Wild Turkeys, Wild Poppies, and My Pets Enjoying Spring

Spring is sprung, and around Kelsey that means the turkeys are getting their groove on.

 The big handsome boys are strutting their stuff.

 The hens are all for it.

 Check out the tail fan dances.

Can the little chicks be far behind?

 The poppies between our home and Coloma are glowing on the slopes above the river.

 The view from our front porch, living and dining rooms, and two bedroom windows can't be beat.

 The best time for viewing is about 3:00 pm on a sunny spring day.

 Due to low river levels because of the drought, not many rafters or kayakers are viewing this wonder this year.

 My animals didn't want the turkeys to have all the glory today, so they posed for me. Ishi on the front porch steps.

 Luna on the porch railing.

 Cheshire Cat on the temporary bed for still recuperating hubby in the living room.

And Robbi in the living room wishing you all a happy spring.

"It's New... It's Fun... Coordinate Rooms And Fashions", Circa 1965

In all of the best homes of the day, the ladies of the house enjoyed having skirts that matched their window treatments.
Or at least, that's how it appears.
In my first photo today, (and I do wish it were not the only one in color!), the caption reads "Richly colored cotton print by Everlast provides a beautiful window treatment. An extra two yards of fabric becomes a coordinated floor-length skirt for evening entertaining at home."
If the evening entertaining at home included guests, I am certain all of the women were envious when they arrived, and went home wishing that they, too had clothing that matched THEIR curtains.

 And below, a "colorful kitchen print by Thibault is used for apron with a scalloped and trimmed edge to match cornice."

 In the example below, the dress actually came first, as you can see in the caption:

(In my next scan, I accidentally cut off part of the caption. sorry - still trying to figure out how to scan again after computer updates were done by my stepson! Everything changed!)
 It should read:
 "Family room below has beige corduroy Roman Shades with a gold and yellow....

And last of all,  "The ever popular gingham check was used in this young girl's room {below} for brief cafe curtains and a matching shade.
 The extra yardage was quilted and made into a bathrobe with ball fringe collar and cuffs to match shade."

(All images and descriptions, including the post title, which was also the title of the article, are from a booklet "1001 Decorating Ideas", published by Conso Products, Inc.)
So everyone - please remember this next time you have fabric left over from your new window treatments.
Waste not, want not!

More Vintage Vera Neumann Sheets - In An Ad From May Co.

Yes, more Vera.
 Because you know I  simply HAVE to show you when I find these things!

This time, it's an advertisement from an issue of the Los Angeles Times Home Magazine I found recently. It's from the summer of 1970. I remember reading these Home magazines when we would go visit our grandparents in Hawthorne, California. I loved looking through them just as much as I did the old Better Homes and Gardens magazines.
Vera's new sheets from Burlington house were on sale at the May Co. department store, and I wish I could go back in time and buy dozens of them, in every colorway!

 Believe me, if I ever find any of THESE patterns in a thrift store, you can bet I will let you know.
 (I'm sure I could probably find some of them on eBay - haven't had the time to search!)

Another Ole! Ad

I recently found this advertisement from The Stanley Furniture Company - that I don't believe I've ever seen before - and which just happens to include two pieces of my favorite furniture EVER, the Ole collection ( along with other styles from Stanley's line):

You cannot even have any idea how excited I get when I find a new photograph in a vintage magazine that features "my" furniture!
I bought some magazines at Mountain Treasures (where we have our booth), and didn't even know this was inside.
I was pretty tickled to turn the page and see it.

"If you want a sassy bedroom, you can have it".
I do! I want a sassy bedroom! I want that Ole twin bed and the little matching nightstand!
Well, okay - I DO already have the bed - in yellow.
But, still.
"If everyone liked the same thing, wouldn't life be dull?"
You said it, Stanley.
And I like your Ole furniture collection. 
I like it a LOT.

Dig This GORGEOUS Vintage Bates Bedspread!

If you'll excuse me for saying so, this is one FABULOUS and gorgeous thrift store find!

 A glorious orange and yellow vintage Bates bedspread, complete with fringe.

I have actually searched for these on eBay and Etsy in the past, simply because I think they're so fantastic.
So, can you imagine my delight when I spied this sitting on a thrift shop shelf?

I am LOVING it.

Patterns From The Past: Simplicity 6287 - Jiffy Knits Dress, Pants And Top

Today's pattern from the past is Simplicity 6287 from 1974, a "Jiffy Knits" pullover dress or top and pants.
For stretch knits only, make this dress out of a patterned or solid fabric and then embellish it however you like.
Perhaps with appliqued flowers:

Or maybe with a fish or even a peacock as shown on the pattern front:

Dress it up with stars or a stylized vintage automobile:

Stitch it up in a cool patterned knit or add a clock face:

The possibilities are endless!

