What Was for Dinner

I suppose I need to keep my camera in the kitchen as I have forgotten lately to photograph our dinners. I'm thinking about eating said dinners by the time they are cooked, not photographing them. I even thought last night, as I took the focaccia out of the oven, that I should take a picture of it because it was so pretty. But I was intoxicated by the aromas and completely forgot. So, today's picture doesn't show it in its full, uncut glory, but you get the idea. I had defrosted some white beans with smoked ham that I had cooked a couple weeks ago and focaccia seemed like an ideal accompaniment. When I thought of making the bread, I envisioned it with carmelized onions, something I've never been able to successfully do. I was resolved this time, though, and I used an iron skillet which might have been key. Or not. It's still somewhat of a mystery to me. Anyway, I couldn't resist taking a taste or two of the onions and they were indeed sweet and savory, but I thought they were missing something so I ran outside and snipped some rosemary. I love rosemary in small doses and the match up of it and the sweet onions was just perfect. A drizzle of olive oil, some parmesan and a little mozzarella and we were good to go.


Today I filled out all my new employee paperwork. My first day is on Monday, though that will be 'back of the store' training, as will the next couple of days. I will start my actual store training later in the week at the downtown location of the store, a location I have spent many a morning in line. Funny that I will most likely be waiting on former co-workers. Weird. Once my training is done, I'll be in the Central West End and I'm very excited about that. Rather than reveal my actual employer, let's just say that in my work day I will be able to say, a la Lauren Graham, "I'm making coffee!"

Highs and (kind of) Lows

My sales were pretty awful yesterday at the Gypsy Caravan in regards to my actual creations. The saving grace was that I decided to take a little of the vintage clothing and accessories I've accumulated through the years with me to sell. I happily sold my completely fabulous Elsa Schiaparelli feathered hat and shocking Schiaparelli pink hatbox to a lovely and tiny lady who I know will actually wear it with verve and aplomb. I wish I would have had my camera because she looked absolutely fantastic in it. I also somewhat reluctantly sold a gorgeous sleeveless, full skirted striped vintage 50s/60s dress to a beautiful young girl who will properly enjoy it. This dress is historic for me as I wore it to a momentous Big Black/Scratch Acid show in Chicago. That weekend my first husband, Tony, and I, stayed with Steve Albini himself and had a fantastic time. Coincidentally enough, I think it was Memorial Day weekend. Check out CW11's coverage, particularly the lovely Squaresville's Allison being interviewed and the quick shot of Ahimsa's sock monkeys!

Anyway, it was fun to hang with the St. Louis Craft Mafia and the weather turned out nice, albeit hot and rather steamy. Considering that we were setting up on Sunday in pouring rain, we were happier to be hot than wet.

In the good news department, I got that retail/restaurant job I applied for, though not at the location I thought I would be. I'm really excited and I go in on Thursday to fill out my new hire papers! Once I determine I'm not doing anything against company policy, I'll tell you who I'm working for. I really can't wait, though I'm nervous to have a schedule again. I've been footloose and fancy free for over a year now so it's going to be an adjustment. But we totally need the money and the benefits so I'm game for a new adventure. Me, behind a counter! Finally!

Gypsy Caravan on Memorial Day

My life for the last couple of weeks has centered around getting prepared for ye olde crafte boothe at Gypsy Caravan on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28. You know you wanna go. After 9am you can get in for $5 ($20 from 7-9a for the hardcore junkers -- yes, I'm talking to you, Dana!) and you are bound to find something you want/need/crave. Most likely, lots and lots of somethings. When you get there, please make sure you stop by my booth with the STL Craft Mafia and say hey (booth #B285). Look for my sign:

Celebrity Lookalikes

I suppose that one could argue that I am indeed a crazy cat lady, but I'll just defer to the fact that I really love my cats and I have a lot of time to look at them. I also have a habit of assigning (human or otherwise) to my pets (and anyone's pet for that matter). The other day I was staring at Mr. Baby and I thought that if he were a man, he'd have a sweet face and big moustache. This morning I realized that it was Will Forte of Saturday Night Live I was thinking of.


