Vintage fun

Thrift store finds:

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Western wear is still normal in our part of the world.
  This 1956 pattern is so out of date that it is almost in style again.

Also, 1956.

Anxious to see if all pieces are here.  Want to make a pair just so that I can say I have. lol

Remember these?  Found this calendar page in an old cookbook.  The calendar forms a pocket that was used to hold receipts, recipes, bills, birthday cards, etc.

  In August of 1965, my fellow 4-H friends and I would have been frantically finishing up our projects so that they could be exhibited at the Western Idaho State Fair.

We would have been riding our bikes to school almost everyday until the class assignment sheets were posted in the foyer windows.  None of us thought we wanted school to start, but we were always anxious to know who our classmates would be and which teacher we'd be "stuck" with.  (Poor teachers!)

And, hopefully, we'd get one or two last camping trips in before school started.

I hope you can read the recipes.  All look edible except one.  Even it might be good; it just sounds awful to me.  Please, tell me which one or ones you wouldn't care for.  Let's see if we agree. :)

What I Did. Bad Packrat (continued)

Back in June, I wrote about some odds and ends and the community yard sale.  I really planned on continuing the story within the next day or two.  Well, life got in the way in a really big way.  We had to make an unplanned trip to California.  It seems we've been playing catch-up ever since.

First to finish off What I Did:

New Home Sewing Machine
 Yep, I bought another sewing machine. It is a New Home and very similar to this one.  Old enough to have been made in the USA.

It came with attachments (in the original box), the instruction book, and in a nice wooden cabinet.

(The bottom picture was taken with my cell phone.  It doesn't take good pictures at all.  I need help getting the software for the better camera loaded.  It is conflicting with the software from the old camera or something.)

***

At least once a week, two or three of us have been trying to go to the local thrift stores.  This is a very bad habit, but it is so much fun.  I've picked up several pieces to add to various dinnerware sets - my china, my everyday dishes, the dishes that my grandmother and mom used when we had a huge crowd, and what were my mom's everyday dishes!  I bought a Lo*ndon  F*og coat for $5.00 and a mid-weight coat for my daughter.  I've brought home old cookbooks, old magazines, sewing and craft books.  So bad...

My friend has found some of the neatest things, too:  a complete toy (real stoneware!) dish set, a big red barn that her grandchildren just love, some fantastic clothes, a typewriter, all kinds of dishes and glassware.

The best part?  One day we filled the whole backseat of the car, and the combined total of what we spent was $10.62 (including sales tax)! 

Really Bad Packrat:   I also purchased a 1970's vintage Kenmore sewing machine for $5.00.  (I think this makes the tenth or eleventh machine.)  It probably doesn't work, but maybe I can use parts from another machine that is just like it.  Or, I can play with it to see if I can learn to fix sewing machines.  Just what I need - another job.  LOL

The other day, for a song, I found some more sewing machine attachments.  Of course, I've been buying fabric and patterns.

 I love this one.  I doubt I'll ever make it, because my daughter and I are too short-waisted to pull off this style.  sighhh.

Wish this was larger size. I'd make it for my husband.  Maybe I can alter it?

***

Crazy me.  Last spring I bought a set of dishes with a bright floral design.  Perfect for summer!  Then I promptly lost them in all this mess.  I found them a couple of days ago; I'd been staring at the box everyday.  I thought the box had magazines in it.  It had just one on top - protecting the dishes underneath.  Thank goodness nothing heavy was set on top of it.

***

One good thing that has happened is that we finally rented shop space. We thought we'd get moved before the fall rush began.  Laugh.  Since the day we paid the rent, we've been so busy that we haven't had time to get shelves built, get things put away, and move the rest of the business stuff out of the house.  But, we've been busy.  Let's hope it stays that way. ( No way do I want to move the business back into the house!  I hope that the old office is going to be my sewing room.)

Happy Autumn!

What I Did. Bad Packrat.

Click on each pattern picture for a larger view.


