Sunday, November 20, 2022

Kicked in the Teeth Again

 UPDATE: The bastard has been extracted. They even let me keep it. Maybe I'll hang it on the Christmas tree

Some of that's gauze, not entirely swelling. Came out in pieces. Hip hip hooray. Thanks for everyone's well wishes. The next few days will be rough, but hopefully now that it is out my sinuses and hearing will sort out. Never underestimate the power of a root canaled molar gone wrong. The surgeon was interesting-he gave me "Country Veterinarian" vibes, but he did the job so who cares? I chose to be awake for it because I'm a control freak and want to know what they're doing! The whole thing took maybe ten minutes. 

OK, I'm off to sleep and hoping over the counter pain meds will do the trick because the stronger stuff always makes me sick. 

Thanks for everyone's well wishes.


 

 Thanks everyone for indulging my bad poetry! I always thought I was here to make people laugh, but it turns out my role is produce cringe. Who knew? Hey, that's a nice wall, think I'll just go hit my head against it until things feel right again.

Yeah, well that didn't help but it is a decidedly different experience from a migraine so there's that. Variety is good, I'm told. Shall we just leap into outfits? Good!

This dress had a broken fabric loop at the neck where three buttons fasten. It was a repair that took less than a minute. It continues to shock me how lazy people are. Honestly, the high-low hemline isn't something I like, particularly with a sheer fabric that requires a slip. It took a bit of effort working out a length that would keep it from being see-through and not be visible through the mermaid like hem. I worked it out, but I'm tempted to cut that nonsense tail off and hem the thing to a reasonable length. 

Such a good print. 

Went with cloisonné accessories.


 Better look at that hem. It doesn't really add anything. If I'd noticed it in the shop the dress would have been left there. Oh well, that's what scissors are for.

The handbag was my mother's. As far as I could tell she never used it as a handbag, and it was filled with loose photos and postcards when I took it some thirty years ago. That makes sense, thinking back. Pastels dominated my mother's wardrobe, so a blue and orange bag while nice, would have been rarely used. I tend to use the bag more in summer, though I couldn't resist a perfect match with this dress. 

Staying with blue and orange for a bit, there's this wild blazer.

Jones New York did some oddball stuff in the early 2000s that stood out from their typical office appropriate offerings. It is much shinier and silkier in person. Think I'll try wearing it over a red sweater dress next time. The piece has potential even if I'm less than thrilled with what I did here.

Skirt is Star CCC that I purchased in the early 90s. Blouse is Pendleton Country Casuals from the 80s. Belt is Oroton. Shoes are from the 80s.

 

What's cooking?

Breaded tofu cutlets with a secret ingredient-a packet of Ranch dressing. For people outside the US, Ranch is a salad dressing flavour available ready made or powdered in a packet like I used here. It is a buttermilk/dill/paprika/onion blend that's quite beloved in the Midwest.I mixed the packet in with the breadcrumbs and baked the cutlets on an oiled sheet in a hot 400 degree F oven for about 30 minutes each side. Can't remember the last time I used Ranch to dress a salad, but I use it for everything from baking bread (great in a rye bread) to seasoning popcorn. The store's own brand is just as good as the Hidden Valley original, and that's what I buy. 

A frustratingly small amount of leftover curry became a fritata. Had a canister of fried onions and used them as a topping rather than cheese.

We don't waste food.

The cauliflower curry as originally presented. 

Both the cake and election went better than expected.

More a bread than cake as it is yeast risen, the tradition goes back to the early days of the country when election day would be an occasion to see your neighbours. It is heavy with brandy which might account for some of the popularity. Mine's made with sugar substitute and wholegrain flour so the diabetic could have some. Dan said it wasn't noticeable and he happily ate it as well. Once stale, I turned what was left into a bread pudding (as I'd done with the stale barmbrack from Halloween). 

These photos are going back a couple weeks, but I'm hoping no one will mind. That tooth has decided to resist antibiotic treatment and there's a three month wait to have it pulled. I'm going to call the dentist Monday morning and see if she can lean on any oral surgeons she knows to extract it sooner. It has been a bad weekend of face swelling and head pain but strangely enough, nothing from the tooth itself. Anyway, blogging is a nice distraction. I'll just plough through with a photo heavy post.

