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Just a few minutes for afternoon tea

Ever have one of those days when the day just gets away from you and before you know it it’s over?

Yeah, I feel like I hit the ground running. That was me today.

By the time I decided I really needed a cup of tea it was already after 4pm and I had to run out again in an hour.

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But I did sit down for 30 minutes with my cup of tea and some vintage magazines.

Recently I found several absolutely brilliant 1964 to 1966 Mechanix Illustrated and Popular Mechanics magazines. Inside are directions for all sorts of projects.

I’m intrigued with this self feeder. I want to build it and bring partridges and quails and pheasants to my garden. Wouldn’t that be a glorious sight in the winter snow? (maybe not so much in Vancouver though ๐Ÿ™ )

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Yesterday I brought in some garden asters in white, pink and purple colours. I love asters and wish I had some better success with them. At the moment, there is some sort of something living in them which is eating them. I think it’s a caterpillar because there is frass underneath.

My father’s brother is one of the foremost lepidopterists in England and has published several things including a definite book on British moths. I remember my father telling me stories of David walking outside and examining the front hedge, coming back inside, picking up his father’s walking stick, walking back outside and trashing the hedge to collect a few chrysalis and leaving the hedge completely decimated, while his father looked on in complete shock. Lol.

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The little cup I chose for myself is this happy Ainsley cup with pink asters on it.

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I sipped my Earl Gray and examined the green monster racer that I can build after I build the bird feeder.

These mags are great!

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Next I explored the possibility of a two man sub. Wonder if I could build one of those? Wouldn’t that be so cool? I could just say, “I’ll be underwater if anyone wants me.” Talk about peace at last. ๐Ÿ™‚

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This next article was something. This is a way to make logs burn with colourful flames by submerging them in all sorts of different chemicals. Whoa Nellie, I don’t think so.

My vintage gardening magazines and books are even worse. Do you know the pesticide spray guns used to be commonly called widow makers?

Amazing the things we used to do without thinking about how many ways those things would kill us.

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So no coloured flames for me this autumn, but it’s still lovely and warm outside and I’m having a little break with my asters and tea and thinking that, if the weather is this lovely tomorrow, I’ll go for a swim in the ocean one last time this summer.

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And I’ve got the perfect thing for that…lol!

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Linking ever so late with Teri and Martha and Sandi and Bernideen.

Comments: 29

  • September 10, 2013
    reply

    OKAY ! This is a fantastically creative blog. I have other ways to produce flotation . Brea told me how to produce the colored fonts responses but I lost it. Please do share??? ?

    Might have to re-blog this ….

  • Bill

    September 10, 2013
    reply

    That’s the great thing about woodworking … after spending thousands of dollars on tools a person can easily build a $25. bird feeder.

  • September 10, 2013
    reply

    elle est vraiment trรจs belle cette tasse et donne envie de dรฉguster un bon thรฉ avec une dรฉlicieuse pรขtisserie
    bises

  • Lavender Cottage

    September 11, 2013
    reply

    I haven’t looked at either of those magazines for eons. The bird feeder looks like a good project, the flotation method is hilarious.
    Judith

  • Christie

    September 11, 2013
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    Thanks for sharing all those vintage articles and for the huge laugh I got with the last one! It is amazing all the things we used to do that could have killed us. “Widow maker” indeed! I wonder what things we do now that people will look back on in 50 years and just shake their heads.

  • September 11, 2013
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    oh that pneu-kini rocks, its hard to believe it didnt get a strong following ….

  • September 11, 2013
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    Hi Veronica,
    What a lovely teacup and I like the image of the light shining through it, so pretty! One of those feeders would work really well here in the wintertime but unfortunately, I didn’t inherit my father’s carpentery skills. And Hubby isn’t gifted that way either. Some of the articles are hilarious. Thank you for coming to tea this week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

  • September 11, 2013
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    Hi Veronica. I could use one of those and not for floating either!! Fun magazines. What were they thinking back then?? Love the asters and the teacup..Happy Wednesday..Judy

  • September 11, 2013
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    That swimming top is too funny! Your teacup is so pretty and so perfect for this time of year. I love bird houses, too! It looks like a fun project.
    Nancy

  • September 12, 2013
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    You have brought laughter to all of us – especially the inflatable bikini! Very fun post!

  • September 13, 2013
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    Veronica, you make me laugh! lol! I enjoyed your post very much. I too know how fast a day can go. And, I remember looking at those books as a child as they would have been new then. I Love the bird feeder, but don’t think I want to go in a sub or burn chemical soaked logs! lol! We really didn’t know what we were doing then.
    The bathing suit that blows up is absolutely hilarious! Thank you so much for sharing! I am glad you did get a chance for a cup of tea and a good read.
    Hugs,
    Terri

  • September 13, 2013
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    omg that bikini top is over the top awesome. wow wow wow. need me one and must search eBay frantically. thanks for popping by. i’m doing very well and keeping busy which is always an antidote for the blues! hope this finds you well.

    smiles.

    michele

  • September 14, 2013
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    I vote for the that bikini top! I think they could also save your life if you fell over a boat! ๐Ÿ™‚ Hugs, Martha

  • September 16, 2013
    reply

    That tea cup takes a 4 pm break to a high art form. Lovely lovely lovely!

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