It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown

School starts today here in our neck of the woods.
I found this cute "Peanuts" book by the late, great Charles Schulz at a thrift store. Back when we were kids, school NEVER started before Labor Day. Who knew back then that that would ever change?
A short summer, indeed.
The book "It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown" is a cute little story about the Peanuts gang and their adventures over the summer. They all went to camp, and the boys kept trying to beat the girls at SOMETHING, but didn't do very well. This left them all feeling rather disgruntled. They did get to roast marshmallows, though:

And generally speaking, Snoopy did better at camp than the rest of the gang - he usually does, right? Better at the marshmallow roasting:
Fixed his own good meals:
Slept in (or rather, on) his own little private tent:
So, as far as the start of school goes, summer is over.
But not technically - not for another month - so at least there is still time for me to hope for an opportunity to enjoy S'mores at some point before summer truly ends.
I miss S'mores.
And, for that matter, I miss Snoopy and Charles Schulz, too.

Colorful 70's Interiors

Rooms from the 70's today - and let's start with my favorite - "Supergraphics" on your wall, from an advertisement for Lucite Paint. Nice chair!

And would you look what I found -the same chair again, this time in an ad for Eureka vacuum cleaners - complete with a cat, this time:

A cool living room - we need all the "cool" we can get, with this summer heat:

A rec room for a family, complete with a 20 foot bean bag sofa, and flooring from Armstrong:

An orange kitchen, also courtesy of Armstrong flooring:

A living room from 1974. Let's nix that end table in the foreground, shall we? It doesn't look right at all. And I want pillows with more punch, too::

Let's call this one "Birds On A Wall". In a bedroom. With inflatable furniture. That's all I'm saying:

I'm outta here.

Scarves And Fabric

I have found some really lovely scarves and fabric lately. The scarf below has a beautiful combination of colors and was made of Viscose in Portugal:
This red-bordered one is silk, I believe:
Gorgeous colors, once again, in the one below that I think is made of wool challis:

Silk again in the next one with roses in gold, brown and silver:

This fabric, below, with roses in blue......

.....has this pretty border at the bottom:

There's enough of it that it could be made into a skirt with that border running along the bottom, and no real need for a hem. A simple elastic waist would suffice, I suppose.
I seriously need to find myself an inexpensive seamstress.
Because this fabric obsession is getting out of hand.

Want. Some. Now.

At a time when I'm certain many of you are reaping the harvests of your wonderful gardens, I, on the other hand can't seem to get my hands on any fabulous home-grown summer tomatoes.
And I don't like it one bit.
I can no longer go to the Farmer's Market, because I work every Saturday morning.
I found this gorgeous original watercolor painting of tomatoes at a thrift store.
"First Crop" was painted twenty-five years ago by an artist named Alma Marie.

What I really want are my favorite little cherry tomatoes - "Sungold", I think? But at this point, I'd settle for any other type - a big juicy "Beefsteak" fresh off the vine would be dandy, thank you.
For now, I guess I will just have to sit and stare at my painting.
Sigh.....

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Sis Lori here today: I found a recipe on Pinterest for some homemade laundry detergent. I don't wash many clothes myself so half of this recipe I will keep for myself and the other half I gave to my daughter and her family. Here are the ingredients:

1  4lb. 12 oz. Box of Borax

1  3lb. 7oz. Box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1  3lb container Oxi Clean

2  14.1oz. bars Zote soap or Fels Naptha

1  4lb. Box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

1-2  55oz. Bottle Purex Crystals Fabric Softener

 I grated the bars of soap and I halved the ingredients to make two separate batches, was a little easier to mix that way. Just add it all in large bowl and stir it up.

 I had 2 of these 10 lb. containers saved from work so 1/2 of recipe fit perfectly, gave one to my DD and save one for myself. The ingredients were only about $20 and all you need is 1-2 tablespoons per load of laundry. This will last me forever and it smells so good. Cleans very well, does not produce much suds at all, but definitely gets your clothes clean!!!!! I also always wash with cold water and that is fine, too.

My load is just done and I love the smell of my clothes!!!!

In Stitches Again

Today's post features even more stitchery finds!
I found a few that are finished. (Can you imagine how much time must have been spent on the big one below? It measures 23 by 27 inches.)

I found a small pair depicting farm scenes:


And, I also found some kits - a lovely sunset scene:

And the cutest little hedgehog EVER:

Look at that little face!
And one more kit with sweet bluebirds and flowers:

I simply cannot seem to resist these things when I find them!

Lovely To Look At

I walked into the thrift store that is practically across the street from where I work. And, what do you suppose I found sitting there on the floor?
This gorgeous deco-style deer, that's what! Twenty-one inches tall, and in perfect condition. Not vintage, but I am sure that whenever and wherever it was first sold, it did not come cheap.

My price? Three dollars.
Come on, you didn't really think somebody who has a huge deer collection would leave this huge deer sitting there on the thrift store floor, did you?
Didn't think so.

River Pines and Cosumnes River, Amador County Postcards

Good morning. Tina here. I am sharing some of my River Pines, Amador County postcards, because I can, and because today is my birthday and I am in control. LOL.

The postcard above shows a very common error, the misspelling of Cosumnes with an extra N.  No, you do not want to consume the Cosumnes.  I have seen this beautiful rock-strewn river misspelled on maps and postcards, and occasionally in books.  

This postcard above shows the old bridge, which is no long there.

One of the fascinating things about River Pines is the old cabins with wonderful rock work abounding in the yards and on the porches.  It looks like each owner tried to outdo the other.  There are rock walls and fences, interesting planters and towers, and rock pillars on homey front porches.

Above is an old postcard on which the writer asks for cooler weather.  So I guess our heatwave we have been having for about a week now isn't that rare after all.  At least the people in River Pines can always go jump in the river.

The River Pines Market.  There are not many businesses here, even now.  The post office and the market, that is about it.

Another view of the lovely, cooling, misspelled river.  It curves gently around River Pines, close, within walking distance of most homes and the highway.

The postcard above seems to be of a little cafe.  I am not sure if it is still there.

The postcard above shows a great shot of some of the rock pillars that are along the road.  A lot of the rock work is worn and some fallen now.

An artist must have lived here.  I am not sure if this home with the wonderful mission mural is still there.  I love the way the artwork has incorporated the rock walls and appears to blend right in with  reality.

Ah, that is the life. You can walk right from your mission and garden to the river.

Looks like a good plan for what will be a hot August day. Take a drive to River Pines and a dip in the river.  Enjoy your day!

More Recent Finds

Once again, I'm here to share some thrift finds. I collect these vintage Whitman books, and I seldom find any in as perfect condition as this Ginny Gordon book:

I found a vintage GE Telechron clock in yellow:

Pretty linens, cookie cutters, a wonky but cute teapot thermometer, a "Burger Press" and a "Tart Master". Lori saw it and mentioned that it would be perfect for cutting your own homemade "Uncrustables', and it's true! It's made to cut 4-inch diameter tart crusts with a fluted edge:

This large coloring book is adorable:

More vintage patterns to add to the pile I'll be selling:

A fantastic set of six vintage paisley trays from one of my favorite companies, Takahashi:

I didn't have one of these old Handi-Choppers, and the colorful pottery bowls have already been put to good use in the kitchen, mostly holding summer fruits and vegetables:

A book that I think just might come in handy:

That's all for today.

Bag O' Trims

I found a bag of trims at a thrift shop. Packaged all together in a big Ziploc bag on which had been written "1970's & 1980's Trims".

If I remember correctly, I paid a dollar, or maybe two.

The bright colors were all I really needed to see.
And home with me they came.