What's Penny Wearing? #82 Vintage Pendleton "Knockabouts" Shirt

Today, Penny is modeling for you a gorgeous vintage Pendleton wool plaid shirt. I found it at a thrift store (of course - I mean, where do I get nearly everything I show you?)

The colors in this one are so perfect for fall.

Nice and warm and cozy.

"Knockabouts" by Pendleton:

Wishing You A Wonderful Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful, bountiful day everyone - enjoy your family and friends - and the turkey, of course! Happy Thanksgiving from the Gold Country Girls!

(I just found the book recently at a thrift store - I had never seen it before, published in 1974. Yes, of course, I had to have it - I think it was a quarter!).

Do Deer Celebrate Thanksgiving?

A couple of weeks back I was out on the front porch trying to take some pictures of the pansies planted in my hanging pots to replace the poor pitiful petunias which languished there all the long hot Kelsey summer.

The leaves on the maples were changing quickly. One tree which is right in front of our porch always turns many colors all over.  It has been in the ground here about nine or ten years, and grows a foot or two a year. It is interesting to watch it each fall and wonder if it will still be a kaleidoscope of color. So far it doesn't disappoint.

There is also the fog and cloud display, ever changing, those bits of wisp always manage to creep into every fold in the foothills below us.

Our herd of deer happily wander, finding more and more green shoots as the weather dampens.

One camera-shy buck usually has three does trailing along after him.

It made me wonder... do deer celebrate Thanksgiving?

More Vera Bradley

Sister Lori here today: I don't shop too much, (I'm on a budget), except for some thrift shopping here and there, of course!!! But I wanted a nice cover for my iphone so decided to take a look at what the Vera Bradley store at The Fountains in Roseville had, one day, while nearby babysitting my adorable granddaughter.

 Of course they had a beautiful one I thought would work for me, and because it was October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, they let me pick a coupon for $5-$15 off. Of course, I only got the $5 one, but I thought that was great!!!

 And then they said to grab a cookie on the way out the door. Look at this gorgeous cookie with the flower on the icing!! It was definitely enjoyed, and eaten right away, by my dear grand daughter and myself. Vera Bradley has such a nice touch, always, with the packaging and extras they offer! Love them!!!

Finds Again - Just a Few Of The Latest

A few of my recent finds, today. A green vase to go along with my white ones, shown with the salt and pepper shakers I have shown you before (do you mind? They're awfully cute!):

A glazed ceramic chicken and a little Myrtlewood mushroom from Oregon:

I picked up these little cups immediately because I knew I wanted them, and I was pleasantly surprised to find when I turned them over that they were designed by Georges Briard:

I love this little vintage hen covered egg-shaped box. The napkin holder is by Fitz and Floyd::

They look kind of cute together, don't they?

A Very Vera Birthday

My birthday was a while ago, but I have been too busy to post regularly, so I'm still catching up. Tina gave me a gorgeous Vera Bradley scarf. I wore it the very next day. Oddly enough, clothes I had taken with me to Placerville just happened to go perfectly with the beautiful scarf, as you can see below:

Aren't the colors gorgeous?

She gave me the matching gloves, as well:

(Thanks, Tina - I love them!) Within the same couple of days, I also found some Vera Neumann scarves at thrift shops. The one below has the brightest colors of any I have ever come across:

Really lovely colors:

I also found a polka-dotted one, and my first-ever Vera "infinity" ring scarf; it's a pretty green print:

Shown close-up, below, with a gorgeous blue blown glass pendant my friend Olivia gave me:

I even found the small Vera Bradley floral handbag below at a thrift store that same week, too!
 

A very Vera birthday (week), indeed!

And Then There Were Five

I have shown you some of these before - my little collection of these sweet gals. Well, as you can see, three was obviously not enough for me. When I found two more of them ( in colors I did not have), I wanted them to join their sisters:

I really do hate to pick favorites, but I think the blue and green one is my favorite of the bunch:

Pretty ladies all in a row:

I felt that they needed to be together - I simply couldn't help myself.

House Of Cards

There are a LOT of vintage cards in my house. I'll take a vintage card over a new one, any day of the week. Recently, my friend Robbi gave me a BIG box of vintage cards she found at a yard sale. They're fabulous! So many different ones - like snowmen:

Cards with carriages:

Cards for a "blue Christmas"....

Poinsettia cards:

Snow-covered cottages:

Candle cards:

and open sleighs:

And churches for a Silent Night:

She gave me more things, too - vintage children's records, etc. - I'll probably show you some of the others another time. It was sort of a birthday present - even though we really don't exchange gifts any more. She gets away with it because she just "picks things up" for me that she "thinks I might like".
Are you kidding me?
I love them, Robbi - and I love you, too.
Thank you SO much!

