New dressing gown

I've gone to Goodwill lately and have found many things on my "wish list". I've also just found a lot of great things that weren't on my wish list, but were just too awesome not to buy. This morning my parents called me and wanted to see if I wanted to go to Goodwill with them. We thought today was half off day, but apparently that's next Saturday. Boo!

My parents were running a little behind so I decided to just browse while I waited. I went into the dress section, and looked through my size but found nothing..I decided to look in the bigger sections, with not much hope, but I was bored. 

That's when I spotted it. The most beautiful coral-red sheer..thing. I pulled it off the hanger and it was a dressing gown! Now, I just bought a 1920s dressing gown, but it didn't feel great on me, so I gave it to my fabulous friend who just adores anything 1920's-30's. 

So, I needed a new one and here was a glamorous one right in front of me! 

It was so bright, it hurt my eyes. Right the my parents walked up and I said to my mom "...is this ridiculous or awesome?"

"It's beautiful!"

So, it came home with me.

Old mail, pt. II

I bought another old letter of Etsy a few days back, and it arrived in the mail today. The day I purchased it, the owner messaged me to give me a little background on the letter. She told me that she bought it at an estate sale. It belonged to an old scientist by the name of Leland Pence. Leland apparently worked with Linus Pauling, who was a famous scientist who won two Noble Peace prizes. They had another letter for sale that had correspondence between both Pence and Pauling...but it was $1,500 dollars. This one was $1.50.

February 28, 1941

March 1, 1944

Dear Mary: 

That top date-line is as far as Bill got that nite in writing you a few lines...and I don't know what inspired the "1941".

It was so nice to get such a newsy letter from you. Allie has it now and I can't remember any questions that you asked, so if I don't respond as I should- pliz excuse. 

As Allie has probably told you, the films didn't arrive until the Tuesday after Valentine's day . We still haven't seen them for several reasons. First and foremost, we just don't do anything during the week as Bill works most of the time. Secondly, these projectors are now very precious and irreplaceable and I don't imagine they improve with the necessary jostling around in a car while enroute to the borrowers home. All this is summed up in a reluctance to ask the favor of borrowing Dr. Freeman's projector so often. The doctor's father passed away about 10 days ago and has been out of town anyway. 

Allie says you're having a lovely spring weather, getting some planting done, and everything. That doesn't seem so very far away from us either, as our weather has been very mild, tho' the past few days have had a raw bite to the breezes. From the radio quips  owing from the west coast, it would seem that they are having more then their share of "dew". Spring really does seem around the corner, for I learned today that the washers are coming to our apartment on tuesday morning to give us a thorough wall washing job- but no painting which we are badly in need of. I think it's mean of Allie's apartment  owners not to give her equal service, as her rent is a little more, I believe, than ours, and she has been a tenant there for so long. The walls are bothering her- and the exposure and difficulty in finding help- make it impossible for her to have them done. 

We all feel so badly that Sus is still continuing to have pain. I am wondering if he has had all the calcium tests. Do you remember when Blanche Andrews nearly died two years ago from lack of calcium and the terrific pains she had in her hips and legs? That is just a thought!

Jean sounds like such a darling and must be a pleasure to have around. Eve and Harold Snyder called on Laura and Raleigh last saturday nite and they say that their little girl is adorable. Nothing new to report from them, Eve said. 

Did you know that Junie has gone across? We hope he has arrived safely by this time. His brother is a medical technician and is now in a camp in Indiana. He thinks he will return to Camp Adair and then back to Illinois for a month and then over seas. 

Gramps is due up here for a visit pretty soon. He didn't go south this year due to the patriotic urge to stay off trains, and I don't think he has suffered too much. He loved to go but he just itches to get back once he's there. Did I tell you he is going back to work this year on the Georgian Bay line? They wanted him to go back and he must have forgotten how tired he was at the end of last season.

Dot and Jim's little niece is due to come out of those horrid casts this week-end. They haven't heard yet, but she was to be x-rayed last week to see how the legs were coming. This has been much harder on the mother then the little girl- and not easy for her. Her daddy is about ready to go across, and already has had most of his shots and vaccines. 

We are all pretty excited when George was testifying on the spy ring case. Jim and Louise went down and sat for hours, enough so that they said they felt like Junior G-Men. 

Bill is working again tonite- at the shop this time, and I want to get a good sized ironing out of the way before he arrives and its almost 9:00. Do you think I can do it? 

Love to you and Sus and Jean from both of us...

M. and Bill

I don't remember if I told you, but we felt badly to miss sending the Sr. Pences a Christmas greeting, the first in a long time. Let us know where they are..."

The letter also came with newspaper clippings, and some ads, a comic, and a funny little story. 

Lately...

Just little bits and pieces of my life lately... 

Old mail.

I came across an Etsy page recently that was selling old love letters from WWII, rather cheap. They are chosen at random, and after I bought one, I anxiously awaited for it to get here. Well, today it arrived! And I read it as soon as I opened it, and well...it was different then I was expecting. 

"My dear husband, 

How is my sugar tonight? As for me I am about to freeze. The furnace is going in full swing but that wind come in around the windows anyway The wind has been awful today, it has been blowing hard and has it been cold. I almost froze while I was waiting for the bus this morning. I had to wait about 20-25 minutes. I wish I could drive this car so I could go in it on days like this and rainy days. My throat isn't entirely well yet and standing in the cold don't help it any. 

