Mayberry Courthouse

Conveniently located next door to Wally's Filling Station is the Mayberry Courthouse. The inside is sooo awesome! I am really into theater set design and prop making and I was very impressed with how well this was put together. I do think the jail cells could use some more work though but that's just me and my 'you always have to have everything so perfect!' outlook, as my best friend Kathy tells me all the time.

Here's mom as the Justice as the Peace..."I don't care what holiday or special occasion you are making your elixer for...you can't make shine in these parts!"

Here's me as the sheriff receiving some important news regarding the crazy antics of the Fun Girls from Mt. Pilot.

Locked up on suspicion of Diaper Dodging.

In this same building is an area that is being set up to look like Emmit's Fix-It shop. Hopefully it will be all done up next time through.

Tour Mayberry!

"No visit to Mayberry is complete without a ride in Mayberry's squad car!"

The first thing we did while in Mayberry was take a tour in style. The tour lasted about 30-45 minutes. It took us all around town and showed highlights like Andy Griffith's home place, Floyd's Barbershop*, Snappy Lunch*, and a few other points of interest*. The tour guide we had was really cool and very informative. Wally's Service Station is the homebase for the tours. Inside Wally's is a little gift shop that is pretty neat and old timey looking.

Pumkinbutt had a great time! This was his favorite part of the entire Mayberry trip...tring to see how long he could hang out in the squad car.

He's one cool dude!

This Tow Truck is located next to the service station. Goober says "Hey"...I highly recommend doing the tour (336-789-OPIE) 625 S. Main St.

* will be covered in upcoming posts

Mt. Airy Diner

One last stop before we get in to Mayberry. This is the sign for the Mt. Airy Diner and just like the Drive-In, it was closed. Everything in this town closes up shop at 1pm it seems like.
The menu was posted on the door and everything was really cheap. Definitely some place I would like to hit up next time through. I think I will call my waitress "Juanita", just for good measure even if it's not her name.

Okay, everyone use the restroom now because I ain't stopping when we get into town!

Bright Leaf Drive-In

Back to the Mayberry* vacation slide show! The next neat place we found in Mount Airy was this still functioning Drive-In Movie Theater called The Bright Leaf. It was closed the night we were in town and I was sad to have missed out on the "best hotdogs around"!

I thought this was a fairly cool sign.

They still use hang-on-your-window metal speakers. neat!

I really love Drive-In movie theatres. I recommend a vehicle with a bench seat for better viewing pleasure, which brings to mind one of my favorite Cake songs:

Stickshifts & Safetybelts

Stickshifts and safetybelts,
Bucket seats have all got to go.
When we're driving in the car,
It makes my baby seem so far.
I need you here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.
I need you to be here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.

But when we're driving in my malibu,
It's easy to get right next to you.
I say, "baby, scoot over, please."
And then she's right there next to me.
I need you here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.
I need you to be here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.

Well a lot of good cars are japanese.
But when we're driving far,
I need my baby,
I need my baby next to me.

Well, stickshifts and safetybelts,
Bucket seats have all got to go.
When we're driving in the car,
It makes my baby seem so far.
I need you here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.
I need you to be here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.
*****
*I know, I know.. I promised some andy adventures, they're coming, don't get your "Judy, judy, judy" all in a tissy! It's just that there are quite a few un-andy, but very cool things in town I wanted to share as well.

Tie One On ~ Apron themed after a Musical

The current TOO theme is to make an apron inspired from a musical. And of course I take every single opportunity I can to do something spooky...and The Nightmare Before Christmas is a musical!!!! mawhahahahahaha!!!!


My apron is based on Sally's patchwork dress and even has a little pocket for collecting deadly nightshade. My new sewing machine has a special stitch function that is all about not being perfect and is all jagged on purpose...don't know what it would be used for in the real world of sewing but it was perfect for the look I was going for with this apron.

I know it's hard to tell in the picture but those white things hanging down from my hair are the little black ribbons with skelly-head beads tied into my pig tails that came from miss amanda button!

Here are few more shots that don't really show off the apron much but are still suitable for framing (in my house at least)!




Frank told me he didn't mind me sprawled out on his grave, if you were wondering, he actually enjoyed it.

okay, back to adventures in "Oh, Andy!" and watching out for loaded goats in the next post!