As I type I am not dressed and am in bed beneath a mountain of blankets wearing leggings, a sweater, and a fluffy bathrobe. But when I was getting dressed? Well, here's one.
Can't really go wrong with a wool skirt and cashmere sweater.


 Some 80s pieces here with an ultrasuede jacket and a very sheer polyester dress that required a full slip beneath.


 


A velvet and embroidery brooch to match a velvet and embroidery bag. I do love when accessories match.



This is a Guess Dress from the 90s. It is a LOT of dress.


I can't help but think it would be better on a taller person.

I doubt I'm going to grow at this point, but I've kept the dress because I like the print. I could try heels, I suppose.
Copper jewelry seemed like the right choice.
More true vintage, this time from the 70s.

The culottes are a bit large. When Dan was little he would pull his trousers up and run around yelling, "Old Man Pants!" Why do old men wear their trousers so high up anyway?!
Vintage earrings were a gift from my grandmother when I was sixteen. They've lost a bit of the plating, which I should look into having re-done. I've worn them quite a lot over the years.
Stupidly expensive retail, but I thrifted them for a few dollars at Goodwill. They don't work with most of my wardrobe, but I think they did here. My first impulse with culottes is always tall boots, but my second is clogs.

Yeah, I can't read that anymore and I've forgotten the maker, but I looked them up at the time of purchase. Including it here because someone always asks. Maybe the maker's mark is familiar to those in the know.

I did not make this cardigan, but someone did, with great care and detail. I'm always a bit dismayed when I see such beautiful hand made items in a thrift store. A lot of time and love went into it.
It is a very warm cardigan paired with a cashmere sweater.


The house does get cold during the day, but if I dress warmly and move around it isn't unbearable. I feel strange running the heat just for myself, but if it gets below 63 F (17.2 C) I will run the heat for a bit. I'm not suffering from some mental issue of feeling I don't deserve heat when others are suffering (probably) but this house has central forced air heat, and it all goes up to the third floor even if I close vents. That's not much use if I'm downstairs. Anyway, once everyone is home in the evening and doing things on all three floors, or sleeping upstairs, it makes more sense to run. It isn't like I'm risking hypothermia, and it wouldn't kill me to wear a coat and hat indoors. I have no qualms about running the air conditioning for myself, but heat is wasteful? Yeah, I don't know either😀.




Layers do wonders. It is unusual for Nebraska to be this cold, this early. We're expected to get back to more reasonable temperatures soon, but I can't think of another autumn in my 21 years here when I needed cashmere sweaters and my parka. Most years, there's perhaps one or two days all season that get cold enough for the heavy gear. Oh well, I suppose it is nice to wear some otherwise neglected items (how's that for putting a positive spin on things)?


70s cardigan with a 60s Jantzen wool sweater beneath,







Another cold day.
Some very bright corduroys.
Vintage label


An old vintage scarf and bag
Cold night sleeping attire with silly poses

There's a story about how I acquired this sweater involving a boat ride to Nantucket in rough seas on a freezing March day. No, I didn't want to go. Yes, I was cold. This sweater was the first thing I bought (after a hot drink) when we arrived. That's the short version. Thirty years on I'm still slightly annoyed. Haven't been on a boat since. My old man? He sat there with a bag of popcorn and a newspaper like it was a pleasure cruise in the tropics! The ride back was just as bad, but I had a warm sweater. It wasn't a short trip either-at least a couple hours from the Cape in the days before the high-speed ferry. Somewhere I have a photo of myself wearing the sweater on Nantucket looking absolutely miserable (I was). I'll have to look for it for a future post.

Moving along...
Faux fur, velvet dress worn as a duster, double knit skirt, cashmere sweater, wool shawl, velvet boots.
That's a lot of texture.




Another coat
View of my tiny kitchen
The outfit beneath





Back to the heavy sweaters



Vintage Gitano denim skirt

School teacher chic

Too much boobage beneath the knit. Darker under layer next time!




