Caturday!

Quote of the Day

A child with a firm grasp of the essentials.

The Online Bookshelf - The Luminous Face

Available for download from Project Gutenberg.  I don't know if the story's any good, but I love that dress.

Knitting - Vintage Vests

From Purple Kitty, another booklet of vintage (late 50's/early 60's from the looks of it) patterns.

"On The Subject of Entertaining"

Linens Come First. After the invitations are issued, the first concern of the perfect hostess is the matter of table linens.  For the formal dinner of luncheon, of course, nothing has yet replaced the quiet elegance of pure white damask.  However, just as correct these days are the pastel shades in damask, or an Italian or Spanish filet, for those who prefer them.

For the summer cottage, or for bridge tables, snappy colored covers are in order.  A trip through the shops will provide no end of variety in these -- quaint checkered gingham effects, Roman stripes, modernistic designs in hand blocked linens, hand embroidered sets, organdy -- and runners and doilies galore.  an of these may be used for the informal meal, and are THE thing at impromptu luncheons, suppers, or midnight snacks.

For the children, and novel occasions, there are charming sets of oilcloth, in scotch plain and chintz patterns, to say nothing of the great variety of paper sets suitable for all occasions.

The hostess who does a great deal of entertaining often goes in for filet or embroidered doilies under glass, which is very charming.

The Silver.  Silver should be in harmony, as near as possible, with its surroundings.  Since most of us cannot have several sets, it is best to buy a pattern suitable for all occasions, in open stock, adding more pieces as the time goes on.  Designers and manufacturers offer a wide variety, from which to choose.  While the plain and simple lined solid service handed down for generations, is greatly prized by many, there are any number of "new" patterns carryin the charm of good taste, from which to choose.

The China.  The china, like everything else, must match the character of the house.  For the cottage or bungalow Early American patterns are charming.  For the modern home choose Wedgewood, or any of the many inexpensive varieties that suit your personal taste.  The home that runs to the modernistic may safely go in for china of like trend -- black and white or other contrasting color in chic designs.

From The Detroit Times Cookbook, 1936.

Caturday!

Quote of the Day

There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog. ~ Konrad Lorenz

Grrrsday

Knitting - A Summer Top from 1951

From The Australian Home Journal, a lightweight cap-sleeved shell with a pretty band of lace across the yoke.  Instructions on my Flickr account.  And if you'd like the entire magazine, archive.org has most of them from 1949 through 1952.

Vintage Advertising - Fry's Breakfast Cocoa

From Hutchinson's magazine, July 1919.

The First Asparagus of the Season

"Afparagus - The mode of cultivation belongs to gardening; your bufinefs is only to cut and drefs, the largeft is beft, the growth of a day fufficient, fix inches long, and cut juft above the ground; many cut below the furface, under an idea of getting tender fhoots, and preferving the bud; but it enfeebles the root; dig round it and it will be wet with the juices -- but if cut above ground, and juft as the dew is going off, the fun will either reduce the juice, or fend it back to nourifh the root -- its an excellent vegetable." - Amelia Simmons, American Cookery, 1798.

Après Moi, La Deluge

I was supposed to go out tomorrow with a fellow Red Cross volunteer to do damage assessments in one of our neighboring counties that has been affected by the recent floods. Fortunately, someone figured out that the areas we were assigned are still underwater, and just called us off.

You know, fiction can't compete with real life.

Caturday!

Quote of the Day

Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. ~ Zora Neale Hurston

Mamma Said There'd Be Days Like This

At 3pm I broke my PC.

At 3:15 I dropped a potted plant and flung potting soil and dead leaves all over the office carpet.

At 3:30 I went home.  I told my boss I had more scope for destruction here.

Updated to add:  at 6:35 I managed to drop a carton of eggs.

Tatting - Two Edgings and a Motif from 1949

From Clark's Tatting, published in 1949.  The pattern can be downloaded from my Flickr account.

Notes on a Funeral

My older sister (USA 1973-1976) is wearing her four miniature medals.  My younger sister (USN 1982-1986) is wearing her two ribbons.  I am wearing a small “USMC-Retired” lapel pin.

Oldest Sister: Why aren’t you wearing your medals?
Me:  I have too many.

The man from the VA begins hoisting the urn with my father’s ashes into the vault.

9 Year Old Nephew:  What’s that?
Oldest Sister:  That’s Granddad.
9 Year Old Nephew (indignantly):  He'd never fit in there!

We are back at Brother #3’s house and several of us are sitting around the table when the youngest great-grandchild, six weeks old, begins loudly wailing from her infant seat in the next room.

Me:  Awww…and she’s been so good up till now.
Niece:  Maybe she just realized we’re all related.

Half a dozen small children have been turfed out of doors to amuse themselves.

Sister (looking out of window):  Is [Nephew A] hitting [Nephew B] with a stick?
Niece:  Yeah, it’s all Lord of the Flies out there.  They’ll work it out.
Sister in Law (a little later, seeing them heaping the sticks in a large pile):  What are they up to now?
Me:  Looks like they’re about to re-enact the Spanish Inquisition.
Nephew in Law:  Sweet!

My sisters are going through a stack of my father’s clothes and trying to find takers.

Oldest sister:  Will your boys wear Dad’s old bow ties?
Brother #2 (firmly):  No, they believe that wearing a bow tie is a public admission that you no longer get an erection.

Someone has in fact set the pile of sticks on fire.

Sister in Law:  Is Brian out there?
Me:  Yes.
Sister in Law:  Thank God.  He’s the only one who’s sober.
Me (flagging down a passing nephew):  There seem to be two superficial flesh wounds on my husband’s forehead.  Dare I ask why?
Nephew:  The head came off the axe.
Me (to Sister in Law):  This is why I have him insured.

Brother #3 –  normally an abstemious man – has been inveigled into drinking toast after toast to my father in Crown Royal.  He wobbles into the kitchen and sits down next to my oldest sister, puts  his head on her shoulder, and begins patting her knee.

Sister:  Knock it off.  We’re not Southern.

Vintage Magazines - Collier's

From 1915.

Nu, look!

A shout-out to the lovely Michelle from OCS Design, who not only laughs at all of my stories but also gave the blog a nice new header.

Caturday!