Atomic Pic of the Day!

BANG!

Ha! Don't you just love going through the old family albums? There's so much that's good blackmail material in there! This goodie is of Brother Dear back around the mid 50's, when a boy would never be caught without at least one trusty cap gun.

Speaking of guns, Junior was kept after school today because he had done a big No-no. What did he do? He was playing with his buddies during recess and was caught using his hand for a make-believe pistol on school property. My, how far today's society has progressed in the age of correctness :P

Needless to say, Junior was very upset by the whole ordeal and had a hard time grasping the reasoning behind the bullying he received from the school system. I gave him some honest advice: when in school, as anyplace else, you have to follow their rules. No need to go into their logic why, because it simply doesn't apply to him or 99.9% of all boys. As far as I'm concerned, a boy is after all a boy, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I wish Society could act mature enough to accept this.

All's Right With the World Again

photo uploaded by pdwroswell @ flickr

Yippee! It came in the mail today! Finally, finally, finally I got the newest DVD release from the Father Knows Best series after ordering a copy through eBay. I posted about this about a month ago, when I couldn't find it locally.

Just for your info, if you're not already aware, I've been a tad bit of a rabid fan of Father Knows Best since way back in high school. For instance, the poem that Bud is supposed to learn, called "The Game of Life" I've been reciting since, well, far too long according to some. Bud plays for the Springfield Peewees along with his pal, Claude Mesner. Kathy's scout troop is named the Little Squaws, and in the radio version of the series she had her own club called the Little Vultures. Kathy's also a bit of a tomboy and hangs around with Patty Davis. Did you also know that Betty's ponytail through most of the first three seasons wasn't actually real? Betty's co-conspirators are Dotty Snow and Janey Little. Mother Anderson is almost always seen at some point in each episode preparing a meal in the kitchen. And Father works for the very seldom mentioned Cavalier Insurance Company.

Speaking of way back when, I haven't seen reruns of the episodes from Season Four since CBN/Family Channel stopped running these... Excuse me, but I have to lounge in front of the television for the next couple of days to get reacquainted!

In the meantime, enjoy this full episode from Season One entitled "Typical Father"...

Arredoluce-Style Lightolier on eBay

Wow! Have a look at this beautiful 1940's Colorful 3 Cone Hanging Chandelier Sarfatti, all original condition. Bidding is still open for two more hours.

See it now on eBay

The Lure of the Pink Flamingo

Well, I really did it now. Today I went to Menards to get eight bags of landscaping rock for the rock garden...

... and I ended up buying a set of pink flamingos.

I don't know...

Its not that I have anything against pink flamingos personally. Its just that they kind have a reputation in our neighborhood, you know? Sort of a kitschy/trailer park/fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror/bordering precariously close to "in questionable taste" kind of rep. But despite all the bad press, there's a quality about them that irrationally appealed to and drew me in, despite myself.

But are plastic yard birds really all that bad??? Do they deserve to be affiliated with such a negative perception by my friends and neighbors? There must be something about pink flamingos which has merit if we look deep enough, beyond the bias. Indeed, my Grandma had a whole zoo of plastic critters decorating her yard. And I know for a fact that at some point she too succumbed to the lure of the pink flamingo (yes, I found the evidence - an empty box - in her attic one day). Surely they can not be all that bad if my own Grandma possessed one.


Maybe it was this fact, the historical family connection, which drew me over the edge. It made the maligned bird so irresistibly attractive to me in a wholesome, down-to-earth, God-fearing, red-blooded American sort of way. By golly, if they were good enough for Grandma, then pink plastic flamingos are good enough for me!

Now if only I can get the neighbors to see things my way...

Dear Mr. Knowitall... Help!

Today I woke to the morning sunshine, filled with vim and vigor, aka ambition. With it being my day off, I was determined to get things done around the old homestead. I decided I had enough with mild attempts... Yes, I decided to go on the offensive with the living room floor in our humble little home. No more Mister Nice Guy!

First every stick of furniture in the living room had to be squeezed into two bedrooms, and some went out the door to set in the backyard. Yes, I was going to get things done.

Next, since I was already expecting to scrub the wood floor within a inch of its life, I may as well mop the bathroom and kitchen as well. Why pass up killing two birds with one stone, right? So some of the kitchenette set went out the back door to join the others as well. It was starting to look like I really meant business now.

My brother, a.k.a. Brother Dear had suggested that a floor sander would take care of my floor situation. But for a while I've been doing a little bit of atomic research of my own for ways to remove stubborn water stains from wood floors... ever since the icky old carpeting was torn out last year. One idea is to use household vinegar, another is to use bleach, and if all else fails, try oxalic acid. Though I had my doubts, I chose to go with vinegar first, just to see what would happen.