More layers

Another heavy wool sweater





Turkey from @Bethwaltz (Thank you, Beth!)
My one and only Liberty scarf. I don't know why they're so rare in our thrift stores?

Tapestry cross-body bag. I wonder, why was the body bag was upset?

Har har har.


Very old Liz Claiborne necklace. I bought it new, never liked it that much, but there are times when it is perfect, like here and it keeps surviving culls.



Blue leather boots from the 80s. They're comfortable, and I'm so glad I bought them. I was going to pass, but then thought blue boots are somewhat difficult to find. I think they cost under ten dollars.


I bought Snoots (snakeskin boots) but they're not real snakeskin, so I guess that makes them Fakeskin. Whatever. I liked how they looked with this skirt.
I had this bag (and matching accessories) in the 80s. Mine was a draw string bucket bag. I don't make a habit of re-buying things I owned decades ago, but I loved the handbag then, and am happy to have a version of it back in my life. I suspect this is a much later piece, but I don't care.







Better look at the faux tortoise buckle on the faux ostrich belt.


My poppy for Armistice/Veterans/Remembrance Day. It is a real poppy pressed under glass. Can't remember where I picked it up, but it was long ago.  

This hat from the previous post is something I made at least fifteen years ago. It Cthulhu, one of Lovecraft's characters. Anyway, it gets some strange looks from people but occasionally someone gets it.

Oh look, a stylish crossing guard.

That's a faux fur headband, not a hat. 

And that's about it for catching up. I'm sort of dreading what's ahead to deal with as it is going to be bad no matter what. The timing couldn't be worse with the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and most people having Friday off as well. Anyway, if you're in the US I hope you have a nice holiday if you celebrate, and I hope to be back soon. 

Take care.



12 comments:

Polyester Princess said...

That first dress is gorgeous, although I'm hearing you on the high-low hemline. But how gorgeous are those cloisonné accessories!
Also loving the matching velvet and embroidery bag and brooch, the red and black outfit with the 70s cardigan with 60s Jantzen sweater, and those bright pink corduroys!
I've never ever found a Liberty scarf, by the way ...
Ouch about the tooth, I'm keeping my fingers crossed they can fit you in earlier! Sending hugs, I'll be thinking about you xxx

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

Good luck with the tooth extraction. Fingers crossed.

So many fabulous outfits and accessories. I loved the red and black outfit with the red boots; the brown maxi dress with the lovely pattern, the striped tunic over the polo neck - so 70s! The fabulous coat; the turkey brooch; the guitar earrings and the amazing bags and, oh the blue boots were such a great find! I also loved your Nantucket jumper - it looks so warm and cosy.

I've given up worrying about the heating costs; if it's cold I'm turning it on...

Have a great week!
xxx

Emily said...

Oh, that blue and orange combination is fabulous, right down to the complementary cloisonne jewelry and handbag! And that beautiful white, lacy cardigan is so nice on you. I bet there's a great story behind its creation, but we may never know who made it or how it ended up at the thrift shop.

I should've known that the knit hat was Chthulhu! I see it quite clearly when it's laid out on a flat surface. Tentacles aplenty. : )

Wearing a button-down dress as a duster is a great idea, and I do love all the sumptuous colors and textures on screen. *extends a hand outward as if to stroke the fabric*

I feel for you on the dental thing. I have been trying to get myself and my cat scheduled for various medical appointments, and it's so hard to get a desirable (i.e., near-future) date and time. Our American healthcare system is broken if we're paying so much on health insurance and out-of-pocket expenses just to be told that there's a waiting list to see the specialists we need. I hope your dentist can expedite your scheduling for you. Fingers crossed for an easy procedure and a quick recovery.




Beth Waltz said...

I admit I had to look twice to recognize the Cthulhu hat...interesting specimen, indeed!

You're blessed with coloring that glows when you wear vivid colors, especially reds, e.g., the 70s cardigan with 60s Jantsen sweater, beret and bag; the wild blazer worn with the poppy pin, and the Mick Aston/Time Team striped sweater. The more defined eye make-up is working for you, so is that matte rose lippy!