The Derby

Hello darlings! Welcome to the first of many posts regarding the vacation... My mom, pumpkinbutt and I went to Mount Airy, NC which is the town that Mayberry from the Andy Griffith show is based upon. She and I are big fans and have been dying to visit for years.

The first cool thing we discovered was The Derby Restaurant which dates to 1947. I LOVE finding quaint, oddball, local type places...and flipped when we just happened to drive past this place while we were exploring the town aka getting lost. The neatest thing to me is that this place isn't listed on the "tour guide".
Here is a newspaper spread from when the Derby first opened. It was originally called the Derby Cottage and had a separate small building donning a derby hat out in the front that was a gas station and later became an ice cream stand, but has now been torn down. Click on the image to read about how the Derby was the newest, the most modernest, up-to-date eating establishment and it featured tomorrow's lighting!!!
The Derby serves yummy greasy southern food for cheap and they load you up with it! I absolutely recommend stopping in if you are in the neighborhood. I don't have the phone number or address but the town is small...ask someone, anyone that lives there and I'm sure they will directly direct you in the right direction.

Now....For the most exciting thing ever!!!!! I am an absolute freak over old fortune telling type things and I LOVE these wate/fate deals!!!!!! I actually found one for sale once and was dying to purchase it, only it was $500...damn. This one at the Derby is the coolest though! It still worked and was only 1 cent!

Now, here is my dilemma... I have an awful memory so I took a picture of the fortune. Well, I then discovered that the picture is not completely legible...Click on the image for a larger look-see and tell me if you can make it out.. At this point I don't care if it's just an educated guess! In part it says "Don't expect miracles but _____k fact(s?) ____. "

It's driving me crazy that I can't figure this out....
I had a picture of me standing on here but I looked like Dorkus McClod so I decided to not embarrass myself by including it.

Stay tuned! More installments to follow!

Better late than never!

I'm a bad, awful, terrible daughter... I just got these very belated gifts for my mom for mother's day and her birthday to her. I could throw out a bunch of excuses right now but let's just get to the goods instead!
First off is something I made:

These are pot holders I made from the fabric Jenn sent awhile back. It is a Michael Miller fabric with retro style s & p shakers on it (click on image to enlarge it). The woman-my mom, needed some good pot holders... All she had were these wimpy paper thin ones that you had to use 3 of them together and that still was living on the edge of third degree burns. I made these nice and thick but admitly didn't try them out because I didn't want to get them dirty! Hopefully I haven't set my mom up with a disaster!

These I bought:

They are handmade cards by Mary Ann. Aren't they cute? It was hard to not keep them for myself! I love how each card is a little bit different but the same... very clever!

i have got so much stuff to put up for you all to see ... geez...just need the time!

Pink Coconut Frost!

Okay, for starters, when I saw the recipe (see post below) from Amanda for Pink Coconut Frost I thought it was for a frosting and considered just eating it straight from the bowl...well, if I would have turned the card over I would have realized that IT IS A DRINK!!! However, I thought the idea of it being a frosting would still kick ass so yesterday I rocked out in the kitchen to The Raveonettes while wearing my cool new apron and making up a batch of pink coconut frost and frosting!

PINK COCONUT FROST DRINK

1 six ounce can pink lemonade
1/2 cup (or more to taste) gin or vodka
3 tbsp cream of coconut
2 tbsp marachino cherry juice
16-20 ice cubes
marachino cherries for garnish

combine all in a blender til slushy, garnish with cherries.

PINK COCONUT FROSTING

I took the above recipe and just adapted it abit.
Only I didn't use or write down measurements so do
what you have to with this:

powdered pink lemonade mix
vanilla vodka
marachino cherry juice
shredded coconut
cream of coconut
pre-fab cream cheese icing

Mix the above in what ever measurements you please. If the icing seems too liquidy put in the freezer and it'll firm up.

*******************************************

The Pink coconut frost/ing were both very good! I have to say though I took liberties with the cream of coconut and added waaay more than 3 tbsp. for the drink. I am just freaky over coconut.

I don't have a blender but I do have an "Ice-o-Matic" ice crusher, I just thought I would share it with you all. Yes, it's a hideous shade of avocado green but it's got an awesome form and works really well!

What's Cookin'? Delights!

It's pretty bad when you are late for your own party but it just couldn't be helped!

