Cedar Waxwings

I'll be sorry to turn over my calendar to a new month tomorrow because April's lovely image is the gorgeous Cedar Waxwing photo you see below.
These birds fascinate me; there is something about the look of them that I just love. Their "masks", the touch of red on their wings; they're just so pretty, so unique.
Just about a week ago, my husband was telling me "Don't leave your car parked in the driveway. Not even for a few minutes. Make sure to pull it into the garage."
This was because the Cedar Waxwings were all congregating in the sycamore tree that shades our driveway. Then he showed me what they had already left behind on our brick patio in the back yard.
 Let's just say that he didn't want to have to clean up after them....

Here's an image from one of the books by John James Audubon; you have to admit they are stunning:

 I was happy to find this vintage card, below, at a thrift store.
That's what they're after in our yard - the berries:

Because they come around every year, and because both of us love them despite their messes, I had to get this beautiful Hallmark ornament for my husband for Christmas the year it came out:

It's one of the prettiest ones I've ever seen.

Thank you, Hallmark - you captured their beauty perfectly!

Patterns From The Past: His And Hers Caftans From Butterick

Today's patterns from the past are for caftans.
They're basically the same, with one for women and one for men.
 We'll start with hers, which is pattern number 3384.
 Pictured below is the cover of this pattern, with the finished product in color, worn by the lovely Joyce Walker.
(I've written about her before, and I've featured photos of her many times.
 Please check out this post, if you are interested.)

"Sew & Go" - this one honestly doesn't look terribly difficult:

And here is a version for him, pattern number 3383, below.
And I'm sorry that I do not know the name of this handsome gentleman:

And  here are both pattern backs side by side:

So, go ahead - find one of these and stitch yourself up a caftan, vintage style!

(And maybe even one for your significant other, while you're at it.)

Baker's Coconut Cakes #11 The Airplane

Today we have yet another one of the Cut-Ups, coconut cakes from one of my vintage cookbooks from Baker's Coconut.
 Planning a trip or a Bon Voyage celebration for someone?
How about an airplane cake?

They've even provided some ideas for a Monte Carlo party:

"What you will need", below, along with the diagram for cutting.
 This one is quite a bit more complicated than the others I have shared:

Decorate your coconut airplane, and you're ready to go!

All clear for take-off........

Mother Nature went out bowling on Sunday night!

Good morning, Tina here.

We had quite a thunder and lightning storm here Sunday night, it lasted about an hour. A dark black cloud came over our house.

I was watching TV, about to go upstairs to bed to read.  Hubby said, "oh, I just saw some lightning". That was about 7:45.  If you looked to the west, you couldn't miss it. And it went on and on, kept coming towards us and as it passed over the house it headed east.

Hubby took pictures but I don't have them on my computer. The thunder was glorious. It did sound like someone was bowling up in the heavens. It just rolled on and on.

Mother nature was definitely having a good time, and I think she rolled a strike!

The next day Facebook had photos from all over.  The sun as it crept toward the horizon.

Those clouds were very heavy and quite serious in their intent.

The Mosquito airport area was surrounded by color.

Main Street Georgetown looking south (towards our house!)

This is very close to what it looked like at our house, sunset on one side, lightning on the other.

One photographer said it reminded him of the King Fire since it was lit up with a strange glow.

I do wish I had the sound recorded. The thunder was incredible.

Lighting up the sky in Cool.

If you look closely at the top of the trees in the middle there is a streak of lightning there too. It was all over the sky.

That cloud again, this time looking south from Coloma/Lotus at the foot of Marshall Grade.

In a lot of places Mother Nature ended her bowling game with a celebratory rainbow.

April has been a glorious month, and it isn't quite over with yet... more thundershowers due here tonight.

Vintage Disney Character Figures, A Gift From My Friend Heidi

My friend Heidi gave me these wooden Disney character figures for Christmas last year.
Oh, Mickey, you're so fine.......

They are missing some of their parts and pieces, but I love them just the same!
Pluto Pup:

Pongo, with a puzzled expression - "how in the heck are we going to keep all of these puppies safe, Perdita?"

Donald Duck pets Pongo, with a soothing touch:

And, last but certainly not least - we have Jaq!
I know! Let's "make a lovely dress for Cinderelly!"
She WILL go to the ball.

