Grandma's are the BEST!

I mean they REALLY are! 

Monday I stopped by my Gandma Jordan's to give her the mail and talk for a while, and we eneded up watching "Days of Our Lives" together. Well Just as I was getting ready to leave, Grandma says "Oh I have an early Valentines Gift for you"  Well I turn around and shes holding a white glass mixing bowl, And I think "Oh sweet she got my Pyrex!"

 Well then Grandma says "The rest is on the kitchen Counter", She Leads me in to the kitchen and...

 THERE sits her COVETED 1946 Hamilton Beach Mixer. I just gave her a funny look and she says "Its yours, but dont tell your cousin Carma she'll be PISSED!"  ( Since Carma doesnt read the blog, or take time to talk with me... I think were safe.) I have been pining for this forever!
Last season Grandma let me haul it to the Casablanca on a "bake and return" basis.  So this Is a gift MOST  welcome. Now I wonder If I should leave it be, or maybe repaint the white body of the mixer?  because as you can see most of the paint is gone, and I kinda like my old stuff to look sharp and new but still be old. HOWEVER this model is a Classic, and id hate to ruin it... so Paint it? Keep its charming faded age? I dont mind doing either, because when i see the worn paint and chips I think of  just how much love went into all thoes cakes and pies Grandma baked.

My Grandmother, was born Mary LeDell Trimm on March 20th of  1922.
She later Changed the "LeDell" to "LaDell" (she said Le was a boys name) and most people call her "LaDell" I call her Granny :)
 Her family lived on a farm, and she worked as a "checker" at the A&P grocerie store here in town. She and her sister Ruth graduate Class of 1940 in Iowa Park Tx. This was the biggest class to have graduated from Iowa Park High School until 2008, my class was bigger)
 In 1955  she said "I do" to a rowdy oil hand who often came into the A&P to cash his paycheck. His name was Lindon Ross Jordan, and he was my Grandpa (saddly he passed in 2003)
Together they had 3 children "Marcus Lee", "Joyce Lynn", and "Micheal Odell" (my dad)
Oh and one more thing....
THEY KEPT EVERYTHING THEY EVER BOUGHT!!!!! I'll have to do a post over the "Barn" its jungle, but theres lots of goodies in there!

Well Im off to bake a cake!
P.S. Get Your Kicks On Route 66, 66 followers!!!!

-Mick-

La Conga!

SO this dreary weather is starting to get to me... im mean iv been humming "singin' in the rain" for FIVE WEEKS... So today I thought we share in a modern dance... "La conga" 
I was over at Holly's "Sweetheartville" blog and she did a peice on Betty Grable in one of the "zigfeild" movies. Well Just recently I picked up the 1940 Technicolor romp "Moon Over Miami" starring Betty Grable! Its filled with lot s of great songs, but the one that seems to be infectiously catchy  is titled:
"Conga To a Nursery Rhyme" 


While were on the subject of "Congas" heres a little history on the dance, some claim that Desi Arnaz, the husband of Lucille Ball, invented the conga dance, but that's not true. He merely popularized it when he moved to the United States from Cuba and began performing in clubs. 

A Cuban ballroom dance that consists of three steps forward followed by a kick, characteristically performed by a group following a leader in a single line. (I love that picture) There seems to have been some misunderstanding about this at my Senior Prom in 2008...it was disgusting... people holding eachothers sholders and jumping up and down in a line...(That would be the 'Bunny Hop') People my age have forgotten the art of dancing! This is a story for another post, but I asked a girl at the prom if she would like to "foxtrot" to wich she said "I dont think they let animals in here...." I died a little inside lol.

My second favorite version of the Conga is this one preformed by "Miss Judy Garland"


Im gonna warn you now, The Conga will provably be danced at the Casablanca Party this summer!
Remeber ist "1,2,3 kick, 1,2,3 kick"  I wish I could find this on a record !

-Mick-

I also owe a very special Thank You to Christine at "Im not old im Vintage" today when I got home from classes there was a little package with a LOT of goodies!

An early Valentine's Day gift! Thank You so much!

My Montgomery Ward Table Top Washing Machine

I promised Id show this one off to Missouri Michael,  This Is a 1958 tabletop washing machine. My Great Grand Mother lived by herself and really only wore 1 dress a day so insted of using the acual washing machine she got this one from Montgomery Ward in Wichita Falls TX. When I made this video I beleived it to be from the 1940's than later found the recipt dated for the 50's in an old shoe box.



"Thank God for Maytag" - meaning Maytag was the first washer that featured 2 drums where you didnt have to change the water, just transfer the clothes.
I kow the top of the washer looks terrible, but i made this video the day me and my dad got it working again. I later spray painted the top "Frost White" (the standard appliance color) but then the cord had dried out and cracked and the last time I plugged it in in shot off sparks and the short is in a place where I cant tape it up *sigh* alas... 

We also have (whats left) of 2 gas Maytag washing machines. Someday I may paint one up and take it to the CH&R mayve use it as a table or sink? who knows!

