Plain ole, everyday minutiae

Top Notch has the best fish sandwiches. Reminds me, Ash Wednesday is 2/25, I always use Lent as an excuse to visit Top Notch on Friday evenings.

Santiago has an awesome lemon tree and gave me one of it's babies. I have the cutest baby lemon tree in a Contadina Tomato Paste can. I can't wait to get it going, though, I have failed on a grand scale before. Fresh new start, slate is clean. I sort of wish this lil tree could stay in it's can always. I noticed others around me had little starters in pea cans, hominy cans...I love to see plants in cans with the labels still on them. It's just one of those things that seems so familiar and looks so cute I can't stop looking at it. Makes me happy.

Geeking out: Austin City Council Meeting ARCHIVES!

Karen pointed me to this website. I find myself spending more time than I thought I ever would reading the minutes from city council meetings that were written decades ago.
Back in the 1920's there doesn't seem much to the meetings. There were a ton of people applying for taxi cab licenses in the 40's and trying to get their property re-zoned from residential to commercial. Once you get into the 1960's, they really start to get a few pages long.

No, I haven't read every single one but I have been jumping around: looking at birthdays, meetings close to significant dates in history. Check out what happend 11/21/1963.

It's interesting-thanks, Karen!

Happy Birthday House

Our house turns 60 today.
1949 was an interesting a year.

I love a grey day

Dreary winter days are purty days. It's cozy. With the hens I find myself having to venture from the warm house into the cold, dark and dreary backyard. Still love it. I build a small fire in the chiminea and hang. It's the dreary days that have always brought me inspiration.

Tonight the hens are all bundled up. I have learned it is healthier for them to stay outdoors and not in a shed, mud room or studio when the temps dip. Now...who wants an ice day and to be able to stay home from work? Raise your hand!

Barbie

Yesterday we were in the toy section of this store just looking around. Toys have gotten really freaky looking. There are a lot of big headed dolls and stuffed animals with tiny bodies and weird eyes and pink. The baby dolls don't seem to have changed much but Barbie has. I didn't realize they were being made with big lollipop heads and their features were not what I remembered. There was a series of vintage repro Barbies. For $40 I could buy the 1977 Superstar Barbie. It didn't look like the Superstar Barbie I got in 1977.

I looked up Superstar Barbies and the one I had came out in 1978. That cleared up a lot of confusing memories. I received my first Barbie at seven years old and that is why I remember taking a baby doll to school on the morning of my sixth birthday. My mother had told me there was no way I would have received two birthday dolls. She is very proud of this for some reason. I guess it shows I was not spoiled or something.

Superstar was my first Barbie ever. I didn't ask for her, in fact, I didn't know what a Barbie was. My mom got her for me. I was into baby dolls until then.
Superstar Barbie had a silver sequined hat and a sparkly, fitted, fuchsia evening gown and a white boa. She had a necklace and earrings and was the most glamorous, shiny thing I owned at the time. My grandparents gave me Barbie clothes, shoes, purses and wigs. The Barbie days had begun.

That Christmas my grandmother got me a Ken doll. He came wearing little white shorts and a striped red and white shirt. He also came with a single golf club and tennis racket. My Barbie collection continued to grow but Ken was sort of neglected. In fact, he's been naked since 1978. I have a box with all my old 70's Barbies and Ken. After looking at those vintage Barbies, I sort of feel I should peek in on mine. I should buy Ken an outfit, now that I can afford it. When I was a kid I would rather spend my allowance on a pretty Barbie outfit. I always promised Ken a shirt and pants. I always wanted to get the his and hers bridal set, wedding gown for Barbie and finally a nice suit for Ken.

I wish I still had Superstar Barbie's outfit. I took her to Mexico the summer after I got her. She was still pristine. I was playing with her on the sidewalk when this little girl, about my age came by on her way back from school (Mexico goes year round). She squealed when she saw my doll and asked if she could hold her. She was eating some sticky, orange, chili candy and her mouth and hands were all covered with it. I clearly remember seeing how she used her sticky hand to grab Barbie's pretty, fuchsia dress. She looked at her hair, commented on her jewelry and gave it back. The dress was ruined but the boa was still white. I took her inside right away and filled the bathroom sink with soapy water then dunked Barbie with her dress on into the water. The dress sort of started falling apart after that. I know when we left the boa and the hat never made it out of the suitcase. Gone forever.

