It only looks like I'm judging you, I promise I'm not.

Hello again from Omaha. We had another sunny day so I grabbed the kid, his camera, and bird guide and headed over to Chalco Hills NRD (Natural Resources District) to take exercise and see some of the birds migrating through the area.

 A very determined dandelion. After all the freezes and snow it always amazes me to see something flowering, even if it is a common weed.

I love this time of year when the prairie grasses dry out to a wheat-like hue and the sky looks almost artificially blue. My phone camera really doesn't capture just how striking it is. If I were to make a Nebraska postcard, this would be the sort of view I'd put on it to accurately depict the eastern part of the state.

The Fuzzy-Headed Twitcher had a good day. To me, they're all either, ducks or geese but to someone that can tell the difference, it was a wide variety of waterfowl on the lake. Goldeneye sounds like a Bond movie to me😀.

Outfit Particulars:
Skirt-a store in Cambridge Mass at least 25 years ago (has a matching top)
Silk poloneck-Goodwill
Vintage 70s corduroy jacket-Goodwill
Vintage scarf-New Life Thrift
Key brooch-Goodwill
Bracelets-Goodwill and yard sale
Earrings- K Mart about 10 years ago
Boots-Goodwill
Vintage mesh handbag with lucite handle-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Burberry Classic (Mr. ETB generously bought me a gigantic bottle at Marshall's and I have fallen in love with it again. It has been reformulated a bit, but that peach/sandalwood/moss mix is still lovely).

 We've spent a fair amount of time out at the NRD this month. That day turned unexpectedly cold so Danny loaned me his denim jacket. He's a gentleman.

These pictures were taken on election day after we voted. I still have the "I Voted" sticker on my vintage suit. I have had this little 60's suit since the early 80s, but I never get tired of it. When I don't know what to wear, it seems to be the right answer for all but the most formal occasions. The lining is showing some age, and I really ought to replace it as there's no reason this suit can't go another fifty years. It is hard to imagine a suit made today lasting that long with as much wear as this has had. I know I sound like an old lady (I AM an old lady) banging on about quality, but it is so true.

These photos weren't taken at the NRD, but instead behind our home. Blazingly sunny autumn days are lovely, but it does pose a challenge to the not very good camera on my cheap phone. We ducked into the shade for a few quick snaps.

 I wasn't about to miss out on photos of both a purple leather skirt, AND a zebra print coat because of a bit of sun.

I wouldn't have dressed like this in the 80s as I was already working and most of my clothes were on the boring side. I didn't go out much because I was working...and going to university at night. By the last year it reversed and I was working nights and doing classes during the day. I dressed a bit better then, but still nothing like this. That's the beauty of thrifting and vintage-it is never too late to try something out. I don't think I could have bought a leather skirt for $5.00 in the 80s.

Outfit Particulars:
vintage leather skirt-Hand-Me-Ups
Faux fur coat-Goodwill
Distressed-look (more like spraypaint) boots-K Mart
Barbie doll carry-all turned purse-Goodwill
Fragrance-Green Water

 This outfit almost didn't happen. I'd noticed the vintage 70s skirt at Hand-Me-Ups for a few months but thought it wasn't quite worth the $10.00 price tag they had on it. Eventually it went on sale, and I bought it wondering what on earth I would wear with a purple and green skirt. As luck would have it, I'd just washed the rarely-worn cardigan and inspiration struck in the laundry room! I love when that happens.

Outfit Particulars:

70s skirt-Hand-Me-Ups

Black sweater-K Mart

Cardigan-Goodwill

Belt-Hand-Me-Ups

Necklace-Hand-Me-Ups

Brooch-Gift from an Instagram friend

Vintage charm bracelet-Goodwill

Boots-K Mart

Earrings-New Life Thrift

40s handbag-Thrift World

Fragrance-Samsara (I love it in the cooler weather)

 Yes, the cake is a little lopsided but I don't think anyone noticed. Those are candied violets from the garden. The cake is the classic fudge cake in the 1950 edition of the Betty Crocker cookbook. It claims that "Boys from eight to eighty go for this cake" and at our home the boys from almost fourteen to fifty-seven thought it was swell, I didn't think it was anything special. I did however like the chocolate sour cream frosting I improvised. It was a nice change from buttercream.

These are a one-rise bread similar to the French-Style bread in the Beard on Bread cookbook. I tweaked it a bit by adding wholemeal flour and a bit of olive oil. It is a good, sturdy bread to serve with soup, but it goes stale quickly. We froze the second loaf and had it later in the week. Shaping bread isn't my best skill. I should have had the State Fair champion do it. 

The squirrel has been eating well. He likes almonds in the shell. At $4.99 a lb. I sort of balk at the idea of feeding the squirrel almonds, but once Danny started there was no going back. He also likes apple slices. That's one seriously health minded squirrel. I think he's eating a peanut in this photo. Not shown-squirrel throwing himself against the sliding glass door and refusing to move until he gets food. I think we know who is "Trained" here. Hint-it isn't the squirrel.

Squirrel lady?! Great, that's just great. Be sure to put that in my obituary when I go.

 A bit more faux zebra fur this time on a blue velvet blazer. The fur appears to have been added later and I found a Prom item in the pocket from the local high school. I can only hope their date wore an equally wacky zebra outfit.

 Isn't the back of the jacket incredible?! I love this so very much.

Outfit Particulars:

Sequin mini skirt-Goodwill

Jacket-Goodwill

Boots-K Mart

Brooch-Thrift World

Earrings-K Mart

Betsey Johnson handbag-Hand-Me-Ups

Staying with minis for a moment-this home-sewn 70s corduroy set was a fun find. 

 Much like the leather mini, I probably wouldn't have worn anything like this at the time-at least not this short. As a young woman, a mini sent a message I didn't want to send. In my 50's, I no longer need to worry as the only message my body is sending is, "Dried up womb closed for business." At this point it is about as far from racy as it gets, particularly when worn with those fetching, heavyweight brown tights. Who'd have thought old age would have me feeling liberated enough to wear minis? Life is strange, eh?

I absolutely would have worn the earrings and necklace though. Big earrings have been my "Look" for as long as I can remember.

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage corduroy skirt and waistcoat-Goodwill

Vintage poloneck-Goodwill

Necklace-Goodwill

Earrings-Costume shop (sold for a fortune-teller's costume)

Tights-K Mart

Boots-Goodwill

Vintage handbag-Goodwill

I will leave you with another photo where I appear to be judging you. I'm not! OK, sometimes I am, but not in any general sort of way. I don't know why I always look this way in photos. *shrug*

The scarf I'm wearing came from the Omaha Weavers and Spinners Guild annual fiber arts show last year. This year's show is tomorrow-17 November at the Westside community center from 9-4. Shop for wonderful things and support local artisans. Every year I treat my feet to alpaca socks. If you find yourself in Omaha tomorrow, I promise you won't be sorry if a pair of those socks go home with you. 

Have a great weekend everyone.