Michael, Where Have You Been?!?!

So, another break in blogging...but I have a good reason!  Look!

I was in my favorite little mountain town, Estes Park, Colorado!  It's so beautiful there.  I saw a quote on a t-shirt while I was there that said "The mountains are calling and I must go." ~ John Muir.  This sums it up perfectly.  I love this little town, and I've been planning a trip there for at least 7 months now.  I can't believe how much fun it was and how fast it went by!  So, today you get to see some photos (don't worry - I'm not posting all 215 photos that I took!).

First of all, as you are driving I-70 through western Kansas and eastern Colorado, this is the view out of your car window...this goes on for hundreds of miles.  It almost is a deterrent from making the trip.  However, I braved my way through the wilderness and made it to paradise...it just took a 12.5 hour car trip.  I'm glad the Buick is so comfortable - the perfect road trip car!

So, my main reason for this trip was to enjoy the mountains and go hiking.  So, here are some hiking views!

First, here is Alberta Falls, one of the easy hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Very beautiful, but very crowded.  I rested here for a bit and traveled on.  I'm seeking seclusion.

I made my way to Mills Lake.  Still several people, but not as many.  I spent a little time here, sitting on the shore and dipping my feet in the icy cold water.  I could build a house here and never be seen or heard from again!

As I got back into town on the second day, I noticed a lot of smoke.  I noticed a little smoke the previous evening, but nothing like this.  From what I found out on the news, there was a fire in Rocky Mountain National Park (in the opposite direction from where I wanted to be, thankfully).  The Cow Creek Fire at Estes Park had a lot of people stopping in their tracks to watch.  All you could see was smoke, so I just snapped a photo and carried on.  The next day you couldn't see the smoke, but the fire was still burning.  From what I've read, anywhere from 800 to 1500 acres of the park was on fire.  They believe that it started from a lightning strike.  It was neat to see the helicopters flying overhead with the big water buckets.

So, after hiking somewhere around 12 miles plus the first day, I had a nasty blister on my big toe.  How?  I don't know...never had a blister on my big toe before.  So, the second day I decided to drive through the park some.  I took highway 34 aka Trail Ridge Road.  The highest continuously paved highway in the US. You can see some of the highway at the right side of the above photo.

I took this photo at the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest point of the road, before traveling on through the park.

I finally made it to the Continental Divide!  It was really neat.  This is the point where water flow changes direction.  The water in the creek on the left will flow, eventually, into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River and into the Gulf of Mexico (part of the Atlantic Ocean).  The water in the creek on the right of the sign will flow into the Colorado River and into the Gulf of California (part of the Pacific Ocean).  I thought it was really neat!

After driving back through the park on day 2, I decided I felt up to a little hiking, so I visited Bierstadt Lake, which was pretty, but I liked the beautiful tall pines that I hiked through even better.

The trail up to Beirstadt Lake was really steep, and when I came across these little Aspen trees I thought for a split second that I was back at Mick's with the miniature trees that surround the Casablanca.  :)

Day 3 brought on my most ambitious hike.  It was my last day before the long car trip home.  I had to make this one good!  Above you see beautiful Bear Lake, so calm and peaceful.  I love the reflection of the mountains and pines in the water.

This hike took me to a few different mountain lakes.  But first, I had to make it to the first one.  Where did my trail go?  After looking around for a little bit and following the tracks of all the other lost hikers, I found my way and continued on.

There were some breathtaking views on this hike!

The third lake that I came to was one of the prettiest.  Fern Lake has an altitude gain of over 2,000 feet from the beginning of the trail, but it is lower than the first two lakes.  I'm tired all over again just looking at the picture!  There were several people fishing in Fern Lake.

As I was about 2/3 of the way through the hike, I came to "The Pool".  Very pretty.  Most of the rest of the hike had me climbing another mountain (and finding me repeating the motto of the Little Engine that Could..."I think I can, I think I can...") and finally I made it back to Bear Lake (this course was a huge 12 mile loop).  I was so sore.  My knee hurt as well as my hip.  Good thing it was the last day!  I feel fine now, but it did take a couple of days...maybe I need to work out and stretch a little more before my hikes...

