Turkey Day at the PIT!

Hi all, Happy Thanksgiving! I'm a bit late to the party, I know, but hey, it's still November! (Until it's actually December, we won't even mention that other holiday my kids are strangely obsessing about :)

If you've been around the blog a long time, you know that I am a total foodie. And also that we believe very strongly in sourcing our own proteins, through hunting and fishing. And what would Thanksgiving be without turkey? Wild turkey, that would be, just like the first Thanksgiving.

Yours truly, with Eagle Eye and a wild turkey, destined for the dinner table. (I know my attire is so fashionable, isn't it? But it was warm!)

Wild turkeys all cleaned up for dinner. They look just like a big chicken or domestic turkey, but without the giant over-sized breast. The drumsticks are a bit tougher and gamier than domestic, but the white meat is virtually indistinguishable. These turkeys spent their whole lives roaming the woods and foraging for food- no hormones, antibiotics or industrial farms. They can run and fly and I always give thanks for the opportunity to take one of these birds for the table. It is not a simple thing to harvest one, in any sense of the word,  but it is the best way to eat a turkey, IMHO.

My mom taking the stuffing out of the bird (in a vintage apron!) She was getting ready to make the gravy. I do everything else for the meal, but no one makes better gravy than Mom. Sometimes it's best to just leave that to the professionals! As I type this post, I have the turkey carcass simmering in a stock pot for soup.

I set the table with the best dishes, crystal and silver; it's just about the only time I ever use that stuff. I also used my "new" autumn tablecloth. It's not the greatest picture of me, but I wore a salmon-colored knit set. Plenty of stretch in that fabric for turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, Cope's corn, broccoli, cranberries, pumpkin and apple pie!

Happy Holidays from the gang at Chez QT!

Rummage Sale Haul of Awesomeness! (Pt. 1)

Oh my, it's Christmas here at ChezQT! (At least for me, anyway.) Today was our town's semi-annual rummage sale. I've blogged about these before and the posts are so photo-heavy, so I decided to break them up over two days.

First up will be kitchen ware and linens!

I've been lucky to find a bit of pink Pyrex lately- this pink gooseberry casserole (no lid) was $2. The strawberry sugar bowl is painted milk glass (maybe Hazel Atlas, I forget?) and has a repaired lid, but for 50 cents I couldn't pass it up. I saw a similar apple one the other day at a thrift store; now maybe I will have to go back and get that. The adorable crocheted pot rests were 25 cents each!  

These holiday mugs are Corningware, not Pyrex, but almost the same. I'm hoping to use them as trade bait for some Pyrex I collect. Primary or Butterprint fridgies, anyone?

I loved these straw insulated tumblers at a yard sale in town- but passed them up for $3 there. Guess they got donated to the rummage sale and cost me $1.50 this time.

This is the second vintage BBQ apron I found at this sale. I love this one even more than the first one I found in the spring. Maybe they were his-n-hers, because this one is quite a bit smaller and the ties are so dainty. Love love love the graphics on this!!

And this is the final one for today, an autumn printed tablecloth. I didn't have a fall-themed tablecloth, either and just the other day was wishing I did. Problem solved for $2.50!

Stay tuned in a couple for the clothing and miscellany!

Rummage Sale goodness Pt. 3

Friday's rummage sale wasn't near as great as Thursday's. I got a couple pieces for the shop; all clothes, no housewares. Their prices are about 50% higher than the other sale as well.

I picked up this neat windbreaker- if it wasn't size XL, I'd keep it for myself. 

Why yes, I'm on the Mako Marine Fishing Team! :)

I love this 60s collegiate sweater. I'm definitely keeping this one!

A 70s plaid wool skirt. These always move well for me, and why not- they're so classic!

A pinafore apron. I couldn't resist, even tho I have more than I can count. It's going up to the cabin.

I also picked up a great 1950s wool swing coat with rhinestone buttons and carried it around with me the whole sale. I ended up putting it back. I was so tempted, but I don't need it, and they don't sell for me (probably because they cost so much to ship). On the plus side, by carrying it around I kept it out of the hands of one of the local dealers I recognized. I saw her yesterday, too and she shaddowed me the whole time. I waited until she paid and left before I put it back! 

Rummage Sale Goodness Pt. 2

Today's post is part II of the Thursday Rummage Sale loot. 

I always find some vintage clothes. As a matter of fact, two of the best outfits I own came from this rummage sale. The mustard sweater is for me, I love that color and don't have enough of it in my wardrobe. The sweater vest is ostensibly for my husband, but who am I kidding, it'll most likely end up in my Etsy store. He's just not a sweater vest kind of guy, no matter how dapper it is. 