Guess I'm not yet ready to post about what happened this past winter. So, I'm going to just say that I am home. Everything is still in boxes, because there isn't anywhere to put the stuff.

I'm feeling about 95 percent better, but still have an off and on earache. Have been to the dentist.  No bad wisdom or other teeth, but I might be clenching my jaws/grinding my teeth at night which could be part of the problem. Stress. (Ya think??!!)

Daughter (and group) made it home from Europe all in one piece. She had a wonderful time, but now wants to go back with just one or two people or work or study abroad.  (Sadly, she cannot be in Vandaleers next semester, because she has another class that she needs to graduate at the same time Vandaleers class is held.) I'll try to get her to post a few pictures of the trip.




Monday, Tuesday, and today - cold (below 50 degrees), damp, rainy, dark, and depressing.


***

Sunday:  Daughter called and chatted for a minute, then she said she needed to get off the phone because she had to go to the bathroom.  Said she'd call back in a few minutes.  I'm thinking, "Well, that's silly.  You called me.  Why didn't you go to the bathroom before you called?"  I continued putting dishes away.  All of a sudden the front door flies open and someone hollers, "Is the bathroom free?"  The instantaneous thought was that it had to be my friend Marcia because the dogs were just excited and not barking ferociously.  I turn around and my daughter is standing there.  I never made the "bathroom connection", because Daughter was last person I expected to see that day.  Just call me SLOW ;)



***
Saturday was community yard sale day, so guess what I did? Yup, I spent money...

The four patterns on this page are out of a box of patterns that cost a dollar for the whole box.  No copyright date on these four.  Most are from the mid-sixties with the newest ones from 1970.  Almost all are in the 31 to 32 inch bust sizes, with quite a few being teen sizes.

I also bought lace, ribbon, remnants, fabric, and books.  But, what I consider the really good stuff will have to wait for another post.  Stay tuned.

Unnecessary, but fun

Last post was sort of about not spending or spending wisely. This post is about spending. I stopped at a little thrift store. Oops.

I defend my spending money there because all the money (donated building and help!) goes to support a local "private" school. It is private in that no government money is used to support the school. Although, it is basically a Catholic school, any child is welcome - except that there is a huge long waiting list. It is that good of a school.

I purchased a few saucers (bowls) and a few pieces of "silverware" (one fork was real silver - 10 cents!). Always seem to need more.

Also purchased were a lightweight denim shirt with puffy sleeves and two out of style rayon dresses. These were a dollar each. The denim shirt will someday lose the "puffs". This is for me. The puffed sleeves make me look like I'm wearing football shoulder pads or whatever they are called. The navy dress will hopefully get a zipper and be shortened. It fits my daughter beautifully, but is very difficult to get on and off. The maroon floral dress? Who knows. It fits my daughter, too, but the color is wrong for her. I will try to remember to get before and after pictures.

What I spent the most on was a whole grocery sack of sewing patterns - some newer, some older. Below are three of my favorites.

This is possibly the oldest dated 1962:



This pattern, with minor adjusting, should fit my daughter. Too bad it isn't in style at all.

Then there were these:






These are from the Associated British Paper Patterns Ltd., Denbigh Rd. Bletchley, Bucks. There is no copyright or date printed anywhere on them.

If anyone wants to get rid of old (1960's and 1970's and maybe early 1980's) patterns, I am in the market for women's half sizes 10-1/2 to 12-1/2, young junior/teen sizes 9/10, 11/12, and 13/14, and junior petites sizes 7, 9, and 11. I really don't want to pay a fortune for each pattern, but would pay for the patterns and for shipping. My email address is available from my profile page. Thanks. Oh, these would be to use. I would not be reselling them.

Random, but I have misplaced my list of passwords for all my internet sites. OH BROTHER!!
UPDATE: The passwords have been found. phew! Now the checkbook register is missing. It is probably in the huge stack of bills waiting to be paid. Groan.
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Random Bits and Pieces

These two are among the best children any parent could ask for. (Of course, I'm not biased or anything. lol) I love both of you very much. Please stay the lovely people that you are.

