Confessions of a Goth Wannabe Middle Aged Woman

I snitched a Hershey's kiss from the desk of a co-worker this morning, and found myself filling her in about my millinery instructor Kate's Hershey Kiss inspired cocktail hat.

I do so miss the whimsical nature of cocktail hats and the women who are witty enough to wear them.

Needing to sooth my longing, I returned to my desk and clicked over to Google Images.

I put in the words "Cocktail Hat" and soon I was feeling much better again after seeing the above hat offered at this etsy site.

Now I am longing to see a winter bride who has such style as to wear that hat with a velvet gown at Christmas time.

That shell pink and green combo was what I had imagined for my own Christmas wedding years ago...such a combination just wasn't to be found for bridesmaid attire, and the bridal party just wasn't up for having dresses custom made.

Oh well. At least I can enjoy the colors in my mind ...and picture myself in this hat instead of the 70's style veil.

As the Etsy site noted, this hat is called "The Holly - Victorian Bridal Top Hat - As Seen in Gothic Beauty Magazine 28"

Oh oh.
Lately I have been noticing that I have been finding myself secretly loving Goth looks.

I have developed a *serious* girl crush on Abby on NCIS for instance. I just love her...her work...her style...the way she never gives up, and is so totally herself and "herself" is loved by one and all. And that she and the actress who plays her are from New Orleans .

NCIS is now the #1 television show in America. My daughter is hooked, my BGFF Gail is hooked...just about everyone with a heart beat is hooked on the show. It is a triple threat show for me: My first teen crush was David McCallum, who played the Russian Illya Kuryakin on the show The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

(I'm smiling even as I type this, thinking back to how he looked back then...)
McCallum is also on NCIS...and dang, I still get that goofy butterfly feeling when he is on screen.

(Maybe his hat has something to do with creating those feelings again...and his bow tie, and his Scottish accent....)

Then there is Mark Harmon. Married to the actress who played "Mindy" in the TV show "Mork and Mindy", nicely graying Mark has had an amazing life. A glance from his blue eyes would make anyone drop their cup of coffee accidentally, you know what I mean?
I say his eyes rival Paul Newmans.
When asked...several friends admit they would want date the character Tim if they could. Not the Playboy type Tony character...nerdy Tim brings out the nurturing side and a sense that he could be a "forever" kind of guy. Plus he is uber smart while still being humble.

Abby and Tim "hooked up" for a bit. Frankly I was hoping they would get married. Or that she would at least plan a wedding...because I can just see her in this bridal hat:


Abby just seems to be the type of girl who would want a leather bridal hat with her and her beloved's initials don't you think?

OK...I'll try to pull myself together and let you go check out the rest of the AMAZING cocktail hats on Topsyturvydesigns.

And if anyone does get one of these hats for a wedding..let me know.

Please...let me know!

But is it art?

Modern art is not always understood or appreciated by everyone.
Some say that for them, modern art is an acquired taste.
It is an appreciation that has grown on them over time.

Others say modern art speaks to them immediately in ways that traditional artistic forms do
not.

One of the most modern of art forms is called performance art, where the viewer and the art become merged to create new forms that goes beyond what the artist originally created.

The question "But is it Art?" (as asked by Tiggie) needs no response.

It is art.

It is good to invest in art, as art serves to enrich your environment, your portfolio and yes, even your soul.
We are pleased with our recent artistic acquisition.
And happy to share it with you.
(Even if Hart is refusing to share it with anyone, even if it is orange.)

Looking good and on TV too!

Bernie is 56 years old today. Wow...did 55 go fast or what? You accomplished so much during that year-putting our new house together, learning to fly fish, going camping and hiking, golfing, church, studying bonsai, cooking...the list goes on and on.

Looking good...and doing good too.

When his company found a way to eliminate the need for printers, Bernie went looking for a way to donate the printers, rather than just throwing them away.

The local news covered the story this weekend.....and you can see it (and him) by clicking here!

I'm so proud of you Bernie!
Your 55th year ended so great!

(Even if the TV station did spell your name wrong!)

Wonder what your next year will hold.
Blessings for sure...and fish.
Lots and lots of fish!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

What to wear....what to wear....

