Posts Tagged ‘style’
December 21, 2013
Just about anything would be better than a FEMA trailer, but look at this from Preservation Nation. It is an article about Lustron pre-fabricated homes . . .
“They were literally building the American dream.
In the late 1940s, soldiers returning from World War II dreamed of the idyllic life: a happy family, a lovely suburban home. But the post-war period instead brought a housing crisis. In response, Lustron promised a dream house — signed, sealed, delivered.”
I think these homes are a wonderful example of mid-20th century style, design and ingenuity. It’s like IKEA for the 50s.
“It has a sort of late ‘40s, ‘50s new modern America appeal,” says Megan Wood of the Ohio Historical Society. “And you don’t have to paint it, you can clean the walls with windex, and you can hang things with magnets.”
I think it is interesting that out of 3000 homes built, about 1500 still survive, including the one pictured above, that is in Indiana.
I think these houses are charming and it is unfortunate that dodgy financing forced the company into bankruptcy in 1950.
June, Ward and the Beev
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged design, FEMA, FEMA trailer, history, housing, Indiana, Lustron, mid 20th century, Ohio, Ohio Historical Society, post-war, pre-fabricated, Preservation Nation, style | 2 Comments »
December 17, 2013
Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day. Squirrels inhabit every continent on earth, except Australia. National Geographic says that there are over 200 squirrel species and that:
“Like other rodents, squirrels have four front teeth that never stop growing so they don’t wear down from the constant gnawing. Tree squirrels are the types most commonly recognized, often seen gracefully scampering and leaping from branch to branch. Other species are ground squirrels that live in burrow or tunnel systems, where some hibernate during the winter season.”
Squirrels range in size from the 5″ long African Pygmy Squirrel below (aww!) –
To the 36″ long Indian Giant Squirrel at the top of the page (eek!)
Here’s a map of where squirrels live (also from National Geographic:
And here are the tattoos which are surprisingly nice:
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged African Pygmy Squirrel, animals, Indian Giant Squirrel, National Geographic, nature, Squirrel Appreciation Day, squirrels, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos, whimsey | 1 Comment »
December 3, 2013
Today is Gilbert Stuart’s birthday. He was born in 1755 in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. In those years before paparzzi, he became one of America’s outstanding portraitists. Stuart is probably best known for his unfinished portrait of George Washington (above) that has become iconic, appearing on the dollar bill and elsewhere. It is probably the likeness most of us call to mind when thinking about Washington. The portrait was never finished, but Stuart did make copies of the portrait, selling them for $100 each (no Kinko’s either). Ref – Wikipedia
Stuart became very successful, recording likenesses of the rich and famous of his day, which can now be found in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and other public and private collections.
I thought it was interesting that Stuart, “an artist accustomed to easily engaging and enlivening his clients with conversation and jokes, [he] was at a loss with Washington: ‘Anapathy seemed to seize him and a vacuity spread over his countenance, most appalling to paint.’ Yet, despite the struggle to capture the President’s elusive character, Stuart succeeded in executing the image that was then and is now considered to be a definitive and insightful likeness.”
ref: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
It being Tuesday, I have a tattoo to accompany this posting:
Why do people do this?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, George Washington, Gilbert Stuart, history, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, National Gallery, paparazzi, Rhode Island, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos | 4 Comments »
October 8, 2013
It’s the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. who matter. – Marlene Dietrich
I am very grateful for mine.
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion,
who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing… not healing, not curing…
that is a friend who cares.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged friends, friendship, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos | 2 Comments »
September 30, 2013
Recently The Guardian covered the National Beard and Moustache Championship, which took place in New Orleans in September. The fellow above won in the category of “full, natural beard.” See the other winners here.
Thank you, HMS Defiant, for the reference.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beard, entertainment, moustache, National Beard and Moustache Championship, New Orleans, style, whimsey | 2 Comments »
September 10, 2013
Today is bean soup day. What bean soup is more well known than Senate Bean Soup. Here is a reference from the U.S. Senate commenting on the possible genesis of Senate Bean Soup (which is on the menu everyday that the Senate is in session.
I offer a recipe from Food.com:
Ingredients
1 lb dry navy beans
1 meaty ham bone
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chopped celery
2/3 cup mashed potato flakes or 1 1/2 cups mashed potatoes
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 bay leaf
salt, to taste
Directions
- Wash and sort beans; in large kettle, cover beans with 6-8 c hot water.
- Bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes; remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 1 hour.
- Add another 2 quarts of cold water and ham bone.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
- Stir in remaining ingredients; simmer 20-30 minutes until beans are tender.
- Remove ham bone, trim off meat and return meat to soup; remove bay leaf.
- Serve hot; freezes well.
And the tattoos:
Lima Bean
Mr. Bean
El L Bean
So raise a mug to salute this musical fruit and let everyone know como frijoles, or how you bean.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beans, cooking, food, recipes, Senate Bean Soup, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos, whimsey | 2 Comments »
September 3, 2013
This week a few literature oriented tattoos:
Virginia Woolf
The Wind Up Bird Chronicle
The Tempest
These are from BuzzFeed: 50 Incredible Tattoos Inspired by Books
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged animals, art, birds, knitting, literature, Shakespeare, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos, Virginia Woolf | Leave a Comment »
August 29, 2013
Okay, so I missed Tuesday this week. We are on vacation. However, August 30, is Toasted Marshmallow Day! Fire up the campfire, find some long sticks, and prepare by watching Ghost Busters.
King Arthur Flour has recently posted a recipe for homemade marshmallow fluff: recipe here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cooking, ghostbusters, marshmallows, recipes, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos, toasted marshmallows, whimsey | 2 Comments »
June, Ward and the Beev
Gunsmoke and Knitting 