When Home is the Classroom

I was never going to be that teacher. You know, the one with the perfect classroom decorations like something out of Classroom Interiors. Fine, there's no such magazine, but there is Pinterest. It seemed like such a good idea-make a tree for the hallway from scraps of construction paper and brown paper bags. Yes, there's oak, maple and elder leaves on the same tree, but where's your imagination? It was all going so well until I decided the tree needed eyes. Instead of some pleasant seasonal decoration, I'm left with a tree that looks like a cross between a Morris Dancer and a startled moose. 

I suppose I ought to explain the owl hanging from the ceiling waving the Canadian flag You see, we bought the owl last Halloween, and decided to keep him up year round, decorating as seasonally appropriate. He wore a red hat at Christmas, a shamrock at St. Patrick's, bunny ears at Easter. When we got to July, I decided to stick a US flag in one hand and the Canadian in the other to celebrate both the Fourth of July, and Canada Day. My head is hiding the US flag. Clearly, he needs an update as we're a long way past July, but with Halloween soon approaching I might just leave him as-is. Around the Year With Owly has been great fun. I wonder, should we give it a second year? When your home is the classroom no one questions why you have an owl hanging from the ceiling, or a tree that looks like a startled moose in the hall. This is our, "normal."

 Also seen (if you squint hard) in the photo is Danny's "Science Table" by the window. There's mounted butterflies/insects, various bugs in jars, boiled and dried chicken bones to form a complete skeleton, and a bunch of other interesting stuff. The Science Table is not to be confused with the Science Box, that holds wires, and circuits, and all sorts of projects. That lives in the basement-science can get messy. Living in your classroom isn't nearly that strange when you already live in a library. This just seems like the natural extension, though our local library would never put up such a pathetic looking tree in the hallway-it might frighten the children. "Mummy, why does the tree have crazy eyes?!" Gawd, the more I look at it, the more I see Bullwinkle.

I'm wearing an interesting (I think) top today. Made by heritage brand Jantzen  from good wool some time in the late 50's/early 60's I found it in perfect, unworn condition at Thrift World. Shoved into the racks between dresses so tattered and stained they should have been discarded if not burned for health reasons, there sat this beautiful little top. I handed over my .98 cents (!) laughing at all the over-priced "vintage" they were trying to sell, and had a good smirk as I took it home. I wouldn't pay $40.00 for torn polyester maxi dresses (I haven't lost my mind, you know) and honestly, I can't believe anyone else will either. Thrift World is having some sort of identity crisis where they can't decide if they are a thrift store or a vintage shop. I'm sure they'll get it all sorted out eventually (when the vintage won't sell). 

 Outfit Particulars:
Jantzen vintage sweater-Thrift World
Pendelton skirt-Goodwill
Shoes-K Mart
Bracelet and earrings-both Goodwill
Pearls-Mum's
Poodle scatter pins-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Ma Griffe (blech. I'm trying to understand it, but thus far I haven't acquired an appreciation for it)

 Hmm, time for some moisturiser-my arms are looking a bit dry. I am so blind I only notice these things in photos! I'm due for an eye exam, and I'm a little afraid I might leave there with a set of high-powered goggles.

There's new California Pottery in my life. I bought four plates, mugs, and a creamer. No sugar bowl, which is a shame, but should be easy enough to find. I don't know why I love this stuff the way I do, but thankfully it is still cheaply found. Someday it will become collectible, I'm certain. 

I baked two trays of cornbread for Mr. ETB to take to work tomorrow. His department is having a luncheon where the main dish will be chili. I volunteered to bake as I can't imagine chili without cornbread, though in this part of the country they eat it with cinnamon buns! Someone else is bringing the buns. This is a bit more work than most cornbread, but it is so moist and cake-like I feel it is worth the bother.

