprise.  That is exactly what has happened with my collection of bird stuff.  I think birds are creepy.  Every year one gets caught in my wood stove and I have to hide in the bathroom with the door locked until it is taken out and set free. It's not that I am anti-nature, I just don't want one to touch me.  But just like all things, change occurs and before you know it, you have a full blown affection for something that once repulsed you.  I have ceramic birds, cages, bird photos and now a towering stack of bird books and bird watching paraphernalia.  I am constantly on the look out for more and I just find them fascinating.  I didn't think I was a fickle person, but I seem to be seeing a pattern forming.  I wonder where that kid with the gap tooth smile is?

Sweetie Pie and The Glums

A few weeks ago Linda at www.myvintagesoul.typepad had a give away.  She shared with her readers some wonderful pictures she scored during her towns clean up days.  I entered and actually won!  I have never won anything before so needless to say I was really thrilled.  Yesterday my new instant relatives arrived. I would like to introduce you to The Glums and Sweetie Pie.  The Glums were chicken farmers from New Jersey.  They had no children because Mr. Glum refused to spend time with his wife.  He was obsessed with a new breed of chicken he was developing and spent long hours into the night working on his genetic theories. Mrs. Glum found that a little chokecherry cordial helped her to fill her empty hours.  Sweetie Pie was the daughter of Marv and Cherry Pie who lived in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Her interests included reading, drawing and the collection of rare Southern butterflies.  She went on to be a suffragette and a business woman in New York City. I want to thank Linda for reuniting me with some of the lost members of my family tree.  She has a terrific blog with a great sense of style and a sharp sense of humor. Please check it out.  You won't be sorry.

Poor Beleaguered Etsy Store

I am afraid I have been really bad and today is the day I need to make amends.  My poor Etsy store is beginning to look like an old Cold War Russian market.  There are plenty of empty shelves with only a thing or two offered for sale.  I have found a few items I want to share and will be listing them today.  One of my favorites is the sheet of hidden calling cards I blogged about recently.  I find them really charming but I know there is someone out there who could appreciate them more. I am going to sell the entire sheet rather than breaking them up.  That way some clever ephemera person can do what they want after they get them.  I am also listing this little English biscuit tin.  My collection will no longer fit on a very large shelf and some purging must occur.I have several motto plaques that I dearly love but this one doesn't quite fit into the theme I collect.  It really looks like it is from the time of the Craftsman movement.  The colors and the sty lings are really authentic to that aesthetic.  It is in very good condition and is not faded at all.This little pink Pyrex casserole is going in the store as well.  I admit I waffled quite a bit about keeping it.  After all it is pink and has the most darling gooseberry pattern.  I love pink and I love gooseberries but I guess I have to come to the realization that I cannot keep everything.  Last but certainly not least is this really charming necklace and earring set.  It is also pink and would look really sweet on someone who enjoys wearing Retro jewelry.  I would wear it but I think my neck is too fat.  I will be listing today so if any of these items strike your fancy be sure to check out my Etsy store. 

Window Box Cat

I know you are probably sick of seeing pictures of Elizabeth Taylor.  I promise this will be the last one for a while.  She has been really ill the last couple of months (two rounds of anti-biotics) and has been diagnosed with over active thyroid.  We have been diligently giving her medication and it seems to be working.  This is the first picture in a while where she looks healthy and more like herself.  I openly admit to being a crazy cat lady.  Of all the cats I have had this particular one has really stolen my heart.  She really thinks she is a dog.  She follows me around and has been a great companion.  I have been trying to get the last of my Spring planting done and all that is left are the window boxes.  She enjoys sitting in them and has been quite perturbed that they have been empty.  I am putting in new liners this year along with fresh potting soil.  This weekend I hope to finally get them done.  I swear to God this morning it snowed a little!! This is Elizabeth trying to get me motivated to fill the window boxes.Please excuse the mess behind her.  I have a gardening staging area that will soon be turned into a lovely seating area.  I think I will plant red geraniums, blue lobelia and some trailing ferns.  She thinks maybe it would look better with pussy willows, cat tails or possibly even cat nip.  She has a good argument but I am sticking with my guns.  Geraniums it is.  

