I might not go for all the Pumpkin Spice stuff, but I sure do love Halloween Season attire. Let's be honest-I wear this stuff all year, but it feels more appropriate once we cross the threshold into September. I am not able to wait until October! The Halloween candy is already in the stores, but we never get more than a few Trick or Treaters. That won't stop me decorating with the items I've acquired over the years, though I don't know if I will buy any large pumpkins to carve this year. Arthritis and pumpkin carving go together like insurance and stitches and as I've already had that experience once this year, maybe the Jack-O-Lantern will have to be a pass this year. UPDATE-I bought pumpkins but won't be carving them.
Spotted this lovely little skipper on my evening walk. In a few weeks the "butterfly bushes" (Buddleia) turn pink and attract all manner of moths, butterflies, and bees. They're planted all around the college next door and the dorms, bringing together the benefits of a plant that's drought resistant and easy for humans to care for, and late blooming pollen for the insects. We haven't had many butterflies this year, but skippers and moths have been abundant.
There's still Day Lilies blooming. That's strange as they're typically done by early July. The tiniest fly is hanging out on it.
The pines are coming along as well. They smell so good after warming in the sun.
Nearly time to harvest the sunflower seeds. Can you see them? UPDATE: the seeds were harvested, dried and after portioning out some seeds for next year's garden, I soaked, brined, drained, and roasted the rest. We came away with several pounds. This is the first year I've got to the seeds before the birds and squirrels. Not to worry, they get plenty of other things to eat.
When Dan noticed he was wearing a shell suit, sitting in a squat, and eating a plate of sunflower seeds he laughed, grabbed the Ukrainian flag, and insisted I take a photo. Note the Belgian and EU flags in the background. He's still planning to go to school abroad next year, and the application process is just starting. It is an exciting time.
There's still plenty to look at in nature during the late summer. Autumn gets all the attention, understandably (who doesn't love vivid coloured leaves?) but the end of August/start of September has much to offer on a walk.
Sorry Squashbug, I don't have anything for you this year. It was on a sunflower leaf, so maybe they can eat those as well? It was strange not having a garden this year (beyond a few perennials) but I also don't miss the frantic harvesting of tomatoes before an early frost. Watch, this year it will stay warm until December!
So...
After one too many mornings trying to deal with what's left of my hair falling out, and attempting to hide it with creative combing, I did this.
It is very short. I'm pleased with it, though when the weather gets cooler I can look at a wig as I don't expect it will grow back any better. For now though, I like it.
Rugby shirt in Dan's school colours. They don't have a rugby team. If they ever start one though, I've got the kit!
Nothing here you haven't seen before, though the haircut does make it look different. I love that beaded belt.
The jacket here is new to me-my first Armani found in the wild. It is nicely made, but worth the sort of money they demand new? I guess if I had that kind of money, I'd think about it. Someone has to buy the stuff for it to end up in the thrift stores barely worn for people like me :)
People like me that will wear it with a child's tee shirt that say's. 'K, BYEEE The skirt is vintage Gitano from the 80s (maybe late 70s?)
And my well loved Valdrome bag. I almost look "normal" until you read the shirt!
But normal is definitely not the vibe I want to project.
This silk dress has a matching jacket, but felt like a bit too much for daywear, so I kept it simple and carried a macrame handbag to dress it down a bit.
Finally getting to wear all those small earrings.
We had one cool day, so I dragged out this 80s Albert Nipon wool suit for a first wear.
The light was bad-the colours are much deeper and darker.
Autumn accessories.
Considering it was the era of giant shoulders, this is a very wearable suit. The back of the jacket has two ties to adjust the waist as desired. The front of the skirt has the tiniest cigarette hole (you can tell by the shape it wasn't a moth) but I guess that makes it even more 80s. I can't believe we used to smoke on planes, in cinemas, supermarkets, etc. Don't smoke, kids.
I was surprised to see how much money Albert Nipon pieces are selling for online. I'm going to guess that's 80s nostalgia kicking in, not scarcity. His stuff was everywhere. Leslie Fay bought the company in the 80s (after Albert was sent to prison for tax evasion) and then of course Leslie Fay went bankrupt. Still, I'd wager there's enough Albert Nipon clothing in thrift stores to outfit every woman in the US at least once or twice. Nice suit though. Not as nice as the Armani, but eh, whatever.
I would have bought this shirt if it wasn't gigantic.
I did not buy this either, as they wanted $2.98 for it. It wasn't *that* funny.
Nor did I purchase this. Colon, Nebraska (pronounced like the organ) is a tiny town of a few hundred people. Seeing the opportunity for a laugh, a cancer support organisation held a fundraising bike ride there to raise money for colon cancer research. Hence, rollin to Colon.
The thrift shopping hasn't been fruitful of late. I guess when I'm not really in need of anything, and trying to give things away, I'm more selective what I bring home.
Nice mix of eras here with a modern shirt, 90s skirt, and Victorian belt and brooch. I bought the same skirt in black when I worked at Jordan Marsh in the early 90s. Little did I know I'd still be wearing them in 2022. The sides are elastic, permitting wear at a number of different sizes. I'm certain I wore this skirt whilst expecting.
Prettiest little book chain belt. Didn't ever expect to wear it as a belt, and was thinking of converting it into a necklace and bracelet set, which might still happen. For now, I have a nice belt.
Victorian opperculum shell brooch. Of all my Victorian brooches, this gets the most wear. Whenever I can't find a suitable brooch for an outfit, this will be the one I fall back on. It almost always works. Good to have a few reliable pieces like that.
Again, nothing new here, but put together in a slightly different way.