It looks pretty cute - and comfortable - to me.
If you have the right type of figure for it, that is!

Welcoming Spring With Flowers

I found yet another lovely crewelwork stitchery picture at a thrift store.
It's just bright and pretty, and I wanted to share it......

.....so I am.
Happy springtime, everyone!

Lounge Chair Road Trip No. 2 - Highway 50

Hubby is home from the hospital, it has been a just a bit over two weeks since his hip replacement surgery, and he has had a couple of outings, but can't drive yet. So we are still kicked back, he on his bed and I in my lounge chair, and since we are getting tired of watching movies, we are taking another road trip up Highway 50. There is a lot to see!

A quick stop at Fresh Pond, above Pollock Pines, top off our coffee and maybe grab a donut or two.  This old place above is no longer there, but there is a gas station and a store. 

Too bad it is too early for a drink, Pacific House is a great stop with that in mind. Hubby can say hi to an old friend, he once delivered beer here, around thirty years ago.  Sadly, a fire has severely damaged this wonderful old rock building. How I wish I could restore each and every one of the old Highway 50 road houses!

Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful spot, the falls is across Highway 50 from the South Fork of the American River, and at the picnic area along the river you can swim. I have many old postcards showing the falls. My son is quite fond of this place.

 


Whitehall, up close to the road as most of our stops, just pull off, jump out and enjoy!  The building is still standing but sits sadly waiting for someone to rescue it.

Wasn't it thoughtful for the builders of all these old places to put them so close to the road? My hubby can hoist himself out of the armchair and hobble forward with his walker, and belly up to the bar much quicker that way.  Above is the little community of Silver Fork. It is named after the river, however, not cutlery.

We arrive in Kyburz for a spot of lunch with an ice cream chaser, admire Sugar Loaf rock, and decide that is it for our road trip today. On the eve of spring, the weather is wonderful and the mountains smell fresh. This was just what we needed.

Then And Now #98 Kraft Macaroni And Cheese

Good old Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner!
 I don't think you will find many kids who don't love this packaged classic (or adults, for that matter?)
First, we have a vintage advertisement from 1965:

In this next ad from 1968, you can see how the logo on the package had changed a bit:

The one below is for the Macaroni And Cheese Deluxe Dinner, circa 1970:

 And a change in packaging on this one three years later in 1973:

And here's an example of one of the "Deluxe" types that Kraft makes  "Now":

 "Now" I present the classic product's packaging today:

Of course, as with virtually every product out there, they now offer it in a variety of "flavors" and types,
like the one below which has four more grams of fiber per serving than the original:

I don't know about you, but I like to add some reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese to the top when I make it.....

Shillelaghs And Shamrocks

Top of the mornin' to you!
Just Dennis Day and me, piping in to wish you all.......

..... a very happy Saint Patrick's Day full of sunshine, shillelaghs and shamrocks!
And corned beef and cabbage and green beer, or whatever else you want your day to be full of!
(Found this vintage LP at a thrift store: I'm pretty sure it's my only March 17th-specific album - and I like it.)

Sierra Nevada House, Revisited

I was tickled to find this last week at one of my local thrift shops:

It's a George Mathis print of the Sierra Nevada House in Coloma, California. All three of the Gold Country Girls worked there as waitresses back in the 1970's, and I have written about it before. Also, Tina just posted recently about some of his Miner's Cabin sketches. This print was in a (funky) frame, and everything in the store was half price, so I got it for less than a dollar. Cool! (No, Cool is actually a little further up the road...local joke....).
Anyway - the odd thing about this is that it says on it that Sierra Nevada House III, pictured, is in Nevada City. Nope, it's in Coloma - different town, different county - and "Friday House" the artist's studio, was also right in Coloma, just up the road, so it seems rather an odd error for someone to have made, but, as we know, everybody makes mistakes, so whatever, right?
I was just happy that I found it, regardless of what it says on it. I mean, I know where it is - we used to work there,after all!

More Found Vera Neumann Linens

I found some more vintage Vera Neumann linens at my local thrift shops.
 Today,it's mostly cloth napkins.
I found four of these, with lovely, bright flowers in pots:

And only two of these with a pretty fruit pattern :

Two of the top floral pattern, and three of the ferns and butterflies in the background
I couldn't find her signature on those, but I recognized the pattern - I believe it's the same as on the tablecloth I shared in an earlier post.
They coordinate rather nicely, don't you think?

The tea towel below is from Crate and Barrel - a new find, rather than a vintage one.
 It was on sale when I was there, so I snapped it up.
And I just happened to find a tomato at a thrift store that looks pretty cute sitting on top!