Cul-de-sac Shack

Gourmet Trio

2012-01-31T06:00:00.003-06:00

I have completed the set of Gourmet casseroles, I believe. Does anybody know if they were made in any other colors? According the Pyrex Love, the bottom piece was a Winter 1961 promotional piece. It is delphite blue with white paint fired on with a gold leaf design. In the middle is an opal white casserole with black print, and on top is an opal piece with a butterscotch fired on paint and gold leaf design. All three are the 2.5 quart size, and I love the way they look stacked on top of each other in this picture!

Mayer Platter

2012-01-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

I picked up this great atomic patterned Mayer China platter for 75 cents at a flea market recently. It was quite the experience going to that place (I felt like I needed to shower after I left) but they did have a couple of vendors with some great vintage glassware for excellent prices. I picked up this platter and another Pyrex opal white 401 mixing bowl (it was 50 cents). I will probably return to this place occasionally, but it won't be on my regular list of places to shop.

Anyway, from what I can find by looking at Mayer China on the big auction site, it looks like they made restaurant ware (which would explain why this piece is so heavy). I found a lot of pieces that they made for airlines.

I have a small collection of vintage platters that I have picked up for very reasonable prices. I like to use them on the Sunday's that my Sunday School class is required to take snacks for church fellowship. This one will look great piled up with chocolate chip cookies!

Have a great Thursday!

Weekend Finds!

2012-01-24T06:00:00.002-06:00

Imagine my great surprise when I found this vintage revolving artificial Christmas tree stand in it's original box at an antique store over the weekend for only $5!

The box is a little worse for wear, but thankfully the stand shows no signs of damage at all, and it works beautifully. Now, I just need to find a 6' aluminum Christmas tree to put in it for next Christmas!

I found this beautiful blue pitcher in a flea market in a little town of a little under 1,000 people. It was a tiny flea market, but I was happy to find this pitcher, which matches the glasses I already have. Actually, I have a set of the matching glasses in both blue and green. This was $4.

Finally, I found this set of 4 glasses for $1.25 at yet another flea market in another small town. The pattern on these molded glasses matches the Kimberly pattern on my Fire King mugs... I believe these are part of the Kimberly family. Can anyone confirm this?

Have a great Tuesday! I've shared some of my recent Pyrex finds over at The Pyrex Collective today. Why not check them out?

RIP Etta

2012-01-20T17:43:00.000-06:00

As I am sure many of you have heard, the amazing Etta James passed away today. Such an amazing voice! She will be missed.

BLACKOUT

2012-01-18T06:42:00.000-06:00

CLICK HERE.

Minny's Chocolate Pie

2012-01-16T06:00:00.004-06:00

Anybody who has either read the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett, or watched the movie made from the book, knows that the whole thing hinges on a chocolate pie made by a maid named Minny.

A quick search on the internet turned up the recipe used to make all of the 53 different pies baked for the filming of the movie. You can see it here.

So, having never baked a pie in my life, I set out for the store yesterday afternoon to gather the required ingredients (what single guy keeps unsalted butter and evaporated milk in his house?)

Anyway, it gave me a chance to give my pink Pyrex pie plate a feature role in this production, with supporting roles played by primary green, red, and blue bowls.

The end result was absolutely incredible. We always make chocolate pudding pies in my family (which I love) but this was so different. The scent of the pie filled up the house and waiting for it to cool so we could cut into it was nothing short of torture. I give this recipe 5 stars (if I can make it and have it turn out so well, surely anybody can!). Be sure to check it out through the link above.

Weekend Thrifty Find

2012-01-09T06:00:00.005-06:00

I picked up these Maple Leaf pattern stoneware plates at a thrift store Saturday, after the estate sale I visited. They are stoneware and have a great texture on them. The cashier at the thrift store felt them and said "you're not going to eat off these are you?" I told her that of course I was. They are food and dishwasher safe. In fact, I picked them up mostly because my grandma has a set of them, and I love the style. The ones I have found online are marked Harmony House (Sears) which is a different marking than on the back than these. I looked all over the store for more pieces to the set, but all I found were the six dinner plates and the solitary saucer. I use mismatched saucers like this for spoon rests when I am cooking. I'm not a big fan of spoon rests. With a saucer, I can just toss it in the dishwasher and not worry about it.

Anyway, does anybody recognize this maker's mark? It looks like a stylized SR to me. The ones I have found online with the Harmony House marking are apparently from 1971. I'm just trying to figure out if these are also from 1971 with a different marking or if they might be a little newer.

Have a great Monday!

Turquoise Riddle

2012-01-07T16:04:00.001-06:00

I found this large bowl at an estate sale this morning. When I first saw it, I thought it was plastic, but was puzzled why a plastic bowl would have such a price. When I picked it up, I quickly discovered it was glass. High quality milk glass like Pyrex. Unfortunately it is unmarked on the bottom.

The bowl is 4 inches tall and 10 inches wide. It has a high quality fired on paint finish like you would find on a piece of Pyrex. The only difference is that the fired-on finish is on the inside as well (reminds me of a piece of Hazel Atlas). The white splatter paint on it is raised and easily felt when touched.

It is my hope that one of my readers will be able to identify this mysterious piece. Any help at all is appreciated!

Thrifting With Mick and Pat!

2012-01-02T06:00:00.014-06:00

This past Friday, I traveled to Kansas City, or more specifically, Independence, to meet up with Mick (of Everyone Goes to Mick's) and his girlfriend Patricia. We spent the day hitting up every thrift shop we could find (probably somewhere around 8 or 9 of them) as well as an antique place. I also introduced Mick and Pat to one of my favorite places to shop for new stuff - Gordmans! When I found out that neither of them had been to Gordmans before, we had to stop.

But firstly, when we met up, we exchanged vintage goodies that we had found for each other. Mick got me this great Pyrex Zodiac casserole complete with it's original lid. According to Pyrex Love, this was manufactured for the holidays in 1961.

Once we hit the road, we spent between 5 and 6 hours thrifting. Here are the deals I found!

Of course, Pyrex was on the must-find list. Here are the pieces that I collected. A mug and a cup. The cup looks to be a pattern called Tiburon - 49 cents for the one with gold print, 24 cents for the mug with the black print. A Butterfly Gold fridgie for $1.99. Next, one of my two favorite finds of the day - an unmarked Opal Pyrex bowl in the 1 1/2 pint (401) size for $1.99. Lastly, a Compass divided dish, which I already have, but it was on sale - original price was $4.98, but it was orange tag week, so I picked it up for 98 cents!

This great piece of depression glass was 99 cents.

This serving platter was made by Stetson and was $2.98.

My other favorite find of the day was this Franciscan Madeira platter. It was the most expensive piece I bought all day, but felt that at $6.98, I was still doing okay. It looks like it is brand new. And, although my pictures don't do it justice, this pattern looks to me like it is a lot newer than it really is.

This stainless tray with walnut handles was a great find at $2.98. This beautiful mid-century piece needs just a bit of polishing up. The back is marked "Scanli Stainless Steel 18-8 Denmark."

I love those plastic tumblers you find in restaurants. Now, I have one of my own. It was a quarter.

Another Pyrex piece that seems to evade me quite often is the "Bake a Round". It was half off as well, so I was able to pick it up for $2.49.

This poor little sugar canister was $1.50. It needs a good bath, then it will be repurposed. I see it in the bathroom holding all those little soaps and shampoos that I pick up at hotels when I travel and then use when I go camping and on the week-long mission trip with my church each summer.

Of course, it was a great time to pick through Christmas remnants for a big discount. The above piece (anybody know what to call it?) is one of those things that is so retro-tacky that I just couldn't pass it up. It will now go into Christmas decoration rotation - hopefully to see some use next year. On sale, I got it for $1.50.

My grandma used to have one of these wreathes that she made many years ago. This one had been priced at $6.98, but the store had all Christmas items reduced to 98 cents each - no matter what (they sold a lot of Christmas trees that way). This will go into rotation as well.

One last find will wrap up Friday's finds. I love old lithographs like this. They make me feel so happy and relaxed. Can't you just imagine yourself sitting under that big tree on a warm spring day, watching and listening to the water going through the mill? Sounds like heaven to me! Anyway, this piece, titled "The Old Mill," is a nice 16" by 20" piece that was half off, so I got it for 49 cents.

After a full day, we left Independence to go to Legends Mall across the state line in Kansas for dinner at Outback, after which I split up from Mick and Pat to return to my little house in southwest Missouri, and Mick and Pat went back with his family on their vacation.

The thrifting bug still had me on Saturday, so I traveled to a town about 25 miles from here and hit up their thrift shops and flea markets. Here are my Saturday finds:

A set of four spaghetti glasses for $2.00. One of them has been a little hot and the rubber melted a little, but not badly. I have wanted some of these for a long time, but I never find them in my budget.

This little Pyrex Spring Blossom butter tub was on sale for 75 cents at a flea market. I think that it might just be perfect for putting a cheese ball in the next time I go to a party.

Lastly, I picked up this great tidbit tray / server. A little research reveals that it was made by Kromex, although this piece isn't marked as such. The handle on it is a golden color. It is in amazing condition and since it was half off, I picked it up for $1.50.

Thanks for sticking through such a long post. I haven't done one of these "look what I found" posts in ages. I hope you all had a great New Year's weekend! Happy 2012!

Identification, Please?

2011-12-29T06:00:00.004-06:00

A lady at my church knows how much I love vintage goodies. We are usually at the same estate auctions, and spend a lot of time chatting with each other while waiting for the items we want to be sold. Recently she told me she had a set of glasses she wanted to give me, so I went by and picked them up. What she gave me are these six gold leaf beauties.

The design on them is attractive, and in great condition overall. The only problem is, I don't know who made them or what the pattern name is, if it has one. I know there are some collectors of glassware that follow my blog, so today I'm asking you to take a look at these and see if you can tell me anything about them.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Putting the Pyrex to Work!

2011-12-26T06:00:00.005-06:00

Some of my huge collection of vintage Pyrex was put to good use for Christmas. I'm not a great cook, unless you want boxed macaroni and cheese and frozen pizza for Christmas dinner. So, I took some of my vintage Pyrex over to Mom and Dad's and Mom put it to good use. Here it is in action!

Can you spot it all?

First up, corn casserole in a 2.5 quart Golden Poinsettias promotional.

Next, hot rolls in a 404 4 quart Golden Leaf promotional.

