I'm Back!

Sorry, folks.  I've been off line due to family issues with my kids.  (they may not live at home anymore, at least for now, but Mom still is the one they call...thank God!)

I'll post a proper post later, but I wanted to tell everyone I'm alive!

Hugs All

Hello everyone!  Sorry I haven't posted in a week.  The internet modem "fried" and didn't get replaced until today.  What a nuisance!

Had a very busy week, all things considered.  Had the pleasure of going to the doctor to get all kinds of fun new meds for my Lupus with a stern admonition that I had better return in two months.  (I'm kind of naughty about avoiding doctors visits.)

I went shopping earlier in the week and found some wonderful prices on material at the local WalMart. I don't buy too much material there because what I've bought there before has underwhelmed me.  I couldn't pass up $1 a yard though.  I bought like 10 yards for the steampunk convention in Salt Lake City that is coming up in July.  I got another six yards or so for a housedress and maybe a shirt and apron, and then about four yards for a shirt.

I've still got to thread the "dreaded serger."  Threading these things is a bugger, but they are so worth having, especially on cheaper fabrics.

I have to go to work today.  Oh.  Joy.  I've found when we get super slow and are getting just one day or so a week it's harder to go to work than if you've worked the last six days in a row.

I got a vehicle going again!  Yay!  I also got a new battery set for the scooter my Mother gave me before she passed away.  I don't need it for day-to-day getting around, but I will be the first to admit that having it for longer distances and for when my Lupus is acting up.  Now I can dash down to the library without getting on a bus!  I know, I could just drive the mile or so down there, but I want to keep gas costs down and try to extend the vehicle life.  Walking is fine...to get there.  It's a steep hill coming back and it's just too hard.  So, we shall see.

Now that I'm back online, I'll try to check in again soon!

Hugs

Hello All!  I hope you're all having a great time today.  I'm quite pleased with what I've managed to accomplish today.  I've been wanting to rearrange my cabinets forever and today I DID IT!  I'm so pleased.  Then I came in here to my sewing room/den, sat down at my desk (my Mom's & Grandpa's 1940s desk!) and finally set up the budget I knew I needed to.  Both of these things took far less time than I thought they would, and make me feel wonderful.

I FINALLY got a date on my refund from the IRS.  It should be on Tuesday.  I've started budgeting that money so I make sure I take care of what needs to be taken care of.  I don't want to end up out of money and not having done what I need and want to do!  What have you done with your income tax windfalls?

Although I am intending on making my vintage wardrobe mostly myself, I am going to stop by Betty Page in Salt Lake City and treat myself to a new outfit looking towards spring.  Maybe a pair of jeans and a top....I'll see what fits well when I get there.

We've got a lovely, messy, windy snow storm coming in tonight through the weekend, Monday, nothing Tuesday, and then snow again Wednesday...and then the temps are supposed to head up!  Oh YAY!  The minute it looks like it will be fairly stable (aka above freezing!)  I'm going to start spreading lots and lots of grass seed in my back yard.  Last year due to sprinkler system problems and large doggies galumping around back there, the majority of my grass died, leaving me with nice, bare, muddy patches.  Not good.  Even if I drag hoses this year, I WILL have grass back there again.  Not only does it look pathetic, it also allows said doggies to drag mud through my house.  Again, not good!

Well, other than cooking some fish fillets for our Lenten repast tonight, I want to get my serger threaded.  I figure that's enough to be getting on with until tomorrow.

Hugs to Everyone!

Hello All!  Here is the link to that snood pattern I was talking about last time!  It's working up quite nicely, so far...  http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/persno.html

I'm out of ink for my printer, but I'm getting ready to check out my scanner so I can find out if I can share the patterns I want to work on.  Then, too, I can share with you the patterns, etc., two young friends of mine and I are going to go shopping to check on materials for "Steampunk" styled costumes for the Second"Salt City Steamfest" this summer.  I'm looking forward to it.  I'm doing all the sewing, which is fine.  (They don't know it yet, but I am going to press them into service when it comes to laying out, pinning, cutting out and marking!)

Anyone else frustrated with the IRS?  I turned in my tax return via Turbotax on January 3, 2013.  The IRS accepted it on January 20th.  Then I found out that they wouldn't start processing mine until February 14th due to the education credits I'm claiming.  So, still not refund and no date of when to accept it.  My son and his fiance turned in there's a week ago last Sunday.  By the following Thursday, they had theirs.  I could just scream.  Anyone else get there's fast, or is anyone waiting like I am?

Hugs

Vintage Clothing and Cooking

Hello all! I've just figured out which vintage styled patterns I want to sew, as well as downloading and printing a snood crotchet pattern. (Snoods are wonderful things. Your hair looks great without much fuss!). I'll probably start the snood tonight, and I'll try to get photos and links up. I work tomorrow, so it might be a day or two, but I'll get them up as soon as I can.

Plus, I've decided that as a start, I'm adding a meal from my grandmas vintage Betty Crocker cookbook and her other cookbooks that inherited. I also am going to include one of the Frugal Gourmets recipes each week too.

Tonight after dinner I'm going to work a bit on my daily plan to get things organized. I've got to make dinner and get things ready for the crockpot tomorrow since I won't feel like cooking tomorrow I know it!

I'll try to give you and update later!

Hugs

Just a short "check-in" to say hello!  I'm slowly proceeding on my journey.  I've started a hair snood.  That should help me keep a vintage look to my hair when I don't have time to do it up properly.

The snow is finally melting a bit here, for which I'm grateful.  Now, if my car would just get the repair work finished so I'm not stuck on the bus and my income tax refund would arrive, I would be set.

I'll check in again soon, have a lovely Sunday!

I love this video from England about women who "live in the past."  I think it's fantastic.  Unfortunately, the women feel they were portrayed poorly and everything was edited to make them look like fruitcakes.  It makes me sad that that had to happen.  I don't know why some people think they have to ridicule what someone else loves if they don't agree with it.

Just like in this following video clip from the "Wives with Beehives" special here in the US.  I feel really, really bad for these ladies.  The editing on this wasn't even subtle at all!  Even before I read the comments that one of the ladies posted on her blog about how the entire thing was edited to make her look evil and nuts, I knew it.  I mean, really, the way they made these ladies appear was too horrible to be real.  If you haven't had a chance to see it, you ought to, just to see how vile it is!  I've only got a short clip here, but it would be worth trying to find the hour long nightmare.

The Start of an Exciting Journey

Hello, I'm Catherine, and welcome to the first day of my journey to a vintage life!  I've always been fascinated by the 1940's - WWII Era especially - and the 1950s.  I loved my Grandparents things, and some of the things my Mom had, and always dreamed of what it would be like to live "back then."  Now that my children are all grown up and I've decided to pursue my "dream life."  I've been found the courage after discovering that there are many, many other folks who feel like me.

I hope you'll join my on my journey.  I'm going to aspire to live the best parts of the lifestyles and fashions of the past, incorporating the good parts of our present, modern world.  I'm not trying to stick my head in the sand or see life through rose colored glasses.  I've just decided that I don't want to wake up one day and think "if only!"

I have a feeling this will be a long journey, but that's OK with me.  That'l all part of the fun!  Off I go!