Here are the goods I got from the lovely and talented Amanda...I am soo thrilled !!!! She totally GOT me...which I have to say is hard. I was feeling bad for whoever pulled my name because I am not the easiest person to make for. (Click on all images for a larger view)

Isn't this a cute apron! I'm telling you I am going to be wearing this apron out on the town! It's not going to stay hidden away in my kitchen! On the pockets are skelly heads that are embroidered and lined in red gingham. I love details like that! And check out my chain!

It's got measuring spoons on it!!!! Such an awesome clever idea!

She sent some extra goodies as well...like a matching pot holder in red gingham and black skeleton fabric (seen on the left). The recipe cards are on the right and have the cutest little monster on them holding a speared food product saying "I cook!"....love them! One of the recipes is for Pink COCONUT frosting....and it calls for gin or vodka! Forget frosting the cake! Let's just eat it right out of the bowl! In the middle of the photo are the little ribbons that were tied around the packages...so dang cute! They are black ribbon with skelly head beads.. I see these becoming hair adornments for my pig tails! On the left, on top of the pot holder is a nifty CD holder along with 4 very cool CDs (more on that below). Then in the background is a vintage cutesy apron....did I rack up or what?

Here is a close up of the front of the CD case she made. First off what I love about this little organizer is that it is scrap craft (made from a brown paper bag!!!) soooo clever! Amanda, you should do a tute on this baby! At first glance the image on the front is cute... two vintage pinup chics.. but there's more going on! These chics are wearing saran wrap dresses and have cooking utensil headgear (a pot and spoons)! That is soo bad ass!



Here is the inside of the CD case... cute details! lovin' them! the CDs are bad ass too! Stuff I had never heard about before... The Raveonettes and some old timey 20's, 30's, 40's comps with songs alluding to sex and dope! Too cool!

I got Mary Ann for my guest! Lucky for me she and I have similar interests so she was pretty easy to make for. I made the apron design up myself and included a matching head band seen to the right.


I also made a matching recipe card holder book(below, on the left). The recipe cards are on the right..I still owe her an extra recipe because of computer issues.

What's Cookin' first round done! Hope everyone had a fun time!

I'm going to be taking a little vacation folks! i'll be back in a few weeks but until then please enjoy one of my favorite songs by my favorite band

Pixies- Frank Black from the Pixies, Live "Where Is My Mind?"



i don't know who the eyeliner clad fellows are in the video and it does take a few moments to load but it's worth it.

i really love this video..i can watch it over and over...actually i have been. i was lucky enough to get to see Frank Black about 8 years ago and it was divine! Enjoy! We'll catch up in a few weeks!

Headband Hooray!

I just finished up making a couple of these oh soo cute headbands for a couple of certain somebodies. I got the pattern from Heather Bailey's Hooray for Headbands. They are very easy to make and fit really well. I see the need to make many to match all of my outfits... Of course I wear black nearly all the time, that's fairly easy to match up I guess.

If you make a headband let heather know and thank her for sharing her pattern!





And a BIG 'Thank You Kindly" for the sweet blogiversy wishes! It's nice to hear from you all!

It's a blog party!

For My House is Cuter than Yours 1 year blogiversary you're invited to a little party! Please come in and make yourself at home! I stayed up all hours of the night to make and arrange to perfection these lovely treats for you all! Click on any foods to get a closer look, help yourself don't be shy!

let's start with some lovely appetizers! Please have as many as you like! I made sure to make one of Barb's favorites, Cock Kabobs with cocktail sauce!

(Betty Crocker's Frankly Fancy Foods 1959)
and if you don't see something at the table above please try a sample from this one below...."serve yourself sundaes" and "creamed ham in potato cups" go so well together! What's the brown carcass surrounded by pineapple rings, you ask? umm.. well the word 'savory' was involved in the title of the recipe.. isn't that enough for you? Eat up! I don't want any leftovers hanging around or crawling away!

(Sunday Night Suppers 1956)

And for our party craft project we will be making this "lovely" scrap craft housewife from kitchen cleaning apparatuses and trims! ahhh... so sweet and not a bit creepy!

(Betty Crocker Party Book 1960)

For dessert I churned out a number of jellied bavarians, minted snows, puffy whips and sparkling gelatin molds! Yes, you sure can have seconds on the pineapple and prune frozen dessert, I made extra just for you!