You Will Need:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups cornmeal (not cornflour!)
1 1/2 cups plain flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk

Grease and flour a 9x13 baking pan. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. F.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light. Sift together the dry ingredients, and beat the eggs and milk together. Add flour to creamed mixture alternating with milk/egg mixture. Do not over-beat. Pour into prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes or until top is slightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

 The summer garden is winding down, but the winter vegetables are already showing signs of life (hooray for turnip greens!). There's a few more pattypan left on the vines, but I don't think they'll do much beyond this week. I have two peppers clinging on for dear life as well, but I suppose the time has come to harvest them. The larger squash will be grated into a quickbread, the others sliced and lightly sauteed with butter. They were fun, but really took over the garden. I don't think I'll be growing them again next year.

Bird banding starts again for the season on Saturday at Aksarben aquarium (I'm making my excited face...sort of). This weekend is also the Lincoln public library yearly book sale at the Events Center. This is one of the best sales I've been to, and on the last day, the books are sold by the carton. It runs Friday through Sunday. If you can get yourself to Lincoln, Nebraska, it is worth checking out. My best cookbooks come from there.

Hope the week is treating you well wherever you are. 

The Moon's the North Wind's Cooky

Well that was fun! We had a terrific view of it from the college next door at the top of the hill.

We had a lucky break with the weather, and the skies cleared for the first time this week. I do hope Danny remembers these things when he's old and complaining his parents never did anything fun with him.

In other news, I'm still dressing like it is 1977. Clearly influenced by my decision to wear blue and yellow, Danny selected a couple new shirts for himself. Can you believe my baby needs shirts this long? Holy shit, that kid is tall. He didn't get that from my side of the family.

I'm going to make a point of posing next to as many pumpkins as possible this autumn. Why not? Right?

I broke out the cloisonne to wear as a set today. Guess what perfume I wore. Go on, guess. There's a review coming eventually.

Outfit Particulars:

1970's home-sewn (not by me) skirt-Goodwill
Polo neck-Gordman's (last year)
Knit short-sleeved sweatery-thing-Kohls, a couple years ago
Clogs-Hand-Me-Ups
Tooled handbag-New Life Thrift
Rhinestone hair comb-Sally's
Cloisonne set-Hand-me-Ups
Fragrance (did you guess it?) Guerlain Parure (get it? Ain't I clever?)

The gardenia gave off one last bloom for the season. We came home this evening and it really did fill the warm, still air. if only I could find a gardenia perfume that smelled like that. Inspired by Sue, I'm going to try and get more photos of my garden in the dark. Not that my garden looks anything like her backyard paradise.

The next time we get a super-moon/eclipse I'll be quite elderly. Danny said he'll come break his Papa and Mama out of the old people's home to view it again. I'm gonna hold him to that promise.

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

We're halfway through watching Twin Peaks. Yeah, I don't know why either, but I did enjoy it when it ran originally, so it seemed like a good time to revisit the series before the new ones are made. I can't binge-watch it in hours long sessions, which I think is for the best. I am finding it much funnier than I did years ago, but maybe that's just me being old(er).

Anyhoo, that seemed like as good a reason to drag out one of my (several) owl pendants. For someone that isn't particularly fond of raptors I seem to have an abundance of accessories bearing their feathered images. *Shrug*.  This one puzzles me, and I can't figure out if it is new or old. The chain is super-long, and I had to loop it around twice to be wearable, which makes me think, "old." On the other hand, there's something that's trying too hard at looking retro. Whatever the age, it is a fun necklace to perk-up an otherwise boring suit. know what else perks-up a boring suit? Boots, that's what.

 See? Perked that shit right up, didn't it? Boots, the boring suit's best friend.

I couldn't believe my luck finding this lightweight, wool suit at the Council Bluffs Goodwill last week. Old Hong Kong pieces are getting scarce, and they aren't always in very nice condition. This suit looked unworn (and the pockets were still stitched together). This time of year, lightweight wool is a welcome addition to a Nebraskan's wardrobe. Grey isn't my best colour, and I tried every possible colour combination with it from white (too twee) to claret (too collegiate). I went with black as I was in a hurry and didn't feel up searching for my camel polo neck, and in the end, I think it worked. At least I finally found an occasion to wear this lurex top I've been hanging onto for a couple decades.

