Ain’t this a cute little honey pot!  It would look great alongside our Fiesta and with our Le Creuset cookware …

A couple of additional gardening books that I am currently reading …

and

The first book (Heirloom Vegetables: A Home Gardener’s Guide to Finding and Growing Vegetables from the Past) is an ideal beginners book.  About half of the book concerns the reasons to grow heritage vegetables and some of the details about how to find and grow them.  The last half of the book is a small selection of vegetable profiles and resources – including a very good list of seed suppliers and saver networks.  Unfortunately, when compared to the second book (Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener’s Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History), its profiles and resources show their true limitations.  But, the little Heirloom Vegetables book would make a nice gift for a new gardener or just someone getting into those special plants.  Read more »

Now, this is really not something that you see everyday … flooring made from old whisky barrels.  Somehow the guys at McKay Flooring have figured out how to make flat floors out of curved barrels!

They have even managed to keep the writing on some of them.  I wonder if they would be willing to ship their flooring to the USA?

Thanks to Tucker Redux for the link.

In 2006, Western Union sent its last telegram. A 150-year-old method for sending congratulations, announcements or greetings; it was the IM precursor in fast communication with the benefit of a hard-copy record for future generations to appreciate. Wishing you had known to use it before it was gone? Looking to add a touch of old-world style to your special occasion? Just want a fun, unique look for your correspondence? These letterpress telegram blanks are the answer. Handset with lead type from the early 20th century, my cards are printed on Crane’s Lettra “Pearl White” paper, using a foot-powered 1889 press. Each card measures 4.25 inches x 5.5 inches and comes with a matching envelope, in a set of 10. $16.00 per set.

Recently, I have been looking at getting some business cards printed and was intrigued by letterpress options.  While searching for low-cost letterpress printers, I came across the Lucky Duck Press on Etsy.com – who does business cards – and these cool note cards.  Don’t they look perfect for little random notes or for any number of other uses?

"Hunting Macleod" Harris Tweed

The quintessential British country squire wears tweed and the classic image of a stuffy old professor generally includes a tweed coat, but tweed is, in my opinion, cool!  Originally woven by small crofters for their personal use, tweed is one of the original working man’s fabrics.  In the early 19th century, the surplus of these crofters made its way into the London shops with ‘tweel’ (the pattern in which it is woven) being misread as tweed (a famous Scottish river).  Under this name, it was advertised and after the death of the 6th Earl of Dunmore in 1843, his widow commissioned a pair of sisters, known as the Paisley Sisters, to weave fabric in the family tartan.  This fabric was then made into uniforms for the staff of the Dunmore estate.  Being hardwearing, water-resistant, and warm, it was ideal for the gamewardens and the Countess quickly realized that it was ideal for a range of other outdoor pursuits.  By the late 1840s, with the Countess’s constant promotion, Harris Tweed was the fabric of choice for the landed gentry and the aristocracy. Read more »

While she is best known for the Migrant Mother, many of her other works are visually more interesting and tell much better stories …

Oregon, August 1939. "Unemployed lumber worker goes with his wife to the bean harvest. Note Social Security number tattooed on his arm." (And now a bit of Shorpy scholarship/detective work. A public records search shows that 535-07-5248 belonged to one Thomas Cave, born July 1912, died in 1980 in Portland. Which would make him 27 years old when this picture was taken.)

Or, something closer to home (aka, North Carolina) …

Fourth of July 1939 near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Rural filling stations become community centers and general loafing grounds. Cedargrove Team members about to play in a baseball game.

For me, both of these images speak volumes. The top image is of two people that, in today’s world, could make a good living with their looks but who are having to live meal-to-meal. The bottom image shows the type of community that is rare to find today, plus I love the vintage baseball uniforms.

Classic Americana!  Worn by America’s Greatest Generation and by some of the greatest icons of the silver screen, Schott Jackets are still handmade in the US of A! As a company, they have been around since 1913 and in 1928, they invented the motorcycle jacket.  Then, at the outbreak of World War Two, they started to supply the military with quality garments!

One of those pieces that they designed was the B-3 Sheepskin Leather Bomber Jacket.  Designed for the crews of WW2 bombers, today, it is still (possibly) the ultimate in winter/cold-weather gear.  While the Perfecto motorcycle jacket may have the cool factor, I prefer the B-3 for its utilitarian style and pedigree.

The BBC has a great new program that I have been watching on iPlayer called Around the World in 80 Days.  It is part of their charity appeal for Children in Need and is a very interesting program.  Based on Phineas Fogs fictional adventure, this program has six pairs of celebrities racing around the world for charity (there is only one rule: No Flying).  While you may say, “what another travel program” or “another reality TV show”, it is not that simple.  This is real travel!  They miss trains, get turned away at borders, have car trouble, and everything else that happens when you travel.  But, that is not why I am writing this post … it is because in the last episode (which I have not actually watched but needed to post about this before the auction ends), John Barrowman (of Captain Jack fame) gets a pair of custom cowboy boots from Rocketbuster boots.

Read more »

What could be more traditional than a handmade baseball or football?

These balls, while being artisanal products, are made for play, according the maker.  I would love to have a couple of these balls in my bag for when I want to play catch or have a special game of toss.  Of the balls that are currently on for sale, I like the blue & white baseball but for some reason, this football makes me sick!  But, except for that one football of the wrong color^, the rest are amazing creations!

The baseballs are particularly interesting because they are based on one of the earliest types of balls used to play baseball, the “lemon peel ball” – many of which were originally a dark color … sometimes even red, like a cricket ball.  Read more »

My ideal chair … the Le Corbusier Chaise Lounge is the chair that I have wanted for years for my future library!  I like the cowhide versions (like pictured) but it is also available in plain leather.  So, one day …

Le Corbusier Chaise Lounge

From Furniture Store Blog:

The Le Corbusier Chaise Lounge is one of the most popular and unique chaises available today. It was designed with the idea of “serving” our limbs by providing comfort to the body. Simple shapes contrast with the aesthetic qualities of chromed steel tubing and soft leathers or hides. “The human-limb object is a docile servant. A good servant is discreet and self-effacing in order to leave his master free”. – Le Corbusier