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Now I have to vent. Feel free to skip these next two paragraphs.

Now, I'm going to say that I am sick to death of two of my friends' children. (I could post pictures of them, too, but I don't want to see their "ugly" faces right now.) They are rude, sullen, inconsiderate, selfish, completely self-centered, and sometimes down right mean. And, my friends have let them get away with being that way. They both have let those children (all grown, by the way) walk all over them.

It has gotten so bad, that I cannot stand to be around any of the children and some of their children. I'm tired of listening to my one friend complain about how awful her children act and how they treat her. I'm having a difficult time staying friends with these two women because I all I want to do is yell and scream at them to get backbones. I want to tell them that they are the mothers and grandmothers and have every right to demand - no matter how old the children and grandchildren are - that they be treated with kindness and respect. I have dropped many hints. They don't get it. Unfortunately, dropping friends isn't easy. And, it wouldn't be at all kind. This is a very small town, and we all belong to the same church.

***
Okay, on to happier things.

Yesterday. Out for a Chinese food lunch and then thrift store shopping. Some good bargains, a gorgeous day, and a great time. What else can I say? :)

Picked up several cups ($2.00 for all!) that match the dishes that are in the old trailer we use as a guest house. (The place actually belongs to my brother, but the whole family uses it.) Every time company comes, we have had to take cups from home or from mom's so people can have coffee, cocoa, or tea. No more. These can just stay there.

From McCall's Patterns copyright 1963:


Side 1

Side 2 -

This is one of oldest of the 41 patterns I purchased. Yes, forty-one. Thirty-nine of them were 10 cents a piece. They are different kinds and sizes, older and newer, children, teen, adult, and all kinds of crafts. I hope all the pieces are there, but for the price I really can't complain.

Two of the patterns were $2.00 a piece. One is a Debbie Mumm pattern for Christmas quilted wall hanging. The other is a Joan's Creation pattern for a Christmas room box using fabric for everything except the walls and floor. Even those are covered with appropriate fabric. Right up my alley. I love fabric and doll houses!




Also purchased a largish box of fabric scraps and remnants. $1.00. In it were several of these little guys and gals. There are three "finished" blocks and some more of the pieces cut out. These are a little dirty, so I hope I can get them clean. Everything in the box is jumbled, so I'll have to sort carefully. Also in the box are doll clothes - some cut out, some partially sewn. There are two little sun dresses cut out; these look to be about a child's size 2, or 3. (I know I already have at least one similar box of stuff that *I* haven't finished - oh dear.)

Copyright 1958. My cost: 25 cents





Doesn't the Mardi Gras recipe sound yummy? Uck! (Click to see a larger picture.) Maybe it would be okay if one substituted ham, roast beef, turkey, or salami for the tongue. (I like the taste of beef tongue just not the texture.)

One more:

Copyright 1972. My next to most expensive purchase, so I really debated on this one. I'm anxious to see if any of these (besides spaghetti sauce) really do freeze well. (As in tasting good after they're thawed and reheated, but I'm sure you all knew what I meant. grins)

Oh, and I purchased some very nice baby clothes for one of those ungrateful little twerps mentioned above. At least she said thank you even though she didn't look very excited.

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I hope to be home until Sunday afternoon. Monday, I will take Mom to the oncologist, then will stay with her for at least another days (if not longer). I really would like to "settle" one place or the other. I really need my computer, paperwork, files, etc. so I can catch up on bookkeeping, and I would like to have my own sewing machine to use. Grandma's old one works great, but it doesn't zig-zag.

***

Last week Mom and I prepared and froze at least 20 quarts of tomatoes and canned 32 pints and 8 quarts of peaches. One quart didn't seal, so I didn't count that one. Mom froze at least a dozen bell peppers. I still have tomatoes and peppers coming on, so there will be more to do.