Vintage Fan Make-Over

This old non-working Dominion fan was destined for the scrap heap but look at it now. How cool is that?! The Other-Half tinkered with the motor and was able to get it running, and run it does! Sounds like a jet engine on start up but then quiets down to a smooth purr. Just as it did 60 years ago. This heavy-duty little thing (it stands about 12" high) really moves some air, too. Dare I sound like an old fart and say "they just don't make things like they used to"?

After he got it running it was disassembled again and I went at it with a wire brush, some scuff pads, and some rust-removing gel. Cleaned it up inside and out, sprayed it all with a primer, sanded it smooth, and there ya' go - ready for a nice top coat.
We weren't 100% in agreement on what colors we wanted but settled on bright orange. I think the orange helps retain a bit of the "retro feel", plus, orange and black happen to be the colors of the Philadelphia Flyers, our favorite NHL team. (Big boo on the NHL for canceling hockey this year.) So now we're Flyers fans with a Flyer fan. Something like that, LOL.

Here's a page from a 1953 catalog that has our fan listed for $12.95. That's how I know to call it "vintage" rather than "antique". Apparently antique is pre-1950 and vintage is post-1950. Anyhows, we just need to touch up the six screw heads that show with black paint, and maybe uncover the Dominion logo on the base that we protected with tape and viola, what was junk before is now an adorable and functional retro appliance. :)

A Classic in Tie-Dye

Take the classic white long-sleeved button-down shirt, a staple of every wardrobe for its versatility, and tie-dye it, and what do you get?
You get a fabulously fun addition to your wardrobe!

Wear it buttoned up and tucked in to create a fun fashion paradox of staid but exciting, or go all-out casual by wearing it open over a tank.

The sleeves have a hidden loop that allow you to roll them up and fasten at 3/4 length so you can go long or short depending on mood.

The side panels (from under-arm to bottom hem of shirt) are made up of a stretchy ribbed cotton, so this shirt moves with you.

This shirt is 100% cotton and has been machine washed & dried twice (pre and post dye) on high heat. It is labeled as a women's size XL (16-18), however, having tried it on I believe it is more inline with being an L. This shirt can be machine washed and dried and should not bleed but to be safe, you may want to wash with dark colors for the first few washes.

$35, free shipping. (black tank top pictured not included.)

The Cat Who is NOT Staying

This is Sam. Or Mittens. Or Q-Tip. Or Little Brat. Depends on who's calling her and what she's doing. (What she's doing is NOT staying.)

Sam likes to cuddle (when she's not attacking toes) and take power-naps with her humans.She's working the cuteness factor for all it's worth but she's not staying. Really. I mean it.



Sigh. I KNOW better than to pick up a feral kitten. Or to let anyone in the household pick one up. 26 days later and still saying .. she's NOT staying ....

Some Comic Relief

Read this and then read this.

Possibly the funniest series of blog posts ever in the history of blogging.

Garden Gnome

A gnome turned up in my garden the other day. A sad gnome as he had been cursed with the Spell of Drabness.

Luckily I know a little magic myself and was able to revive him by casting an Acrylic Spell.

A number of humans objected to the green coat I chose for him but that's because they don't read Fantasy Fashion Weekly. If they did they would know that solid blue tunics are out; bright green top coats are what all the best-dressed gnomes are wearing this season.

But G. Gnome is happy now and says he will hang out by my front gate from now on and greet visitors.