After three applications, I discovered that the only result was that my house now smelled like a Subway sandwich restaurant.

"What did you do next" you ask? Not to worry, I shall tell all in due time.

I passed on the use of household bleach. Too risky, I thought. With my luck the floor would turn pale white. Not a very appealing image. So I trucked on down to the local Q.P. Hardware after having a Kids Meal lunch with my Junior at school, and picked up a small tub of oxalic acid crystals - a bleaching agent safe for treating stains without bleaching the natural color of the wood. Mind you, this stuff is poisonous so please treat it with utmost respect (eye protection, adequate ventilation, rubber gloves, etc...)!

The day was already half over. I dumped the crystals in a warm gallon of water and used the hard-working mop for application so I wouldn't have to handle the acid. And so I began mopping the wood. And mopped. And mopped. Scrubbing it repeatedly into those nasty stains. After four applications (waiting at least ten minutes between each) the floor was then gone over with a wash of plain water, applied three separate times to remove the acid.

The verdict: My wood floor did indeed lighten up, almost to the natural wood color. And a few discolored spots lightened right up. But (and there's always a "but") those mean old dark water stain rings lightened up only slightly. Definitely not enough that I'd dare think of refinishing anything yet.

Anyways, to cut a long story short... a thunderstorm moved in as the final wash was still drying. All our valuable goodies outside had to be rushed back inside as the rain drops started to fall. Now the furniture is almost all back in place. I haven't felt good all night (*gasp* oxalic acid poisoning??? Or maybe it was that second fast food cheeseburger for the day topped off by a treat at D.Q?) ...And Brother Dear still thinks I should have rented a floor sander.

Oh well...

Some days it just doesn't pay to be ambitious ;)

20th Century Colors Released

Thanks to Pam at Retro Renovation for getting the scoop on this one!
  
California Paints announces their new 20th Century Colors of America paints. According to the manufacturer "Color experts from Historic New England, working in partnership with California Paints, have analyzed every color in the collection to accurately record each color’s point of origin. This research allows us to offer authentic color documentation for each color in the collection."

This is big news for us homeowners struggling to match period correct colors through the painful process of researching old print ads... which may not be 100% accurate to start with.

The article continues, "Every color of the 20th Century Colors of America palette features its own biography. These color stories are unique and distinctive. Each story begins with the year of that color’s emergence in our collective color history. Using that as a guide, our color experts document how each color was used, in what settings, and list specific design elements that were often implemented with each color."

Here's some of what California Paints has to offer:

1940-1960 Mid-Century Modern colors

The post-World War II housing boom and the popularization of modern architecture brought bold colors in deep tones into popularity once again. Earth tones dominated exteriors, while interiors featured sophisticated, modulated neutral shades like bone, gray-beige, pearl gray, and taupe alongside saturated accents in fuchsia, teal, evergreen, charcoal, and chocolate with strong contrasts in chartreuse, tangerine, gold, and sulfur yellow.

From looking through the selection I immediately recognized the color Weatgrass as being used on the exterior of our home, with Modern White accents when I was a kid.

I'm excited! Finally a selection of paint colors that takes out the guesswork.

Going... Going... almost Gone on eBay

Mid Century Modern Entry Chest

Izzy Modern has such cool goodies to share. And they can be very tempting even if you're trying to live on a budget like your's truly.

Unusual European design with a decorative black glass top, contrasting blond and teak wood veneers and cool metal drawer pulls. Angled sides and legs add extra design punch. All original. Glass top with gold design of angled stripes. Sides are a wood tone veneer. Front is a yellow glaze over wood. Metal pulls. Black painted wood legs and Case is particle board with veneers.

Simple and unique.... all over MCM eye-candy.

Bah! Who cares about a budget!

Shop Izzy Modern Store on eBay.

Philco's retro PC references 1950s TV sets

Philco PC from Dave Schultze on Vimeo.

Yes my friends, it is all too good to be true! The new PC is more of a conceptual piece than a consumer ready product.

This is the Space Age

Behind the Curtains - Space Age Design
Looks like sombody stole one of the props from the Jetsons. I can see this working with a lot of futuristic mid-century settings.

Trackback Here!

A Classic Design Comes Back

The Aloha: Atomic Age Lighting offered on Rejuvenation.com.

Era: 1953-1963

The classic shape that breaks through the sound barrier and makes one clear statement: You have entered the Space Age.

This tremendously easy to shop site may eat up your free time. You can try online various finishes and positions for the lighting. There's plenty here to browse.