"My mind sees that I am nothing, my heart sees that I am everything, between these two poles my life unfolds."

Friday, May 25, 2012

It's Coming Up Dandelions!



On the Monday of this past long-weekend, I visited a couple of local antique malls. The lilacs are finally in bloom and I'm sure you can imagine how heavenly the scent was at this pretty spot outside Rocky Mountain Antiques. We had beautiful weather over the weekend, and then thankfully received some much needed rain all day Tuesday and Wednesday - things are really going to green up here now :)

While in New Zealand, I met the sweetest, older Hungarian lady (somewhere in her early 80's) at a second-hand establishment. She was wearing a winter coat (it was +14C!) and remarked to me how chilly it was - they're just heading into their winter season and I actually noticed quite a number of people sporting jackets I'd wear here at -14C. Turned out she was the store owner and had emigrated to NZ some 38 years ago. When I mentioned I was from Canada, we both had a chuckle - Canadians and Hungarians know cold, but after 38 years she's understandably become accustomed to a much warmer climate.


Speaking of cold, I thought this was a real blast from the past. 


It initially looked very 70'ish to me, but turns out it's a product of the 50's.
I found an ad for it on the net, in the Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Washington) 1954.

Thanks to all that rain, the dandelions are now out in full force!


Have a great weekend - more trip pics next week.


28 comments:

  1. Love your new cover picture, Jane. I think you must have benn very sorry to leave such a lovely place. And I identified that tin as being from the 50s as soon as I saw it although I was unfamiliar with the product. It is decorated in the tacky style of the era. Ha ha. Love your dandilions too!

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    1. Thanks Francie, I've discovered that the new template I'm currently using Is perfect for uploading header pics right off my system - I could never seem to get them centered properly before. Yes, I was sorry to leave, back to reality, lol!

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  2. Great header photo, Jane! I have to laugh with Francie's comment about the tacky style of the 50s era -- that is so true. I was just thinking how easily I can become accustomed to a much warmer climate; I'd have no trouble with that :) Our dandelions are pretty much done blooming but they've all gone to seed now -- most of them on our lawn...ha ha...

    Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Martha, Thanks, but as I was explaining to Francie, I can use pretty much any pic now, so I've already changed it from Friday's post! When I was expecting my first child, we lived across the street from a Ukranian lady (again, in her 80's) who had me over a number of times that spring for greens (which included dandelion leaves) and others she'd picked in her yard and fried up with onion, garlic and butter. Her concoctions were actually very good! Maybe we should all be eating them - at least they'd serve a purpose then.

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    2. Just remembered - she served up fiddleheads as well.

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  3. Yep, I'd say 14 is cold, and we never use a - sign in front of our daytime temps!

    Love your cover pic and those lilacs look beautiful...I've never had any luck growing them :(

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    1. Haha, the fact that you never use a - sign for daytime temps gave me a good laugh! You don't know what you're missing :) I have two small miniature purple lilac bushes that are just coming into bloom - they are zoned for our harsh climate.

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  4. There's just something so jaunty about seagulls!

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  5. I'll say the dandelions are everywhere! I've been picking off the flowers almost everyday, except when it rained. I do parts of the neighbors' yards too because I'm trying to keep more from growing on my lawn. I dig them out too--it's an ongoing battle! I knew that Kand-ice was from the 50's right away--the color and the presentation. I wouldn't say things from the 50's were tacky, the 70's yes!! LOL! I have lots of magazines from the 40's and the 50's and they are so interesting!

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    1. As I was telling Martha, we should all quit complaining and start eating them, lol!! Free food! I'll bet those magazines are VERY interesting - you should post some exerpts.

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  6. Glorious header photo, the sunlight is beautiful. Is that little Emma in the dandelions? Cutie pie.

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    1. Thanks Dorothy :) Yes, that's the little Diva herself, ha!

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  7. Zdjęcie tytułowe jest wspaniałe. U nas już bzy przekwitają i miło było popatrzeć na jeszcze pięknie kwitnące. Jak ktoś żyję w ciepłym kraju, to dla niego + 14 stopni, to zimno. Ciekawe w co by się ubrał przy temperaturze - 14 stopni. Pozdrawiam.
    Photo of the title is great. We have lilacs przekwitają and it was nice to look at the still blooming beautifully. As someone who live in a warm country, it is for him + 14 degrees, the cold. I wonder what would be dressed at a temperature of - 14 degrees. Yours.

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    1. Thanks Giga! -14 is quite comfortable, provided you're dressed properly - I've gone for many walks in -20 & colder and enjoyed myself (that's provided there's no wind)

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  8. I get strange looks in Florida too. I run around in a tshirt in when the weather is in the 60s and all the born Florians have on jackets. After being here for some 15 years I still have that warm blood in me.

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    1. Lol, I've said many a time that I'd love to see the look on the face of someone from a much warmer climate, if they were suddenly transported to our winter conditions - we'd dress them up real good and send them outside... haha!

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  9. I loved reading this...I love little old Hungarian ladies!!!

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    1. Those old eastern-bloc ladies have a lot of wisdom and they tend to be quite feisty to a good old ripe age :)

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  10. The seagulls at the top look like they are having a confidential gossip!
    Lots of dandelions together look pretty, I just don't want them on my lawn, lol.

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    1. They do look quite striking en masse... in someone else's yard :)

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  11. Jane, your header photo looks like a "picture postcard"...sooo beautiful. I do want to pin this on Pinterest!
    Loved reading your post, stories, are so cute...and the one about the elderly Hungarian lady! You would have loved my dear Hungarian aunt, who passed away some 12 yrs ago, in her mid eighties. She was such a gem, with all her stories from Hungary, and her cooking and baking was superb!

    Love your adorable little pup, which also would love to pin on Pinterest!
    Thank you so much for you comforting, and kind words on my blog...I left a reply there for you, as well!
    Hugs,

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    1. Hi Elisabeth, Thank you and I would be tickled if you pinned my pics - you are always free to anytime. I've since changed my header, hopefully you've already copied it, if not let me know and I'll forward it to you via email. I can only imagine what an interesting lady your aunt was. I have met a few women over the years, much as you describe her and they are unforgettable - they're a wealth of knowledge. I trust your hand is healing up xx

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  12. The header photo is so beautiful. The golden colour on the water deposited by the early morning sun looks like liquid gold. I can see quite a few people enjoying the early morning on the warf across the way.

    Yeah, Kand-Ice, I'd like to see that.....even the name is corny!

    Older European women are always so interesting I have found. They have lots of wisdom to share.

    Great post Jane, give a little hug to Emma for me.

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  13. Thank you and thanks for stopping by - I will pop by your way for a visit soon :)

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  14. Hi Lorene, Thank you :) Quite a few people were fishing across the way - they were up early, as that pic was taken at 6:45 am. I will definitely give Emma her hug as soon as I sign off xx

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  15. Hello Jane,
    Where I live we wear coats on a 16degC day, because of this I find it hard to comprehend how it would feel for me when it's -20C up your way :)

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    1. Like everything, I guess it's all what you get used to :) I'm sure I'd find your summer temps positively stifling.

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