Great finds

I absolutely love fiction of the 50's, 60's and 70's...fiction of all types. I read every single book I find. I even read the killer 60's and 70's adult XXX books that my father collected like so many marbles and probably still has. I hope that doesn't shock some of you and run you off. I promise I won't post anything truly hard core without warning you first! Anyhow, I found these great books today at the Bishops Attic; one of my favorite thrift stores here in Anchorage. I've found most of my truly kick @$$ vintage items there. That and the new salvation army store in Mountain View. You've kind of gotta know when to hit them. It's just like gambling I think...you can actually feel it when there's good stuff coming!

I dig the artwork on these. Especially the first two and the C.S. Lewis "That Hideous Strength". I'm determined to do something with some of these covers I've collected so that I can enjoy looking at them all the time, I just haven't figured out exactly what yet. I've been working my butt off on a particular decoupage craft this past week because I've been putting it off half finished for quite awhile. I didn't realize how much time it was actually going to take. It is looking quite cool though and as soon as it's finished I promise I will share it here with all of you.

Ok, this book just drew me to it because of the Title. I was right in assuming that there is a series surrounding this particular Rabbi and each title is just as cool as this one. It goes like this: Monday the Rabbi Took Off; and of course this one, Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red, Wednesday the Rabbi got Wet, Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out, Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry and Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home. There are more in the "Rabbi" series but I won't go nuts here. This one here was written in 1973 and I'm looking forward to reading it.

This one looks cool.

This one is GREAT! for some true vintage wedding etiquette. It was published in 63. I found some notes written on pages from a 64 desk calendar hidden between several pages. I love finding those. I find lots of personal notes in vintage books. I especially love finding them in cookbooks. I find old grocery lists, cash register tapes, recipes, etc. in vintage cookbooks. It's like finding the toy in a cracker jack box but for vintage junkies.

I thought of Holly Hall over at Sweetheartville when I saw this. It's so perfectly country vintage.

1950's American Slang of the Day #1

Todays 1950's American slang phrase is:

"Lace (one's) boots" : To put (someone) wise. 1. To inform someone of anothers personal attitude, feelings or ideas; To warn, caution or advise someone. 2. To inform someone of a group attitute, basic concept or point of view, esp. in order generally to enlighten the person or make the person more alert, receptive or hip. Fairly common student and young adult use. In both instances, the person put wise is generally considered of inferior intellect, experience or sensitivity to the speaker. 3. equal to "wise up".

Example: "Somebody needs to lace that boys boots up real tight!"

Clarification: "A person besides myself should enlighten that young man about the rules around here in such a way that he should never forget them."

photo from Square America

I've decided to post an American slang of the day from here on out. I found this great book during one of my thrifting forays; "The pocket dictionary of American Slang". It was published in 1960 and compiled by Harold Wentworth and Stuart Berg Flexner. It took ten years to prepare so a large majority of the 'substandard' language published within was at the height of its popularity during the 1950's. I'm going to open the book with my eyes closed and point to a word or phrase every single day, unless I break a leg or a tooth or something, and post it here.

The highly colored, many flavored words and expressions of every sector of our national life--

the Beat generation, Madison Avenue, the underworld, prizefighters, teenyboppers, addicts,

astronauts, soda-jerks and hobos.

Missing salts!

I picked up the coolest little guy out thrifting a while ago. He's half of a salt and pepper. I sure wish I knew what the other figure looked like. Is it a woman? an office appliance? ( the guy strikes me as an Eames era office worker) I wonder. If anyone has ever seen him in a set, please let me know. I'd sure love to find out!

Same goes for this little guy. Isn't he cool? He's made out of chalkware, hand painted and pretty darned beat up. I think it was a home project so I'm not sure of it's age. My husband says his uniform is that of an Army "Doughboy" from The Great War. (WW1) I fell for him immidiately. I do know what his other half looks like. It's a sweet little Navy guy dressed in the WW1 uniform. I do NOT make it a habit of buying incomplete salt and pepper sets. In fact, it's one of my pet peeves. I usually wont, but these gentlemen were cool enough on their own so I made an exception. I'd sure love to obtain the partner to both