So, back to Estes Park.  Here is a photo of Elkhorn Drive, which is the main street.  You have to travel through this street to to get to either of the eastern entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park.  Lots of tourist shops on this stretch of road.

The historic Park Theatre.  There is green neon on the tower that is on at night.  There was a shopping mall full of tourist shops next to this up until last fall, when an unfortunate fire took it out and thus brought an end to the Park Theatre Mall.

Across the street from the Park Theatre is an honest to goodness 5 & 10.  It was closed, so I didn't get to go inside, but looking in the windows, it carried everything that I remember the 5 & 10 here in my hometown carrying until it closed due to the competition from Walmart.  This was a nice trip down memory lane.  Next time I go out, I'll have to visit the Estes Park 5 & 10.

 
This may not look like much, but once you know what it is, you'll understand.  This is the intersection of two rivers.  The river to the left is the Big Thompson River and the river on the right is Fall River.  Here they combine and become the Big Thompson River, flowing into Lake Estes and then on through the Big Thompson River and the Big Thompson Canyon.

Estes Park has an incredibly interesting history that I couldn't even begin to touch on the blog.  I will tell you this, if you ever ask me to recommend a vacation destination, I'm gonna tell you "Estes Park, Colorado!"

Finally the time came for me to go home.  Another 12 plus hour car ride.  Oh boy!  About an hour and a half from home, the sky was so beautiful with the sunset that I had to snap a quick picture.

I love that little mountain town, and have considered moving there several times, but every time I come home, to my little house that's nestled in the land where the Ozarks meet the prairies, I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Have a great Wednesday!

Movie Friday: How Green Was My Valley

I apologize for being rushed to create today's post.  I've had this award winning 1941 movie picked out for quite a while, but now that the time has come, I can't thoroughly research it.  Thankfully the YouTube poster did, so below is a copy of the information that was included with the video.

"This story of a Welsh valley's turn-of-the-century descent from pristine paradise to despoiled coal mining region, is told in flashback form by Huw Morgan, an old man who has decided to leave the valley forever. Huw is the youngest in a family of 6 brothers and 1 sister and the film centers on his struggle toward manhood amid conflicting demands of faith, economics, education and family loyalty in a Wales caught in an irreversible shift from a pastoral to an industrialized society. The story, based on the novel by Richard Llewellyn, is accented by an impressive background of Welsh choral music and quaint patterns of speech. Written by Joe Jurca"
 
[IMDB.COM]

Release: 28 October 1941
Running Time: 118 min
Awards: Won 5 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations
Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck
Director: John Ford
Writer: Philip Dunne
Cast: Walter Pidgeon (Mr. Gruffydd), Maureen O'Hara (Angharad), Anna Lee (Bronwyn), Donald Crisp (Mr. Morgan)
Genre: Drama, Family

What's On My Mind?

So, I know that you all are always curious as to what's on my mind!  Okay, I'm making that up...sometimes I can't understand why people follow my blog at all.  But anyway, today I have Estes Park, Colorado on my mind.  I hope that you enjoy looking at these great vintage Estes Park items as much as I did! 

Have a great Thursday!

Please note, I am not an eBay partner, so I do not receive any financial kickback from sharing these with you.

What's My Line? Lucille Ball

I love Lucille Ball!  So, today I'm sharing this great vintage What's My Line clip.  Not much more to add, but I do love Lucy!

Somehow, she doesn't seem to be quite herself here.  She had some rough times though, so maybe this show was filmed at one of those times.  Enjoy the clip!

Everyone Went to Mick's!

Sorry for no post for a few days!  This past weekend I took a road trip to Texas!  Why?  To go to Mick's!  Mick celebrated 5 years of owning the Casablanca Hotel and Resort with a huge 1950s themed party!  Can you spot yours truly in the photo above?

It was a great time, and I'll let Mick tell you all about the activities of the evening on his own at his blog.  I can tell you though, if you weren't there, you missed out!

It was great to meet a fellow blogger, too.  The party started around 5:30 and I didn't leave until almost 1:30 Sunday morning.  Do you know how long it has been since I've been up that late?  Nope, neither do I!  It was a great time, and it was great to meet Mick and see the Casablanca in person.  He's got a really cool place.