Some days it is hard to decide what to wear to work.

Most days it boils down to black, grey or brown slacks, a blouse or sweater, and a scarf or piece of jewelry.

But then on other days.....

The Inner Cowgirl Princess Librarian comes out.
Every day I have a ball...
and sometimes its fun to dress in a ball gown too!

(Happy Memories of my Houston Hat Net days...and buying this gown brand new for only twenty bucks. Can you say swish? Slam Dunk! I bought it so fast it made heads spin. Every girl should have a poofy pink sequined ball gown don't you think?
And if said girl had to wait until she was fifty before she got one...well, the inner little girl was thrilled to be twirling in a cloud of pink tulle at last!)

Decades

Hart and Missy admire each other's coats amidst the fallen golden leaves...secure in the knowledge that their coat "style" has been "in-style" since the beginning of time.

Sigh.

It must be lovely to be a cat.

On the other hand, the fact that human garment styles keep changing over time has its perks too.

For example: Human clothing can be enjoyed at interesting place such as "Decades".

Vintage (before 1950), Retro (1950-1990s) and Contemporary (the last ten years...) clothing is just plain fun to see. I had been rubbernecking this store front on my way to work (late as always....never time to stop) the past three months. Before that I kept hearing "You ought to go to Decades, you would love it!"

So...on my way home on my short work day last Thursday I made a point of finally going in to the store for a look-see.

I could have spent a couple hours just ogling the vintage costume jewelry...

Deciding which classic diamond broach I liked best....

(FYI: My Dallas based friend Bonita informed me of this little tidbit of good etiquette: if you are wearing a clear colorless jewel, you are wearing a diamond. If the jewel is a genuine diamond, then you say it is a "real" diamond. Thanks to Bonita, I can now say that my diamond jewelry collection is quite extensive!)

And then...swoon...there were the hats!

Hats formed a border all around the shop's ceiling, and there were several large hat displays and hat stands as well.

I had to laugh (and take a picture of course!) at the sign in the mirror over a trunk full of hats!

Obviously this is not a LDS member owned business.

Decades had dresses on display from 1890, 1900, 1920....every decade in fact. I especially was charmed by this dress. Can't you just imagine wearing this dress with your hair in a short gamine hair style, dancing to the music of a band whose members were dressed in tuxedos?

This heavily beaded silk dress is from the 1920's.

Twenty three skiddoo...bring on the spit curls!

Another beautiful silky twenties dress...this one a day dress. Can't you just see this dress breezing long on a shopping jaunt, a little grey tight fitting cloche hat on the head, and cute kid gray shoes, with a french heel and a mary jane strap across the instep?

(The dress was for sale at the unbelievable price of $80. Or at least that was what I was told...)

How about this matching hat and handbag? Can't you see them being worn with a smart fitted leaf green suit and shoes? Think 1950's again. That fabric! I'd love that fabric for drapery too!

(I'm very, very tempted to go back and get this set!)

Hand tooled leather bags galore! Isn't the bag with a leaping deer adorable?

Somebody tell me what one should wear with that tooled deer bag!

Yes...cats certainly do have fantastic timeless wear. No wonder we humans want to borrow their look from time to time. I confess...it was this very coat made me pull over and finally visit the shop. I think the coat is too small for me...I'm not sure...and I'm afraid I would buy it if it would fit!

I took quite a few pictures inside the shop...and only at the end of my visit was I informed that taking pictures was not permitted.

Ooops...my bad...

Pretend you didn't see any of these pictures, OK??? OK!

A Non-Event Event

We promised ourselves that this year we would catch the Aspen groves in their full golden splendor.

And this year....

Rats! Foiled again by a windy storm while I was in San Diego.

But look closely at the picture above.

See a consolation prize amidst the trees?

When you are driving around looking for fall color and suddenly see a whole bunch of cars parked...hit the brakes and grab your camera!

There he was: A bull moose noshing a late afternoon snack down about 5o feet from the two lane road. Boy oh boy did I wish I had a camera with a better zoom feature! Some folks had flown in from Washington State intent on photographing golden aspen, but as the photographer girl in the early picture pointed out....even though the leaves are spent, seeing a moose is a pretty good too.