Bird Crazy

Have you ever had one of those days when a certain song keeps running through your head and you just can't seem to get rid of it?  Well today that song is 'Four and twenty black birds baked in a pie.' That has become our anthem because it seems that our yard has suddenly become Grand Central Station for all kinds of bird arrivals and departures. This old elm tree has been the home for a family of Starlings.  They have been busily feeding these babies for a few weeks now and by my observation it won't be too long before they will be ready to fly.  The poor ugly things are almost as big as their Mother and twice as loud.  On the arrival end we have seen the return of the hummingbirds.  We usually start getting them at about the time my Quince bush blooms and this year was no exception. The little black headed guys are in full force and have already started fighting over the feeder.  There is always one, maybe the first arrival, who takes over and tries to run the others off that come to feed.  They get into quite heated battles as they chase each other.  I love to sit under the patio in the Summer and read.  One of the advantages to that is hearing the hummers whiz around my head as they jockey for position.  I have hung up our Finch sack and we have had some beautiful yellow and red headed birds.  It is quite a treasure to have such an ever changing landscape right outside your front window. I'll keep you updated as new birds arrive.  I guess this is my version of the Tweet.

Hair Net

My Mom is 91 and she lives with me.  She suffers from short term memory loss and some days she is clear as a bell and other days, not so much.  She is constantly surprising me and today was no exception.  She called me into the living room and asked me where we keep the hair nets.  Now, it has been a long, long time since I have even seen a hair net so the request was a little shocking. I told her we didn't have any and  asked her what she wanted one for.  She said "I want to wrap my hair at night after I get it done at the beauty parlor."  Well, to begin with, she goes to a Salon now and her hair is very stylish and very short. I think she was thinking back to the sixties when she along with most of America had the wonderful and unforgettable Beehive.This is not a picture of my Mother.  I can't find one with this particular hair style.  But it is an accurate representation minus the tiara.  Her hair was usually a reddish brown and piled high to the ceiling,then lacquered with Aqua Mist hair spray.  She would get it done once a week at  Margot's beauty shop and then wouldn't touch it for a week.  At night she would wrap it, starting at the bottom with toilet paper and then cover it with a giant hair net.  She slept on her back and I don't think she ever moved.  This could explain why my parents started sleeping in separate beds.  My Mother always blamed it on my Dad's snoring, but now I wonder....  I am so glad, at least in the world of hair styles, that women today are less encumbered.  I have done a lot of things as a youth in the name of fashion but as God is my witness I have never slept with toilet paper wrapped around my head.  God Bless Gloria Steinem and God Bless my Mother.

Vintage Chick Summer Camp

I never got to go to Summer camp when I was a kid so maybe that is why I am so excited about our latest adventure.  The Vintage Chicks are going to camp.  Not really, but at least our version of it.  Starting on Saturday June 5th Linda and I will be pitching our tent on the county courthouse lawn in Shoshone.  There will be a weekly outdoor flea market sponsored by Payson Reese.  He is the fellow that works so hard to put our Winter flea markets together.  He had the brilliant idea to use this lovely setting to sell our wares and I really think it will be fun and profitable. We will be featuring lots of enamel ware, wicker furniture and anything that might look great in your country garden.  I will be baking up some new treats to include in our bake shop ,maybe something S'more inspired. We are busily digging out all of our rustic goodies from the sheds and deciding which ones to take.  So if you are in the vicinity of Shoshone, Idaho  on a Saturday starting in June stop by and see us.  We will be located right on scenic highway 74 (gateway to Sun-Valley) on the courthouse lawn.  We will have a big Vintage Chick Summer Camp sign by our tent and the coffee will be on. I hope to see you soon.  I will be the chick wearing the camp badge and the macaroni necklace.  Hooray for Summer camp!!!

Bounty Of Bottles

No too long ago I bought a card board box full of bottles.  Mostly they are old Listerine, Vaseline and other "medicine cabinet" brands.  I really had no idea what I was going to do with them but they were very inexpensive and I wanted to create something fun.  I have been pondering this box for a while now, and I think I will try to make either some wind chimes or sun catchers for the garden.  My Mom always had those little glass chimes you would get at the Chinese market when I was a kid and I remember that tinkle of glass to be very soothing and happy.  Maybe I could attach them to an old rake head or metal gear and arrange them to move with the wind.  I also thought I might glue them together with some little plates and cups and stick them on a dowel and put them in the flower borders.  I guess I will just have to go at it and see what happens.  Who would have thought a person could have so much fun with a box full of empty bottles?  Ninety nine bottles of beer.......