Finally, broccoli and rice casserole in a 2 quart Holiday Casserole promotional.

I hope you all had a great Christmas!

Glory to God in the Highest!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.004-06:00

On this, the day of our Savior's birth, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. May you and your family know true peace and happiness today. If you are traveling today, I pray for travel mercies for you.

Where ever you may be, Rejoice! For today is the day our Savior came into this world to save us all!

Luke 2: 1-14 NIV

The Birth of Jesus

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.
⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

    ⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord.¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
    ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
    ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T15:17:00.000-06:00

I don't usually have time to put Christmas decorations up until after I get out for Christmas break. That trend held true this year. So, I didn't go overboard decorating. Just a few things in the dining room and I called it good. So, here they are:

Pretty simple this year. I just got the aluminum 4 foot tree at an auction this fall. It was $35 (which is more than I normally spend, but much cheaper than antique store prices). It is decorated in vintage red and gold ornaments in honor of Pittsburg State's national championship victory. I have filled a couple of Pyrex bowls with ornaments (the green dot square bowl was part of my Christmas present from Mick over at Everyone Goes to Mick's). I also had to put up my ceramic tree. Aside from some small pieces, that's it! Merry Christmas!

Carol Countdown - Silent Night

2011-12-24T06:00:00.004-06:00

I have made it a tradition here on the blog to share the same post each Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here is this year's Christmas Eve post, along with today's carol, Silent Night.

Tonight we continue family tradition, heading to church for Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion at 6:00 which always ends with the congregation holding candles and singing Silent Night. Then we're heading over to Grandma's house for dinner afterward. We have done this all of my life. Grandma's now 91 years old, and we provide the food instead of her, but we still meet at her house.

This year's version of Silent Night is sung by the amazing Susan Boyle. I absolutely love listening to her sing.

Merry Christmas!

Carol Countdown - Home for the Holidays

2011-12-23T06:00:00.010-06:00

Today's song, Home for the Holidays, is the fun version that T-Mobile used for their big Christmas production this year. Something about this song makes me feel so relaxed. This version was beautifully put together. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I don't know how many times I have watched it since I first came across it a couple of weeks ago.

Merry Christmas!

Carol Countdown - Angels We Have Heard on High

2011-12-22T06:00:00.006-06:00

I love singing this song in church each year. Then again, I love singing Christmas songs each Sunday during the Christmas season. Today's version of Angels We Have Heard on High is sung by David Archuleta. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Congratulations, Gorillas!

2011-12-21T11:00:00.003-06:00

This past Saturday, my alma-mater, Pittsburg State University of Pittsburg, KS, won the Division II NCAA National Football Championship. I want to take a moment to congratulate the Gorillas and share some Gorilla pride! Below is the video of the celebrations in Pittsburg when the team arrived home Saturday evening. I was in Pittsburg a few hours before to pick up my national champions shirt, but other commitments kept me from being able to join in the celebrations. Oh well. It looks like it was an exciting gathering!

Here's a pic of me with one of my coworkers wearing our new Gorilla gear to work on Monday. The quote in smaller print at the bottom of the shirts says "Not too bad for a team picked 5th in the conference."

GO-RILLAS!!!!!

Carol Countdown - Carol of the Bells (Updated)

2011-12-21T06:00:00.003-06:00

I am celebrating the first day of Christmas vacation by sharing one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs with you. I have loved Carol of the Bells for so long. I have yet to find a version that I don't care for. Today I'm sharing a few different versions. First, something from my rock n' roll side, a version by August Burns Red. What a great beat!

Next, a more traditional version by the Vienna Boys Choir. I absolutely love this version!

Third is this unreleased version by Thrice. This just might be my favorite of all.

Merry Christmas!

Carol Countdown - Mele Kalikimaka

2011-12-20T06:00:00.002-06:00

It's the last day of school this year! On this day the teachers are just as excited as the kids!

Today's song for Carol Countdown is Bing Crosby's "Mele Kalikimaka". Ah, spending Christmas in Hawaii, what a wonderful thought! If I did that I might never come home though. So, in Missouri I will stay!

Merry Christmas - or should I say - Mele Kalikimaka!

Carol Countdown - We Wish You a Merry Christmas

2011-12-19T06:00:00.004-06:00

I'm finally starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel - until January 2 at least. A day and a half, and Christmas vacation will begin. To count down the days until Christmas, I'm sharing some Christmas songs. I'm starting the party out with The Muppets singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (last night's post was an "oops! clicked on the wrong button!" post - so, you get an extra song this week). I love this version because of the little extras that Miss Piggy puts in during the verse about figgy pudding. Piggy pudding? Ha!

I hope you all are enjoying the Christmas season and are not too rushed. Don't forget to sit back and remember the real reason for this season!

Merry Christmas!

Carol Countdown - Mute Monks - Hallelujah Chorus

2011-12-18T19:46:00.001-06:00

I stumbled across this version of the Hallelujah Chorus a couple of years ago. It's so much fun. I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Merry Christmas!

It's Been Six Months

2011-11-22T06:49:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that it has been six months since our neighbors in Joplin endured that horrific tornado. Rebuilding has begun, and parts of Joplin are starting to look normal as business are reopening in new buildings. Here's a music video on the Miracle of Human Spirit shot using video from the Joplin tornado. Have a great day!

In Memory...

2011-11-13T19:29:00.000-06:00

15 years ago today, on November 13, 1996, my grandma (Granny) passed away. I can't believe that she has been gone more than half of my life! If she were alive today she would be 92 years old. I miss you, Granny.

Also, I would like to apologize for my prolonged absence. I have been given extra duties at work which often have me working 12 hour days. By the time that I drive 30 miles home, all I want to do is eat dinner and go to bed. I promise that I haven't forgotten you all, and that I will be back soon with new posts.

Missouri Michael

10 Years - God Bless America

2011-09-11T07:38:00.002-05:00

On this tenth anniversary of the terrible events in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, I am keeping things simple. Here's a little classic Kate Smith singing the classic "God Bless America" and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Also, I feel that the iconic Budweiser Clydesdale commercial from the 2002 Super Bowl is appropriate to share as well.

The Limit

2011-09-06T06:00:00.003-05:00

In the few minutes of spare time I can squeeze in, I read young adult books so that I can make recommendations to my middle school students. I usually enjoy these easy, fun reads. Occasionally I come across one that I don't get in to, but overall they are pretty good.

This weekend, I read a book that I purchased at the school book fair last week. The Limit by Kristen Landon is set in a world much like our own. However, the government has set up debt limits for each family. If your family goes over their limit, several options exist. One of these options is that the oldest child is taken to a workhouse where they are educated and work to help repay the debt their parents have created. This is the option that is chosen for the main character, Matt.

I'm not going to give anything else away. If you are curious, check the book out. Overall, I would give the book an A-. The book kept my interest and I finished it quickly, which is a good thing. Occasionally I have a book that I nearly have to force myself to pick up. However, while the book is good, it is not as good as some books that I have read, thus the A- scoring.

Check out the book trailer below:

And, if you want to know what the very best young adult book that I have ever read is, check out this video:

Have a great Tuesday!

Joplin Update

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

I plan to periodically provide updates on the rebuilding of Joplin after the devistating EF5 tornado took out a huge chunk of the city on May 22. Here's a video from earlier this week about a business that has completely rebuilt and is open again in their former site, all in three months.

It has been quite a summer as the efforts of clean up and then the beginning of the rebuilding efforts have begun. However, I am proud to claim this part af the country. The people have been upbeat and positive throughout the summer. They are so appreciative of all the volunteers, and the transformation since May 22 is nothing short of a miracle. I am excited to share that Joplin is beginning to rebuild! Even after losing several schools, they were able to renovate existing spaces in the city over the summer and begin school on time. Sometime soon I will share a video of the new 11th and 12th grade high school building - it's in an empty department store!

So, here's the video of perhaps the first business to have rebuilt and reopen in the same location:

Have a great Friday!

Ebay Addict

2011-08-23T06:00:00.005-05:00

So, what happens when a teacher has a little time at home alone (like about 2 weeks over the summer - and you all thought we got three months).

Well, this teacher had too much time to check eBay for Promotional Pyrex goodies! Here's what a little time searching and several clicks of the mouse landed me:

Let's see, top to bottom: an 8 inch square baking pan. I have never seen one with a straight gold line on it before. The gold line is on all four sides. Next, a Holiday 1960 promotional 2 quart casserole, and lastly a 1959 Golden Tulip promotional 2 quart casserole.

Next up, a 1.5 quart Empire Scroll (Vines) promotional casserole and a 2.5 quart Charcoal Snowflake casserole.

Top: a yellow Desert Dawn pie plate, a 2.5 quart black and white casserole which I do not know the name for. However, it is very similar to the 2.5 quart Gourmet promotional casserole. This piece had its original stand. I have been wanting this piece for a long time, and finally a good deal came my way on eBay. It has it's original lid and cradle. The best part about this piece is that it is Delphite (blue) Pyrex, which has been painted white on the outside and then had the gold decoration painted on.

But wait, there's more! Once again, top to bottom: a 1959 Compass promotional divided server, a Musical Staff promotional baker (not in the best shape) and lastly, a Spring 1958 promotional piece - Rooster Black 2 quart baking dish with a cork handled cradle.

Wow! Eleven new pieces, most of which are promotional pieces. Nine of them came from eBay, two of them (the yellow pie plate and the red Holiday casserole) were local purchases. I call that success!

However, I must do something to curb this addiction...

Have a great Tuesday!

AMC Cars for Sale

2011-07-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

No, they aren't mine. I don't know the people selling them. But, it sure was fun looking up all the old AMC's! I thought since I did the AMC post yesterday, I'd follow up for Friday with a little eye-candy that you could put in your own driveway if you so desire. FYI - I do not gain any profit for sharing these with you, nor do I gain any profit if you purchase one of these cars or anything else from clicking into eBay this way.

Have a great Friday!

The Giant Killer

2011-07-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

I don't know why I am so fascinated with American Motors. I have always been a huge GM fan. I love my Buick. Maybe it's the company name: American Motors. No question about it, they are American cars. They lasted through most of the 1980s, before they finally bacame part of Chrysler. The only nameplate to survive from American Motors it Jeep.

So, today, enjoy these two fun videos on 1966 American Motors.

Comparing an American Motors vehicle to a Cadillac? Yes, they did!

