As the halfway point of this pregnancy draws closer and closer (how did it sneak up on me like this?! lol.), I’ve been finding myself musing over teeny tiny clothes for the Blueberry. Hopefully, we’ll find out soon what the baby’s gender is, so I can really get started on planning a cute wardrobe! I have a real weakness for baby and toddler clothes from the 1920s through 40s, and these pages show some really adorable pieces I’d love to have in the nursery’s dresser drawers. Gingham! Rompers! Cute little sunbonnets! What’s not to love? I’ve decided, no matter what the Blueberry is (meaning boy or girl!) I need to make some little shorts overalls like the ones on the bottom of the last page for next summer. I suspect if this baby is anything like SH and I, it’ll be a scooter and have the proverbial “ants in it’s pants” even at an early age…
P.S. Thank you for the words of concern and good health for my mom in the previous post. She has been so touched and heartened by reading those!
Note: My apologies about disappearing (again!) for a short time. My mom’s ongoing health struggles have meant I’ve been spending a lot more time helping her and offering my assistance, than having time for blogging. Posting is probably going to be spotty for the remainder of this year because of this. Thanks for understanding!
Do you ever have one of those days that you wake up and realize that you need to bake? Somehow it must be fit into the busy day because there is a recipe calling your name or maybe you’re craving something? Having recently bought several jars of various jams and preserves at Trader Joe’s, I decided I needed a good batch of (what we call on this side of the Atlantic) English muffins (click for the recipe I used). I was getting bored of toast and jam every morning for breakfast (along with my usual cup of Irish Breakfast tea), and wanted to try my hand at baking my own since I heard they weren’t too difficult at all.
This actually took two tries; the first didn’t turn out as expected. But a second batch did beautifully. The only thing I plan on doing differently next time is using half whole wheat flour (instead of all white), just to make them a bit more healthy. I also plan on cooking them on the griddle (I used a counter top griddle) over lower heat for longer; I found they weren’t as “done” in the center as I’d have liked. (Though I toast them, so it really doesn’t matter!) Very, very yummy though! I don’t think I can ever go back to the packaged kind; these are so much more satisfying and don’t have any funny aftertaste that manufactured bread products sometimes have (or maybe my taste buds are just weird).
I was nontraditional and topped mine with peanut butter! (Good protein for the pregnant lady…)
Slightly off topic (but not too much so since they make muffins in the breakfast episode–which is what started this baking frenzy), but I’ve been watching a delightful series called The Victorian Kitchen on YouTube lately. It’s a BBC production from the 1980s, and one I find utterly fascinating, having spent a good deal of reading time last year engrossed in domestic history (as well as Downton Abbey). There is a bit of gardening, lots of pretty shots of Victorian kitchen ware (how I want some of those big, earthenware bowls!), and concoctions that sometimes make me scratch my head. (Or in the case of the muffins, whet my appetite.) I highly recommend it if you find these sort of documentaries fascinating. (The videos can all be viewed here.)
tshirt: Anne Taylor | skirt: thrifted | hat: vintage, gift | bow: self made | shoes: Remix Vintage | handbag: vintage, estate sale | earrings: gift | charm bracelet: vintage, family heirloom
I think being pregnant is making my brain come up with crazy outfits like this one! We went on a little daytrip to Colonial Williamsburg, and somehow I just had to wear this hat. (SH, in good humor, refers to my vintage hats as “silly hats”–which is entirely the fault of the Thin Man movies.) It was a gift from my sister in law this year and dates to the 1930s. The hat reminds me a bit of the hats in The Women (particularly the beach wear during the fashion show), and of one in particular on the envelope illustration of a 1940s playsuit pattern I own. It was serendipity this one came to live with me!