Then there's Spidermonkey. Rather than a person, I think she looks very much like Snowball II of The Simpsons fame.


I have always thought that if Olive was a person, she'd have lots of freckles. Lately, it's Julianne Nicholson from Law & Order, Criminal Intent that I see when I look at Olive.



Then there's Lydia. She has this giant, adorable chin and a habit of play biting that involves her just sitting around with her mouth open, teeth bared. She has a square-ish head and she has always looked like a furry tyrannosaurus rex to me.


Call me crazy; it's all right. At least I amuse myself.

How Does My Coleus Grow

While some might consider coleus a pedestrian garden plant, I love it. It's easy to grow, tolerant to heat and [a little] neglect and shade (which I have in abundance) actually makes the pinks, greens, yellows and reds of the foliage even brighter and bolder. To save some bucks this year, I bought very few annuals for my pots and then sowed a couple packs of coleus seeds in the pots to supplement. It's taken several weeks, but the wee plants are finally emerging and I think they are the cutest goddamn sprouts I've ever seen. They emerged with little splotches of maroon on their bright green teeny leaves and they stole my heart. See for yourself.


To show just how tiny they are, here's a picture of some in a pot along with a medium sized nicotiana plant.


I know I should thin them out to encourage growth, but I just can't bear to do it. Maybe I'll wait a bit until they're big enough to replant somewhere else.

While I had the camera outside, I thought I'd take pictures of my future pesto meals, chicken seasoning and the stuff that makes foccacia good.


Oh, and I think my second interview went well. I hope so anyway. Just hoping for a call now...

Work

Today I had a job interview for a type of work I've never done before - retail/restaurant. It's been over a year since I've even thought about a job interview and I wasn't necessarily prepared for the formality of this one. I had to answer a whole bunch of those scary behavioral questions - lord knows if I answered in such a way as to make someone want to employ me. I felt like I was babbling and struggling for the "right" answers sometimes. At any rate, I'm going for a second interview on Wednesday, so I must not have been that bad, right?

At an early age, I got sort of caught up in my office work and never explored the retail world though I always wanted to. Back in the day, I used to beg my friend Steve (my future husband) to let me wait on customers at the old, smaller Vintage Vinyl on weekend nights. I LOVED it. Why I didn't stop the office work then and there and pursue other avenues, I don't know. I certainly wasn't making that much money yet. Several years later I would beg my ex-husband Tony to let me wait on customers at West End Wax and again, I loved doing it. Loved making the small talk about their purchases and just being friendly. Which is weird because at, say, a party, I am completely incompetent at small talk and being friendly to strangers. Somehow being behind that counter empowers me to be much less shy. I guess it happens now at ye olde crafte boothe too. At least I like to think I'm friendly and approachable. Though I know I could be more chatty, sometimes I think people would prefer a helpful silence. At least I tell myself that.

Anyway, wish me luck for Wednesday!

Get Me to the Church on Time

But only if there's a rummage sale. While I do love mid-century church architecture, I have no interest in being in one unless a) there's a rummage sale or b) someone I like is getting married. Today's sale was actually in the school portion of the complex, but the glorious quarter-circle entrance to the church was appropriately fawned over.


At first glance I didn't think this sale would amount to much, but we found some good stuff. Some interesting clothing (for the fabric), and vintage linens were cheap. And can you figure out what in the world that towel in the lower left is getting at?


I found several pieces of jewelry: nice 60s black and white flower pin, small rose pin, odd gold and pearl (real?) clip on earrings, and a gold key necklace that is engraved "Mayor Bill Morris" on the reverse. I also nabbed a nice black and white silk chiffon scarf.


I was very intrigued by this metal, flowered bowl from England. It's rather heavy and quite pretty and for a quarter, why not?


And then the books and CD. I've already pulled out a bunch of the story book's pages to make little origami envelopes to wrap up jewelry purchases from ye olde crafte boothe -- lots of cute illustrations in that one.

Young Man and a Horn

This is perhaps the most charming collection of vintage male nudes ever. Some of them truly convey the "Oh! Am I naked?" innocence so often attempted but so rarely captured.