 I like a bit of sparkle around my neck. Sure, I'd prefer a diamond necklace, but the polo neck works too.

 Outfit Particulars:

Grey British Crown Colony Hong Kong wool suit-Goodwill
Jones New York polo neck-Jordan Marsh (RIP) when I worked there (Shoppers World, Framingham in the old round building!)
Vintage earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Brooch-Goodwill
Necklace-Goodwill
Boots-Hand-Me-Ups
1970's Shoulder bag-Goodwill
Fragrance-Dahlia Noir

 The brooch has a finding on the back to convert it to a necklace. That's a useful addition, and something I've had added to large brooches over the years. A good jeweler can do the work while you wait, and it isn't expensive.

What do YOU wear with grey? Any thoughts? Is simplicity best when it comes to "boring" but practical clothes, or do you go nuts with bright colours and funky accessories? Do tell!

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Jardins de Bagatelle

Oh, Jardins de Bagatelle, why do you torture me so? I know I'm missing your jasmine notes, but the rest of your composition is so lovely-why must you do this to me?

Every time, without fail. I don't understand it. There's nothing in your listed notes that would indicate hours of itchy, runny eyes, scratching in my throat, under my chin, nose like a running tap. I'd chalk it up to seasonal allergies, making excuses when I knew the result would be the same in December. I love this perfume so much, but it ain't worth taking antihistamines just to tolerate it.

Aldehydes, gardenia, and tuberose dominate Jardins de Bagatelle in the most beautiful way. The fragrance opens big with all those aldehydes, and then goes sweet with the tuberose in a way that is nothing short of magic. Whatever it is in JdB that sets off my allergies isn't in the opening-it takes a while to get down to the allergic onslaught. Yes, the bergamot is there as well (it is a rare Guerlain composition from the 20th century where it does not make an appearance) but it is hardly noticeable against that floral backdrop. In a moment the violet, rose, and orange blossom come through and the whole garden bottle is alive. Few perfumes bring me as much intense enjoyment as the first ten minutes of Jardins de Bagatelle. I am thankful for it. What follows is anything but pleasant.

I have a vintage bottle from the 80's, and it does seem different to me. There's oakmoss in it, though it is not listed in the notes for the modern formulation. There's orchid, which I don't think I could identify as a single note, novel as its use is in a composition such as Jardins de Bagatelle. What is it that's making me suffer so? I have no idea, but much as I love it, I'm afraid my days of wearing JdB are coming to an end-no perfume is worth the itching eyes this one induces. It is worse than being around cats (I'm severely allergic to cats).*

People describe Jardins de Bagatelle as a typical 80's floral, but I really must disagree. Sure, there's quite a bit in there but it is more than a vat filled with cut flowers competing for dominance. I remember the 80's, and there were some terrific floral fragrances, but there was/is only one Jardins de Bagatelle. That said, I wasn't crazy about it in the 80's as it felt a bit too complicated for me. White florals weren't my thing, and they never really did become my thing-but Jardins de Bagatelle is different.

I know it is an unpopular opinion (believe me, I'm full of them) but I like the bottle's squared off shape, fiddly cap and all. Years ago I had a small bottle of the JdB bath oil that I wore as a concentrated perfume, and though the bottle was slightly different, it too had a top that threatened to spill the whole thing at each application. Guerlain could do better on bottle stoppers (we won't discuss the sheer terror I experience each time I remove the stopper from my bottle of Guet Apens). Beautiful, yes, but not for the arthritic. Still, I like the overall design because it seems a contrast to the floral juice inside. I should note that the edp can also be found in a bee bottle, and hell, who's going to find fault with that?

Notes according to Fragrantica:

Aldehydes, violet, jasmine, bergamot, lemon, magnolia, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, orange blossom, gardenia, orchid, tuberose, rose, narcissus, vetiver, musk, patchouli, cedar, and neroli.

Notes according to Goody:
Aldehydes, tuberose, oakmoss, vetiver, bergamot. I get woody, and white, and mostly tuberose. My brain gives up after the tuberose.