But whatever you do, Jaq: you and Gus-Gus had best stay away from that meanie cat Lucifer!
(I know nothing about these little figures, other than that they are most certainly vintage. Anyone??)

Very Marimekko, Last Weekend's Bright Buys

Last weekend, I was delighted to find this Marimekko fabric or curtain panel in a remnant bin at a thrift store:

 The next day, I also got to go to Target on Marimekko launch day! (This was a big deal for me, as I love shopping at Target and rarely get to go;  the nearest one to me is about an hour away.)
I was puzzled when we walked in and I found only this display, along with a similar one right next to it with the clothing in a great black and white design - nothing in my size, though!

Finally found the rest of the Marimekko things in the very back corner of the store. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I chose two items only - these gorgeous tea towels:

And this Memory Game:

 I love the designs on the Memory Game cards! I didn't expect them to be so big!

I also found the vintage photo album that you see on the left in the photo below at a thrift store - I love that it sort of matches my Marimekko finds:

 And back to that fabric panel again......

"Villikaali" Marimekko By Suomi Finland 1967:

Yes, ma'am I DO like my bright colors!!

Patterns From The Past: Cybill Shepherd in Simplicity 8147

Today we have the lovely Cybill Shepherd modeling a cute lavender gingham dress made from Simplicity pattern number 8147......

..... just like the one on the front of the pattern seen here:

Here is the back of the pattern:

Our weather here in the California Gold Country foothills has warmed up pretty quickly, so these sleeveless options would be perfect! And you can always wear it as a jumper, like the lady in red. (I have one of those "swingy" chain belts!)
Oh - and don't forget your shades - that sun is bright!

A Corgi Makes a Visit to the Museum

Good morning. Tina here.

Last Sunday I worked at the El Dorado County Historical Museum again. There was a Gold Panning event going on and we had 124 visitors! That is only about 120 more than the usual Sunday. It was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of interesting folks.

I "guarded" the back door which opens into the fairgrounds and overlooks the old stone gate. I had a hand held counter which kept track of our visitors.

I was kept busy clicking!

Early afternoon we had special visitors. A darling little female corgi who is a precious service dog, her owner and his wife.

She was the sweetest thing. A corgi owner myself, I couldn't resist visiting with them and hearing their story.

She is four years old, and her name is Jasmine. They call her Jazz. The pups from her line all have Disney names.  Her owner trained her himself and he did a great job! She is trained to help him in several ways, and can even bring him medicine if needed.

She is so cute everyone wants to pet her, so she is trained to sit and allow pets on occasion. I was lucky and got a close pet and lick of my own.

I hope she comes back to visit again soon!

Lady Edith's Hats #1: Ready To Travel In Style

I had asked for help with a name for this lovely lady bust back when I first found her.
I think I've finally decided on Lady Edith.

Today, she sports a vintage hat I found at a thrift store, a pretty Vera Neumann scarf and some shades - to shield her fair skin from the sun.

I think she's ready to go, don't you?
(I plan to have her do some more "modeling" for me in the future.)

An Apple Pie

I have never made a strawberry-rhubarb pie like the one on the cover of this vintage copy of  "Farm Journal's Complete Pie Cookbook", but it surely does look good!
I think it would be a simply scrumptious springtime treat, and if you want to bake one and bring it over, I wouldn't slam the door in your face, LOL!

The pies in this book are some of the very best (I've written about this before..), as can be attested to by the fact that our Mother's Lemon Meringue Pie (on page 124) from this book would get the highest bids time and again at our 4-H Pie Socials that were held back in the day at Gold Oak School in Placerville.
 Farm Journal's "Best-Ever Lemon Meringue Pie" is, indeed"Superb", as Mother wrote in ink next to the recipe. She swore by Farm Journal's 5 Star Recipes.
But the last pie that I actually made was an apple pie.
Honestly, it was because I had apples in the refrigerator that simply had to be used.
I made the "Old-Fashioned Apple Pie" on page 51 of the book, with the changes for the "Crumb Apple Pie"  variation on the following page.
Unbaked:

And baked - a gratuitous close-up:

You can't beat a nice slice, right?

I mean ... just, YUM, that's all I have to say.
(Wish I had some right now - this was a while back, I just found these photos and realized I had never written this post as I intended to do!)