Nervous Wreck

 

Don't let the blue skies fool you, we are headed into a deep freeze. By the start of the week we'll be -7 F (-22C) with wind chills in the freeze your eyeballs range. Still, it was a lovely day at Two Rivers State Recreation Area in Waterloo, Nebraska. Once I found it, which was a challenge. It isn't but twenty minutes from home, but rural roads are confusing. Not much going on there except a few hardy souls ice fishing. And geese. There's always geese. 

Update: We hit-11 F.

The geese found a spot of open water. 

The drought continues, with brush fires now a very real threat in the winter months. There hasn't been any measurable snow yet, and none in the foreseeable future. Rain has been notably absent as well. We're all watching the destruction in California, and knowing it can be any of us next. Shhh, we're not supposed to talk about it. *Sticks fingers in ears, hums cheerful tune*.

Right, you come here for clothes.

Although we still haven't had snow, it is cold enough for boots.

Don't worry, I didn't fall. Just showing you my boots from an interesting angle. 

They're vintage suede and lined with shearling.

I found them last year at the end of the season, so this was the first opportunity I had to wear them.

I was a bit uneasy about the heels, but they proved easy enough to walk in.

My wardrobe has been undergoing reassessment as my body is changing, and I can't stand anything pressing on my abdomen or lower back. That's been challenging, but not impossible.

Don't I look cheerful? Honestly, I'm not sure why I look so grim . I mean, sure there's reasons, but that's not what's going on here. I think this was just a bad photo. Cool earrings though.

I typically dislike high waists but under the circumstances, the style is working.

Old favourites- a Laura Ashley dress I bought in the early 80s.

Accessories. I had a recent clear-out of clothes and jewelry, being able to give the bulk of it to a young woman just starting to build a professional wardrobe. I'm so happy my Jaeger blazers from the 80s and door-knocker earrings are going to be worn again. 

I thought this Angela Frascone handbag went well with the dress. It was an atypical choice, but I am trying to break out of the tendency to resort to black shoes/bag.

The Dale of Norway sweater has come out of storage for another season. It has a Gore-Tex wind blocking liner making it more than adequate for wear without a coat. I hate driving in a coat.

You've seen the 70s Snowland boots year after year. They're warm, comfortable, and if not exactly fashionable, stylish.

Some sort of bird.

Several layers under the skirt as well as thermal tights. I was perfectly warm.

Another multi-layered outfit featuring a cashmere sweater I bought in the 80s. The skirt is Valentino. It is not lined, which annoys me no end. I added a warm winter weight slip, but I shouldn't need to. Designer goods are being made as cheaply as the rest now. I thrifted it, of course but had I spent the money retail I'd be more than merely annoyed, though honestly, I wouldn't buy something so poorly made. Hmmm, ranting. Sorry.

Donegal Tweed jacket. That's a well made item of clothing. Heavy, warm, and largely indestructible.

Mystery marking on a brooch. I can't read it, can you?

Wasn't sure if it is an artichoke or a hop, but Tumblr friends feel that the notched tips and thick stem indicate artichoke.

You've seen this  Mexican jacket multiple times over the years.

Who's hungry? I was able to purchase some damaged produce tomatoes and red bell peppers for very little money, so I added some onion, beans, and spices and made quite a lot of food. Half of it went into the freezer for a quick meal at a later date. I tend to cook around what I find on sale. I never do know what will be on the cart, but this week it was bananas and avocados. Five avocados for .99 cents is a steal.

There's the beans served with olive chicken, and spinach.

Food is so outrageously expensive right now. I'm lucky to have a freezer and the ability to buy things on sale and stock up. That's harder to do if you're living week-to-week and certainly not everyone has the time and ability to cook. Ready meals are lifesavers in some circumstances. I won't be the person telling others how to eat/feed a family.

I wasn't kidding when I said I didn't know what to wear. This Pendleton suit is ancient. So is the sweater. Oh hell, so am I.

How about a fun pop of colour?

Not a set, but the pieces work nicely together.

Another ancient coat (once had a matching dress). Bleyle skirt.

Giant shoulder pads

Who doesn't love a swing-y 80s dress? Not everything from the decade was awful.

Another pair of vintage suede/shearling boots.

Don't stare at the skirt-it can give you a migraine.

Won't lose me in a crowd.

An 80s sweater that will be helpful if I forget the alphabet.

Why don't we do novelty sweaters these days? It would be a welcome change from the grey fleece uniform.

I don't know why this made me laugh so much, but figuring we could all use a laugh, here you go. I have no idea who the original artist is, but if you do, let me know and I'll credit them. 

This made me laugh too. 

Less amusing is how I look in bright light, without makeup. To be fair, I'm getting over some sort of viral whatever, but yeah, I'm not a kid anymore. That's good, I wouldn't want to be. 