The Wind and the Moon

On Halloween I put a tiny part of this following poem on this blog since it mentioned a ghost. I found the bit of poem in a circa 1960 book by "Miss Read", which was about a new school teacher in England.  Her students were memorizing poems and this was a favorite.  That was the only part of the poem in the book, and it did not have a credit.   I have found the rest of the poem and I love it, so I am sharing it with you today. The Wind and the Moon
by George Macdonald
Said the Wind to the Moon, "I will blow you out; You stare In the air Like a ghost in a chair, Always looking what I am about — I hate to be watched; I'll blow you out."   The Wind blew hard, and out went the Moon. So, deep On a heap Of clouds to sleep, Down lay the Wind, and slumbered soon, Muttering low, "I've done for that Moon."   He turned in his bed; she was there again! On high In the sky, With her one ghost eye, The Moon shone white and alive and plain. Said the Wind, "I will blow you out again."   The Wind blew hard, and the Moon grew dim. "With my sledge, And my wedge, I have knocked off her edge! If only I blow right fierce and grim, The creature will soon be dimmer than dim."   He blew and he blew, and she thinned to a thread. "One puff More's enough To blow her to snuff! One good puff more where the last was bred, And glimmer, glimmer, glum will go the thread."   He blew a great blast, and the thread was gone. In the air Nowhere Was a moonbeam bare; Far off and harmless the shy stars shone — Sure and certain the Moon was gone!   The Wind he took to his revels once more; On down, In town, Like a merry—mad clown, He leaped and halloed with whistle and roar — "What's that?" The glimmering thread once more!   He flew in a rage — he danced and blew; But in vain Was the pain Of his bursting brain; For still the broader the Moon—scrap grew, The broader he swelled his big cheeks and blew.   Slowly she grew — till she filled the night, And shone On her throne In the sky alone, A matchless, wonderful silvery light, Radiant and lovely, the queen of the night.   Said the Wind: "What a marvel of power am I! With my breath, Good faith! I blew her to death — First blew her away right out of the sky — Then blew her in; what strength have I!   But the Moon she knew nothing about the affair; For high In the sky, With her one white eye, Motionless, miles above the air, She had never heard the great Wind blare.

Tea with Shakespeare and the California Governors' Wives

Good morning. Tina here. Today I am going to share some highlights of a program our Placerville Shakespeare Club held on October 28th which was entitled "Tea with the Governors' Wives".  It was held in our historic clubhouse on Bedford Avenue.  

Those of us who were servers wore white aprons and mop hats, but unfortunately I did not get a picture of any of us, too busy then, I guess. Some of our members also dressed in period costumes.  

We have quite a few ladies who have served as "El Dorado Rose", which is an honor given to a woman in our community who has worked as a volunteer and given herself to many charities and has just been excellent in her efforts in the area for many years.  Below is Judy, who is this year's "Golden Rose", an honor given to a lady who may be a little older than the El Dorado Rose, and who will aid the El Dorado Rose in her duties.  Judy is proudly wearing an antique outfit.

We servers came early to set up the tables for the 110 people who purchased tickets for the event.

On the table were programs with biographies and photos of each Governor's Wife and information on the cast, who were all docents from the California Governors' Mansion in Sacramento. Also on the tables were favor boxes with candy, shaped as lovely old fashioned dresses with bows and jewels, and miniature boxes with myriad tops and sides which were for sale afterward.

Above on the right in blue you see Waldith, who is one of our club's former El Dorado Roses.  Below is the table with our tidbits we are about to serve to the attendees.  There were endive spears with scrambled egg and capers, cream puffs, and apple bars, among other yummies.

Below, our present El Dorado Rose, and chairman of the tea, Sharon, in her lovely cream yellow outfit, stands at a table between her husband and Gayle, who was responsible for the table decorations. On stage our President, Joan, is greeting the guests and introducing the first speaker.

Below, Al Howenstein, as Albert Gallatin, begins his duties as he introduces each "wife".

Below is Jane Stradley as Helen Pardee.  Please excuse the dark photos, I was back from the stage so my flash did not carry well.  We servers were able to sit and watch after our duties were done, so I am glad I was able to see the program!

No, she isn't taking a nap! Reba, one of our former El Dorado Roses, is actually reading her program during a lull in the action.

Below, Barbara Stephens Zane, portrayed by Carol Howenstein, tells how she was the first governor's daughter to marry in the Governor's Mansion.

This next lady, August Richardson, played by Carol Valentine, was quite entertaining as she told how she lit a fire under the members of her Quaker first family to get busy cleaning the unbelievably dirty Governor's Mansion.

Lyla Young (Maureen Mattos) lived in San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake.  She established an informal "at home" at the Governor's Mansion, where friends and visitors could drop by and listen to the first radio added to the home.

Virginia Knight (Bonnie Hansen) had my favorite costume in a lovely turquoise blue full skirt, sweater set, gloves, hat and pearls.  She and her husband, who she married while he served as governor in 1954, loved to dance.  She predicted the mansion would become a museum and was responsible for mounting photos of all the wives in the front hall.

Bernice Brown, portrayed here by Rae Kiddie, was the wife of Governor Pat Brown, and mother of Governor Jerry Brown.  She was a popular speaker and hostess.

The last of our wives was Nancy Reagan (Cindy Brockway). The Reagans only lived in the mansion for three months, preferring a newer home in a much quieter neighborhood.

We were very pleased with the turnout for the Tea, and the audience definitely enjoyed the presentation.  The actors did a great job, and the costumes were marvelous! Thank you Governor's Mansion Docents!

Our lovely clubhouse may not be as old as the Governors' Mansion, but it has held its share of memories also.  Perhaps someday we can put on a similar presentation with some of our stories.