-Mick-

2 Score, Scores a Vintage 4!

So I went to the Casablanca,
I walked in and flipped the light switch in the kitchen, and on came the lights. It was a little cold in the kitchen so I walked over to the thermosat and turned on the central heat, I was carrying a pencil to write a date onthe calendar and dropped it on the floor and it didnt roll away... I noticed my dishes were sitting flat in the closed glass cabinets. To the sink I went and washed my hands with some hot water. From there I went to the den and turned on the tv and 'Days of our Lives' was on. I needed to go to the bathroom so I walked over opened the door and stepped into the-

****PHONE RINGS****

Yup... It was all a dream.....

The Phone Call was very real though! Let me just say I love being the "Vintage Guy" here in town... (This is what happens when you watch Antiques Roadshow at 6 years old! haha)  I get all the Cast offs :) This call was from the Church, sayign that had some things they would like ot get rid of and wanted to know if I was interested. So into the Car I hopped I get there and there set 4 late 50's early 60's light fixtures...(hence the 2 scores, 40 years) So naturally I scooped them up!

Im wondering if I couldnt work 2 of them into the Bedroom/ Den and keep the other 2 as spares. The gold would be PERFECT for the room, but im nto 100% sold on putting them in.... heres a close up!

But with the ruffled gold tops im not sure if it will go with this sort of "stream lined atomic" thing im going for....

What do you fine Gals and Guys think?!  I also have anothe fixture I bought a while ago, but its chrome... The den was going to be turquoise and chrome, then I changed my ways and embraced gold finish (because it is in abundance and its cheaper) and hate to paint a good fixture.

-Mick-

And the Winner is!

To be fair, I did not get my pets on a "high" and Im not yet old enough to drink... So I let the girl next door pick! out of the "Fadora Of  Fate" (A Hat never sounded so Important!)

~Miss MaryDeluxe~!

 Oh Yes! Oh Yes! Mary Gets the Record Bowl and some other goodies to boot!

HOWEVER!

I will also be needing e Following to email me to claim their fabulos -runner up- prizes!

Sue Loves Cherries-

Miss Tayva-

and...

Toronto Yard Saler!

You Gals will be reciving our brand new 2010 Casablanca Postcard!

Thanks For Playing Guys and Gals! Since this give away Started we've had 9 more people join the blog! So that means were 16 away from the Next Give Away! Lets hope I stay intersting and you fine people keep reading until then!

-Mick-

Silence was ~Golden~

Boy have I done it!
(you might want to scroll down and click the youtube link first to let the music play while you read!)

Yesterday I have NOTHING to write about and today as I was going along WHAM it hit me....

While at school yesterday I was talking with a few friends. One who is quite a story teller was regaling us with a story of how he was climbing out of a window down a sheet rope and fell about 10 feet, his girlfriend promptly landed beside him with grace (and on her feet.) Now readers, you must understand for every 1 thing I do there are 12 more things i'm thinking, and for some reason as my friend told his story I pictured it like an old 1920's silent movie! While My friend was very colorfully telling us what he had said once he fell, I got this funny little image of him in black and white saying every curse in the book, with huge motions and then the "Word Card" for the dialog only saying 'Oh My!'

Well I busted out laughing, and explained to my friends what I had just thought of... well one thing led to another and this mental picture started to form into an idea! After talking over various other things we parted ways... well today WHAM it hit me! Why not actually make a short Silent film?! Last summer i had the good fortune to see a professional organist play accompaniment with Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" and "Easy Street" and though I had seen silent movies before I loved in these to films the wide variety of physical comedy, expressions and the ability to tell a story without words! Now By NO means are my friends and I taking a bite out of a project that huge... It will provably only be a few minuets long, and we've choosen "The Maple Leaf Rag" as our soundtrack!


So during Spring Break sometime between the building of the 8 ft cowboy and the "Great Photo Shoot", we will  be stepping out of our 1940's 50's Norm to be filming a short silent movie! With several classic high jinx's!

I can wait to start making props for this!
Dont forget to Enter the "Fabulos 50's" Post Give away if you havent already it closes tomorrow!!!
-Mick-

Bloglett!

Today Dear readers, I am blanking on ideas and only coming up with little bits a peices of things I need to write down or say or get out there So im bringing to you a "Bloglett"!

First, I Should provably be doing my Spanish Homework (As it is due friday) however  Everytime  I try to take a crack at it that old Bing Crosby song creeps into my mind "You Dont Have to Know the Language"


I yi,yi! Haha This song PLAUGED me During my Spanish final last semester!

And Now for some important Stuff!

I will be closing the giveaway WENDSEDAY AT 6:00 p.m.  Central Time! SO If you havent entered you provably should! (These Record Bowls have been selling like crazy)

Hurry Hurry! Go Enter on the "Fabulos 50's" post!

These grey Days are starting to get to me! Theres sunny 60's in the forecast for this weekend, and If this is true I will be at the Casablanca!

I also wanna let you guys and gals in on another giveaway (It seems like so many of us hit 25, 50, 100, followers recently!)

Lets see heres a give away at Shrinky Inks Fine Adventures: http://inkyknits.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-ever-shrinky-inky-giveaway.html 
This One Is mostly For the Ladies! But Fellas Who knows you might just score some vintage doo-dads for your Sweetie!

 HO-LY CRAP... I have GOT to lay off the Elvis Movies and The Andy Griffith Show... I find ceritan words creeping into my phraseology! haha

I hope something happens soon, today it just seems like theres nothing to post about! Well I think im gonna put the Andrew Sisters Album on and do some house cleaning... and Spanish!



-Mick-