After I'd been there for a bit, I took Mick's gift in to him, and he had something for me as well!  Look at this amazing planter for my collection!  Mick gave it to me to celebrate having 50 followers.  Thanks Mick!

He also gave me my very own set of pink flamingos for the Shack!  So, please meet Francine and Pauline!  Here they are, sunning themselves by my antique park bench in the front yard.

Finally, you can't drive down I-44 through Oklahoma and not stop at the Vinita McDonald's!  Supposedly "the nation's largest McDonald's," this amazing restaurant sits over the Interstate!  The building is like a huge bridge.

See the Interstate running under it?  It was a fun place to stop, and watch the traffic moving under you while you ordered, but it was insanely crowded, so I got my food to go.

I got home in time Sunday afternoon to celebrate Father's Day and my parent's 30th wedding anniversary!  It was a busy weekend, but so much fun.

Thanks for inviting me, Mick!

Be sure to catch up on the happenings of Saturday evening on Mick's blog!

Movie Friday: National Velvet

This week, as Mick prepares for his big party down in Texas, I thought I would share a Mickey Rooney movie...Get it? Mick...Mickey? Okay, I'll stop trying to be funny.

So, here's the rundown (straight from Wikipedia):

National Velvet is the story of a twelve-year girl, Velvet Brown, living in Sewels, in Sussex, England, who saves a horse from the knacker's yard and trains it for the Grand National steeplechase, aided by her father's hired hand, a young drifter, Mi Taylor. The fictional horse which Velvet Brown trained and rode in the National is called "The Pie." When she discovers that the Latvian jockey hired to ride the Pie doesn't believe he can win, she disguises herself as a male jockey and rides the horse to victory. Elizabeth Taylor was given "The Pie" as a birthday gift after filming was over.

Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, it's a great classic film!

Have a great Friday!

Vintage Flintstones Commercial

I wonder how this would be accepted if it were from a modern cartoon?  Not too well would be my guess.  Apparently, during it's first season, The Flintstones was sponsored by Winston Cigarettes. 

Now, I'm not saying that I agree with this at all, but it is a piece of historic mid-century Americana, and when I ran across it, I felt like I just had to share it!  Of course, American culture has changed greatly since the introduction of The Flintstones (and so has our knowledge of the danger of smoking).  Back when this came out, many people smoked, and was considered the "in" thing to do.  It's a short little video, just a little over a minute long, so take a moment and check it out!

My Mid-Century Neighborhood...

Today I want to share about my neighbor behind me...the Lutheran Church!  Actually, just behind my house is their parking lot and past that is the grassy area you see here.  To give you an idea of where I was when I took this picture, if you could look a little farther to the left, you would be looking at the back yard of the Shack.

The front part of the church is the original part, with the part to the left being an addition sometime in the 1970s or early 1980s.  I love the mid-century architecture of this building.  From what I have gathered, it was built using Noah's Ark as inspiration.  The walls inside are all square, but on the outside they are angled up from the foundation.  The stone work at the base of the building matches the stone that was used on the Shack.  I love to look for that detail in buildings around town.

I think that it was built around the same time as the Shack, in the late 1950s.  That seems to be the time period this whole neighborhood was constructed.  Of course, there are a few older houses a street over.

So, there ya have it...an amazing piece of mid-century architecture, hidden way back off the beaten path in small town USA.  It isn't even on one of the main roads in town, and if you were new in town, it would take a while to find it unless someone gave you directions!

I have to admit, I felt really awkward walking through the church yard and taking photos of the building.  I'm not sure why.  Of course, I might have felt better if I attended church there.  I've seen some interesting stuff over there on Sunday mornings (I get home from church before they get out).  Who's to say that a church can't be an entertaining neighbor?

Have a great Wednesday!

My First Vintage Dining Chairs

So, yesterday Space Commander over at Atomic Living blog shared photos of his unbelievably cool kitchen.  While looking through the photo tour, I noticed that I had the same kitchen chairs, as well as a couple of other things.

I've already posted about my primary color Pyrex mixing bowls (here) and my vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster (here) and the new one I just got (here).  But, I have not yet shared these chairs.

