Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

....let it STOP!

Second time shovelling today!  Hus did the first round.  But the shovelling is easier in Alberta compared to the North Coast of BC where the snow comes down sodding wet and heavy.  I am also sporting my new (yes, brand new for once!) Calvin Klein parka.  At least I got it on a 50% off sale.  I am thinking that I am going to need the hood once the temperature drops some more (its about -10 C today).  

The wintery, Christmas-y title of this post also suits some of my recent thrift finds:

Like this circa-1978 embroidered picture.  If I can't get cold chills from looking out my window, I can get them by looking at my wall!  Actually I think it is really well done and it goes well with our minty-green walls.  I think I paid 5 bucks.

Maybe I'll be in the kitchen with the blinds closed, and want a reminder of the snow...

....I only have to look at my circa-1980 table centrepiece!  Can you believe that all I need is an aluminum can to complete my snow friend?  That's my kind of crafting!

While I was scouring the Christmas wares at the Salvation Army, I also bought a few ornaments, 'cause I can't help myself.

There are quite a few pink balls in the box, although from the picture you can't tell them from the red ones.  I also liked these smaller ones.  

 

Mocha Pecan Pie and Baby Bum Squash

This post is about two unrelated scenes from my kitchen this weekend.  

Now that we live in a city we finally have access to Costco.  There are some savings to be found in staples, which means some mega-quantitites.  Behold:

So, I baked a Mocha Pecan Pie from the Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant cookbook.  It was delicious!

After I snapped this pic I moved the pie and noticed the middle was still wobbly, so it ended up a bit darker since I had to put it back in the oven.

OK, there really isn't a type of squash called 'Baby Bum.'  This was the beauty (?) we brought home from the grocery store last week:

We cracked stupid jokes about it between ourselves and with the cashier, but the laughter stopped when we cut it open....

...Ewww....  The photo doesn't do it justice, but where the split was the inside was baby-poop brown!  The moral of the story is...don't do crack!

My Sick, Indulgent Weekend

Sick as in ill.  I watched the whole 1st season of Girls, which I found at Value Village for $3.99, and ate Wagon Wheels.  I dunno, I get weird cravings when I have a cold.  Wagon Wheels still taste good, but have you noticed that they are tiny compared to what they used to be?

Back-to-School Fashions....my way

I wasn't going to buy any back to school clothing.  As a mature student, who has been teaching for the past decade, I have a fairly decent wardrobe.  And, I need to pinch pennies since my professional program is an expensive one.  
But, this weekend my parents visited, and my mom is a good thrifting partner, AND a new Value Village just opened near my neighbourhood.  So mom and I went to check it out.  
The stock there wasn't great.  Perhaps they haven't yet had many community donations.  But we did buy a few things.  Mom got a sweater for dad and an audiobook on CD.  And I ended up buying fairly typical back-to-school fashions...Mary Janes & a plaid jacket!

 The Mary Janes are Josef Seibel, and have been hardly worn, it at all.

Whoever priced them probably didn't know the brand, since they were only $9.99.  Value Village often prices shoes like this for $19.99.

And I love the retro vibe of this plaid jacket from Christopher & Banks.  

Look at the buttons! It was a little more expensive at $12.99. I think it would look great with jeans or a dark skirt or whatever.  It is quite light, so I probably will wear it as a blouse.  Even though school starts tomorrow it will be too warm to wear it, so I'll have to bide my time for a few weeks.

Thrifty Fifty Cent addition to my '70s Rumpus Room

It didn't take long.  Here is my first thrift find in Edmonton, and it cost a whole fifty cents!

Cool vintage "made in England" cocktail sticks.  Here is a closer look:

When we were there on vacation two years ago, we loved the names and signs of all of the inns and pubs.

And now that we have a '70s era rumpus room complete with bar, they have a home!  As well as a bunch of other stuff from our old house that doesn't fit into our '50s era kitchen! Can you spot the sticks?

 Look closer on the bottom shelf...

There they are, next to the vintage cocktail tray!  When we viewed the house these shelves had a bunch of bowling trophies on them.  When we'e done a little work to it, (like furnish it), I'll show you the rest of the bar and rumpus room.

Kitchen Discoveries and Other Happenings

We are still unpacking boxes and putting things away.  Our new house was immaculately clean when we moved in, and we thought that nothing had been left behind.  Except for a few neat "discoveries" in the kitchen. One is this GE electric slicing knife mounted on the end of a cabinet. 

I'm guessing that the previous owner painted around it, so there it will stay.  I don't eat meat, so I'm not sure what I will use it for.

The next discovery was in the cabinet next to the oven.  The original 1959 cabinets here are pretty cool.  The fronts are not straight, but sit on a slant, so they sort of flop open. This corner cabinet is also pyramid shaped, which makes for pretty unusual interior shelving.

But I was quite surprised to see food still in it....Vintage food!

The top can seems newer, but I would guestimate the bottom one from the early 1980s!  I couldn't take the cans out, though.  They were holding up the shelf!  

As for other happenings, we did get a nice break from unpacking.  Our only friend here secured us tickets for the Edmonton Folk Festival on Thursday!  So nice for him to think of us.  The energy from the crowd was amazing...

And the city views were fantastic....

And the music, including Feist who headlined, was great...

It was an excellent introduction to Edmonton's cultural scene, and we are looking forward to more!

The Big Move and First Impressions

We've done it.  Packed up our household, drove for two days, and ended up in our new digs in Edmonton.  Yes, break out the cowboy hats...we are Albertans.  (Actually, I haven't seen one cowboy hat in the week we've been here...maybe that's a Calgary thing).

Can't say too much about Alberta yet, as we've only just arrived.  But the first paper we recieved had this cartoon in it. (click for bigger image).  I think they like the stereotype about themselves.

Funnily enough, on our first weekday here, Hus got two jobs! 

The move was exhausting, and we've been busy setting up house and taking multiple shopping trips to get garbage cans, and shelf liner, and picture hooks etc.  I hate to buy all of that stuff, but we thought we'd better get it over with so we can get on with enjoying our new house and new surroundings.

As for first impressions...I love our new neighbourhood.  It is very established, with many senior citizens living here, and it is so quiet.  It is a typical suburb with most of the houses build in the late 50s.  I keep wanting to take pictures of all the cool period houses and yards, but that might be weird and unwelcome.  Our house was built in 1959 and we are the second owners!  As we do a few projects around the house, I'll be blogging about it.

There is a huge park and lit cross country ski trails literally three houses down from us, and Saskatoon berries are abundant.  I'll be picking some tomorrow.  In North West BC, their time has come and gone.  I was so sad to let them go to waste there, but I'll still be able to freeze some here!

Rufus is settling in fine.  Here is a picture of him in the backyard on our first night.  If you look closely beside the door, you can see where he "christened" the garage.

On our dog walk tonight a hare crossed our path.  He has never seen one before and was straining on the leash like a crazy dog trying to get at it.

As for myself, I've been settling in in one particular spot to read, and plan and write multiple shopping lists.

This is a little corner in our living room.  On the other side is a built-in closet.  I have no idea what kind of wood this is, but I love its rich colour.  My knock-off Eames Chair fits in well.  It was a gift from Hus when I finished my last degree.  The lamp is from my parents.  They've had it since before I was born, and the poster came from our trip to London two years ago.  There is hardwood underneath the carpet, but we've decided to keep the carpet in place at least until winter has come and gone.