Mini U. Tia E.

Apricot jam, fresh ginger tea and brie are what's in at my house along with the whole Francophile thing mentioned a few days ago.

I was never into Valentine's Day until I started making cards a few years ago. This year I'll be using the old card catalog cards and hope to incorporate crochet as well. We'll see. I tend to think big and come up with stupendous ideas for projects while in my fabric box (thanks, Renee). Real life is a whole other story.

I can't help but get excited about Spring. This year I'll be using All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. I heard even five year olds were successful using his special 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 soil mix. After my sad-sorry garden of broken dreams I realize I needed help. Last year's garden consisted of : two tomato plants that always looked half dead and a lot of dirt where seeds never sprouted or if they did they soon gave up. I won't be ordering seeds and I'm staying away from heirloom anything.

Already I have baby Starlings and baby squirrels scampering about. Spring can't be far off.

I *heart* Mad Men

Since it debuted I've been told to check out Mad Men. I was promised I'd love it. It was always referenced in vintage blogs for the fashions and furniture and my friends couldn't believe I had not watched a single episode. So we Netflixed the first three episodes and are now hooked. In fact last Saturday afternoon we found ourselves standing in the living room looking out the window, wondering when the mailman would arrive. Addicts. Wm remarked how tomorrow is Sunday and Monday is a holiday so ...yeah it needed to arrive. Addicts. When we watch it I find myself unable to do anything else. That just doesn't happen often for me. I'm always working on something when I watch a show.

It immediately brought to mind, the Ex-Urbanites by Auguste C. Spectorsky, The Apartment, Sex and the Single Girl. I found myself thinking about Samantha Stevens' powers and how Darren could never be a sneaky operator like the dapper Don Draper with some witchy wife and mother-in-law able to make spot checks at any moment. I soon found out I'm not the only one thinking all this. ,In looking up Mad Men after the first three episodes I discovered many blogs and articles all making these same comparisons. One thing is certain, once the episode is over we are always left feeling really good to have entered this world in 1971 and not before.

Daily Miracle

Incidentally, these hens give me three eggs a day. Every now and then one will come along later in the day and I have a bad habit of putting it in my hoodie pocket. One day I did this, forgot the egg was in the pocket, went into the utility room and put it in the washing machine and did a small load. It had already gone through the first spin cycle when I remembered where I had put the evening egg. I opened the machine and expected a mess since I used warm water. Instead I found the egg without even the tiniest crack still in the hoodie pocket. Our machine is either too gentle, my hens eggs could be super tough or the 2nd cycle breaks the egg. Daily miracle?

Happy Weekend!

My friend is in Washington DC right now preparing for the inauguration. Since 2007 she has worked on the Obama campaign and I'm so happy she was able to go! I'll be taking the day off to catch the event at home in a living room that has probably seen at least ten inaugurations. This is too important a day to leave to chance. Sure, there was talk of a tv in the commons area at work when I left today and there is streaming over the internet. It all sounds okay, but .... I don't want glitches, someone talking over the television or to watch the event from eleven feet away on some tiny screen. I can't think of a better place to be than in my own living room.

I was invited to an old school Austin house party in an old school Austin hood. I haven't been to a party in that area since the early 90's back when most of the homes were rentals. This white house glowed happily and you could hear The Le Roi Brothers performing inside. Once inside you were greeted by a room filled with the happiest people you have ever seen. There were two long tables filled with all sorts of foods and drinks. It was impressive. The absolute coolest aspect to this party was how overjoyed everyone was.

Now that it's officially over...minutiae

I celebrated the 12th day with a small group of sweet, down to earth friends and a rosca de reyes. The cake was actually better than I thought it would be. It was better than La Victoria's, but still, I found it lacking. I wish they were filled with something. Next year I am seriously considering the recipe for the French galette de rois. Just look at the photo of one I found online. I could have made it this yearbut...that's how it goes. I heard that Wal-Mart had beautiful ones. It just never occurred to me to check Wal-Mart.