These chairs are a fun trip down memory lane for me.  Back in my younger days, say about 8 years ago, I was getting ready to move into my first place.  Now, most college kids just rent an apartment, but I couldn't stand the thought of throwing all of that money away on rent!  So, I purchased a mobile home and had it moved into a trailer park for me to fix up live in during college.  Three years later, I had it paid off.  Four years after purchasing it, I had my first teaching job, and I had my sights set on purchasing the Shack.  I sold that trailer for more than a gave for it (a pretty good amount more) and used that money for the down payment on the Shack.  How's that for thinking ahead?  I got my money back out of it and was able to buy a house!

Anyway, the story of the trailer, and the experience of living in a trailer and a trailer park are for another day, although it would be a very colorful story!

Back to the chairs.  When I was in the process of moving into my first place, I knew that I needed furniture.  I was, of course, attending estate sales even then.  I was at a sale that had a fun gray and white Formica and chrome kitchen table that had been used in a shop.  It was in good shape, just needed to have a little surface rust removed from the legs.  I got that table and a great heavy duty mid-century ironing board for $3.  I still use that ironing board.  Now I needed chairs.  I found a set of three of these chairs at a garage sale.

They were solid black, and one of them had the back all bent up.  Two were usable.  There used to be a factory here in town that did chrome plating, so I had a family member that worked there chrome plate the inserts in the back when I disassembled the chairs to repaint the black.  The white vinyl is all original.  They really looked great with that table.  I had the whole table and chair set for around $10 (the chrome plating was free).

I would still be using that set if I hadn't found and purchased my much loved Duncan Phyfe dining table and chairs.  So, the Formica table sits in the shed, and these chairs have been stored in the garage (so they might be a little dirty, even though I wiped them down before taking the pictures).  Someday, when I'm feeling adventurous, I'll dig the table out of the shed and take a picture to share.

Someday, I'm going to have a house with a formal dining room and an eat-in kitchen so that I can have them both out again!

Have a great Tuesday, thanks for sticking with me through a rambling post!

Movie Friday: Robin Hood: Men in Tights

I'm really in the mood for some comedy today, so I decided that Robin Hood: Men in Tights was probably the best way to go.  This hilarious movie dates to 1993.  Vintage? No. Classic comedy? Yes!  I had completely forgotten about Nike pumps until I picked up my copy of this movie in the $5 bin last year.  There are several things in this trailer that I don't remember watching on the DVD copy...maybe I need to check the deleted scenes.

If you want more info on the movie, including the list of actors, click here.

Have a great Friday!  I'm heading out to the lake after work!

Funtiques Market

I mentioned in a few of my posts that I visited an amazing mid-century themed store over the weekend while at my conference.  Today I want to share that store with you.  It is called Funtiques Market, located in Springfield, MO.  I can't find a website for them, but they do have a Facebook page that you can see here.

According to their page:

"Funtiques Market opened April of 2009. We are located at 1135 E Commercial Street in Springfield, Mo. Our hours are Mon - Sat 10 - 5. We specialize in fun retro, deco, mid century, antique and vintage items from the '40s -70s."

I have several photos to share of the kinds of things that you can find in their shop.  Please note, these aren't my photos...I got them from their Facebook photo album.

First of all is the photo above.  This is the amazing sofa that I found that looks like it is new.  They are asking $290 for it.  A great deal, in my opinion!

I believe that all of the above items have sold, at least I can't remember seeing them in their store.  Some of the photos in the album have been marked "sold."  The only one that I'm not sure of is the green sofa in the third picture.

I wasn't too big on this bedroom set, but I loved the bedspread!

I totally loved this crushed velvet headboard.

This four piece sectional was really something.  Something that doesn't fit my taste, but I'm sure that someone will love having it in their home.  What I do love is the tile top coffee table displayed in front of the sectional.

Who wouldn't love having breakfast at this bright and cheery dining set?  I wasn't too sure about it when I saw it in photos, but when I saw it in person, I loved it.  Maybe it would be nice in a three season sun room?

Finally, a little sample of some more Danish style furniture.  They currently have a couple of Kent Coffey dressers (one tall, and the other long with mirror that you see above) for $325 per piece.

The only thing that I know the price on is the orange sofa in the lead photo, but almost everything in the store seemed incredibly reasonably priced.  If you're ever in Springfield, put it on your must visit list.  It's at the corner of Commercial and National!

