Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

Faro and Doris Caudill, homesteaders. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Stunning photos capture life in the early 40's, amazing shots~

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

More photos, black and white period shots

An Indian enclave in Albuquerque, N. Mex. Primitive shelters with modern city street behind. 1912. (Courtesy of the National Archives)

From the Archive: American Cities Pre-1950 – Plog Photo Blog

I’ve been working on a couple projects for a dear friend who is recovering from shoulder surgery, and omitted any mention of these, on purpose. I didn’t want to let any cats out of any bags, nor be tempted to hint at what I was doing. Tonight, I am preparing her parcel for shipment, and will post completed pictures as soon as I know she’s got them. Mustn’t ruin the surprise~

I’m working on a pair of socks right now, and it feels good to be back to my knitting again.

Nancy's Socks by Wendy D. Johnson

I’ve spent much of the summer working on a couple crochet projects as  gifts, one taking 6 weeks to complete. Sharon called me last night to say how much she loves her Rose Parade Doily, and has shared it with her nearest and dearest   Today, she had the Chemo-port inserted in her shoulder, to make ready for her treatments which will start next week.  Her DH said it was a very stressful day, so I didn’t get to speak with her, but hope to again soon.

 DD35 has been calling since their weekend in MI last week-her DFIL passed away suddenly, leaving DMIL a total wreck. Not to mention, DMIL had emergency surgery, a total hysterectomy 2 days after her return from the MI trip. The whole family is in turmoil, between trying to sort out Dad’s funeral arrangements, and taking care of Mom. DD35 is feeling the strain again, but I know she will pull through this, as she is always at her best when she’s helping another soul in need. Her DMIL will be living with them for a time, after her release from the hospital, and I’m sure will be more than ready to help out with teh Babeh Girl.

DH and I began picking up the pieces of our hearts after DD17 and DS15 went back to Jersey. Their visit was good this time, we felt. Now we feel their absence again, like a black hole that fills our days. It doesn’t take long for a body to get used to having loved ones in their lives for a time, only to be torn from them again, leaving a hole in the heart that never closes. We are both  grateful for every day we get to spend with them,  and sad when left with bittersweet memories that must sustain us through the in-between times.

Each of these things, I knit into whatever I am working on at the moment, each stitch holding some memory of that particular day. When I am done, I’ll gift it to the person whom I put most thought into while I worked on it.  I find comfort in my work, and hope it is conveyed in the gifting.

Igor says mosquitoes suck. Best to stay inside in the a/c.

Good Night, Sweet Car~well, it's time to go.....

Today will be the last time we'll get to drive Sis's Mitsubishi 3000GT for a while. I suspect DH polished and cleaned it up too good, and she will banish any thoughts of selling it now...*cry

DH and I had fun with it, just the same. We definitely will want to take it off her hands, if ever she decides she is tired of it...

This morning, I got a first-hand look at the Grandmother of all Deer Flies. Our area has been inundated with them this summer, the worse in recent years. They have prevented us from taking evening walks, as they pester Igor relentlessly and bite him viciously on the nose, causing large welts to appear. Sometimes 5 or more will buzz his head as we head out and will not leave until we return and hide in the garage. A few bold ones have ventured into the garage, only to be swatted by DH. But they persist to torment us.

This one was in a Death Spin when Igor found it on the back deck yesterday morning. Hideous thing was spinning around on it's back, scared the carp out of me once as it spun out of control toward my bare foot, until it finally spun itself between  the boards, and fell through. Good riddance!!

I have finally connected all the rose motifs for Sharon's Blue Girl Rose Parade Doily. She is still recouperating from day 2 after surgery and from what her DH said, was in a great deal of discomfort. We suspect it will be Wednesday before she is released. That gives me enough time to complete the doily before she comes home.

Time to take the Zoom Car back.... I will miss you, Mitzi....

Zoom Cars R Us!

OMY I almost forgot to add a thank you to Linda Godfrey in my last blog entry,  for giving us a copy of her latest book, Haunted Wisconsin

Thank you, Alienda, and I had a blast riding "shotgun" with you!!

I got up early this morning, planning on going for a walk. That was not the case, for as soon as I stepped outside onto the deck, a blast of muggy warmth told me today would not be a good day to do 3, 4 or even 5 miles...I thought about it for a few, then decided against it, in favor of working on Sharon's Rose Parade Doily. I am near completion, and since her surgery was moved forward, I felt an urgency to get it finished.

I put on a pot of water for my morning tea, and took my crochet basket out to the patio table and began laying out the doily and 16 rose motifs that were to be attached.

Taking my time, I began attaching the first rose motif. It went on without a problem, and so I moved onto the next motif, following E. Hiddleson's directions very carefully; second flower attached, I noticed a twist in the linked chains. DRAT! RIPPIT and started over. A second attempt came out the same as the first-RIPPIT again and started over. I went in and got a cup of tea, then came back out with a renewed  confidence that I would get it right this time.

