1950s hair

Last week I snapped a few quick photos before I ran out the door (literally) to volunteer in my son's classroom.  For the past nine months or so I've been doing a wet roller set.  Well, it's not too much fun walking around all day with a wet head when the temps dip below freezing.  So I've decided to let the layers grow out a bit and go back to my pin curl set that I can sleep in.  Lately it's been brushing out to a nice 1950s style.

Yeah Baby!  Here's to still looking good with a 3 day old set!

Apron Challenge: August

Some of you might know that when I'm not strolling through the pasture, adoring my little lambies, I organize a pin-up contest for the Symco Shakedown.  During the second weekend of August, hundreds of traditionally built hot rods and customs descend upon the crossroads town of Symco, Wisconsin.  Two days full of cars, swap, rockabilly music and mini-bike drags.  And kicking off the Saturday morning line up is a pin-up contest showcasing the classic glamour of the 1940s and 50s.  Seems to me like the perfect occasion for an apron...

So this month I channeled my inner rockabilly pin-up and decided on a small black apron with black lace ruffled trim.  I used the Miss Symco logo to make a patch pocket.  This should come in handy when I'm backstage handing out bobby pins, directing photographers, tallying scores and answering frantic, last minute cell phone calls.

The pin-up contest is a lot of work.  When I was first approached about organizing this, my thought was, "Put some pretty girls on stage...the audience applauds for a winner...there you go!"  It's not quite that simple.  Our top twelve winners are featured in a calendar so immediately following the show, the girls have their photos taken on the grounds.  And this year I've added a calendar signing with the 2012 girls, and a rehearsal with this year's thirty contestants.  It's a lot prep; lining up contestants, sponsors, judges, photographers, an emcee, a band to play between the rounds and backstage volunteers.  But I've made a lot of friends along the way, and everyone seems to have a great time!

So Peepshow, my '50 Ford Shoebox, is ready for the weekend.  Hank and I drive separately.  He tows the camper, and I'm loaded down with crinolines and shoes.  She still doesn't have an interior, but I did have time (in between lambing and baling hay) to sew up a new seat cover.  It's black and very boring, but will have to do until I can find upholstery to match those swanky pink sun visors I made.

Admittedly, a car is the best accessory ever!

I'll be sure to take some photos of the car show and the pin-up contest to share next time.  If you're interested in a few photos from past years, check out the Symco Shakedown website or the Miss Symco website. 

Working 'round the homestead

So the first day of Autumn is officially tomorrow, and it is apparent that Fall has already arrived at the Homestead.  Even though the garden is starting to look rather forlorn, what with the tomato blight and froze off squash plants, I'm still looking at a table full of tomatoes.  I guess canning is on my To Do list today.  Louie has spent more time huddling these past few days which is a sure sign that the temps are falling.  Our big tough barn cats tend to huddle in the house, huddle on our bed at night, huddle for warmth about this time of year.  It's a precursor to hibernation.  I just hit the coffee pot more often.  :)

Hank needed a break from the neon office lights and conference calls.  He decided to abandon his "real" job in the big city for needed rest and relaxation in the country air.  Translation:  He's swinging a hammer all day, trying to get up that new machine shed before the snow flies.  So since my man is a stay-at-home farmer today, I thought I'd put a little twist on my stat-at-home shepherdess routine.

I tried out a different set last night.  Lovingly referred to by Hank as my "girl-hawk," I set a row of curlers straight down the middle, mohawk-style and pincurled the rest as I usually do.  Slept on it and whipped this out this morning.

Admittedly I had envisioned more of a glamorous Betty Grable updo, but this is what I got.  I tend more towards vintage styles rather than rockabilly, but seriously, I'm home canning tomatoes today . . . this should suffice.

It is a messier style than I'm used to.  And I'm pretty sure there are approximately 21 bobby pins in that nest doing absolutely nothing, hopefully the other 7 are holding on.  With any luck I won't have pins dropping into my canner . . .

And of course Bosley is loving all the commotion around the house today.  Typically his days involve lots of sleeping and chewing and waiting for the kids to come home from school.  But with Hank slicing up all those 2x4s, Bosley's finding much more interesting things to chew on. 

Here's hoping your homestead is easing into Autumn!  And remember to put a little Betty Grable in your step, even if you're just do-si-doing in the kitchen all day!