Oddly enough, I really like this 1966 Rambler Classic Wagon. It's styling is attractive and not awkward like AMC vehicles became in the 1970s (although I do like their 1970s designs, they just weren't well thought out for main-stream car buyers in my opinion).

Of course I can't mention Rambler and Cadillac in a post without also sharing this fun video of the Playmates song Beep Beep (The Little Nash Rambler) as sung by a Cadillac and a Rambler.

Have a great Thursday!

Comment Issues?

2011-07-24T10:41:00.001-05:00

Just wondering if I'm the only person having issues with Blogger on commenting on other people's posts? Of course, if there is an issue for everyone, you won't be able to comment here... HMMM....

It keeps wanting me to choose my profile, and won't accept that I'm logged in to Blogger already. I have had this issue in the past, and it has been my computer. I normally run CCleaner and it cleans the junk off my computer and I am able to comment again, but that hasn't helped this time.

Any suggestions?

** After a little more digging, this appears to be an issue with Internet Explorer. When I use Firefox, I can comment all that I want. Any suggestions on getting IE to let me comment again?

Chicken Annie's

2011-07-21T06:00:00.015-05:00

Mick's girlfriend, Patricia, with the Chicken Annie's sign

In my recent post about Mick's visit, I mentioned that we had dinner at Chicken Annie's. JKaye asked for more information on Chicken Annie's, and I'm always happy to share my favorite restaurant with people!

The following information came from the Chicken Annie's Girard webpage, which is a secondary location of the restaurant.

"The History of Chicken Annie's

Ann Frances Rehak met Charlie Pichler in 1914, when she left home to do the housework at the Pichler's. In the early 1900's the only work available to young ladies was housework. Ann and Charles were married on April 28, 1917.

They started their married life in a three-room house in Yale, a mining camp called No. 13, five miles north of Pittsburg and 31/2 miles east. Charley was a miner and worked in several of the area mines. Out of this union, four children were born: Ann Irene, Wilma, Carl, and Louella.

Charley was in a mine accident in March 1933 at 24 Western. He was severely injured, one leg was crushed and the other had to be amputated below the knee. It was now up to Annie to become the breadwinner of the family. For a short while she worked as a seamstress for the WPA, which was a government project during the depression. Then she started selling ham and veal cutlet sandwiches for 15¢ and home-brew. This was during prohibition days and many of the foreigners made their own wine, whiskey, and home-brew.
Ann started serving chicken dinners in a small way in 1934. In the beginning she raised her own chicken, but as the demand became greater, she purchased chickens from neighboring farms. She also raised peppers and pickled them. Her chicken dinners consisted of three pieces of chicken, German potato salad, cole slaw, a strip of pickled pepper, a slice of tomato, and bread, all for 75¢. All of the preparation of the food was done by hand -- the chickens were slaughtered, dressed, and breaded. While Anne took care of the purchasing, cooking, finances, etc., Charley did some of the preparing of the food and was also the bartender and cashier.

The road leading off the highway to get to Chicken Annie's was a dirt road -- in the winter and during rains, huge ruts formed and made traveling difficult, but it didn't seem to deter customers. In fact, many made the remark they enjoyed the drive into the country as it was like coming home.

The Restaurant became known as Chicken Annie's at the suggestion of Dr. Scott, from Fort Scott. Saturday nights were quite lively as the customers not only enjoyed their meal, but also could drink beer and dance to the jukebox. As the business grew the little three-room house had to be remodeled and several rooms were added. People would come out and had to wait, with the picnic tables and big yard, they didn't mind.

In 1961, Annie and Charley retired, passing the business on to their daughter, Louella, and her husband Louis Lipoglav, and their son, Carl and his wife, Rosemary. By 1972, the country home was no longer adequate for the prospering business. A new building was built down the street from the old Pichler house. Carl and Rosemary left the Chicken Annie's Original to help their son, Anthony, establish Pichler's Chicken Annie's, located south of Pittsburg. In 1971, Louis and Louella purchased the Girard location formally known as the "Sunflower Tavern & Chicken Dinners" in Ringo from Louis's mother, Mary Pistotnik.

On May 10, 1978, Charley died and Annie passed away on September 25, 1991, leaving the family tradition to their children and grandchildren."

Chicken Annie's was featured on The Travel Channel's show Food Wars about a year and a half ago. There is another chicken restaurant, Chicken Mary's, that sits 300 feet from Annie's. I'm not discussing Mary's, as I am an Annie's die-hard.

Anyway, I wanted to find a video from Food Wars to embed in my post, but the video isn't available to embed. To see some of the best fried chicken you will ever find in your life, check out this link to the Food Wars video on Chicken Annie's.

** Edit 7/21/2011 12:00PM **

I found the video in an embedable version! See it below!

Enjoy! Now I'm going to have to drive a half hour to get some of the best fried chicken ever!

Removing Calcium Deposits

2011-07-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Recently when I shared my latest Hull finds, suzieQ asked how I go about removing those nearly impossible calcium deposits, which were pretty bad on the pink Hull bird planter.

I failed to get a before picture of the planter, but the build-up was some of the worst I have ever come across.

To remove the deposits, I needed a few things. First, my nice deep kitchen sink. Second, a bottle of CLR cleaner. Third, a magic eraser. Lastly, plenty of water.

I stopped up the sink, poured a decent amount of CLR in, and filled it up with nice hot tap water. Finally, I put the piece to be cleaned in. Make sure there is enough water in the sink to cover the piece you are cleaning. I let the piece sit in the cleaner for quite a while (I don't remember exactly how long, it was somewhere between 12 and 24 hours). Keep checking the piece periodically and rubbing the areas of concern with the magic eraser. The calcium will rub off eventually!

Hopefully you have a nice double-bowl sink like me, so that you still have use of at least part of your sink.

Good luck!

P.S. Next time, I will try to remember to get pictures of the whole process. I realize this post is rather boring without any photos.

Junking with Mick

2011-07-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Saturday of Mick's visit we visited several antique malls and flea markets, scouring them for great mid-century deals. I've really been cutting back lately, so my purchases were on the light side. Still, I found some great things!

Planters! Who would have guessed?! LOL! The little grey one sits on my bathroom counter, and is the container that gets to hold my watch, ring, and bracelet at night. The pink piece is a fixture on my dining table, and the orange planter is adding some color to my coffee table, along with the green planter that Mick brought me.

The things that weren't planters were kitchen things. I picked up two Marcrest Daisy Dot dinner plates for $1.98 each for my sister who collects it at the D.A.V. Thrift Store, the chrome Penguin hot/cold server for $3.00 at an antique mall / flea market, and the two little oblong blue Pyrex 700 pieces were $5.99 for the pair at an antique mall.

I was very excited about the Penguin server, as I now have one in chrome as well as the rare copper colored one that I picked up last fall.

I think they look great together!

Have a great Friday and a relaxing weekend!

The Company Came!

2011-07-07T06:00:00.003-05:00

Remember my posts about preparing for company? I kinda didn't mention who was coming. So, here he is (and his girlfriend!). Mr. Mick of Everyone Goes to Mick's and his girlfriend Patricia.

We had a wonderul time visiting and going to dinner at Chicken Annie's on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning, bright and early we were up going out to hit up the local antique shops and flea markets. I found some great pieces that I'll share with you tomorrow. We finished our time together by going to watch Cars 2 at the local drive-in theater. It was a blast! I certainly look forward to future visits from them!

Mick even came with some gifts! Take a look at this awesomeness!

The school sign from the schoolhouse on the set of Tom Sawyer. Mick named the school after the one-room school that my grandma taught in back in the 1940s. He also brought a great green planter (as many of you know, I have an ever growing collection of planters - they have so many uses!), a stone that he hand painted and has a little picture of his cabin, a postcard for the Glenn Miller Band, and an avocado green Ice-O-Mat to go with my avocado green kitchen.

Thanks for coming to visit, Mick! Y'all come back now, ya hear?

My Favorite Piece of Furniture

2011-07-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

We all have that piece of furniture in our homes that is our absolute favorite. Many of you have pieces of Hey-Wake that most likely is your favorite piece of furniture. While I have a beautiful Hey-Wake bedroom set that I do love, it isn't my favorite. My favorite is my little drop-leaf Duncan-Phyfe style dining table and chairs.

While most mid-century lovers go crazy over blonde furniture, I have filled my house with dark wooden furniture. Mahogany is my absolute favorite. That love of dark wood furniture combined with my love of having my home be a little more formal in appearance makes my Duncan-Phyfe style dining set a natural choice. It took a while to find the right piece. The dining room in the Shack is 8' by 8' approximately; not exactly the kind of space to hold a large dining set.

The set that I finally purchased for $125 is a small set that fits perfectly in the space. The home it came out of was a 1950s ranch with a similar sized dining room, and it was perfect in there. I purchased it from the lady who accidentally bought it at the estate auction (don't ever raise your hand to wave at someone while there is bidding going on - it can be costly!).

I love the formality of the legs on the table, and the fact that it is a drop-leaf. When you need to seat large numbers of people, you can. When you just need a place for one or two, leave it folded up and push it over to the wall, giving a small space a larger feel.

While I like the lyre-back style chairs most frequently associated with this style of table, I like that this set has a little bit of a modern feel. Since it is from the 1950s, the chairs have a much more simple shaped back. Perfect for my taste. The dark reddish-brown fabric on the chairs is original. I'd say that the original owner hardly ever used this set.

Finally here is a little more of a view of the dining room. Please ignore the boxes stored in the corner on the left. I always bring my personal posessions home from school for the summer so that they don't accidentally disappear, and this corner was the only place I had to put them.

What's your favorite piece of furniture in your home?

The Kitchen at the Shack

2011-07-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

Last fall several people were sharing pictures of the kitchens in their mid-century homes. I finally got around to taking pictures of mine. Considering the room is approximately 8' by 10', there is only one angle that you can really see it from.

My house is an open-concept floor plan, which for this area, was very ahead of it's time when the house was built in the late 1950s. My living room, dining room, and kitchen are all one big open area, seperated by a couple of half-walls.

Since the living room is done in the colors of avocado green, burnt orange and brown, the kitchen and dining room are in keeping with this. I painted the two walls in the kitchen a color from Sherwin Williams called "Brassy" which really looks like good-old avocado to me. I love the way it looks.

Here's the view from the living room.

And the view from the hallway.