But, after attaching 3 more rose motifs, I realized why I kept getting a twist in my chains. RIPPIT and started over, totally frustrated by this time. Now I had to get it right or the whole thing, ball and all,  was going to go flying off into the woods for the squirrels to play with.
I began attaching the rose motifs, this time from behind the motif. Perfecto!! Finally, 2 hours later, I had at least got 4 of the roses on the outer edge attached without twisting. Now, I could put the doily aside and get ready for work.

DH spent the better part of the day waxing his sister's Mitsubishi 3000GT, which is one of his favorite pastimes.

After I got caught up on the day's orders, I went outside to see what, if anything, needed to be done. The car was cleaned up and all that was needed was to vacuum it out and that's where I came in.

After we got the car all clean and shiny, we took it to for a ride out to Palmyra to Rushing Waters Fisheries, to pick up some fresh fish for dinner.

DH cooked the salmon with a little olive oil in the skillet, got a nice caramelize going, then served it with Bookbinders cocktail sauce, yummm- YUM! I made a Greek Cucumber salad with yogurt, sliced cucumbers, minced garlic and a pinch of salt; it went along perfect with the fish.

Later, after dinner, we decided to go for a ride to the gas station to replace the 1/4 tank we used tooling around the countryside...Mike handed me the keys and said, "Let's go!" GASP! I hadn't drove a stick in over 25 years!!
I started out a little slow, but by the time we got out on the road, it wasn't that difficult. We drove around a few back roads, then came up to the gas station, where lo and behold, our next door neighbors were parked at the same pump. When they saw us pull up, they were like, "When did you get THAT???" Then DD19 showed up, and we had to laugh at us all having a "neighborhood meetin'" at the gas station LOL!

Later this evening, DH was writing a friend and sent him this email:

My Zoom car that quickly became Sandra's Zoom car...

120 pounds of pure evil!

My life's in jeopardy
Murdered in cold blood is what I'm gonna be
I ain't been home since Friday night
And now my wife is coming after me

Give me police protection
Gonna buy a gun so
I can look after number one
Give me a bodyguard
A black belt Judo expert with a machine gun

Gonna buy a tank and an airplane
When she catches up with me
Won't be no time to explain
She thinks I've been with another woman
And that's enough to send her half insane
Gonna buy a fast car
Put on my lead boots
And take a long, long drive
I may end up spending all my money
But I'll still be alive

All I did was have a bit too much to drink
And I picked the wrong precinct
Got picked up by the law
And now I ain't got time to think

Gonna buy a tank and an aeroplane
When she catches up with me
Won't be no time to explain
She thinks I've been with another woman
And that's enough to send her half insane
Gonna buy a fast car
Put on my lead boots
And take a long, long drive
I may end up spending all my money
But I'll still be alive

And I'm oh so tired of running
Gonna lay down on the floor
I gotta rest some time so
I can get to run some more

She's comin'!
She's comin'!

 He's such a kidder ~

Life's Simple Pleasures

DH decided he wanted a double burner for the garage; he is itching to cook again. Only problem is those dratted stairs going up to the kitchen...

So, tonight we went to Walgreens and bought a Signature Double Buffet Range for the garage.

DH couldn't wait to get it out of the box- he'd been wanting one for eons. I grabbed one of our less-used Calphalon saute pans, a pair of tongs and DH grabbed the Italian sausage, I added some sliced garlic, while DH added some roasted red pepper strips, some sliced red onions, and a little of the olive oil that the peppers were marinated in, and soon the garage was filled with the smells of an Italian kitchen. He cut up the sausage into bite-size chunks and browned them until the pink was gone, then served them on a couple leftover sesame seed hamburger buns we had laying around. Was it ever good! There's something about cooking outside, "roughing it" as I call it, that brings out the flavors of a meal.

After dinner, we hopped in the Blazer and took a ride around the lake, checking out the Summer homes. Nearly every one had at least 2 cars in their driveways, all IL plates. The July 4th weekend has officially begun~

fishing1

Uploaded by msgrfx on 30 Jun 10, 10.42PM CDT.

At dusk, there were fireworks going off in town, as well as the neighboring town of Delavan. One of our neighbors insisted on setting off as many, if not more, in his driveway behind us, prompting Igor to fits of barking at the darkening treeline behind us. He was pretty stressed by the time the Grand Finale was over, and the mosquitoes drove  us in for the night.

I completed 2 more rose motifs for the Rose Parade doily, totally absorbed in my work for a couple hours. I think it's going to look nice once it gets worked together.

I've decided to go with this color combo. I really think it will work best for Sharon.

Igor has had about enough of this day.