We had such a lovely time at Williamsburg (I wish I had gotten more photos to share)–our first real “date day” in what seems like ages (but has really only been a couple of very long months). Not only did we enjoy walking around and getting dinner at one of the taverns (my first time), but I ran into two lovely blog readers! Not once, but twice–we kept bumping into each other. It was so lovely to meet them (hello, Rebecca and J. if you’re reading this!), and chat about sewing, mutual schooling experiences, and whatnot. Plus they were wearing gorgeous 18th century gowns while touring Williamsburg–so eyecatching. (And it gave me ideas as I have a 1780s gown that just needs new undergarments to be worn… Perhaps post-baby?)
On the baby front… I felt the Blueberry move for the first time! Fifteen weeks is really early, or so I’ve heard, but not entirely unusual. It was weird to realize that the little “popcorn popping” feelings I kept noticing when I was resting was the baby. So neat! I had a visit with my midwife this week, and not only did I get to hear the baby’s heartbeat, but I seem to be right on track for this pregnancy. It just seems weird to think that this time next month I shall pretty much have arrived at the halfway point–time is beginning to go by so quickly! We’re already at the point of starting to discuss things like a crib and the set-up for the baby after it’s born. Honestly, the months cannot go fast enough for me, since I’m eager to meet this little person!
And now for the winner of the pattern giveaway! Congratulations, Alli! I’ve contacted you via email already. Don’t despair if you didn’t win this time; I still have a few other giveaways for this fall up my sleeve!
My apologies this didn’t go up on Friday as promised. The day got away from me, as some days are apt to do, and before I knew it, it was late at night and I decided to just wait until the next week to post this giveaway. Hope it was worth the wait!
I find myself using words that I hear very rarely out of the mouths of people my age: things like “spiffy”, “snazzy”, etc. Yes, I really do. I think snazzy will always be my favorite though, becuase I remember my grandfather (who passed away years ago) saying it regularly to refer to things he thought were neat or eye catching. It’s far superior to “cool”, in my not-so-humble opinion.
But enough about words! What is this “snazzy giveaway”? Remember those patterns I showed you a sneak peek of a little while ago? Well, I’m going to be giving them away individually over the course of the autumn, so here is the first one. There is nothing quite like spreading a little vintage pattern love, especially since I hear so many of you struggle with finding them locally! This giveaway is for Simplicity #5234, dated 1963 on the envelope. I’ve gone through it and counted all the pieces, and the instructions are present. The envelope is a bit crinkled, but everything is there. It’s a vintage size 16, which translates to a 34″ bust, 26″ waist, and 36″ hip. (But don’t let sizing stop you!) I think this would make a lovely ensemble for either the autumn or spring, depending on what season you’re preparing for!
dress: vintage, thrifted | sweater: vintage, estate sale | belt: thrifted | shoes: ASOS | earrings: Etsy | bracelets: thrifted
Needless to say, this is one of the last of my truly vintage dresses that fit (thankfully, most of my blouses and sweaters still do!). That little person in there has been busy growing the past week! Which of course means my belly is growing. I have been so hungry lately too (a welcome change from the previous 2 months), so I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a little plumping-up going on. hehe!
But more on this 1940s dress: I thrifted it years ago and could never part with it despite that it’s always been too large. The fabric is so charming as is the handmade nature of the dress. It’s still a bit big pretty much everywhere except my belly, but because it “fits” it works! Belting helps a bit too since I have to hike it up over the bump. I think I may have gotten my seasons mixed up a bit with this dress though: it’s far more spring-like than autumn! But the weather is being finicky right now–low 70s one day and mid 80s the next. Frustrating with an already limited closet… (Thank goodness for lots of cute sweaters like this 1950s era beaded estate sale find.) Hilariously, not 15 minutes after I took these photos, I sneezed and broke the belt. Lesson learned: vintage belts that have seen better days are not the best choice when you’re wearing them over your ribcage atop the bump (and are prone to rather violent sneezes anyway). lol.
Oh, and the title of this post? Pistol Packin’ Mama has been going through my head (don’t try to understand why; things randomly come to me in the wee hours and stick for the next day!). lol. But it is one of my 1940s favorites.