 

I'll leave you with Radio Stars singing Nervous Wreck

Just Write A Letter

 I had another post ready for today but pictures of outfits and complaining about the cold felt somewhat inappropriate after...well, yeah. I'll keep this brief.

By the way, we all saw what we saw. It wasn't an awkward mistake (twice) and they're trying to spin it, but you know what you saw. That wasn't AI-it was live television around the world. They're going to memory hole everything now and call it fake. You saw that, and so did I. 

Word today that Facebook was blocking use of words like, Democrat. I haven't fact checked that, but I'd already more or less made up my mind.

And on that note, I deleted Facebook and Instagram. Years worth of photos I'll never look at again anyway. I don't need social media to have memories. I can't do anything about misinformation but I also don't need to be part of keeping it alive. They make it sound like somehow people never kept in touch before social media. The absurdity, that you need them to keep your social connections intact. Friends? 99% of my "Friends" weren't people I knew or interacted with and were likely bots and  scams. I spent more time blocking and deleting than it was worth. They give you nothing. You give them everything. We are the product. Anyway, I had enough. Thankfully Tumblr is such a joke of a site that hasn't had any support for years and more or less operates in a feral manner because no one has managed to make a profit from it. If they sell it again, and that changes, I might need to go. Same thing here. I have no idea how long the poor neglected blogger will continue but as it makes no money for Google, I suspect it is in the death throes. 

Speaking of keeping in touch-I had an email from someone I hadn't seen/heard from in 20 years this week. If they could find me, surely it isn't that hard? 

Anyway, it has been over 24 hours and we aren't in a war yet, so I guess there's that. USA friends, look after our vulnerable ones because they need us more than ever.

National Day of Mourning

Today felt like an appropriate time to re-post this presidential plate with a cute story affixed to the back.

 

Text Reads: We were standing in line to shake Jimmy Carter's hand when he ran fo(r) pres(ident). He reached over to pick up Christy, saying, "You remind me of my little Amy." Christy was scared and started to cry and kick Jimmy Carter.

Anyway, RIP President Carter. We didn't just lose the former president, we lost the America he represented, and god knows we won't be getting it back soon, if ever. At the time, I remember being a little annoyed that he was so comfortable propping up dictators (Iran, half of Latin America, etc.) but that doesn't seem quite so awful with 50 years of hindsight. 

Other observations from watching the state funeral: 

President Ford's son had a major glow-up since he was a teenager.

Fritz Mondale's son looks exactly like his father (more grow-up than glow-up, but it was still nice to see him).

Amy Carter will always be eight years old to Americans old enough to remember. 

Andrew Young made me cry.

Stu Eizenstat is still alive (!)

Mike Pence shook hands with Trump!!

Melania was dressed like the Witchfinder General

 

The Carters washed and reused ziplock bags (good anecdote)

So yes, a good man is gone. RIP.

Janvier

Miaou. 

Leg warmers were such a practical fashion trend-I wonder why they fell out of popularity? They're perfect at home where I keep the heat at what I think is a reasonable temperature, but everyone else considers arctic.

I never bothered to decorate the hallway wall this year. All my friends are feeling the doom to come, and the holidays felt more like a wake. I bought a bottle of Benedictine on a nostalgic depressed impulse as it was something I used to enjoy in better times. Figuring I might as well stock the home bar before any tariffs take hold, I've stocked up on brandy as well. And Cointreau. And some Lambic (the peach kind I had last weekend was incredible). I'm not a heavy drinker, so it should last. 

Lest you think we live on alcohol, I'll have you know pantry and larder are full, and I'm not even one of those Doomsday Prepper sorts. I learned from twelve years on a farm in rural Nebraska. Sometimes it would be weeks before I got to town, and in storms we'd lose power for days. Old habits die hard. I'm not sure the people stocking for the end of the world have really thought the whole food storage thing through. I mean yeah, I guess you can always shoot the marauding mobs coming to take your stuff, but if you store it badly, the mice will get it first. and you'd better be a damn good shot to nail a mouse with a rifle. Also, pro tip: Keep stuff off the floor in the cellar. That includes water bottles, which will degrade over time and need replacing anyway. Get yourself a wooden palate to put that stuff on.  Anyway, I live next to STRATCOM so if WWIII breaks out, Omaha has a giant bullseye on it, and I'd rather go out with French liqueur than powdered meal replacements. I'd like to see a mouse try to get into a glass bottle.  

Things have been, tense. I'm certainly not alone, though I can't say that makes me feel any better. I limit my time online as it doesn't really matter if I'm up-to-date on the latest Important News that I couldn't do a damn thing about anyway. If the civil defence sirens start blaring, then I'll worry.

I'm going to take you back a few weeks and then bring things up to the present.

When I'm not humming dirges and hastening the demise of my liver, I get dressed. Oh look, a red velvet skirt. How very festive. 

The earrings are made from vintage holiday bulbs. They're glass, and somewhat heavy, but they do look nice. 