As we headed down the mountain, there were still a few lingering golden leaves.

The deer were out-and-about, as were hunters.

This time of year I try to remember to have an orange vest with me at all times just to be safe; and hope that the hunters will not mistake me for a deer instead of a "dear".

Yes...a stretch or two of gold was still to be found.

The white trunks that seem to sway and lean towards one another, with dark eye-like forms against the white bark made me feel like I had entered into some enchanted forest tree gathering.

When you add patches of snow...

Another party seems to be occurring.

Next year...for sure...next year we will visit these scenes and dance through showers of gold.

Next year, God willing, I will not stray from Utah in October, and will drive the Aspen Groves/watch the leaf peeper websites/take off work/camp out/whatever it takes/ so I can once again experience and photograph the aspen.

(I have experienced aspen gold in groves but once, years ago in Colorado Springs while visiting BGF Gail the first week in October, on her birthday. Call me greedy...it was too wonderful of an experience to experience but once. Like bluebonnets and tide pools, snorkeling in tropical waters, and England...I want such an experience again and again.)

Commuting while Communing

The drive home each weekday evening is usually beautiful here. The mountains are either spring green, autumn speckled, or frosted white with snow.
As I head home the western sunsets reflect upon the eastern peaks, turning them rich and glowing red gold.

And some days I find myself driving through double rainbows too.

With my camera at hand I quickly snap both sides of the rainbow as I drive ...the first picture shows the right hand side of the bow, while the picture above and below captures the left hand side.

Yes...here I have found a glorious place to live.

Some say Utah is America's best kept secret.

Shhh...don't tell anyone that I've told you!

(I had to tell someone...some secrets are just too good not to share!)

Geisha in Training

It's hard to imagine being a Geisha in training for almost fifty years. Fifty years...in training, learning how to serve and be gracious to others. While she was never called by any other name than "Geisha Girl In Training", she has been part of my life for just that long, and served to train me, and shape me mysteriously as well.

When I was out in San Diego I visited her again...the Geisha in training doll that my father's sister, my Aunt Marcia dressed while her husband was stationed in Japan with the United States Air Force back in the early 1960's.

My Aunt had three children at that point, two sons and a daughter, who was a few years older than me. Aunt Marcia had a chance (and apparently the time and talent...) to take a class on Japanese doll making. She learned how to make the costume for the doll, and carefully dressed her as a geisha in training.

The "in-training" part was signaled by the fact that the tradition back fabric bundle was left undone as in this picture; (and I just learned why rubber flip flop sandals are also called zoris!)

You can see both full fledged geisha and in training costume in this picture (I should have taken a picture of my doll's backside too while I was in San Diego this time) that is, two panels of richly woven brocade fabric trailed stiffly down from the dolls waist to her heels. I would routinely fold the fabric up, imagining how she would look as a full fledged geisha. The black band around her waist was the fabric I would fold, but the soft fine silk of the orange and white check fabric actually held my tactile interest more. That fabric was somehow embossed so each little dot was slightly raised.

My Aunt carried the doll home from Japan in a traditional display case formed of glass and shiny black lacquered wood. The door had a small key embellished with a minuscule tassel. By "carried" the doll home, I was told by my Aunt that the case and the doll had sat on her lap the entire flight from Japan to San Diego. When I think about that fact, I cringe. I can't imagine why she did that for me. As far as I know, she had only met me once or twice before she left for Japan.

Much later, when I visited with her as an adult she shared one detail about her flight over to Japan. She told me she had boarded the plane with her family, heading out to a country she had never known, dressed appropriately for that time, in a suit, heels, hat, nylons and gloves.

She had just begun her period that day; and the sanitary products were inadequate to the task at hand. Upon boarding she retired to the lavatory, where she undressed and washed out all the layers of her clothing-pantie, girdle, slip, skirt, and then re-dressed in the wet garments for the long flight with three young school age children. Naturally that trauma stuck in her mind for many years, and I wonder if she recalled that indignity as she layered the doll with garment after garment, then tied the costume all together with a sash.