I'll be giving JdB a rest for a bit, and hopefully whatever it is that's making me so allergic will go away in time (unlikely, but still). This is a beautiful floral fragrance, suitable for an office and nearly any environment except perhaps the allergist's office.  I wish I could pin down what it is making me so allergic, but until that happens, or I get better management of my allergies, I'll be saying goodbye to Jardins de Bagatelle.

*I really like cats too, but I have enough sense to stay away from them.

Nailing the Trends With Vintage

 I knew the 70's look would come back eventually-and I was ready for it! Goodness I love a good midi-length wrap dress. In the 70's, I would have worn this with tall, tight boots but wanting to give it all a somewhat modern look I dug out a pair of ankle height ones instead. I would have been smoking back then too, so I did the next best thing (because who can afford six dollars a packet for cigarettes?!) and wore Bandit in all its glorious tobacco notes. Don't smoke kids, it'll give you wrinkles. Get some stinky perfume instead.

The jacket is really a dress that I don't care for. As a jacket, I find it more flattering and versatile. Shirt dresses are hard to wear when you have big boobs.

 I bought this cuff bracelet today at Goodwill. I don't think the turquoise is real, but the bracelet is stamped silver. Not bad for $3.99.

I had an uncle that wore a cuff much like this one. He's been gone more than 30 years, but I was happy to buy a piece of jewelry that reminds me of him. I doubt I'll start wearing cowboy boots with formal attire, but I guess it could happen. Never say never.

Danny built me a couple bookcases for some of my handbag collection. I took that as a reason to buy more handbags, I mean what will all the extra space now.
He ever-so-gently tapped his thumb with the hammer (no blood or bruises) but made dramatic faces anyway.

Really, he's fine. Anyway, now that he has demonstrated a skill for such tasks I think we should let him loose making bookcases for our ever-expanding book collection. Who knew he was so talented?


Outfit Particulars:

Wrap dress-Can't remember (had it for years)
Dress/jacket-Goodwill
Boots-K Mart
Carpet bag-Goodwill
Tights-Walgreens
Copper earrings-K Mart
Bracelet-garage sale
Flower in glass pendant-Shop Ko
Fragrance-Bandit

As I was re-arranging my handbags in their new home I was surprised how many I have accumulated. I like a nice clutch evening bag, but do I need 25 of them?! I could outfit an entire class' prom. At a certain point, a black silk clutch is a black silk clutch no matter how nice the rhinestone hardware is. It just seems a shame leaving them when it is often only a matter of pocket change. Unless my social life gets a lot more interesting, I think it is time to pass some of these along to people that might have use for an evening bag-there's only so many cosmetic bags/sewing kit holders/pencil cases you can re-purpose them into. In the process of getting set in the bookcases, I also found a number of bags I'd forgotten I own as they were high up on a shelf. It will be much nicer having my bags easily available without the threat of them tumbling down on my head each time I open the cupboard door.

The weekend thrifts also provided me with two long, vintage coats. One is a cashmere camel shawl collar type, the other a tweedy/green and black. I'd place them late 50's/early 60's. I've had great luck washing wool coats gently in the tub, then hanging them dry. I guess I know what I'll be doing today. The coats were only ten bucks, so I'm not about to spend upwards of thirty having them cleaned. In most cases I do a better job than the cleaners anyway.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Rock On, Maaaaan

It was, "Embarrass Your Kids Day" at the library. We're thinking this photo should be our Christmas card this year. Don't worry, we're not the worst parents in the world-we let the kid play the Centipede arcade game at Broncos for an hour and a half this afternoon.