Looking from the hallway through the kitchen, dining room and living room toward the door to the garage.

One last view of the kitchen. Small but efficient!

Have a great Tuesday!

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T06:00:00.020-05:00

I had today's post all written and scheduled to be published when I came across this video. I felt this was a great way to go with today's post. Enjoy this video of soldiers reuniting with their families. Being a teacher, the clips with kids (and there are many) really got to me. Be warned - you will cry.

Have a great 4th of July! The post that I shared yesterday was the original post I had created for today. If you didn't see it, check it out - it's Kate Smith singing The Star Spangled Banner.

I'll end today with a quote from one of my favorite presidents. "America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." ~ Harry S Truman.

Always remember - there is NO period after the S in Harry S Truman. The S is actually his middle name. There's a bit of trivia for ya!

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

2011-07-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Enjoy this recording of the classic Kate Smith singing The Star Spangled Banner. Of course, the pitcure of Rosie the Riveter is perfect for this video. What's more American than that?

Wishing you and your family a beautiful holiday as we celebrate our nation's birth! Have fun and be safe!

Time for some fireworks and homemade ice cream!

Hull Finds

2011-07-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

I've recently acquired a few new pieces of Hull. A three piece set of birds - Swans? in a green finish, and a pink bird planter that I haven't come across before. The green set is like new, but the pink piece needs some elbow grease. It was used for a long time and has some calcium deposits and paint specks on it. Still, I love the shape! Anybody else ever come across a Hull piece like the pink one?

Have a great Saturday!

I Want a 1957 Chevy Turboglide!

2011-07-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

I love these old car commercials that are constantly being added to YouTube. The first one is for my favorite car of all time, the 1957 Chevrolet. This is an ad for the extra-cost TurboGlide transmission. Ah, what I'd give to have one of those sitting in the driveway of the Shack!

While the convertible would be amazing, I have a feeling that the station wagon (the SUV of yesterday) would much more likely have been what sat in the driveway of the Shack. Still, I would be happy to have one of those as well. I've always liked station wagons!

Have a great Friday! It's the last day of Summer School! Yay!

Movie Friday: Ben Hur

2011-06-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

Wow, five blog posts in one week! Maybe I'll finally get back into the hang of this (or maybe I'll start writing all of my posts on one night like I did this week - whatever works)!

It's time to get back into the routine of Movie Friday. I'm getting to the point that I have gone through my classic movie collection, so it is getting a little more difficult to come up with movies!

Today I'm sharing a classic from 1959, Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston. This winner of 11 Academy Awards is set in 26 AD and follows a wealthy merchant from Jerusalem. The film has a great plot, which has too much depth for me to share here. If you would like to read more about the movie, you can find a detailed account of it on Wikipedia (here).

Have a great Friday and a relaxing weekend!

Tomorrow's the Day!

2011-06-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

My company is going to be here tomorrow. I thought this video was appropriate. The Ozark Jubilee, which this clip comes from, was filmed about 80 miles from here. Totally fitting in my opinion!

Have a great Thursday!

Would You Be My Neighbor?

2011-06-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned on Monday, my neighbors have put their house up for sale. This means that there is only one house out of nine on my block that hasn't been for sale in the past 5 years. It also means that when the one next door sells, only one person will have lived on the loop longer than I have (and she and her late husband have been here as long as their beautiful 1960s brick rancher).

So, here's the place that's for sale next door. Before you get all excited about it though, when the elderly couple that lives there now bought it 6 years ago, they completely ripped out the original kitchen and bathroom and updated them. So, it's a nice house, but missing some of the best original features. After talking with the people that live there now, I found out that it had a pink and black bathroom. Now it's builder grade white. Sigh. The best feature of the place, in my opinion is the nice shop in the back yard. Otherwise, I think I prefer the Shack. My house may be 120 square feet smaller and short one bedroom, but my lot has more trees and is 10 feet wider. I'll take the smaller house to have the larger yard.

Look closely for the yellow house in the background of these photos (to the left in the first photo and to the right in the second photo), and you'll catch a glimpse of the Shack!

Click on any photo to see it larger. Have a great Wednesday!

Get Your Kicks

2011-06-21T14:00:00.001-05:00

On Route 66.

Living just a short drive of about 20 miles from the mother road, I felt this was fitting for my area as well as the era that we all love so much. I completely forgot that this song mentioned Joplin, MO in the lyrics, and with all they have endured over the past month (and all they are going to have to endure for quite a while to come) it reminded me of better times in Joplin, and in the better times to come.

Hope you all are having a great day!

Company's Coming!

2011-06-20T20:52:00.000-05:00

Emotions are so strange when company comes to visit. You're excited to see them and can't wait for them to get here. Then there's that, oh crud, the house is a mess feeling. I hate that part of it. Tonight I managed to power wash the house. I hate that so much, and I skipped it altogether last year. I paid for that decision tonight though, the yellow siding of The Shack was almost the same color as my green shutters in some places. Never fear, after a couple of hours scrubbing away, the house looks great. Or as good as it can at the moment. I'm having the wooden soffits replaced with vinyl and new guttering as well this summer. So, the old wood has some bad places in it and a couple of pieces have been taken down in anticipation that I would have replaced them with new wood. I even have the new wood cut and painted and ready to put in place, but I don't want to mess with it again, so I'm going with vinyl. Once that is done, the outside of the house will be completely maintenance free. Yay!

Yet another house has been listed for sale on my block. Out of nine homes on my block, only one hasn't been on the market since I moved in 5 years ago this summer. I'm starting to take it personally!

I hope that everyone is having a relaxing summer. I'm teaching summer school, and looking forward to that being over on July 1.

I'll post pics of the house next door that's for sale soon. Would you be my neighbor?

Quote of the Day

2011-06-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

As I finish up my sixth year representing my church at Annual Conference, I am reminded of a wonderful quote that I want to share today.

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

- John Wesley

Have a great Monday!

That's Not What We Want To See...

2011-05-24T22:35:00.000-05:00

I was reading a nice article tonight about the efforts of a radio station in Joplin that I've been listening to for updates as they have been doing 24/7 broadcasting about relief and recovery efforts when the little yellow / black "Breaking News" box popped up.

"Breaking News: Spotters confirm a tornado on the ground moving toward Joplin, Missouri, where a twister on Sunday killed 124 people."

That's definitely not a good thing. Thankfully the worst part of the storm missed Joplin (as of this 10:30 PM writing). The sirens sounded again in Joplin due to wind speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour, raising concerns that existing debris could be blown around.

I think we're all ready for Mother Nature to take a break.

First Person Video of Joplin Tornado

2011-05-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

I believe this footage is the most intense thing I have ever watched. This first person video of a group of people huddled inside a walk-in cooler at a convenience store is not for the faint of heart to watch. This video was shot at the Fastrip on east 20th Street. The people in the video all survive, but you still might want to have a box of tissues with you if you wish to watch the video.

* This video is first person in that it was not captured by a news outlet - it is not first person as in me filming it. It is just one of many videos that have been posted to YouTube showing the destruction in Joplin.

Have a safe Tuesday.

Aftermath

2011-05-23T07:06:00.000-05:00

As it has made national news, I am sure that many of you have heard of the tornado that struck Joplin, MO around 6:00 PM yesterday evening. Many of my readers know that I live in the Southwest section of Missouri. I want to assure you that I am safe and fine, as I live approximately 40 miles from the location of the tornado.

Yahoo News Story on Joplin Tornado

Photos of Tornado Damage

My brother and his family live a few miles north of the devistation, and thankfully they were all at home and not in the city when the tornado hit.

The tornado destroyed a large section of Joplin, including a direct hit on one of their two hospitals. The patients at that hospital have been transferred to hospitals in Springfield, MO, Pittsburg, KS, as well as smaller hospitals in surrounding towns such as the 25 bed county hospital here in my hometown.

The following information is from a Facebook page set up for information on the tornado:

"Live Press Conference is wrapping up. Please only repost confirmed information to avoid confusion and panic. So far - we know 89 people are confirmed deceased as of 5:30 a.m. * Search and Rescue is top priority, going door to door and grid search. * Patients in uninhabitable facilities have been transferred to nearby hospitals. * Unknown number of people still need to rescued from rubble. * 25-30 percent of Joplin has been directly affected. * Area radio stations have opened phone lines to answer questions and let you pass along information - Please utilize this. Phone lines will be busy but keep trying. This will be an immediate way to ask for help over the next several days if stations continue to offer this option. Please turn down your radio if you are live on air. 102.9 FM 1310 AM 102.5 FM 97.9 FM 93.5 FM 92.9 FM"

I hope and pray that all of my readers are safe. Please be in prayer for the people of Joplin - they have a long road to recovery.

I'm Still Alive!

2011-05-16T21:27:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I know that it has been a while since I last posted. This time of year is complete chaos for a teacher (at least one that coordinates Federal Programs for their school district... it's time to submit all of next year's plans to the state). This brings long work days and exhaustion when I am at home. It's a great recipe to keep the blog from being updated.

I do have a few fun finds that I need to get pictures of and share with y'all. It may happen before school gets out, but I can't make any promises. My last day with the kiddos is May 25. It's always an exciting time, but it also gets me down a little as well, I enjoy my students so much, and believe it or not, I miss the little boogers over the summer!

I am finally getting to the point that I can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Out of the nearly 20 things on my must-do list at the beginning of last week, I'm down to somewhere around 5. At least I can see the progress as I cross them off the list!

To add a touch of vintage to this post, I've included a really fun (although somewhat long) clip from 1941, showing the last pre-war Pontiac.

Hope you all are doing well!

Have a great day!

Time for a Little Kate - God Bless America

2011-05-02T06:41:00.000-05:00

After watching President Obama's speech last night announcing the death of Osama bin Laden, I felt many emotions, as I am sure most people did. I instantly remembered that day, almost 10 years ago that changed our country forever, and felt intense sorrow. Watching the crowds that gathered at the White House, in Times Square, and at Ground Zero, I felt pride in my country as well. The man who planned the World Trade Center attacks is dead. I wasn't sure what the best way to share this on the blog was, but I felt that sharing a little Kate Smith was appropriate. Of course, that national anthem is alway appropriate, and I have never heard a better version that what you will hear in the video below. Have a great day.

Up From the Grave He Arose!

2011-04-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

Up from the grave he arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24: 1-8 NIV

Have a beautiful and blessed Easter!