Laura now owns the doll, and sadly the carefully carried display case was destroyed by water damage while it was stored when I was in my thirties. Her lovely sheer red silk parasol is also gone now; I only just this moment remembered that she had one, and it was always fully open, riding on her shoulder, exhibiting finely painted cherry blossoms in white, creating a back drop for her sweet white face.

Except those details, a slight shattering of the fine silk, and a tiny bit of fading and dust, the doll looks exactly the same as it did when I received it.

I wonder what inspired my aunt to give the doll to me; she had an identical twin sister who had two daughters that were older, and arguably more suited for caring for such a treasure, as well as a daughter of her own. I was amazed that I was chosen to receive the doll when they returned to America a few years later, staying at our house before trekking to their next military assignment, which I think was in Arlington Texas. Our family visited her there once a few years later. I was stunned at how hot and humid Texas was, and made a mental note to never, ever visit the state ever again. Oh how curious life is...I never imagined I would live deep in the heart of Texas myself later on.

More surprisingly, it turned out that my completely San Diego rooted daughter would be uprooted as well in order to enter nursing school at the college not far from where my Aunt and her family lived, none other than the University of Texas at Arlington.

I also wonder if the doll lit a life long passions within me: a love of the color orange, the fascination with beautiful fabrics and costumes, and the decision that of my three aunts, I liked my Aunt Marcia the best. Later she and her family moved to Oregon; I took a train up to visit her when I was a teen and shortly afterward decided I wanted very much to live in Oregon too. I later fulfilled that decision for at least two years of my life when I moved to Oregon to attend college. Funny how my Aunt seemed to have blazed a trail for future college location decisions!

Geishas are mysterious beings; their white mask like make up, shy demeanor, and wrapped in layer upon layer of bright color fabric that conceal their form, yet announcing to all who would see exactly who they are in their unique world. My doll is still signaling mysteries to me, and reminding me that she and I are in many ways still "in training" to learn how to serve be of service after all these years.

Doing a Seasonal Good Deed

When outside the kitchen window there is a view like this....

and this...

and this...

Yet the china on that table next to the window is pink flowered with mint green edges like this:

Jill is not pleased.

Bernie even admits it just doesn't feel quite right.

However...

Bernie has also "encouraged" not collecting additional china sets, seeing as how I own not only my pink floral set (twelve place settings)...

but also a Christmas set, with eight place settings (above)

and a set of Lenox with a fuchsia rose in the center (for a dozen people!)
There is only so much space one can give over to china sets!

Enter a bright idea, and a fifteen minute break at work.

A quick trip to the thrift shop, and six dollars later....

I now own six "new" plates appropriate for the fall season!

Three plates are this design above, which Bernie likes best.

I also got three of this pattern.

Because mix and matched dishes are more fun anyway.
I already had the painted wood napkin rings..they were wedding presents from almost 33 years ago!

But wait! There is more!

My Christmas dishes included a stripped edge charger size plates and bowls.

Look how perfectly they mix with the "new" plates.

The charger works great with the other pattern as well.

But if I really want to go swanky, I can use my gold chargers to give the table more glitz. I have a gold toned flat wear set as well that will work nicely at Thanksgiving dinner.

I was only planning on getting two plates...one for each of us...but then I remembered my son and his wife *might* sometime come for dinner.

And that perhaps sometime her parents *might* come out for Thanksgiving as well. In any case, for a total of six bucks, I decided I could afford to be prepared.

Storing six plates won't be any big deal either. I just won't plan on serving coffee with the meal; it is always the cups and saucers that take up all the space when storing dish sets.

Love that pattern!

There are no chips, no scratches and both patterns are dishwasher and microwave safe. The plates are brand new. I wonder why they were given away.

In the future I plan to aquire special day dishes more often, but generally I'll be getting just two plates at a time; one for me and one for Bernie.

How fun it will be to be able to set a new table on a whim for only two bucks!

Red white and blue dishes will be gathered for American holidays, and then I'll donated then right back rather than store them at home.

I love the idea of having an endless ever changing china closet right around the corner from work.

Isn't that the cheapest thrill ever?

And just think...the money I spend will be going f0r a good cause too!

Changing out my dishes will actually be a way of performing a good deed!