My Foyer Plate Displays - Three Ways

My first photo in today's post shows the way my display in our foyer looks currently.
I just decided a few days ago that I wanted to completely change it up!

 I found everything you see at thrift shops, including the Beatles LP, which I framed.
 I love those plates in the center, which I discovered once graced a "House Beautiful" magazine cover back in 1963:

They are the "Lea" pattern, hand painted and made in Finland by Arabia, and I think they're gorgeous. I only found a few, I wish there had been more!
The others with the black and white sort-of abstract pinwheel design are from CB2 (Crate and Barrel), and I think they're pretty cool, too!
Previously, my display had looked like this:

 I had taken some of my souvenir plates and stuck them up there in front of my other plates, from when it looked like this:

Those are my Thomas Kinkade plates.
I still like them - especially because most of the ones I have are Placerville houses - but I just like to do something different once in a while!
(Sorry, I truly do apologize for the terribly poor quality of my photos today!)

Skillet Apple Pie From Trisha's Southern Kitchen

A while back, I decided to try a recipe I had seen Trisha Yearwood make on her Food Network TV program "Trisha's Southern Kitchen.
I really enjoy her show. I like her a lot; I enjoy her music, and also her personality.
 She's very down-to-earth, and she just seems like the kind of woman who could become an instant friend, if you had the opportunity to meet and spend time with her!
I made it in my Lodge cast iron skillet, which was a Christmas gift last year.

You can find the recipe on the Food Network's website. (Click here  to view the recipe.)

It was easy to make, and we liked it!

I didn't end up making the Cinnamon Whipped Cream, which I believe I would have liked very much, as well.
I didn't have any heavy cream on hand, so I topped it with vanilla ice cream instead.
My only issue was that I found it difficult to get the brown sugary layer of goodness at the bottom out of the pan while cutting it.
I may have baked it a bit too long; I'm not sure.
But it was good.
Very sweet - but good.

Happy 90th (!) Birthday To Dick Van Dyke

I just want to wish a VERY happy birthday to Dick Van Dyke today.

 He's one of my all-time favorites.

 I have been a huge fan of his for as far back as I can remember - truly!

 Hard to believe he celebrates his 90th birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Dick!
Thank you for enough laughs to last a lifetime.
Love 'ya!

More Vintage Sheet Music

I stopped at a thrift store the last time I was on my way over to Tina's house, and they had a stack of vintage sheet music.
The price was so low that I picked out ten of them and added them to my collection.
(I kind of wish I'd gotten twenty!)
"Yes, We Have No Bananas":

"Cuckoo Waltz" - I liked the purple and black cover....

I collect Bing, and not only did I not have this one, I don't think I've ever even seen it before - "Street Of Dreams":

"Big Rock Candy Mountain" -I have loved this song since I was little:

"I'm Living A Life Of Shadows (Bring Back The Sunshine To Me):

"Quit Cryin' The Blues":

"Thanks For The Memory" - I know I already have a copy of Bob Hope's theme song, but I don't think this one is in better condition (although there is a name written on the front):

I like to put holiday-themed music on my piano, so red, white and blue and patriotic pieces are great for the 4th Of July - hence these next three:
"American Patrol"

"Any Bonds Today?"

and "The Song Of The Seabees"

Luckily for me, sheet music doesn't take up a lot of space.

Fall Is Nearly Here, And I'm Thinking Of Apples

Whenever fall is nearly here, even if we are just barely feeling a touch of autumn in the air,
my thoughts turn to Apple Hill and I find myself longing for a visit.
It's one of my favorite places, and holds some great memories for me.
 Lori gets to go this weekend, and I wish that I was going, too!
I found this sweet Joan Walsh Anglund print in an old calendar of mine:

And seeing that print brought to mind this old song,
"Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree":

When I opened up the sheet music to have a look, I found lyrics that I'd never known, choruses that I'm not sure I'd ever heard before.
"Don't start countin' the stars above with anyone else but me,
anyone else but me,
anyone else but me,
No! No! No!
Don't start singin' those songs of love,
we'll sing 'em in harmony,
when I come marching home."
And :
"Wrap your kisses in cellophane,
don't give 'em away for free,
keep 'em exclusively, salted away for me,
Yes! Yes! Yes!
I'm on record, I'm talkin' plain,
 you're gettin' the third degree,
 when I come marching home".

The song was written in 1942 by Lew Brown, Charlie Tobias and Sam H. Stept.
Below, I'm sharing a YouTube video of the Andrews Sisters singing the song.
I think I want to bake an apple pie......

One Fabulous LP Cover

I paid more for this vintage LP than I usually do at thrift stores.
But I had to have it.
Chuck Mangione Concert, Land Of Make Believe, with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Cover concept, design and layout by Robert L. Smith.
I don't believe I had ever seen it before, and I thought I heard it calling my name.
Seriously.
 In a tiny little voice......barely audible, you know:
"Oh, Heidi.....buy me....,please..."
 "Please....I need to go home with only you...."
You betcha.
No problem.