2011-04-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,

waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

Movie Friday: The Passion of the Christ

2011-04-22T06:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Good Friday! As I was trying to come up with a fitting movie for this day, two immediately came to mind. I'll feature the other one soon, but for today, my focus is The Passion of the Christ.

I know that this movie is not a classic movie in the sense of being vintage. However, I do believe that this will be a great classic some day.

As taken from Wikipedia: "The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus which depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Passion of the Christ largely covers the final twelve hours of Jesus' life beginning with the Agony in the Garden and ending with a brief depiction of his Resurrection. Flashbacks of Jesus as a Child, when Jesus worked as a carpenter, the Sermon on the Mount, the saving of Mary Magdalene from being stoned to death, and the Last Supper are also included."

There are many more details in the article that I did not include. To see more, just follow the Wikipedia link above.

Have a Blessed Day!

Maundy Thursday

2011-04-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

So sorry for the long span between posts. We have been doing state assessments at work this week and last, and when that happens, it seems everything else manages to be put on the back burner.

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day we commemorate The Last Supper.

Luke 22:7-20

[7] Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. [8] Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."

[9] "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.

[10] He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, [11] and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' [12] He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."

[13] They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

[14] When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. [15] And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."

[17] After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. [18] For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

[19] And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

[20] In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Movie Friday: The Long, Long Trailer

2011-04-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

I know that I've shared this movie before, but it's one of my favorites, and as such, it will probably pop up on Movie Friday from time to time. I had a copy of this on VHS growing up, and I'm surprised that I didn't completely wear that tape out. I just recently found it on DVD. I'm a huge I Love Lucy fan, and since this movie features both Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, I enjoy it even more.

This movie was released in 1954, based off the book of the same name written by Clinton Twiss. Read all of the details here.

Have a great Friday!

Medals

2011-04-05T06:00:00.007-05:00

The most interesting find from my box lots puchases over the weekend was the discovery of these three medals in a box of vintage advertising pens.

Please note, by sharing these medals, I am in no way showing any kind of support for the horrible acts of WWII. I am sharing them today because I am curious about them, and I would like to get more information about them. As this could be a sensitive topic, all comments will go into moderation immediately for this post.

In the box, I found three Nazi medals. I showed them to Mick from Everyone Goes to Mick's a couple of nights ago when we were chatting online. He found them creepy, mostly because I guessed that the most likely way they came to be in the possession of an American is that someone took them off a fallen German soldier during WWII. However, it could be that they made their way to the States if a soldier took them from a German POW. This is all just speculation. I'll never know their true story.
Anyway, here are the medals:

First up, a German Iron Cross, First Class. My research turned up the following information: "The Iron Cross is exclusively awarded for bravery before the enemy and for excellent merits in commanding troops."

Second, this medal which when translated reads "Medal for German Social Welfare". I'm not sure why this medal was awarded.

Finally, I found this medal. It is dated 1941, but I haven't been able to find any information on it either. Maybe one of my blog readers will be able to fill in the unknowns.

Have a great Tuesday!

A Small Weekend

2011-04-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Or, maybe I should call it a weekend of smalls. I purchased a couple of beautiful vintage lamps this weekend (which will have to wait for a later post). My favorite things that I picked up though were found in several boxes that I bought in the box lots portion of the sale (auction - you all know that I love me a good auction). Lots of small little things that made looking through those boxes a lot of fun.

I really like the style of this vintage kitchen clock, and the little picture is pretty nice as well.

I have never seen a grater like this before, and the full container of classic Betty Brite bake cups (originally 13 cents!) was fun as well.

I think I might know just the place for the harp shaped thermometer, the garden hose nozel will be very handy this summer, the gold and black vintage stapler will be great on the desk, and the Old Matt's Cabin calendar is a great classic souvenir from the area in which I live.

This Asian fan was still in it's original box and has great artwork.

Odds and ends here - a broach and bracelet, a little ceramic pink flamingo, a couple of wind up watches - one normal wristwatch, and a picket watch that is surrounded by a tire. You swivel the watch out of the tire (it rotates on an axis) to wind it and set the time. Best of all, there was a little Kennedy presidential election button in one of the boxes!

This Swank cufflink and tie pin set is something that I can't wait to use! I love finding vintage cufflinks!

Tomorrow I'm going to share the most amazing box find of all - be sure to check back in on Tuesday!

Have a great Monday!

Movie Friday: Yours, Mine, and Ours

2011-04-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

Today's movie is the classic 1968 version of this film (not the 2005 remake). The original film starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda tells the story of a single mother with many children and a single father who also has a great number of children. The two meet, fall in love, and create a family with close to 20 children between them, thus the yours and mine part. The ours part of the title comes in as a surprise later in the movie (I'm sure you can guess what that is!).

I couldn't find a very good clip or classic trailer for the movie, so here's a clip from the wedding.

Enjoy! Have an amazing Friday!

Bumps and Bruises...

2011-03-31T21:09:00.000-05:00

Sometimes life seems to think that through all the stress we are dealing with at work and organizations we're involved in, we still don't have enough to deal with. As such, now I get to deal with this:

My poor Buick got backed into while it was sitting in front of my house this week. I'm in the process of the awful hassle of getting estimates for repair. I can tell you that not only is the door dented, it now sags and is slightly sprung so that air whistles around the top of the door while driving. I'm hoping that all body shops aren't going to want as much as the first one that I visited! Only time will tell...of course the same could be said when I ponder if I might end up having a nervous breakdown!

Have a great evening everyone!

Time For A Little Laugh

2011-03-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

Things have been so hectic and stressful around here lately. At some point when life gets like this, you just have to sit back and laugh for a bit. So today I'm sharing this short Tim Hawkins video clip, just in case you are needing a good laugh like I was. Enjoy!

Have a great Tuesday! I've got to drive 80 miles one way to go to a training today, then back to work to finish the day. No rest for the weary!

Movie Friday: Cleopatra

2011-03-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

In memory of Elizabeth Taylor, today I'm sharing what could be perhaps her greatest movie ever, Cleopatra. This 1963 theatrical release is well known for almost forcing 20th Century Fox into bankruptcy with production costs of $44 million. Besides starring Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, the film also featured Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall, and Martin Landau.

There is a lot of interesting information about this movie on Wikipedia, which you can see here.

Have a great Friday! I'm in dire need of a weekend!

Tuesday CL Find

2011-03-22T06:00:00.002-05:00

This week's CL find is an amazing vintage sofa. This gorgeous green beauty would look right at home in any 1960s living room! The button tufted back and the curved shape top off the beautiful fabric. Long and low, if I had room for this piece, I woudn't be sharing it as a CL find, I'd be sharing it as a "look what I got" find. Needless to say, it's too large for the bedroom-to-den conversion, so it will have to find another happy home. Will it be yours? The price ain't too shabby at $128.50 (antique mall prices can be so weird!).

Want to see the original ad? You can find it here.

Hope you all have a great Tuesday!

Mom Got My Birthday Present...

2011-03-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, not really. But back in the day, I would have been a bit jealous of anybody that I saw driving around in one of these. Plus, while you are watching Mom enjoy her new 1957 Chevrolet Sport Sedan in this video, don't forget to check out the amazing mid-century house features. Has anyone seen a revolving cake stand like that before?

Hope you all have a great Monday! I'm to the point that I'm about ready to start counting down how many days are left in the school year. It'll be over before I'm ready, that's for sure!

Praying for Japan

2011-03-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

As many bloggers have done since last Friday, I'm taking a break from a regular post today to remember those lost and the horrific devistation in Japan from the earthquake and resulting tsunami last Friday, March 11, 2011. If you are looking for a way that you can help, there are many charities currently collecting money to aid the recovery in Japan. I urge you to choose a charity that fits you well and make a donation. I personally am donating to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). I like UMCOR because with the way that their organization is set up, 100% of your donation goes directly to those in need. No part of your donation is used to fund the organizations administrative costs, as they are funded through the church. If you would like to know more about UMCOR's Japan Emergency Advance, you may click here.

Have a blessed day.

Ready for the Rat Pack

2011-03-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

Doesn't this awesome bar look like something that would be in a getaway you would find the Rat Pack at? Those doors on the front slide open to reveal a set of shelves. Those shelves pivot and spin around to reveal a mini mirrored bar with a bottle rack and a hi ball glass holder.

This CL find is a little pricey for me at $350, but it sure is awesome! You can see the original ad here.

Have a great Tuesday! It snowed here yesterday, here's hoping that today is more enjoyable!

Movie Friday: Megamind

2011-03-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

Alright, I know that this week's movie isn't even a year old, but I loved it when I saw it in the theatre, and now I'm enjoying it on DVD. If you haven't watched it yet, check out the trailer above and then track down a copy!

Have a great Friday! It's been the week from heck here, and I can't wait for it to be over!

Craigslist Oddities

2011-03-07T06:00:00.006-06:00

I have featured several strange retro finds from Craigslist in the past. The most unusual was an old embalming table (yuck). This time, I've found that perfect thing for the '50s lover that has it all, and it is in 1950s pink!

Yup, that's right, you could have your very own 1950s dentist office at your house! While the stuff is really neat to look at, I can't imagine anybody having an actual need for them short of a movie studio. Plus, at $1500, I think they're going to be a hard sell. Although, if you could just get the chair, I think it might have some pretty interesting possibilities.

You can view the original ad here.

Have a great Monday!

Movie Friday: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

2011-03-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

Wow! I actually managed to blog every day this week! Maybe my blogging slump is coming to an end! I chose this movie in recognition of the passing of Jane Russell, this past Monday, February 28. This 1953 musical comedy stars Russell with Marilyn Monroe. Want all the details on the movie? You can find them here.

And just for the record, this gentleman doesn't prefer blondes. :)

Have a great Friday!

Window Shopping the Big Auction Site

2011-03-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

Today I'm sharing some fun finds from the big auction site. I feel like my searches are all over the place and almost seem random. First up are a couple of fun vintage lamps. Then, check out the awesome retro clock from England and an amazing red kitchen clock. (I keep telling myself "I do not need this, I do not need this, there is no place in my kitchen because there is no soffit...ooohhh look, it's red...") Then as a follow up to yesterday's post, I found a 1957 Ford Fairlaine 500 Skyliner retractable hardtop...complete with continental kit. Of course, I can't search for fun vintage stuff without looking for some Kroehler, and the desk that I found is nothing short of amazing. I can't pass up a search for Heywood-Wakefield as well, and I found the perfect sized table and chairs for almost any mid-century home. Of course, I can't pass up my favorite Lane design, so, I've added one of the Danish style dovetail detail coffee tables. Lastly, as I find myself being drawn more and more to things from my family's heritage (the surnames of 6 of my 8 great grandparents originate in England), I find myself searching for things that play that up. That's where the fun vintage wrought iron light fixture comes in. I can already picture it hanging in the entry foyer in the house that I'm designing in my mind.