I reached for Charles Trenet (Brel is next) this morning and started to think of how we are all little worlds and in those worlds are patterns, traditions and annual events. There is something we just do every year that is unique to our own little world and we may not even recognize it as a "thing" but it is very much a "thing".  Personal traditions? Tradition seems too extrinsic. I'm talking about the the little grooves we naturally fall into around the same time every year that make us feel cozy or happy. It's only recently that I started to take note of my own patterns.

In this world, starting a few days into January and through mid February or so, seems to be my annual appreciation of French food, movies and music. I'm always in the mood for all things French after the new year.

This year I begin with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and plan on Stolen Kisses later this week. Let's see how long I carry this annual "thing".  Chez Nous is calling, I've been craving their escargot for some months now.

Living Retro

This past Sunday Morning TV show featured a story on those who live their lives with a bit of retro flair. They showed Lindy hoppers and atomic ranch house owners and lovers of all things vintage. The story focused on this sort of lifestyle as an escape from the pods, cells but mostly, the sad economic state of things. Truth is this sort of living didn't just happen. Aspects to this particular subculture have been going on for decades, at least 35 beginning in the UK. Being reminded of a simpler way of life was the main message, I think. To live analog is definitely straying from the status quo but the lifestyle they showcased is not simple nor recession friendly.

It requires much time (collecting this stuff takes years) and money to furnish a retro-remodeled ranch like the one featured and dress in Shaheen (who passed away just last month). Do you know what a working and wicked classic car costs these days? And what it costs to feed a V8? I found the whole piece a bit ironic though enjoyable. This group was having fun and didn't seem to care that The Sharper Image went under. Back to basics: staying close to home, dancing, collecting?

The amount of blogs focused on all possible aspects of living vintage and retro lives are on the rise and provide those who are interested with valuable resources and news. Yay for me! What is amazing is how many items once thought obsolete or endangered are making a comeback or have been manufactured all this time just in smaller quantities and sold through specialty stores.

I suspect more and more spotlights will be hitting this subculture because in times of crisis, the focus turns to those who don't seem as emotionally affected, the ones who have been digging a different beat all along. I guess to see what they do and how they do it to evaluate if what they do and how they do it is better than what everyone else is doing. Back when the Dot-com bubble began to deflate, the whole retro-style subculture popped up in magazines and was featured in closing news pieces. I remember they said Martinis were making a comeback.

Speaking of those who live retro-style lives, I admire those who can stick to one decade. That is something I've never been able to do. I'm all over from 1920-1980. I also tend to stop collecting once my home starts looking like a display in a vintage store.

On the 11th day of Christmas

I went looking for a good Rosca de Reyes. Seems to get more difficult every year to find a really good one. Last year I was just happy to find one nearby at La Victoria bakery. It was good but not uber awesome. Fiesta's was pretty good one year then really dry the next. I had really yummy ones in Del Rio because Acuna was across the border and they went all out. They were more like cake than pan de dulce. Central Market only makes a Mardi Gras king cake, booooooo, they have it all turned around. I ended up finding a promising looking one at my HEB. It looked even better than La Victoria's. We'll find out how good it is tomorrow. Must have hot chocolate! Time to put the shoes out. Wonder where we'll party for Candlemas, teehee.

Incidentally, the galette de rois looks like it might be real yummy!

A brand new year and already minutiae!

I'm already thinking of Spring, hard not too when it's near 80 degrees and sunny as can be. The lawn is getting green patches. As big a fan as I am of the ice and sleet day...the hens and vegetation seem to be having too much fun right now, so I feel too mean wishing for any this January.

I have always wanted a cute teapot. I drink gallons of hot tea. The ginger tea at Titaya's (That stuff was potent and so delish.) is what made me finally order a teapot of my very own.




A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-savoring each and every delicious page. I may have to take the train over there just as soon as I finish the book. Just to walk by those same streets. My favorite part so far is page 16.

I really don't want to return to the daily grind but at the same time, it would be a relief to return to the daily grind. Still, I need someone to hold my hand because the holiday has been long and I've forgotten logins and passwords. What is nice is the streets still look a bit empty.