The nice thing about Saturdays in Nebraska during football season is that most places are abandoned when the game is on. That leaves a leisurely afternoon to enjoy the autumnal weather free of the crowds that would otherwise be in your way. I don't like football, but I love football Saturdays! I tried to find an outfit that would reflect the 80's as we were going to play a game that reached its height of popularity circa 1981. This Richard Warren cropped jacket ticks all the 80's boxes. Short, huge shoulder pads, red and black, large hounds-tooth print-the reason I purchased the jacket for my collection was how well it represents the era. As a vintage collector, I like unusual pieces, but my space is limited and I try to buy clothes that are good examples of a style/era. Is this my favourite jacket to wear? Absolutely not (I think it borders on hideous) but it is representative.

 Throw on some big earrings and rings...

...and short boots...

...and that pretty much completes the look. 

Outfit Particulars:

1980's Richard Warren jacket-Goodwill

Skirt-Sears (about 10 years ago)

Boots-K Mart

Tights-Shop-Ko

1980's "Soft Elegance" pussy-bow blouse (great name)-Goodwill

Bangles-Goodwill

Earrings-K Mart

Rings-All over

Rhinestone monogram pins-Hobby Lobby

Vintage 60's handbag-a thrift store in Massachusetts decades ago

Fragrance-Cabochard (vintage)

Lippy-Loreal British Red

 I confess to playing a few games of Centipede when Danny was taking breaks. I've still got it! Even at my age there's still a bit of giddy excitement at entering your initials in the game for your high score. I majored in Centipede at University. I had a minor in Pinball. What I wasn't counting on was a migraine-guess my old eyes ain't what they used to be, and tri-focals are hell for playing video games. Next time, I'll try to limit my time, "shooting worms."

Watch out for those spiders!

...and rock on, maaaaan.

Mono-Shirt

I switched out the seasonal clothes yesterday. I'll spend the rest of the week hoping the wrinkles fall out without the intervention of an iron (I despise ironing). These culottes weren't going to cooperate, so I gave them a haphazard press, and figured no one would notice in a downpour. We snapped these photos between storms. It was a strange morning with gale-force winds, large shelf-like dark clouds, and then the rain. For a moment, the sky looked like something out of an alien invasion science fiction movie. Fortunately, it was more cold rain than War of the Worlds. 

The honeycake was enjoyed by all, particularly Blondin the squirrel. We still have half a cake, but it keeps well in the fridge. 

"Mono-Shirt"

For the last six months, my husband has worn the same shirt to work, every day. He bought a week's worth of identical shirts so he wouldn't need to fiddle around with matching clothes. I don't think any of his co-workers have noticed! Danny wanted to get in on the Mono-Shirt trend, so we bought him one too. Predictably, I managed to get the wrong shirts in the wrong closets, and wasn't it a laugh for Mr. ETB trying to get his arm in Danny's small shirt! Reminds me of the time my dad wore my Girl Scout socks to work having got dressed in the dark. How he stretched them over his feet, I'll never know, but he did need to replace them after challenging the elastic beyond its limits. 

I prefer a bit of variety in my wardrobe, though I suppose a black polo neck is about as close to Mono-Shirt as it gets. 

Outfit Particulars:

Polo Neck-Gordman's

80's Culottes-Goodwill (I have the same pair in two colourways. How's that for luck?)

Boots-Hand-Me-Ups

Vintage needlepoint bag-gift

Square bangles-K Mart

Round bangles-all over

Clamper bracelet-can't remember, maybe Target?

Earrings-K Mart

Fragrance-Burberry Woman (the old stuff from the 90's)

I hope everyone has a great weekend. 

Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving 2015 Edition

Anyone that's been reading this blog for any length of time knows I'm a fan of the Ball Blue Book, with several different editions in my possession. Techniques may change with the years, and better understanding of food safety, but the recipes published within the pages are reliable. You don't go to the Blue Book for the exotic, you go there for straightforward recipes that produce predictable results.