Please note that I do not receive any financial benefit from sharing these fun finds with you. I am not the seller of any of the items nor do I know or have any affiliation with the sellers of the items I have featured.

Have a great Thursday!

Lucy Loves Her Skyliner!

2011-03-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

Ah, Ford's great new innovation for 1957, the retractable hardtop. Back in these days, my grandfather was a Ford mechanic (before he finally saw the light and became a GM man). The mechanicals to control those retractable hardtops were quite complex, and Ford mechanics had to have specialized training to be able to work on one. Granddad was one of the few that were certified by Ford to service the retractable hardtops. Somewhere over at Grandma's I came across his training certificate several years ago. I'm going to have to look for it again sometime.

Isn't it interesting that Ford debuted the concept of the retractable hardtop in place of a standard ragtop for convertible models back in 1957, but the concept didn't catch on for close to 40 years? Ford's experiment was considered a falure and they went back to ragtops.

At least their sales pitch for the idea included the cast of I Love Lucy!

Have a great Wednesday!

More Weekend Finds

2011-03-01T06:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I mentioned that I picked up several mid-century ceramic pieces at the auction I attended over the weekend. Here they are!

Aren't these two matching bamboo inspired pieces great? They are unmarked, but after doing a little research, I believe that they are Royal Copley. I also picked up the great embroidered aqua tablecloth that you see.

This piece is marked on the bottom, but I can't remember what now. I'd get it out and look, but it's wrapped back up in bubble wrap in a box with the rest of the stuff, and I don't feel like unpacking it right now (lazy?).

I have several pieces of Haeger in this great green color. It is my favorite color that I have found on Haeger. I believe this is either piece number 5 or 6 that I have in this finish.

This Hall teapot may have been my best find of the day. It is in great shape and it was only $2! Woo Hoo!

I was pleased to find this little aqua painted milk glass piece was marked Glasbake on the bottom. I love the shape. Looks like a good container to fill with all those pesky pennies that I hate carrying around.

I even managed to make it home with a new Christmas decoration! I'm not usually a fan of art glass, but this Murano glass tree almost changed my mind. Almost. I do like this piece, but still didn't care for the numerous other pieces of art glass at the auction.

Have a great Tuesday!

Fantastic Finds Monday

2011-02-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

Isn't this lamp fantastic? I love the shape, the fiberglass shades, and the black metal frame. When it's lit up the red fiberglass is amazing. I was ecstatic to pick it up at an auction over the weekend. The price was fair, but not a bargain.

This picture is older than mid-century, but the scene caught my eye. It makes me think of my family's English heritage. You can't really see it in the photo, but the glass is a bubble glass, it is convex. The picture is painted directly onto the back of the glass.

My last thing to share today is this vintage Prak-T-Kal Vaporizer. This was the best bargain of them all, as I found it in my grandma's garage while we were building her a deck and ramp inside her garage a week ago. A deck inside a garage, you may ask? Well, we built the deck so that she could walk outside her door from the house and still be at the same level as the house. We made the deck large enough that her deep freeze is on it so that she doesn't have to go down to the level of the garage floor to get her food. Then, we added a ramp so that she could navigate to ground level easier to go get her mail and her newspaper in the mornings. The ramp is removable so that we can move it out of the way when we need to lower the stairs to the attic. She was ecstatic about the whole thing, and I was excited to get the old vaporizer!

At the auction that I picked up the lamp and picture at this past Saturday, I also managed to pick up a few mid-century ceramic pieces. I'll try to get photos of them to share tomorrow.

Have a great Monday!

My Backyard

2011-02-27T13:39:00.001-06:00

Recently, ZootSuitMama asked her readers to share their backyards. ZSM has a fun little travel trailer with it's own patio in her backyard. Unfortunately, my backyard looks a little plain in comparison. But, plain or not (especially at this time of year), here it is!

Looking out my back door, you can see my shed (I love the green paint that I picked out for it), the tree line that I have extensively cleaned up since moving into the house over 4 years ago, and the church and parking lot behind me. Looks fairly normal and boring, don't you think?

Now we're looking at the house from the parking lot of the church, still nothing spectacular. (Can you see my dogs Rosco and Chewy in the photo? They were enjoying the unusually warm 67 degree temperature - they're calling for storms tonight!) For some reason unknown to me, whoever installed the fence didn't take it clear back to the back property line. They just started it at the edge of the house on each side and went part way back. My guess would be that cost was a factor in this unusual set up. However, I really like it because I can have yard space that is fenced in for the dogs and still have yard space on the sides and in the back that is dog free and can be adult space.

Rosco really wanted to say hi to all the followers! (He was named after Rosco P. Coltrane from the Dukes of Hazzard)

Looking down the side of the house... I really need to get outside and cut down the butterfly bush and the hibiscus before they start greening up.

As a reminder that spring is coming, my red flowering quince is starting to bud out.

See? Little leaves and flower buds!

The honeysuckle looks like it has survived another winter. This one is white / yellow, my other one is pink. I have planted them on this fence because it is really ugly. A tree that used to be in the backyard dropped a few branches on the fence and bent it all up. Replacing the fence wasn't an option, so I'm hiding it with flowering vines.

I love this picture. When I finally got the fence row / tree row cleaned out after moving in (that was my first project to tackle - it was over run with wild blackberries, which I am still fighting almost 5 years later) I discovered that at some point, one of the renters had planted some flower bulbs back there. Here are some daffodils that are coming out of their winter nap, but I also have several irises back there as well as three rose of sharon bushes.

My firepit is anxiously awaiting the day that I start using it again, sitting by the fire on a cool, crisp spring evening, and then, sitting in the chairs under the shade trees in the summer with a cool drink in one hand and a good book in the other.

My burn barrel is waiting for the limbs that will come down in the spring storms, as well as the two piles of pruning that I did last fall that never was burnt.

This isn't the backyard, it's the front, but I still wanted to share my antique park bench. There used to be a bunch of these in the city park, but over the years they have been replaced. The county had a surplus goods auction not too long after I moved into the Shack, and while the price I paid for it was a little steep for me at the time, I had to have it (I have a real passion for historical items from my town). I paid $65 for the old girl with her cast iron frome. She needs a good coat of paint this summer, but in the summer afternoons when there is no shade around the firepit, you will find me sitting on the bench with my cool drink and book.

I don't have a travel trailer of my own, but I do have access to and use my parent's travel trailer a time or two during the summer. I usually take it to the lake for the opening weekend of camping in April. It's too cool to do anything in the water (which is fine with me, because swimming is not high on my list of fun summer activities) so I take a stack of books with me. I don't get cell phone reception at the lake, and it's an amazing weekend of being disconnected from the rest of the world. Here you see the trailer hibernating in it's garage for the winter.

The trailer is 26 foot long, but it has this amazing slide in the rear, which contains a queen sized bed. When the slide is pulled out, the trailer is somewhere in the area of 30 foot long.

Oh, That Wonderful Technicolor!

2011-02-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love this ad for the 1955 Chevrolet. The colors are so bright and distinct. 43 different interior styling choices! WOW! Can you imagine getting a car with an interior that colorful today? Now you are lucky if you get a choice of gray, tan or black. Sometimes any more you only get to choose between two. Such dull, unimaginative colors. I had a couple of cars in the past (around 10 years ago or so) that were early 1990s models and had red interior. I loved it that it wasn't something just like everyone else had. My current car? Boring gray. Oh well.

Check out this short ad for the 1955 Chevrolet, you'll be wishing that you car was a vibrant as the one in the ad for sure!

Have a great Monday! I finally got to an auction over the weekend, and I've got a couple of new fun things to share. I'll try to get pictures tonight so that I can share them tomorrow!

Happy Singles Awareness Day!

2011-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

I hate Valentine's Day with a passion. As such, this year I am celebrating Singles Awareness Day today. If you are single like me, have a great day!

If you do happen to have a special someone in your life, I hope that you have a great day as well!

Seeing as the snow is just now beginning to melt from the Great Blizzard, I haven't had a chance to do any junking lately, so, no new finds to share. Sorry that the content on the blog has been kind of light lately. When the nearest thrift shop is 45 minutes away, and the roads are a mess, I'm just going to stay home and save my money (hopefully eventually I will be able to build that house I am picturing in my mind!).

Have a great Monday!

What I Make

2011-02-10T10:23:00.000-06:00

Want to know what teachers make? Watch this.

Happy Thursday!

Super Bowl Ads

2011-02-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

Well, another Super Bowl has come and gone. I don't watch the game, but I do enjoy the commercials. This year, I believe that my favorite was the Miss Evelyn Chevy Camaro ad. However, I will have to say that there were several winners this year (and a few that flat out stunk). You can use this handy little widgit to view all of the ads from last night's game. But first, here's my favorite:

Enjoy! Have a great Monday!

P.S. I noticed that Hulu for some reason does not have all of the ads on their site. I believe that YouTube has them all here. They just don't have a nifty little widgit that I can put on the bog to share with you all.

Movie Friday: Snow Day

2011-02-04T06:00:00.002-06:00

Considering the pretty much record amount of snow we received this week, I felt this movie was in order.

This movie was produced by Nickelodeon Studios in 2000, and has Chevy Chase in it, among others. If you have had a snow day this week, I hope that you've enjoyed it! Personally, being stuck inside all the time and realizing that state tests are coming up and will not be moved has me a little stressed out. That just means that we have that much less time to prepare the students with everything that they need to know! ACK!

Have a great Friday!

Did Someone Say "Snow"?

2011-02-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

At last report last night, we had at least 20 inches of the white stuff. The daylight pictures were taken yesterday around noon, the last picture was taken around 10:00pm. I can't even open my front door! Guess I'm stuck here for a while.

Have a safe and warm Wednesday! I'm wondering if we'll be able to end this school year before we begin the next one?