I'm just thankful that I didn't have my truck with me over the weekend!

Please check out their Facebook page here, there a lots more photos!

Also, you can see their listings on Craigslist here.

Visit their Etsy store here.

Here is a great article another blog did on their store, with many more great photos!

Conference Finds

So, on my way out of town to the conference Friday morning, I run across a sign for a garage sale.  I'm running a little ahead of schedule, so I make a quick trip by.  I picked up a DVD player for the spare room, and the above carafe.  This ceramic carafe is marked on the bottom (c) C. Miller 1957.  I really don't know anymore about it.  I loved the style, and I picked it up for a quarter.

Then, on my 2 hour long lunch break the first day of conference, I went to the shop Funtiques, which specializes only in mid-century goods.  As I said before, I drooled through the whole store, but I restrained myself and only picked up this nice green planter.  There is not manufacturer marking on it that I can find.  It was a bargain for $2.

Then on Saturday, I remembered that I had passed a Salvation Army Thrift shop on my way into town, so on my 2 hour lunch break that day, I ran over there.  There were a few neat mid-century things, like a cool old blender (that I didn't need - again I restrained myself).  I picked up two things here.  First, the above trash can.  I think that I matches the laundry hamper in the bathroom much better than my other metal trash can, so I'm going to switch them out.  It was 30% off day so I was able to get this for $1.40.

I also picked up this fun Tiki piece.  I guess it would be a vase, but I'm not sure.  The design is the same on the front and the back.  Again, there is no manufacturer mark on this either.  I've been thinking that this would be fun to put together with some other things for a fun summer give-away.  Hmmm...time to get creative.

I also bought a big stack of books that date back to the late 1800s through the 1940s at the history and archives sale at the conference.  They are such attractive pieces to use for display.

Have a great Wednesday!

The Rail Haven

So, as I already blogged about, I was at a church conference this past weekend.  The motel that I stayed at, the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven, (which I discovered on this blog has just been added to the National Register of Historic Places) is where I have stayed for the past 4 years.  It was originally cabin style rooms that were connected at some point.  Those rooms are in the back part of the complex.  I stayed in the part that was built in the 1950s, which is pictured above.  Although my room was very modern and comfortable, there were signs of its colorful past as a Route 66 motel.  First of all, you don't see too many of these old single story strip motels still around.  This one was restored in the mid 1990s.  Plus, the building is concrete block which has been stuccoed over.  If there is a tornado while I'm staying at this place, I want to be sure I'm in that concrete block room!

Here's the sign at the intersection:

You can't see it, but the scrolling board under the "Rail Haven" sign said "Welcome Methodists" which was nice since it isn't an official conference motel.  I stay here (and so do a lot of other people attending the conference) because it is closer to the Expo Center and less expensive than most of the official conference motels.

Here's the one thing that really gives away the age of the rooms, and I love it!

The bathrooms are almost all original.  The main change is that the corner wall mounted sinks were replaced with pedestal sinks.  The tub is original, but has had a molded cover placed over it (but the original is still under there...when you tap the plastic, you can hear the metal under).

The gray floor tile is great.  I took this photo if nothing else, to have for reference for my own bathroom some day.

Here you can see a bit of the wall tile, the floor tile, and the tub detail.  I was standing in the doorway when I took this photo (the bathroom is tiny)!  I didn't get a photo of it, but the bathroom also had a window with some of that old fashioned privacy glass with flower like shapes molded into the glass.  Hmmm...gonna have to look into what that glass is called...

Finally, here's the "Standard" toilet.  I think that it's original, judging by the design of the tank.  Anyway, for such a small bathroom, it really had a lot of personality!

I hit up a few flea markets / antique malls / thrift shops as well.  Didn't really get much, but I'll share the couple of things I got tomorrow.

Have a great Tuesday!

Quick Update

Hey everyone!  I'm at a church conference this weekend, so even though I have my laptop with me, I probably won't do a big post until Tuesday. 

I'm at the United Methodist Church Missouri Annual Conference, which is a gathering of all the pastors across the state as well as one lay member from each church.  I'm the lay member from my congregation.  I've been here 5 times!  A lot of people think that it sounds boring, but to me, it is really interesting.  Lots of great worship time, workshops for building your church and deeper growth, and of course, business matters that need to be dealt with (I love the business end of things).  It's quite crowded, with approximately 1,800 people in attendance.  So large that it has to be held in an Expo Center!

