Time Flies Like an Arrow, Fruit Flies Like a Banana

 

Hello again! Since our last visit, the second sunflower has bloomed, bringing me such happiness with each glance from the kitchen window. 

The first sunflower was so large the head has drooped down into the leaves. There's going to be several pounds of seed from that alone. 

It is just over a week until the drop-off day in Grand Island for State Fair entries. Against my better judgement, I registered ten entries (all breads) in categories Dan never competed. I don't like the idea of challenging his records, though he's said he doesn't care. I received sweetly worded encouragement about, "Continuing his legacy". I'm doing all whole grain loaves, mostly rye in various forms. That's what I'm best at.  I'm not entering any pies, cakes, or sweet dough this year as I'm not physically ready for that much baking. My plan to rest a couple weeks before the event were disrupted by Mr. ETB going into isolation after a close contact at work (again) came down with Covid. He's staying in the finished basement until he tests clear of virus. That's inconvenient, particularly with Dan headed back to school next week, but not nearly as inconvenient as waking up unable to hear out of my right ear. 

I called my GP for an appointment and luckily was able to get in as they'd had a cancellation that morning. She breezed into the room, said I had earwax in both ears and the nurse would see to it in a moment. Easy enough, I thought. 

I've learned a few things since that appointment in subsequent visits to an audiologist and an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. The most important thing is probably that almost no one still uses pressurised water to flush out wax from ear canals because it comes with risks of injury, and in the best case scenario, just pushes it in further. If I had to select but one word to describe the procedure it would be, "Violent." I guess, "Barbaric" would work too, without much exaggeration. The nurse couldn't get to it, so she kept irrigating my (at that point) good ear  forcefully with water before poking around with an implement trying to extract the wax. Eventually the pain was so awful I asked her to stop, only to be scolded and informed, "I'll have to tell the doctor." Okay. I mean what was she going to do, have me stay after school and clean the blackboards? She never did get much wax from either ear, but the annoyed doctor told me to call if it doesn't get better. You've probably twigged that it didn't get better. So I called back, concerned at this point if it was sudden hearing loss, I'd be closing the window of opportunity to get it treated without permanent damage.  I left a message. Twenty four hours go by, and no call back from the office. I called again and was curtly told, "She got the message. Sometimes it can take 72 hours to get back to patients if we're busy." 

I called the hearing specialist five minutes up the street from me and had an appointment scheduled for the next day. He extracted the tiniest bit of wax from my ear after having Victoria Falls flushed through my ears the day before, and assured me that my problem wasn't ear wax. On the positive side, it isn't sudden hearing loss. On the less positive side, I have Otosclerosis , and it is getting worse. Why my hearing just shut off like that isn't completely explained by it, and the subsequent visit to an ENT specialist has everyone thinking it might be aggravated by my sinuses. I'm taking fancy, steroid nasal spray to see if it helps and I bought a Netti Pot. I did  eventually get a call back from the GP's office to tell me she'd sent a referral to an ENT. Yeah, thanks, a bit late for that. So no idea where this is going to go, but at least it isn't that bad. Most of the time I don't want to hear people anyway. 

Well, enough of that! How about a pretty summer handbag? I always forget to use this one, so now that's one wear this summer. 

This might be the first skirt I've ever purchased solely because I loved the waistband. I was worried the colours might be limiting, but I'm finding all sorts of things to wear it with. There were some very good clothes in the 80s, though that's not what typically ends up in the thrift stores. I've been lucky lately.

How stunning is this Mexican embroidered shirt?

The body of the skirt is rayon crepe. Maybe not the best choice for summer, but not terrible. I can see wearing this all year. It would be beautiful with something sparkly at the winter holidays.

I bought this dress assuming it wouldn't fit, and I'd re-work it into a skirt. To my utter delight, it did fit, and was even loose enough on top that I had to pin it shut for decency. I still haven't quite figured out what works for me on top these days. I've given up much hope of regaining more than a few pounds here and there (only to lose it again in a few weeks) and have reluctantly started buying clothes for autumn in the size I am now. I don't like setting myself up for failure, or having a wardrobe filled with things I cannot wear, so much as when I was large, I buy clothes for the body I have at the moment. If I gain weight I'll happily buy larger clothes.

