Happy Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week

I made these a few years ago to celebrate:

 And of course I made the larval stage as well.

We don't have them in Nebraska yet but Iowa does, and it is only a matter of time. The advice is to hold off treating your trees until they are here, but they're so close now I don't know what I'd do if I had an ash tree. The loss in Illinois was devastating. Anyway, when I feel helpless in the face of something awful I tend to bake-have a cookie. Then, see if it is time to treat your trees.

In other news:

I wore my beaded rayon 40's dress. I've had it for years, but I rarely wear it. It isn't the most flattering thing I own, but it is too nice to get rid of.

I thought a new venue might be interesting so, welcome to my kitchen. 

I hate that floor too. On a positive note, it doesn't show much dirt.

"Hey. The boss needs his payment. In cash, or vintage fedoras."
That's his papa's tie, and yeah I don't know what's going on with the knot either.

The beading is beautiful, but damn near impossible to photograph in any light. This was the closest I could get to a decent photo, but trust me, the beading is lovely.

I added the tiny rhinestone pin to cover a hole that would be too obvious to repair. I bought this dress more than twenty years ago at a long-gone shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love it, but rarely wear it as the cut isn't flattering on my body. I'm sure it had shoulder pads of some sort originally, and I really ought to replace them. I suspect that would go a long way to making it more wearable. On the other hand, if I made it wearable, it wouldn't be in such good condition. Loving vintage is a difficult thing.

Outfit Particulars:

Danny: Shirt and trousers-K Mart
Jacket-Goodwill
Hat-Hand-Me-Ups
Tie-God only knows where his papa found it.

Myself:

1940's beaded rayon crepe dress-Vintage shop, long gone
Vintage Naturalizer pumps-Thrift World\
Vintage navy handbag-Goodwill
Flower on handbag-Tiff and Tam
Sara Coventry vintage clip earrings-Antique shop in rural Wisconsin
Belt-Goodwill
Cloisonne bracelet-Goodwill
Lippy-Revlon vintage re-issue 1940's Icy Violet (not for me, at all).
Fragrance-Lentheric, Tweed

 I don't know why I look so sad. I promise, I'm not!

Geez, I look like my pet died or something. Not to worry though, Blondin and brood are all well. 

 We got out today for errands, and it was freezing. I needed my wool coat for heaven's sake. Last evening I was able to get in a good, long walk but made it home just as the weather was turning for the worse. I don't feel like myself if I don't get in a good walk at least a few times a week, and of late the rain has been most uncooperative. A little rain I can deal with, downpours accompanied by floods are quite another. At this rate I may need to join up with the elderly "Mall walkers" that do the indoors walk before the stores open. Who am I kidding-those, "Elderly" persons could beat me in a race, easily.

So keep your eyes peeled for Emerald Ash Borers. Next up, Brood IV Cicadas (in Nebraska anyway). That's going to be loads of fun!