This Alfred Dunner 90s skirt is timeless, and knows no season. Generally, Alfred Dunner clothes are for older women that aren't concerned with being stylish, but every once in a while I run across an interesting piece. My inner grandmother wants to wear it with a high collared blouse, circle brooch, and a Geiger boiled wool jacket.
More Nipon! This time in an 80s silk scarf. Looks "normal" enough...
Ha! Fooled you. Yes, the dinosaur tee changes colour when you rub a hand over the sequins. I do recognise the risks of wearing this, but anyone that's brave enough to consider reaching for my chest should expect their hand slapped away.
Slowly accepting that shoes with good tread are a worthwhile investment. It pains me to give up the towering platforms, but I don't need a broken hip. Thirty Helens Agree, you can't pay too much for a good pair of shoes
Was flipping through an old cookery magazine from 1980 and came across this ad. They really oversold the idea that natural gas was going to be cheap. I can remember my parents building their house in 1978 and going with all gas appliances because they were certain it would pay off in the long run.
Children's cardigan from Target-also indestructible.
Various accessories. Pinky ring on bottom left is Jensen. Spoon ring on right is from 1933 World's Fair in Chicago and has the city slogan (I Will) on it. Earrings were purchsed when I was expecting, cameo is from the 90s and has a matching brooch, and everything else has been picked up here and there.
Finally, here's what I was wearing Friday before being absolutely flattened by a flu vaccine (I still encourage you to take the vaccine. What I got was nothing compared to what the flu would do).
I looked so nice. Little did I know what was waiting for me. I'm still in rough shape as I type on Sunday. Given my already fragile state it isn't surprising, but wow, I really didn't expect it. It is of course possible something else got me (I had a few mosquito bites recently so it is possible I have a mild case of West Nile, though I haven't gone for a test as there's not much can be done other than wait it out). I still wear a mask everywhere and use hand sanitiser, but I guess nothing is impossible. No fever though, so it probably was the jab. I have to go for a covid updated jab next week, which I will still do, but am going to block out some time for staying home in bed if needed.
Anyway, silk top and skirt were thrifted for a couple bucks, as was the de la Renta scarf which just works so perfectly here. I went with a pink silk/linen blend jacket because I love it and felt like I didn't wear it much this summer. The vintage handbag was also thrifted.
Doesn't that scarf look like it was made for the set?
Time for butterflies.
The metal is a bit stripped. I need to purchase some gold nail varnish and give it a touch-up. The bag is otherwise in good condition.
Just a few days left-if you haven't entered, please do! I love giving stuff away.
All this can be yours! Leave a comment by 15 September 2022 at Midnight CST (US). Contest is open to everyone around the world, but I can't guarantee how long it will take to get there. If you've won before, let someone else have a chance at the contest. One entry per person, please.
I was hoping for a ribbon-any ribbon really. I never expected a Best of Division rosette for my Limpa bread. All told I had four blue ribbons, five red (2nd place) and one bread that didn't place (hey, no one's perfect). I won't know if I won the sweepstakes prize for the most winning entries until after the fair as there are still live on stage events to be judges. These carry some real prize money, so I'm happy I will be able to recoup some of the cost of ingredients. Would I do it again? Nope. But I'm glad I participated this once. Dan was so excited for me-a complete role reversal of when I would support his State Fair efforts. He was able to spend some time visiting with people he knew at the fair (he's grown a bit since he was 10) and had to quickly lift his mask so the volunteers could admire his beard. It was a very nice way to spend a day, even if it rained like mad.Pointing to one of my winning entries.
I wore my shirt from Shifty Thrifting hoping for a photo with a head or two of cattle, but the rain was so intense I didn't want to go to the other side of the fairgrounds just for a photo op.
I was glad to have a plastic rain bonnet in my handbag as the rain would have destroyed my vintage hat. Dan is holding the leftovers from his lunch-a giant, barbecued turkey leg. You don't go to the fair to eat things you can have at home. I had planned to get ice cream but it was so cold and wet I opted for a hot cup of coffee in town later. Even with the rain, we're still very much in a drought. Today the temperatures were back up in the 90s.
What's a fair without exhibits? Here's some winners from the Open Class entries
Prize winning pumpkins...
Is it still a cornucopia in a basket? I say it is.
Cucurbits...
Hmmm. Moving along...
Prize winning sorghum...
art...
Primary school educational displays...
Art from recycled materials...
Student poetry. Spelling is hard kid, you have my compassion.
Leggo displays (a Runza is cabbage and ground beef encased in white bread. Sort of like a Czech calzone).
And of course the Kool Aid man. Hastings, Nebraska is the birthplace of Kool Aid and locals will be quick to let you know it wasn't Kool Aid used in the Jonestown massacre, but Flavor-aid. I mean, I feel for them. but after 40 some odd years, good luck re-branding Kool Aid.
Penmanship contest for school children.
Paper cutting...
Figures from history...
Science Fair...
Knit baby blanket with built-in horse plush. How adorable is that?!
Quilting...
Felting...
A knitted Nativity
Tatted earrings
Dorothy Lynch salad dressing is another local product. The Fair's theme this year was, "Nothing More Nebraskan" which explains all the Runzas, etc.
What's more Nebraskan than a covered wagon? Maybe hunting. Here's Dan trying his hand at the shooting gallery. He managed to hit one target. It was just as dismal at the archery display. That's OK, he's not really interested in hunting. It all works out though because most hunters don't like to cook, so we end up getting the freezer stocked with venison during the season by friends looking to offload deer. Dan needs to make friends with some duck hunters.
Most years I give away a recipe book from the previous year from the open class winners, but last year was sort of a bust because of the pandemic. Instead, I will be giving away a Nebraska State Fair tea towel and oven mitt. Because I'm inviting people from Tumblr to come here and enter I will pick two winners this year. I'll probably find some other stuff to include as well. So good luck.
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