(Gay Melodies in Gelatin Desserts 1940's)
ahhh! This was the easiest party for me to plan and clean up after! Thanks for coming!

And now a little peek at where I really make all my dishes!
A tour of my kitchen!

I got my vintage stove for free!!!

above the stove. I love and collect vintage roosters especially if they are a fighting set. The love I have for this set on the wall just ain't fittin' to talk about.

The small pantry of vintage and old looking food containers. Granted I have 3 boxes of lard... so I don't think I would be making anything too appetizing from my 'stock'.

View into the laundry room. The vintage refrigerator doesn't work.. well not unless call working when you plug it in and turn the knob and it shocks you....Storing cleaning supplies in it (unplugged) is turning out much better for me. That Kitty Girl sneaks into many a picture.

a really crappy pic of the inside of the display cabinet. I collect vintage bar-b-que items, on the top shelf are the smaller things. The middle shelf contains some of the vintage cookbooklets and a few vintage drinking glasses with atomic starbursts, polka dots, and a couple of other designs that I don't know how to describe. The bottom shelf is the 'fine china' along with my very much loved set of corn kids chalkware plaques.
I didn't photograph everything in the kitchen... Didn't want to keep you all out too late, I noticed a few of you nodding off!
Again, thanks for coming by for the MHICTY shindig!

Thanks to everyone that reads and comments so I know I am not alone in my domestic undertaking adventures!

My! That's a huge wedge o' pie!

Swapatorium Leftovers!

Instead of presenting my usual unusual culinary delights of yesteryear, I bring you this cross section of what can be found in the bottom of a defunct garbage disposal after years of the maintenance guy "just waiting on the right part to come in"...

Actually, it's a slice of pie. No really, I'm not kidding you, it is apple pie! This recipe for Big Apple Pie is brought to us by the kind folks of Wrigley's Chewing Gum. By the looks of the pie, Wrigleys better not quit their day job. And to ease any speculations, there's no gum in the pie as one may fear.

Because of it's hideous presentation I just had to reproduce it! It's an "apple pie built to real he-man dimensions", weighing in at what seems like 20 pounds and is over 4 inches tall! It's what all the men folk want...Big Ass Apple Pie!

This pie's propaganda is in favor of making the men in the house happy. Sure it's expensive..at "25 cents a wedge but for once dad and the boys get all they want". Huh? For once!? For once those greedy little bastards will get all they want?! They should consider themselves lucky to be getting any pie. What, with leaving their dirties all over the house for mom to pick up! "So go ahead and please them"..... Please this! I recommend tossing everyone a pack of gum and saying "Here's your damn dessert!" Then leave the dishes in the sink and go out with the girls for happy hour. Give them "All they can eat" ....yeah, chew up the whole pack if you like! Whew, a little housewife breakdown there! Okay, back to this pie....

Just a serving suggestion folks!

RECIPE
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(click on recipe for larger image)
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Nothing real special about the ingredients or taste of this pie except for the fact that the recipe calls for 6-7 cans of apple pie filling!!! That is crazy, I got away with just 4! Oh Man!

I tried to bestow the same hideous look to my pie photo but I just couldn't get it as dreadful as the original. I was quite depressed over this fact. A few packs of prechewed gum mixed in with the apple filling may just do the trick though...

Enjoy!

What the?!

Find out more about this monstrosity over at the Swapatorium!

And while you're here, enjoy this Wiki meme!
(I generally don't get into the memes but this one is really neat!)

1. Go to Wikipedia.
2. In the Search box, type your birth month and day (but not year).
3. List three events that happened on your birthday.
4. List two important birthdays and one interesting death.
5. One holiday or observance (if any)


Okay, on my birthday the happenings were:

Events:
1911 - French poet Guillaume Apollinaire is arrested and put in jail on suspicion of stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum.

1915 - Former cartoonist Johnny Gruelle is given a patent for his Raggedy Ann doll.

1971-The last new episode of The Beverly Hillbillies is aired (the first episode debuted on September 26, 1962).

Birthdays:
1936 - Buddy Holly, American singer
1951 - Julie Kavner, American voice actress


Deaths:
2003 - Warren Zevon, American musician and songwriter (b. 1947)

Holiday Observances
no special holiday observances listed except what is known around my house as birthday week! I demand more than just one day of being treated like a queen!

I was tagged by sarah...I tag barb and amanda and mary ann!