Saying Goodbye

2011-02-01T14:17:00.002-06:00

Our hospital in the town that I live in is a community-owned organization. Governed by a board which is elected by the people of the county. A few years ago, it was determined that the builing that it was currently housed in was inadequate and that it needed to be replaced. As such, land was purchased and a new building constructed. For over three years now, the old building has sat empty, looking for a new tenant. Finally, the county commission had enough and is trying to force the hospital to make a decision as to the fate of the old structure. It looks like the old building, which is just over a block from my house, will be demolished. The building had many additions to it over the years, with the newest part being 20 years old this year. However, the core of the building was dedicated in 1949. The roof on the building is bad, and as it has sat empty without climate control for over 3 years, the floor tiles are coming up off the floors (cracking and curling) and there is mold and mildew growing up almost all of the walls. The building was opened up to the public this past Friday and Saturday for a few hours so that the locals could see it and give any suggestions as to what it might be used for. A public hearing / meeting to discuss the fate of the structure will be scheduled soon.

Mom and I went up to walk through the maze-like building. I got to go through parts that I have never seen before. Parts of the building were roped off as the roof was leaking water and the floors were wet and unsafe to travel down. I remembered to take my camera with me, and so today, I'd like to share some of the amazing mid-century features of this building that are still visible. If nothing else, it serves as a way to document the time period before the building disappears forever.

My sister and I were both born in this building (my mother showed me the room) and three of my grandparents passed away in this building. I needed to see it one more time.

First, let's take a look at the building when it was dedicated in 1949.

You may be wondering why the flag is at half mast. The hospital was built and dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of the county that fell during WWII.

Now, let's take a look at the old girl today:

Isn't this light fixture great? There is one on either side of the original entrance.

Take a look at these amazing tile floors that were in the maternity ward, and the operating rooms. Love the dark brown and aqua combination. And the simple pattern is great as well!

I love the look of this old sterilizer. And don't overlook that great old aqua concrete block wall. The wall matches the floor tile!

This window doesn't look out at anything except a mechanical room on the roof that was part of an addition, but I love the glass block in the window!

In the room with the glass block window, I noticed a space in the wall. Apparently this room originally had this beautiful green tile on the walls, and at some point the ceiling was lowered and the walls were built out finished in drywall. I know that I personally prefer the tile...

I love the curved wall here in the oldest part of the building. And that door, a lot of the doors in the old part still have their original lettering on them. This door leads to a janitor's closet. Here's a look at the lettering on the door:

I'm not exactly sure of the purpose of this clock...it just tells seconds. I'm sure that it was for timing pulse, etc. originally.

Isn't this wooden screen to the old waiting room great? I'd love to be able to salvage it out of the building before they tear it down. Although, I really have no use for it...I still hate to think of it being gone. It's heavy and solid.

The last day the hospital was open - found inside the old nurse's station.

This is the room that my grandmother passed away in back in 1996. This part of the building was built in the late 1980s. There has been a little talk of saving this part of the building. It is probably in the best shape out of the whole thing. I personally would like to see an urgent care facility put in here.

It was a little creepy though. The nurse's call light above the door was on and flashing, the only one in the building that was on, and it's above the door of the room Granny died in. I had to get a picture of it.

The building also had some great colored mid-century bathrooms...blue, yellow, tan. Unfortunately, I didn't think to get pictures of those.

So, there you have it. Another mid-century building documented before it's destruction. Please don't think that I am upset about losing this building though. It has become an unkept eyesore, and after touring it and seeing the amount of damage it has suffered from not being maintained, from the water leaking through the roof for years, and from the hot and cold due to no temperature control, it's time for the old girl to be torn down. It's going to be a big job, as the pipes embedded in the concrete walls are insulated with asbestos.

Have a great Wednesday. We are currently at 14 + inches of snow and it's still coming down! I have a feeling that I won't be going back to work anytime this week. Stay safe!

Movie Friday: Harvey

2011-01-28T06:00:00.003-06:00

Today's movie features the classic Jimmy Stewart. This 1950 film is about a man who has an imaginary friend. That friend just happens to be a big white rabbit. The rabbit is a pooka, which you can read all about here.

To read more about the movie, check out the Wikipedia article here.

Hope you all have a great Friday!

More Recent Finds

2011-01-24T06:00:00.005-06:00

Out of the things that I'm sharing today, I think this is my favorite. It's an Electrolux Model G. Turquoise! It's turquoise! It has several attachments with it, but unfortunately not carpet head. Oh well. It works well (I used it to vacuum the dog hair off the couch...my dog sneaks up on it when I forget to cover it). I am amazed at how quiet this machine is. It's little more than a hum when it's on. Turns out, it's a model that Electrolux collectors seem to seek. Who would have thought, a collector of vacuums. I guess there really is a collector for everything! I picked it up because my grandma used to have an Electrolux (although it was newer than this). Not a bad deal for $4. I picked it up at the same estate auction that I got my red Ericofon, which I shared last Monday.

Next, I recently thrifted a pair of these glasses. Does anybody know anything about who made them or what the pattern is called? I call them Early American, because the pattern makes me think of the Pyrex Early American pattern. Two glasses for $1.

Lastly, a Thermos lunch box. Yes, it is plastic, but it has some years on it. I'd guess it's from the 1960s, if I had to make a guess. Too bad it didn't have a Thermos in it!

Hope you all have a great Monday! Anybody get any great finds over the weekend?

Movie Friday: The Godfather

2011-01-21T06:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday's well publicized round-up of mob members brought today's movie to mind.

This 1972 film follows the Corleone family beginning in 1945. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton. I highly recommend you watch it, or you may find yourself facing an offer you can't refuse!

If you want to read all of the specifics on the film, you can find them here.

Have a great Friday! It's gonna be another hectic one for me, as we had a snow day yesterday. Going back on a Friday after a snow day is always fun!

The Holy Grail of Retro Phones

2011-01-17T06:00:00.003-06:00

I couldn't believe what I found an an estate auction this weekend. (P.S. The estate sale totally reenergized my vintage vibe.) Anyway, I got some great finds that I'll share soon, along with some finds from thrifting last week that haven't made it to the blog yet. However, in the box lots at the auction I found a box that contained a bunch of old rotary dial phones. It was obvious that they had been stored in a barn for a long time - they were filthy. However, digging through the crate, I found a phone that almost caused me to have a stroke. Along with a vintage Stromberg-Carlson wall phone and a white Trimline rotary phone like my grandma had when I was a kid, there was something bright red poking through. That's when I discovered this:

A vintage Ericofon! I was floored. It took a while to get it cleaned up, but it looks so amazing. I wish that I was able to wire it up and use it, but it is designed to be hardwired into the house, and I don't have that ability. I may see if there is an adapter available. If nothing else, it looks amazing sitting on a side table in the living room! These are pretty rare, at least more so than the standard phones that Bell systems installed in homes, this is the first one that I've seen in person. I also know that they can sell for pretty high prices on eBay. So, I felt like the $9 I paid for the whole box was a decent deal. I could have probably gotten it cheaper, but the way box lots work, you bid in a price, then you pick how many boxes you want for that price. I don't think anybody else probably really wanted a box full of dirty old phones, but I wasn't taking any chances!

A little history on the Ericofon is available on the following website ericofon.com. It really has an interesting history!

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Movie Friday: Cinderella

2011-01-14T06:00:00.007-06:00

Okay, I'll admit it, this one is for Mick. His theatre's next production is Cinderella, and he's been quite busy. With just what, well, that's for him to tell you. However, through my best attempts to keep this thing out of my mind, I have had Cinderella in the back of my mind all week. I've been blasting Mick back (he keeps sending me YouTube video clips of Cinderella) with vintage No Doubt music videos. Spiderwebs, anyone?

Anyway, here's the Disney animated classic, Cinderella.

My research shows that the story most likely originated in classical antiquity. The oldest known version of the story was recorded by a Greek historian in the 1st century BC. How's that for a classic tale?

Disney's movie is set upon the work of Charles Perrault, whose version of the story was titled Cendrillon. Perrault added the elements of the pumpkin, glass slippers, and fairy-godmother in 1697. He based his work on the much earlier versions of the story, most notably the story of Cenerentola, which was written by a Neopolitan soldier and government official by the name of Giambattista Basile in 1634. However, as I said before, the original premise for the tale dates to at least 1st century BC Greece, not 17th century France. It is a classic tale that has spanned more than 2000 years. I don't see it fading into history any time soon.

Disney released it's animated version in 1950, and it starred Ilene Woods as the voice of Cinderella. You can read all about the Disney version of the film here.

As a follow-up to my post yesterday, I think my big thing with not being interested in anything vintage lately is because I have so much of it. I have gone through my house purging items that I don't want, and have too many boxes full of stuff to sell. I'm keeping my favorite stuff, donating good usable non-vintage items to Salvation Army (do you know how weird it is to walk into the Salvation Army Thrift Store and see your former items sitting out for sale?) and preparing the rest of it to sell in a booth. I think this need to clear out the extra stuff is why I'm not feeling the vintage vibe right now. I also feel that I have spent way too much money on vintage things lately, and it needs to be reined in. It's not that I don't still love vintage, I just need to redirect it towards getting things the way that I want them. That said, I did go out junking yesterday on my 3rd snow day (I HAD to get out of the house) and I found a few fun things that I will share soon.

Anyway, have a great Friday! It's my first day back after an unexpected and unwanted 3 days off, so the kids should be wired. Glad their parents will get to have them over the weekend. Of course the downside of all of this is that all scheduled vacation days from now through March are gone. Ever see a teacher in late March that hasn't had a break since Christmas? It isn't a pretty site!

GM Futurama - 1939 World's Fair

2011-01-13T06:00:00.006-06:00

I have had three snow days this week. Stir crazy? YES! I think I'm ready to go to the looney bin! I've been camped out on the sofa bored out of my mind. I have watched several episodes of Merlin on Hulu. Anybody else watch Merlin? I love it!

Anyway, I feel like I need to apologize. I haven't been posting much lately. I have lost my vintage vibe! How can this happen?!?!? I have loved mid-century stuff since I was in middle school - probably close to 18 years. Somehow, I'm just not feeling it right now. Does this ever happen to you? I'm sure that it will come back eventually. I sure hope it does, because somehow the new multi-story house that I've been dreaming of lately, with full basement, including a rec-room, cherry kitchen cabinets and granite countertops, just isn't going to happen. Although the shiny new Buick in my dream I certainly wouldn't mind. Especially since mine has been in the shop for a few days. Sigh, I miss my car.