Look at the back of the dress! This was home sewn, and while it doesn't match up in pattern everywhere, the all important upper back piece is perfect. And those sleeves!

The African wax print fabric is made by a Dutch company. I was curious about that, so a bit of searching turned up the explanation that most African wax print fabric is made in Holland or the UK and was a product made to export to West and Central Africa after seeing the Batik process in Indonesia. That's colonialism for you. Steal from one culture, sell it to another, make money off of it. Pretty solid article about it HERE.

Honestly, it isn't difficult to see why these fabrics are so popular-they're gorgeous. I've lost count how many I have in my collection.

This one has a matching jacket with a gigantic, Peter Pan collar. That's a bit much together, even for me.

No cosmetics that day as I was having my ears and sinuses probed! 

Had a quick visit to the Nebraska State Capitol when I was in Lincoln last week. More photos and an expanded post of that coming soon. It was a beautiful day, and the last time I'd been there, the fountain in the courtyard hadn't been renovated and installed. The care that is given this unique building is worth every cent of taxes. On the day I visited, a worker was removing glass from the original lead frames near the entrance to be re-glazed and refitted. He said it would take a couple years to do them all. In the 21 years I've been in Nebraska, I don't believe I've ever seen the capitol not undergoing some sort of renovation. Built between 1922 and 1933 it does require serious attention to upkeep. I'm happy to see it. Everything else might seem to be going to hell, but at least the Art Deco treasure on the prairie is well cared for. 

Point to the capitol, lads.

Both the jacket and dress are outside my style comfort zone, and I probably wouldn't wear them again. The dress anyway. The silk and linen jacket might get a reprieve.

There isn't anything wrong with the dress, it just isn't my style. 

70s, I would guess.

Pretty details, even if it looks a bit like a house dress to me.

On a much younger person it would be adorable. I don't typically go for adorable for fear of looking silly. I've earned the right to not be adorable. That was an awkward sentence. You get the idea though. 

These shoes are more comfortable than I expected them to be. Thrifted them in new condition. I love the dark heel that resists scuffs (my main complaint with white shoes).St. John's Bay is the JC Penny house brand these days. I wish they'd bring back their "Gaymode" line! UPDATE: after a handful of wears the shoes fell apart. Turns out the heel is made of foam and it just crumbled away. The leather uppers are cracking as well. God, we're going to die buried under all this disposable stuff. I'm sure these shoes weren't cheap new either. If I'd paid more than two dollars, I'd be angry.

Might put the shell earrings away for a bit as they remind me of the inner workings of the ear. Or rather, the inner not workings. The bracelet is copper and enamel but not obvious in the bad photo.

Same era as the previous dress, but much better suited to my taste. And age. I can imagine my mother wearing something like this, on the rare occasion she wore a dress. The original belt was missing, so I improvised.

Can you see the Bakelite button earrings?

Those are ladybirds/ladybugs going up the front of the basket bag. The lining is a cute calico print, but I neglected to get a photograph. Next time. This bag appears to be made from a kit. No signatures, labels, or clue to the maker but I appreciate their sense of whimsy. 

Finally, this vintage skirt, pinned and belted to fit because I was determined to wear this bag today, and the skirt was a good match. What can I say? I really like this bag, and summer is nearly over.

It is a race to get the summer bags worn before we have an early frost and foot of snow in September. We don't most years, but it isn't impossible. The wild swings just keep swinging.

I mean, look at this canvas beauty! I can't resist a good print.

 

 Not a thirst trap photo unless you're turned on by vintage Thermoset lucite and vintage brooches.

More neglected accessories.

And that's about it from here. I'm still taking Dan out driving and hopefully this year he'll be ready to get his license. Last year, he just wasn't ready even if he was old enough by law. He's doing much better this time around. We went ahead and got him a school parking permit but who knows? I would really like to stop planning my days around the drop off and pick up, but whatever happens, we'll just adapt. I certainly don't want him driving before he's ready or feeling pressured about it. 

Hope everyone has a great week.