I framed it and I have it hanging on the wall.
It's my new favorite,
and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

More Of Those Fabulous Peacock Chairs

I've done a post about these fabulous chairs before (click here), but I find more images all the time, so I felt they warranted another post!
Here's one in which a sweet little kitty cat has made himself or herself comfortable:

An advertisement, obviously - (I am  not encouraging smoking, just showing you the chair)  :

I like this one, below, in green - though you can't see all that much of it - and dig that gorgeous paisley lampshade and seat cushion!

An artist's rendering of a matching pair; I like it:

Here's a photo I saw on Instagram from the fabulous Retro Spectrum shop in Australia.
 (Yes, I asked permission before posting this.)
 Oh, how I wish I could transport myself there to shop in this gorgeous establishment!!

 (I only just now realized that I have every one of those books on the shelf).
And one more - just for fun.
I have been LOVING watching Columbo (one of my all-time favorite programs) on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. Here is Peter Falk (miss him!) sitting in a fabulous pink chair.
 That happens to be Valerie Harper's backside, by the way!
I was already planning this post, and I simply had to try and snap a picture off of the television screen.

It's not a very good one, but you get the idea.
No matter what color, these iconic chairs are fabulous.
And Mr. Falk, if you were still here with us, you'd be welcome in my living room any time.

Patchwork Was The Theme That Day

I had admired this little patchwork throw so many times, and I finally decided to purchase it the last time I was up at Mountain Treasures - mostly because I was afraid it might be gone the next time I went.
(You KNOW how that goes, right?)
I'm glad I decided to bring it home:

So many great fabrics were chosen by the person who made it:

Paisleys were included:

And I always love a bright floral:

The backing was a lovely choice, as well:

At my next stop, I spied this vintage Anne Murray LP from 1974:

I've always loved her voice, I love the cover artwork with it's patchwork and embroidery, and the album even features one of our Daddy's favorite songs, "Snowbird".
How could I resist?

Patterns From The Past: Simplicity 9790 and 9896 - Springtime Dresses For Little Girls

Do you recognize this beautiful little face?

 Here she is again, below:

Why, yes - it is none other than the gorgeous Brooke Shields,
when she was only about six years old!
I found this picture of her in a Simplicity Home Catalog from 1971.
She's wearing a cute dress and apron made from this pattern, Simplicity number 9790:

The back of the pattern:

Don't you think that would make a sweet little Easter outfit?
She could gather up eggs or perhaps some wildflowers in the little apron.
 The other little girl  in the photo is wearing Simplicity number 9896, seen below.
This dress is pretty cute, too - I especially like the version in yellow with red rickrack and cherries on the pockets!

 And, of course, 9790 in pink gingham and the red gingham version of 9896 are pretty great as well - I always love gingham.
Gingham seems like such a nice choice for springtime.

A Very Special Edition Of Patterns From The Past: The Sound Of Music & Butterick

Fifty years ago today, "The Sound Of Music" had it's premiere in New York City.
It's one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time, but I'm sure you knew that.
I happen to be one of the people who loves it.
I really enjoyed Lady Gaga's musical tribute to the film during the Academy Awards show last weekend .
But when Julie Andrews walked out onto the stage afterwards?
Well, THAT brought tears to my eyes; I simply love her that much.
Less than one week later, I received a vintage Butterick Pattern Catalog that I had purchased on eBay in the mail.
 As I looked through it, I discovered this:

 I had no idea that patterns even existed that were inspired by the movie!

Shown in the two-page spread above, the delightful young actors and actresses who portrayed the Von Trapp children are: Charmian Carr, Angela Cartwright, Duane Chase, Nicholas Hammond, Kym Karath, Heather Menzies-Urich ,and Debbie Turner.

 And here are two of the Butterick patterns, number 3701, seen on Angela Cartwright in the photo:

And 3702, worn by Heather Menzies and Debbie Turner:

 I was unable to find a picture of pattern number 3700, worn by the other two "sisters" in the Butterick catalog photo layout.
{Edited on 4/3/15 to add:}
A kind reader sent me a link to a photo of pattern number 3700, so I wanted to include it here:

Three days after the Oscars telecast, I found this vintage hat with a label inside stating it is made of "100% Baumwolle" (which, from what I can gather, means cotton - cotton corduroy, in this case) at a thrift store for fifty cents.
 It reminded me of sort of an alpine-looking hat (I added the feather embellishment!), so I got a real kick out of the fact that, coincidentally,  it looked a little bit like the hat shown on the pattern - at least it does to me:

 "The hills are alive.....!"
And my love of "The Sound Of Music" will always stay strong and ring true.