Many a person new to preserving has found reassurance in the Blue Book. Easy-to-read diagrams, stern warnings about food safety, lists of materials required to complete the job-that's the Blue Book's claim to fame. Will the recipes be something so new and different no one else will be giving them at Christmas? No, but whatever you give at Christmas will be unlikely to poison the family if you followed the instructions. Over time, new recipes are added (I remember my excitement at discovering the roasted red pepper spread) and in recent years the editors have included recipes that use the finished, preserved product. The newest edition being reviewed here has taken that idea a step ahead giving suggested uses. That's a smart addition, as it is easy enough to find use for a jar of pear mincemeat, but nine pints might present issues after Christmas has come and gone. Anyone that's ever made Victoria Rhubarb Sauce will know what I mean when I say, "You can't give the stuff away." If you've gone to the trouble of preserving it, you'll want to find some ways to make use of it as well.

Immediately, upon flipping open the new Blue Book I was impressed with the quality of the paper. That might sound like a silly thing, but canning books take a beating on the counter top as you work, exposed to all manner of spills, splatters, drips and steam. The pages are heavy, and coated with a glossy material that I would guess resists sticking together better than the older editions. The binding is done in such a way that the book can be opened without it flipping over to another page, but without putting too much stress on the spine. Again, for a paper-bound volume that gets a good amount of use under harsh conditions, that's an advantage worth pointing out.

Preserving goes in and out of popularity, and the new Blue Book takes that into account, with step-by-step instructions for people that might not have grown up in a household where canning was an activity. The new Blue Book has switched from drawn illustrations of the gelling-point, to colour photos showing exactly what the jam will look like sheeting from a spoon. It is true that some things are better expressed in drawings than photos, but this is not one of them. The person responsible for the decision to add photos should be given a prize-a jar of jam or something, as the photos were long overdue.

I noticed that the new Blue Book also makes a change with respect to altitude. Previously, it was standard advice to add 1 minute for every 1,000 ft above sea level to the processing time. The new recommendation does a flat five minutes for 1,000-3,000 ft (and so on, as the elevation increases) which leaves less to chance.  I also like the addition of a reminder with each recipe that the rim of the jar must be wiped before adjusting the lids, and that there should be a 5 minute cool-down still in the canner before removing the jars. That advice while basic, is important and was missing from previous editions that assumed mentioning it once at the beginning was sufficient. The new Blue Book assumes that not everyone reads the introduction thoroughly before leaping in (you should, but "people being people" I'm glad to see someone had the sense to repeat the information with each recipe).

Preserving isn't limited to canning, and the new Blue Book has expanded sections of dehydrating and freezing. If you've taken the time to blanch and freeze your produce, the Blue Book will furnish you with good advice for making sure it will be in tip-top condition when you go to use it. The recipes for freezer jam are also interesting, and useful for people that might enjoy a homemade jam but are wary of the work involved in water bath canning. If you enjoy lemon curd, there's an excellent recipe for a freezer-safe variety. I've successfully made that one (it is delicious) and can attest to how well it keeps in the freezer. I like to think if I have frozen cake layers and curd, I'm ready for any sort of dessert-based emergency. Don't laugh, cake emergencies happen!

My only complaint with the new Blue Book is with the overall tone of the text. I don't need cliches like, "tempt your tastebuds" or worse, "Yummy" in my Blue Book. There's something borrowed from the content-farm-food blog posts in the language and it is off-putting. The recipe tip that mentioned bratwurst and yoghurt was enough to make me slam the book shut, take a deep breath, and accept that preserving is reaching a new generation, and that I've probably already outlived my usefulness in the world generally speaking. You like yoghurt on your brats? OK, eat what you like.  There's still plenty of classic recipes in the Blue Book to keep us old timers happy...but please, stop with the food-blog talk. At least I haven't run across anything, "Kissed" with salt, or caramel or yoghurt (ewwww).

If I could offer a suggestion for future editions of the Blue Book, I would like to see recipes for smaller batches. Today's home canner isn't necessarily putting-up the year's harvest from the kitchen garden, and might be uncomfortable with several quarts worth of something. A few pints of pickled pears make more sense when you are buying the pears at the grocer.

