She's Got the Look

 Can it be July already? Seems impossible. June was a blur of activity, none of it much fun, but nonetheless necessary. I'm a rather organised person but by the time the 4th of July rolled around, I was just happy to have 4 days without anything to do. Well, I did do *something*. I discovered pre-mixed sangria in a can, and worked on consuming it😀. That went better than my adventures with cheap Rose, which I really don't recommend.

 I've been going easy on the makeup this summer, at least during the heatwave. We're keeping cool, and I went 10 days without using the oven. I like the forced creativity of cooking in a heatwave. We had blini with tinned fish and pickles, salads, ratatouille, that sort of thing. The garden has been growing like mad, so we have a steady supply of chard, lettuce, basil, and edible flowers like nasturtiums. I love being able to pull together a meal from the tiny spot in front of the house. We have tomatoes, but they are still green.

Outfit Particulars:
Tee-shirt-Target
Trousers-Hand-Me-Ups
Belt-Goodwill
Vintage sportcoat-Goodwill

Blondin, what are YOU doing inMarysville Kansas?

I hadn't planned to visit Kansas that day, but I was already in Beatrice, Nebraska and it was such a short drive over. When I heard about the black squirrels, I had to go. You know how I feel about squirrels!

Long story short-some squirrels were let loose by a travelling circus and they became established in the town. The squirrels have protected status in Marysville.

The city park was full of them scampering about, but were hard to photograph. 

 The structure below is what Midwesterners call a "Sod house.": Stop snickering. Sod as in turf. The early pioneers didn't have much wood on the prairies to build with, so they used the turf. Because the soil here is basically heavy clay, it does a good job of insulating in winter and staying cool in summer.

 Visitors can peer inside, but it is fenced off.

Not terribly spacious but after being in a covered waggon, it probably seemed palatial.

The old train depot is in good condition, but it was closed when I visited.

 And of course, there was a train.

So that was a nice side-visit to Kansas. Back in Nebraska, there were things to see as well...

 The Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, Nebraska was my destination for the day (before I was side-tracked by the promise of exotic squirrels). That's a one-room schoolhouse behind me...let's have a look inside.

 When we moved to Nebraska there were still a few of these schools in use, but I think they are all gone now. In small communities it made sense to teach a number of grades in one place if there were only a few students. Today, they bus the children to larger schools.

Danny would be in serious trouble if he wore a cap into a classroom! He barely fit in that desk.

 Isn't it beautiful? I know our weather can be harsh, but we get to live in such a gorgeous place. Except for the litter on the side of the road. I really wish people wouldn't do that.

I called in to Et Cetera thrift shop in Seward on the trip home, because it never fails to have something great on offer. Here's the loot from the visit. The necklace with the emerald coloured stones will look beautiful with a black sweater this winter.

Not to dwell on it, but I REALLY wasn't kidding about staying away from cheap, pink, wine! Strangely though, I like this photo of myself with the smudged mascara and "The Look" I've been told I have more often than not. Some people have Resting Bitch Face. I have this vaguely embarrassed face that veers between incredulous and bored. Or so I've been told. Anyway, it just gets worse with alcohol. 

Back to the vintage clothing. Ignore the fallen hem (Why don't I notice these things before photos?) but take a look at this fun, rayon blend vintage Hawaiian dress. It has an Empire waist, which typically doesn't work for me, but in this case is just perfect. There's a zip up the back, and string ties on the shoulders giving it a perfect fit. As green is my favourite colour, I couldn't pass it up. The straw shoes and bag are also true vintage. 

I pinned the top closed with a flower brooch. It didn't need it really, but better safe than sorry. 

I wore a few bakelite and lucite bangles interspersed with wooden and bamboo ones. 

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage Hawaiian dress-Goodwill

Bangles and rings-all over

Vintage shoes-Goodwill (I think?)

Vintage straw bag-Antique mall

Shell earrings-World Market about 12 years ago

While I wasn't using the oven, I got creative with sweets. These are called Haystacks and are butterscotch baking chips melted with peanut butter and mixed with chow mien noodles. I put the candy eyes on it because it reminded me of the Philly Flyers mascot, Gritty

I do love the Gritty Memes. Anyway, haystacks are delicious even if you skip the Gritty eyes. 

 How about one more vintage Hawaiian dress? Yes?

 The "Look" again. Sorry!

 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Hawaiian dress-Hand-Me-Ups
Earrings-Target
Vintage bangle-Goodwill
Hair flower-Tiff and Tam
Vintage handbag-Etsy
Shoes-K Mart

Does this dress look familiar? I have the long sleeved version in the same fabric.

What can I say? When I find something I like, I stick with it.

 The look makes another appearance.

Outfit Particulars:

silk dress-Goodwill

Handbag-Goodwill

Vintage stretch bracelet-Goodwill

Vintage charm bracelet-Goodwill

On the perfume front, I've been enjoying some vintage Cardin.

This is such a gorgeous perfume. Leather and oakmoss? Yes, please! The green notes are beautiful, and I barely notice the Hyacinth (not my favourite note). 

I really wanted to love this one, but it is just too sweet for me. I might try it again in the winter, but in a Nebraska summer, vanilla and fig leaf (which is very vanilla to my nose) are simply too much. 

Green water, however is perfection in a heatwave. Mint, basil, ginger...carrot? It shouldn't work, but it does. The oakmoss is synthetic, but nice. If I didn't know it, I wouldn't notice. I have no idea what the original Green Water was like, but this one is beautiful. 

 I'll leave you with one more summery outfit.

 Yellow and white is such a fresh colour combination. Like sorbet and vanilla.

 Outfit Particulars:
Top-Shop-Ko about 10 years ago
Flower-Tiff and Tam
Skirt-Thrift World
Shoes-Goodwill
handbag-Hand-Me-Ups
Earrings-Goodwill

I finally gave in and ordered a new phone. It will be interesting to see if it takes better photos. I didn't want one, but our pay-as-you-go provider stopped supporting the model I had. Anyway, something new to learn. I guess that's good.

This weekend is the Wayne Chicken Show. It is the first year Danny has competed in the adult competition. He's expecting to get 2nd place because the man who wins 1st has been doing it for years and Danny wouldn't actually want to beat him. Being second to a legend is just perfect as far as we're concerned. Anyway, it will be in the 90s and humid-perfect for sitting around outside for hours. I'm bringing a cooler with cold drinks.

Cock a doodle do! See you later!