Your Nantucket whaler souvenir sweater is much nicer than the Chicago Bulls sports topper I bought in Chicago after a freezing ride across the lakefront. (It was that or something pink with a Telly Tubbie.) Had to pay an exhorbitant amount for it in the hotel giftshop and, yes, thirty years on I'm still slightly annoyed about it. Refuse to be seen wearing it, so I'm using it as a dust cover for a white faux fur in the coat closet.

Vix said...

Star of the show has to be the Guess dress, it looks fabulous on you! If you're going to going to wear a dress, go big or go home. Not sure what I like the most, the Symphony label or the actual jumper.
Sorry about the tooth problems. I've got some dental surgery scheduled for December, unlike poor you,I can't feel a thing but the X-ray shows otherwise. I hope you get an appointment sorted.
I know ranch dressing, you can buy it in bottles here, Jon's a fan. xxx

bahnwärterin said...

i´m so sorry your tooth is plaguing you! fingers crossed that an early appointment is possible......
you are not the only one who sleeps in leggings/jogpants, wooly sweaters and a hat..... :-D we do too. me minus the hat - to much hair. and for the day its woolen undies, warm trousers or thick skirts, pullovers & cardies & sheepskin vest and furry "slippers" (fake uggs). 130y. old house with only a fireplace/tiled oven. but we are fine with this because its cheaper and healthier.
off to the outfits! just awesome! especially the first and second.
and the "lot of dress" - actually it is the almost to much fabric on you that makes the look. on a taller person it would be just a dress :-D
mouthwatering food and the cake looks and sounds gorgeous!
stay warm! xxxxx

Emily said...

"Country veterinarian vibes" is the funniest thing I've read all day. And that's not a bad way for a dentist to be, because if a person is strong enough to reach in and help a cow give birth, then that person is strong enough to yank out a tooth. I'd worry if the dentist had 1800s barber vibes, because that would indicate proficiency with razors and scissors, but not a whole lot of experience with sticking hands into tight spaces. : )

It's a big relief to get it over with, isn't it? Now you can put it behind you and enjoy the holiday weekend as you heal.

Sheila said...

Eee, I hope your mouth is feeling better!

I love your mix of outfits and all the wonderful vintage things you have found and/or kept. I think that first dress is the twin (in a different pattern) to the one I wore on Tuesday! Same elastication, same mullet hem. I quite like the high-low, myself.

So, saw you were bragging about your Halston collection in a recent comment (yeah, I'd fight you for the coat, ha!) - would love to see some of it. I have a feeling I could spend hours going through your closet...Thank you for sharing so many outfits.

Ranch is also a popular flavour up here in Canada-land, especially ranch dressing and ranch-flavoured potato chips. I have never seen powdered ranch (!!) outside of dip mixes.

bahnwärterin said...

hurray!
best wishes for the healing!
xxxx

Beth Waltz said...

So very glad you've had the tooth out. Now let the healing begin!

Goody said...

@Ann
Maybe we need to do some sort of offering to the vintage gods for some Liberty!

@Vronni
That's sensible about the heat.

@Emily
You would have loved our old vet-he'd treat dog rashes and offer you salve for your own dermatitis issues. One stop shop if you didn't mind using something in an unmarked tube!
I hope you both get your appointments soon.

@Beth
30 years ago the Bulls were still good so you had to pay a premium!
I was never good at eyeliner but the kind that comes like a felt tip marker is easy to use. Thank you for the compliment.

@Vix
Good luck with yours too.

@Beate
It will make us appreciate summer if we're cold in winter:)

@Sheila
I hope you're kidding or using it as a lighthearted expression because I'd be horrified if you thought I was bragging. My collection has been built over a lifetime, mostly second hand, and I only mentioned it because I thought it was a mutual love for a designer's work. I'm, well aware of how lucky we are for no reason other than random circumstances and I would hope I'd never give the impression I'm bragging about belongings.
There's very little room for subtlety on blogs, particularly when showing our wardrobes/collections. I do worry that it comes across as showing off a wealth of consumer goods, and that's a difficult thing to balance.


Mim said...

Oh NO to manky root canal - they were the source of my dental issues too, though mine were nothing as bad as yours. I know I've got a few posts to catch up on, so hopefully as I read on it'll all get sorted.