While lounging around on the sofa with my laptop in front of me the past couple of days, I ran across this great video from the 1939 World's Fair. It is so much fun to see what they were predicting what the US would be like in 1960. Makes you wonder how our country would have developed differently if WWII hadn't occured. Anyway, enjoy these two videos, which show the entire film.

Here's a clip from the TV show Merlin that I'm loving so much (it's a BBC show that is airing on SyFy - but you can watch the first two seasons on Hulu). Have a great Thrusday! Here's hoping that I get to go back to work tomorrow. Contrary to popular belief, this teacher does not like snow days!

Movie Friday: Forbidden Planet

2011-01-07T06:00:00.003-06:00

I read earlier this week that Anne Francis passed away. As such, I felt it was only fitting that this week's movie be Forbidden Planet.

The movie dates to 1956, and starred Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, and Anne Francis. According to information on Wikipedia, the movie was inspired by William Shakespeare's The Tempest.

You can read the Wikipedia article that will tell you all about the movie here.

Have a great Friday!

Update...

2011-01-03T06:30:00.003-06:00

Remember a couple of months ago when I shared about the soldier's funeral that we had in town? The one that that "church" came to protest? You can see my original post here.

Anyway, I ran across a blog yesterday from a family member of the soldier. They had a really nice write up about the community support along with a link to some YouTube videos and other articles on the event.

One photo inparticular really shows the sheer number of people that came out in support of the family. I couldn't get good photos of the event, so I was happy to find this one.

You can read the blog post from the family member here.

Here's a video from the day:

Anyway, I was pleased to find this information, and wanted to share with all of my great blogging friends. Have an amazing Monday!

P.S. As I don't want people to find my blog when they search for that "church", I ask that my readers refrain from naming them in comments, so that it won't show up in search terms. Thanks for your understanding.

Seeing the Old Year Out...

2011-01-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

Last Friday I decided to hit up a couple of thrift stores. My favorite was closed as it was New Year's Eve, and the other two didn't have anything that I was interested in. So, on my way out of town, I stopped at "The Midwest's Largest Antique Mall". Well, it was definitely huge. It took me over two hours to go through the store. It was a mix of antiques and flea market. Some great stuff that was way overpriced, and a lot of junk. Through it all, I found a couple of things that were priced better that I could ever find at a thrift shop, and I was shocked to find so cheaply at an antique place.

I was thrilled to pick up the above 3 quart Pyrex bowl in the Federal Eagle pattern. 3 quarts is an off size for Pyrex bowls. They are usually 2.5 quarts or 4 quarts. It is also a different shape. The lip is different, as this bowl is smooth at the top, where most of the normal bowls have a more pronounced lip. I was ecstatic that I was able to pick it up for $3!

Next up, I found a delphite blue Fire King (I believe - it isn't marked, but is sure looks like Fire King to me) deviled egg plate. I see these quite often in opal white glass, but I have never run across one in delphite. The booth that I found it in had one of each. They were both the same price. I left the opal glass one behind and brought the delphite home. Another great find for $5.

Two great pieces, $8 total. I call that success.

Have a wonderful Monday! It's my first day back to work after 2 weeks off. The kids should be...interesting. :)

Pepsi or Coke?

2011-01-02T06:00:00.025-06:00

The other night, I was chatting with Mick from Everyone Goes to Mick's and the age old question came up. Pepsi or Coke? Apparently I'm a communist, as Mick implied that Pepsi drinkers are (this was all light hearted and in good fun). However, even though Mick is a demonic Coke fan, we're still friends. Eventually we were able to find some common ground.

This led me to send the following picture via text message to Mr. Mick (notice the Soviet issue beige paint on my walls?):

He followed up by sending this back to me (can't you just see those little demon horns sprouting out of his head?):

So, how about you? Pepsi or Coke?

Oh, you may be wondering what our common ground is. We both like orange soda!

Hope you've enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed creating it! And please, comment with your preference between the two!

Have a great Sunday!

Have an Ab Fab New Year!

2011-01-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite TV shows of all time is the British comedy Absolutely Fabulous. The show aired in the early-mid 1990s and again came back for a couple more seasons in the mid 2000s. It is such a riot.

So, today to ring in the New Year, I am sharing a couple of my favorite clips from the show's New Year episodes.

First up, poor Bubble doesn't understand how New Year's works:

Next, Patsy, who has been on a liquid diet since the 1970s, has a bite to eat on New Year's Eve. We only see Pasty eat two times in the 5 seasons of the show.

So, are any of my readers Ab Fab fans?

Movie Friday: Mr. Holland's Opus

2010-12-31T06:00:00.010-06:00

This week, in a conversation on Facebook, I recalled this 1995 movie, and knew that it would be great for Movie Friday!

This movie starred Richard Dreyfuss who played "Glenn Holland, a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while trying to compose one memorable piece of music to make him famous. However through the course, he discovers a passion for teaching he didn't know he had and ends up dedicating more of himself to it." (quote taken from Wikipedia)

The movie begins in 1965 and spans the 30 year career of Mr. Holland. It has a lot of great American culture in it. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen it before. If you have seen it before, check it out again!

It's one of those great teacher movies, much like the movie Stand and Deliver. As a teacher, I love these movies!

Have a great Friday! Happy New Year!

A Dangerous Combination

2010-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Two weeks off of work and time to shop the big auction site is not a good combination! However, I have picked up a couple of great finds!

The seller of these pieces had typos in their descriptions, so thankfully I just happened to stumble across them. Also, luckily, that made it almost impossible for other buyers to find them.

First up, I nabbed this great mid-century ashtray and stand. I got it for 99 cents! With shipping, it was still cheaper than most pieces of Pyrex that I pick up on the big auction site. Now, I don't smoke, so I'm not quite sure what I will use it for, but I think it will make a great addition to my collection of mid-century decorations. Most likely it will stand by a chair in the living room, just looking awesome!

Secondly, I picked up this 1 1/2 quart Pyrex casserole in the Regency pattern. I had not come across this pattern before, so I looked it up and found that it was a promotional pattern from Fall 1965. Promo patterns are what I mainly try to collect. I like them becuase while there may be thousands of Butterprint or Butterfly Gold or Spring Blossom pieces floating around, these pieces are a little harder to come across. This piece has a little chip in the corner of the lid handle and a couple of scratches in the paint (nothing bad) but otherwise is in good shape. Thanks to the typo in the description, it was a good deal at $3.99 (plus shipping).

So, have any of you found any great finds lately?

Thanks, Maria!

2010-12-28T06:00:00.007-06:00

A few days before Christmas I was excited to have a delivery when the mail came. Inside I found these amazing India inspired glasses, shipped to me from the amazing Maria, from the great blog Shallow Thoughts from Iowa. These glasses perfectly complete my set. Thank you so much!

My CSN Pick

2010-12-28T06:00:00.001-06:00

Back in November, I won a $45 CSN Stores giftcard from a giveaway offered by Barbara over at If I Didn't Have A Sense of Humor. I was ecstatic, but as I began shopping the CSN website, I was overwhelmed by choices of things to get. I wanted to get something for the Shack, initially. I found some amazing mid-century inspired clocks that I thought would be great. There were some shelves that I looked at for the bathroom as well. However, even though it took me almost a month to decide what I wanted, I finally decided to spoil myself. I picked up this great 600 thread count sheet set. I was most excited about them because the sheets are mercerized just like the sheets my grandma used to get. They are incredibly soft, and I can't wait to get them on my bed. Sweet dreams for me! Thanks again, Barbara!

A Blogging Upgrade

2010-12-27T21:12:00.002-06:00

I am pleased that Cul-de-sac Shack is now enjoying the advancements of a photography upgrade. I received a beautiful new Sony Cyber-shot 12.1 megapixel camera for Christmas. It's a huge upgrade from my 6 or 7 year old (at least) HP Photosmart M22 4.0 megapixel (which, for the record, I love this camera!). I wanted a new HP camera initially, but I really liked the Sony. I must have been a good boy this year, because Santa was good to me!

The old:

The new:

Glory to God in the Highest!

2010-12-25T06:00:00.004-06:00

The Birth of Jesus

The Shepherds and the Angels

    ⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
    ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
    ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Merry Christmas!

Silent Night, Holy Night

2010-12-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Tonight we continue family tradition, heading to church for Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion at 6:00 which always ends with the congregation holding candles and singing Silent Night. Then we're heading over to Grandma's house for dinner afterward. We have done this all of my life. Grandma's now 90 years old, and we provide the food instead of her, but we still meet at her house.

I wanted to add a vintage video of Silent Night to fit the occasion, but I couldn't narrow it down to just one - I did however manage to narrow it down to two, so I'm sharing them both.

First up, here's a little Bing:

And to finish it up, here's some classic John Denver:

Hopefully all of you have finished your shopping so that you don't have to do any unnecessary rushing around today and you can enjoy the day and family. Have a great one!

Movie Friday: White Christmas

2010-12-24T05:59:00.002-06:00

For today's Movie Friday, I'm going to make this movie a tradition for the last Movie Friday before Christmas. It was my featured movie for Christmas last year, and will probably be the featured movie for Christmas next year. This is my all time favorite Christmas movie. I have watched it three times already this year. And, as I have already featured this movie, I don't see a need to reinvent the wheel, so here's the write up from last year.

"White Christmas! A Technicolor classic in VistaVision! This great uplifting movie from 1954 will always bring a tear to my eye. It is the story of two ex-WWII GI's who return after the war to become singing and dancing entertainers. The ex-GI's, played by Bing Crosby (who else?) and Danny Kaye, meet up with two sisters who happen to be the sisters of an old army pal. The sisters, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, are on their way to Vermont to an inn where they are to perform for the holidays. Crosby and Kaye follow the ladies to Vermont, where they find that the inn is run by their former General, who is played by Dean Jagger. The story that unfolds is truly heartwarming and inspirational.

There is a lot of great music in this Irving Berlin classic, with the title song, "White Christmas," of course. No one can sing "White Christmas" like Bing!

When Crosby and Kaye first meet the girls, the girls sing the song "Sisters" which I enjoy even more knowing that my grandma made my mom and her two sisters learn that song so that they could all sing together when they were growing up."

If the set looks familiar, it is. It is the same set that was used in Holiday Inn, which I featured last week.