I am so glad you sent me your girlfriends picture. There is one thing certain, you don't need to use your imagination about her do you? If I can see straight, everything is in plain sight. 

Well, sugar, I got my bond today and I hope nothing happens that will be the start to our farm and home when this mess is over. I am still dreaming of that farm with a little white house in the middle of it all our own, aren't you? But I don't think of that a lot. What I think of most is when and how soon this will be over. The war news looks good tonight. They have started bombing Germany if they can just keep that up I believe Germany will soon throw her hands up...lets hope so anyway. 

I have sent you the paper every day this week, are you getting it? Let me know if you are getting it I will continue to send it. 

Sugar, you find out if you can be on the street after 12 o'clock because I may not get to leave here until 1:45 next Saturday afternoon. I don't know just how near I will get caught up with my work. You know that work has to go on. If I can't do it then they will have to get someone that can and right now I don't know what I would do without it. Ill let you know later when I will get there. I do know that unless I change my mind I am not going to leave here until 8 o'clock Saturday morning. It may make me late getting there but I know one thing, I don't want to wander around Little Rock half a day after riding all night anymore. That wears me out more then the trip. 

Even if I could be lucky enough to get a room when I got there then we would have two days room rent to pay when I can leave here and get there by the time or soon after you do if the trains aren't late, but I'll let you know more later. 

Well Sugar, it is late so I will say so long, this time next week I intend to be making plans to see you you the next night. 

Always with love, Frances. "

Life.

I haven't posted much the last few days because of some things we're going through right now. I wasn't even really going to post tonight but I feel like I have neglected the blog a bit lately, so I thought I would give a little hello. 

I'm not quite sure what to write about tonight, my head is a little preoccupied with what life is throwing at us. It's interesting how you know very little of what life will throw at you until it actually happens. I guess all I can say is, make the best of it. You can make the best of any situation. 

What gets you through tough times? How do you find comfort? 

Happy birthday, America.

Today was Fourth of July, and it's one of my favorite holidays. As difficult as the summer is here in the desert, I do look forward to the barbecues with friends and family. Usually they are hosted at my moms or brothers.. But one year I hope to throw a very 1950s themes BBQ. Minus the jello- molds please. 

I woke up early this morning and made very patriotic pancakes. I'd like to point out that these are the best strawberries I have EVER had. They were so sweet, that when I open my fridge it just smells like delicious berries. 

Afterwards I did a little thrifting. I did not find any vintage, but I did find a few cute items. I wore the dress as soon as I got it, and plan on wearing the skirt and sweater tomorrow. I saw the sweater and snatched it up... I've been so obsessed with that color lately. 

We went to my brothers for his BBQ. Usually I bring some kind of fancy french dessert, but they just needed me to bring ice. Which strangely enough the individually packed ice from Bevmo was a huge hit? *shrug* 

Oh!  My chicken looked like a giraffe and I did not eat it. Cute little thing. 

Oh, one last note. I really enjoyed spending the day with all the people closest to me. It's easy to get annoyed with people you see each and every day, but when it comes down to it, I don't think I would of chosen a better family then the one I have, and better friends who are just as close as family to have as well.  I don't want to get all cliche on you, but life is short.. so, enjoy the time with your loved ones and really take in every moment. I just wanted to add that.

Femininity

Alright. My husband gets to wake up in the morning and take a shower, throw in his clothes, and go. No fiddling with his hair, no fixing his face for 30 minutes. It's just simple for men. I get jealous of the simplicity as I am blow drying my hair each morning or putting on makeup. But really, nothing beats being a woman. I'd leave the simplicity behind for a tube of red lipstick. I'd rather take an hour getting ready and be able to feel feminine in a beautiful dress. 

It's kind of love hate at times. 

Ill start by saying I have never been a jewelry wearer. I have such sensitive skin that jewelry is just more of a pain then a pleasure. I can't even wear my wedding ring because my skin is THAT sensitive. But sometimes ill throw in a pair of earrings or a bracelet and I will remember how much I love it. I'm going to show you guys a few of my favorite pieces of vintage jewelry, and a few modern pieces too. 

These necklaces have an interesting story behind them. Last year I bought something on eBay and the lady sent me the wrong thing, made me return it, an I never received the right item. In exchange she sent me a HUGE box of random vintage items, and inside we're these two beauties. I love pastels... The dusty rose and mint green were my favorites. I love to wear them together since they're varying lengths. 

My mom bought me this beautiful Brighton bracelet my first Christmas of being a mom. It has all little charms that have to do with my oldest daughter Lily... Her birth stone, her birth year. Now I have to get a few charms to add about her little sister, Elise. 

I found these cute little clip ons for $2.50 of Etsy! They're lucite, and lime green... I couldn't not get them! They appear to be made in Germany, and the seller said '50s. 

I got these from the same seller for the same price! Also made in Germany, she believes they are from the 30s... They're made of hand strung beads. I can't wait til winter to wear them. 

Not jewelry, but my favorite part of being a woman. Beautiful perfume. 

What's your favorite piece of jewelry you own?