The feedsack dress is for my daughter. I find a couple of these every year at this sale. I'm sure they were made by the same lady. They are not new, but appear never worn- I wonder why she only donates one or two at a time? Nevertheless, I always grab them. My daughter loves them- she literally wore the others to pieces. They are the perfect vintage dresses- cotton, cute details (love that scalloped collar!), hand made, and just zip up the back. I wish I had a couple for me!

I have been falling big time lately for hand-painted glassware. (I'm talking to you, Fire King Orchard Blossom!) I actually have a set of frosted tumblers that are similar to this pattern but green.  The pitcher and cup are quite small- about a quart- so probably for orange juice. I can just see them on the nightstand in a guestroom. They were only $1 for the pair. The wood plaque was for my son who didn't get to go since he was in school. He's my sidekick when we go shopping and I'm sure he would have found some cool stuff I missed if he was along!

I actually missed these the first time around and found them with a little help from sidekick #2 (aka my daughter, who loves anything girly). She was digging through the purses looking for pink or purple ones- she just turned 4- and came up with these. I love them! They're from the 50s or 60s and have that fake plastic beading on them. Totally worth the $2 each for the kitsch factor alone.

This might be my favorite find of the day. I've been looking for a 50s barbeque apron for some time. They are just so graphic and funny! I love how the guy has his martini and then the ghost of the steer appears and says "Now don't louse it up!"

It was only 75 cents, and perfect for my husband, who is a butcher, if I let him wear it. ;)

I'm heading out to another rummage sale today, hopefully I'll have more goodies to post soon!

My aprons!

Zootsuitmama asked us to show off some of our aprons, and since I have quite a lot of them, I do believe I will take her up on that!

I may make this a 2 part post, because I have so many. I've decided for now to just show the longer aprons, because these are the only kind I really use. I have dozens of "hostess-style" lower-half aprons, so if I get a chance to photo some of them that will be another post. I really need to move some of those into my etsy store, so I guess I should do some photos ASAP.

Since I prefer the long, bib-type aprons and the upper-half housekeeper's-style aprons, I'll show you my favorites.

Most of these were inherited from my family because they know I love vintage and love to cook! Thankfully my relatives were stocky German ladies and these are plenty big. :)

All of the bib-style aprons were handmade by a relative in the 1930s-50s. I believe many of them are feedsack cotton. This blue one is so practical- I always wear it when I'm working with something likely to stain a lighter fabric, like berries! It's hard to see, but there is rickrack trim around the neck and waist.

I love this one; the pattern is a pansy floral.

This one is my favorite. I just love the red trim and the ruffle at the bottom.

This one is hand-pieced and not the least bit practical. As you can see it has hardly been used- more for hostessing than cooking!

I love this apron. It has a great 1940s look and the pockets are great. I wear this to clean all the time.

A pink gingham rayon apron that I got for a quarter at a yard sale.

This is a child's apron with a Peter Rabbit theme. It is hand embroidered and belonged to my mother as a child in the 1940s.

And since we're looking at aprons, how about some housecoats? I'm putting these two in my Etsy store- if you like them, I will give my blog readers 20% off. Just enter coupon code: PIT20OFF at checkout! Better buy the red one quick before I change my mind and keep it! :P

Flea Market Friday: I am an Apron Goddess!

I do believe it is the first time I have ever been called a goddess of anything! I'm usually up to my elbows in dishwater, or bathwater, or sandbox sand... But I clean up pretty good!

As befitting an Apron Goddess, this morning at a yard sale I picked up a bunch of vintage aprons. (Don't hate me- I think they were 20 cents apiece!)

I happened to be wearing a vintage waitress-style dress which I am thrilled to be finally able to fit into. It was one of those "if I lose 10 pounds, I'll be able to get into this" purchases that sat in my closet for a loooong time! So we snapped a few photos of some of the new acquisitions. (The photographer was my son, the Apron God Jr., so forgive me if the photos are a bit crooked & awkward!)

The first is a vintage rayon apron. I don't think I've ever seen a rayon apron- I can't think this will be much practical use, since the fabric is so light- but it's cute.

This is my favorite, a printed & pieced cotton apron.

Don't I look like all I need is an order pad and a name tag that says "Betty"? ;)

I have a very large collection of vintage aprons, including several feedsack cloth full aprons from the 1930s. I wear them when I am doing housework or cooking, which pretty much seems to be all the time...

I know many of you probably already visit my friends over at The Apron Goddesses, but if you haven't been there, check them out, and see yours truly!