Overall, I'm pleased with the new Blue Book, and the better photographs and instructions. Some of the new recipes sound intriguing (Apricot-Chipotle Sauce) and some of them sound er...interesting (Zucchini in Pineapple Juice?!). I watched my ten year old son excitedly flip the pages plotting next year's State Fair entries, and studying the new sections with interest. I'm not being compensated in any way by Ball or Jarden Brands for this review. I bought the Blue Book with my own money, and I consider it money well spent. There's something in there for the beginner as well as the seasoned preserver. There are many preserving books on the market with beautiful photos and fancy recipes. I've discarded more than a few when I noticed how they were more focused on pictures than food safety, and the recipes sounded to my experienced self like failures waiting to happen. Coffee table books have their place (on the coffee table, generally) but in the kitchen, in the throes of preserving, tables and counters piled high with produce, you want solid advice and tested recipes. The blue Book delivers both.

Hip-Hugger Hell

Why do I subject myself to trousers?

 I spent most of today hiking-up my jeans as they settled uncomfortably below the top of my undies. How the hell do people wear these things?! The second I'd go to sit down, I could feel them slipping lower and lower. I'm too old for this nonsense, so away they go. Life's too short to spend it with your ass crack showing. 

This evening I watched The Poseidon Adventure for the first time in forty years. Funny, but I didn't think it was that terrible a movie until I saw it again tonight. It was dreadful. A good cast can only do so much with a script like that. Anyway, we've now watched, Airport '75, The Towering Inferno, and The Poseidon Adventure which means all we have left to our 1970's disaster movie series is Earthquake. Then, we can move on to other action movies of the era like, Skyjacked, and Two Minute Warning. 

Danny requires the captions on to watch a movie comfortably, and I have to say it is an entirely different experience watching something captioned. Sometimes, the captions are waaaay off (and hilarious) but most of the time it just lets you experience just how terrible the writing is on most television shows and movies. Where I could otherwise get lost in a cheesy disaster flick, the captions prevent me from watching without noting the awful writing. I don't get with foreign language films, so perhaps there's something about reading and listening to your native tongue that alters the experience . I guess I could try watching with French captions as an experiment. 

Outfit Particulars:

Skinny jeans (on a fat lady) K Mart

Black tunic-Dots in Revere, MA about 15 years ago

Blouse-Marshalls-a couple years ago

Vintage Sydney California handbag-New Life Thrift

Ruff Hewn clogs-Dillards, years ago

Earrings-K Mart

Metal bangles-K mart

Fragrance-Rive Gauche

The Halloween shops are opening across town. I don't think this one is scary at all-he reminds me of Marty Feldman. 

"Bring me a shrubbery...but nothing too nice..."

This one is scary. He has a motion sensor too-wouldn't that be fun in the front yard?

"Ah yes, I must retire to Olympus to give it further consideration."

"Hey trousers, here's what I think of 'ya."

Outfit Particulars:

Trousers-Target about 15 years ago

1970's men's shirt-Goodwill

Wooden beaded bag with beaded fringe-Goodwill

Hybrid coyboy boots/clogs-Hand-Me-Ups

1970's polyester Russ Togs jacket-Thrift World

Hoope earrings-K mart

Fragrance-Burberry for Women (original from mid-90's)

The last of the green tomatoes were harvested today, and in their place I sowed Seven Top turnip greens (they only grow the greens) and some assorted lettuces. The pattypan are mostly done, but I feel sorry for the bees, so I'm leaving the vines with flowers a bit longer. Spinach will replace the squash at some point next week. Now I have to get started on the yearly batch of green tomato chutney, and a batch of mincemeat. I'll wait until the weekend when we attend the apple festival and trip to the orchard as I will need apples for both recipes. Our weather's been beautiful, but experience tells me it won't last.

I spotted this frog popping his head out of the algae-covered pond at Heron Haven. I'll bet he knows the weather's changing.

 This micro-chipped Monarch butterfly knows it as well.

 Soon the shallow water will be covered with ice instead of algae.

The sunflowers are ready to quit, but still turn to face the sun. 

I'm going to make a point of getting to Heron Haven more often, as we live a ten minute drive from there. It will be interesting to watch it change through the seasons, and I( hope to have photos to post here.