Several years ago, I came across this vintage, 70s long cardigan. This is the first time I wore it as it is such a heavy piece, it has a tendency to overwhelm outfits. If I wore jeans it would look better, so perhaps that's something to try. It is very heavy and warm though, doing away with the need for a coat. 

 Had a good laugh at the packaging of Twiglets.

I suspect for true sensual satisfaction you'll need to dip them directly into a pot of marmite. The first (and only) time Dan tried Twiglets didn't go well, with accusations of me offering tainted food. No, they're supposed to taste like that. I guess the word I'm looking for is Divisive. Definitely not sensual. Anyway, the packet made me laugh.

I've owned this cardigan since the early 80s. Outback Red from the Limited.

Skirt is vintage Gitano. Flannel shirt is modern Ann Taylor that I thrifted.

The enormous purple velvet opera coat has been worn.

Such an absurd thing to own in 2024, though I might really wear it to the opera next month, weather permitting.

It was velvet all around that day with a top I bought in the 90s, a skirt from K Mart years ago, and a recently thrifted silk velvet scarf. The Celtic design is very pretty.

Here, have some flowers. They're fake. I've had them a very long time.

I gave my stollen recipe a diabetic friendly makeover. No sugar except what's in the fruit, wholemeal flour, oat milk, and vegan margarine. Obviously won't be dusting the tops with sugar, though I can offer that at the table for anyone that wants it. They look shiny as the loaves had just come out of the oven and were brushed with margarine and brandy. 

Update :Both loaves were devoured over the holidays.

 All that fruit I candied at the start of baking season is now down to the last bits. I love it when I plan correctly. I've had some gift baking to do, so there was panettone. That one is always so well received. You can buy perfectly nice ones, though they're getting more and more expensive. I saw an article talking about a 60 EUR loaf and my mind just can't imagine what could possibly make a bread worth that sort of dough. I promise, no Panettone is worth that. Go to Aldi, they sell very nice ones for under a tenner. 

That's a swirl of spices in the middle.Anyway, success!
 

The Shiny Brite Christmas corsage emerges from storage.

As does the reindeer cardigan. Absurd, yes. Isn't it all, really?

Keeping with the red theme...

I bought the sweater for Dan, and then took it back once it was outgrown.

Big 80s hand knit sweater vest.

\

Yeah, I'm an elf. Not the one that sits on a shelf and rats to Santa. No one likes a snitch.

Hideous but warm coat.

 

The cardigan is made from a sparkly yarn. I don't like it.

I prefer a vintage maxi dress.

and the other Shiny Brite corsage.

Some ethnic costume skirt that works as a Christmas piece as the velvet is red.

The big velvet trousers are going on 35 years old now. I even wore them when I was expecting. I didn't think they would end up a holiday wardrobe staple, but here we are. They're by Tapemeasure.

That was dressed for NYE at home listening to the neighbours exploding things and praying they didn't set anything alight.

Fuzzy vintage mohair cardigan. 70s wool skirt.

 

Amana woolen mills cardigan over a 70s blouse and 80s skirt.

Boring, but gets the job done.


80s corduroy jodhpurs (there's buttons down the calves).

No, no reason. Just liked them. Of course they're awful, that's the point. Fashion. Look. It. Up. 😁

Velvet culottes.

A very well made waxed canvas bag. It needs re-waxing, but I absolutely love it.

The colour is more muted in person.

1970s duffel coat. I look, and felt like a fool.

Duffel coats aren't for adults. I look like Paddington bear.

Nice vintage label.

I have so many layers on I look like an over-dressed child in a snow suit. I was however warm, which is all that matters, even if unable to bend my arms.

So many scarves.

Getting those sleeves in a coat was fun.

Whew, that was a lot of clothes in December. Considering I haven't felt like getting dressed, I did okay. Once I'm home, I live in flannel pajamas and a heavy robe. 

Since this is still sort of a cooking blog, here's some tarts made with homemade vegan mincemeat.
 

Chanukkah fell on Christmas so that's a sweet potato cake with the roast beef (there's an onion and some mustard on the beef if you were wondering what that was). I was worried I might ruin the prime rib as I'm not really expert at cooking beef (vegetarian since 1983), but it turned out perfect.

The pudding was much darker in person-not sure what happened to the photo. 

And that's about it. If you made it this far, I'll thank you with a look at a recently thrifted Stephen Burrows jacket from the early 70s.

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it. I have wanted a Burrows piece since I first became aware of his colour blocked striped dresses. There was no way my mother was buying me one of those! Once again, if you wait long enough everything eventually turns up in a thrift store, but I was really very surprised. 

Less exciting, but still a fine find was this black dress

Possibly the plainest, most normal looking dress Mugler ever designed. That's okay. It is going to look great with the Burrows jacket.

I still can't believe that happened. Well, we've nearly made it through the first week of January, so that's something. Start as you mean to go on.