I'm at a fun motel that dates back to 1937, right on old highway 66.  My part of the motel was built in the 1950s, and while the motel has been remodeled and is very nice, most of the bathroom is original.  Very cool tub, toilet and tile work!  I've taken pictures, and as soon as I'm home to my desktop computer, I'll share them.

Of course, I have taken time to go to a couple of flea market / antique malls during spare time.  I found one amazing store called Funtiques that only deals in mid-century items.  I walked through the whole store drooling, and left restraining myself very well, only purchasing one beautiful green planter that was in a half-off booth for $2.  Not that I wasn't tempted to bring lots of stuff home.  There were even mid-century bedspreads, drapes, rugs, everything you would need.  A beautiful bedroom set, great sofas and chairs, lamps of course, dinette sets, and starburst clocks (mostly in the below $50 range).  Everything was reasonably priced.  I found an amazing sofa that I loved (but would not go anywhere in my house...too big and wrong color) that looked like it was brand new for $290.  I think that's a steal for a shop!  I'll have to put that shop on my frequent visit list when I'm in town for the conference each year.

Hope you all have had a great weekend!

Entertainment Friday: The Golden Girls

Today I've transformed Movie Friday into Entertainment Friday to remember Rue McClanahan, who passed away yesterday, June 3, 2010.

Here's a link to an article on Yahoo about some of her best roles.

Here are a handful of clips from The Golden Girls along with some bloopers.  Hope you're ready for a good laugh!

**There are a lot of videos here - I just couldn't narrow it down!**

There are some really great clips here!  As always with YouTube videos, click on the title at the top of the video to view it larger at YouTube. (this is also a good way to see a video when Blogger cuts it off on the side because it's too wide for the posting frame)

RIP Rue!

I'm Gonna Buy Me A Mercury...

Ford has issued execution orders for the Mercury brand.  In honor of the 72 year old brand, I'm sharing some beautiful vintage examples.  My favorite?  The M-100 pickup!  I never knew that Mercury built a pickup...but then again, it's a Canadian model...

Please note: I do not receive any financial gain for sharing these with you.

Have a great Thursday!

Mercury Blues

Ford announced today that it plants to kill off the Mercury brand by the end of this year...so in honor of the old girl, here's a little Alan Jackson singing his Mercury Blues!

The "Other" Floor Lamp

When I shared the photos of the things that I got at my elderly friend's estate sale this past Saturday, Mick quickly picked up on the gold floor lamp with the three adjustable lamps.  His comment was "SCORE SCORE SCORE on the little table, the clock, and the floor lamp! That clock will look Amazing hung up in the Shack! id put all 3 things in the den haha."

To which my reply was "Mick, the floor lamp...well, I'm not sure about it. I already have an amazing floor lamp with adjustable lights that I'm going to use in the den. I don't think I've ever blogged about it. I'll share it sometime."

I think the time has come.  So, above you see a photo of the amazing floor lamp that I already have with the three adjustable lamps.  Each lamp is on it's own post, each post a different length.  It's beautiful black with brass accents.  I bought it when I was in high school, over 10 years ago, at a local flea market.  I think I gave somewhere in the $10 - $15 range for it (it's been a few years).  I love that I can adjust the light to just where I want it.

I also know that it is the correct age for my house.  The following scan is from my copy of the Spring and Summer 1960 Montgomery Ward catalog that I have.

You may want to click on the catalog page to enlarge it.  You can see my beautiful lamp on the far left, originally selling in 1960 for $15.95.  Available in black or coffee (brown).  The pole lamp on the far right reminds me of the one that Atomic Living blogged about a few days ago.

So, just for your review, here is a photo of the one that I bought Saturday:

I agree that it's attractive, but I don't think it is quite the show stopper that the black one is.  But, that's just my opinion.  One thing that I do really like about the all brass one is that the shades have a design punched into the metal at the end.

Once again, here is my black lamp:

So, now I ask you, my readers: which adjustable floor lamp do you prefer?

Have a great Wednesday!