Thank You, Dad

This morning there is a trend going on....Thank You Dad. 

Fifteen years ago I lost my dad to heart disease and diabetes. I often think of the things he taught me and his influence on my life. 
He wasn't a perfect man but he was my hero....even if I would have argued the point in my teen years....I was such a shit. 

Thank you, Dad.

Thank you for teaching me to put jelly on my peanut butter sandwich to keep it from getting stuck on the roof of my mouth. 

Thank you for showing me the proper way to eat pizza....fold it first. No fork necessary because that's how us New Yorkers do it. 

Thank you for teaching me about my faith, for teaching me about not mixing milk with meat, that catfish don't have scales, and giving me my love of it. You were awesome when you stuck up for us when someone tried to give us milk to drink with a roast beef dinner. You stood taller than your six feet that day. I was so proud to be your daughter. 

Thank you for my "let's do it" attitude. When there was no synagogue at Floyd Bennett Field NAS you got approval to build one there...in addition to your own duties. So many people pitched in, even us kids. I beamed with pride when it was dedicated. One man's dream can be powerful.

Thank you for my love of country. You spent 20+ years in the Navy. You did it well. As the son of immigrants you believed in serving the country that provided a great way of life and allowed dreams and visions to become reality. 
I am proud to be a Navy brat and the daughter of a veteran. This is a great country and I am proud to live here.

Thank you for telling me I am smart and could do whatever I wanted to do...that I had it in me. You thought it was OK for me to love to read and gently scolded me for reading instead of paying attention in my less interesting classes. "Put the book away even if you are in the middle of the page." You didn't think I was weird when I would read the encyclopedia. 

Thank you for telling me I had the right to get angry, that my anger was valid....and thank you for telling me to forgive or that same anger would eat me up and ruin my marriage. We are still married. You didn't pick him for me but for the first time you approved of someone. 

Thank you for teaching me good manners....and to say Please, Thank you, and Excuse me. I taught those words to my daughter and she taught them to her children. Your legacy lives on.

Thank you for teaching me to set the table with proper placement for silverware and napkins. Comes in handy when I eat at nice places. The napkin goes in my lap.

Thank you for enforcing dinner time at the dinner table and encouraging conversation there. My husband and I still eat dinner at the table and save things to discuss over dinner. It brings us closer together.

Thank you for teaching me geometry....how an angle stays the same regardless of how large the triangle is..and how it is necessary for carpentry when school math had no practical purpose. I found out that algebra has a practical purpose, too...in nursing. 

Thank you for showing me that family comes first...that sometimes you have to sacrifice for your children, that working to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads is more important than getting your dirty or lack of sleep....that honest work is a blessing regardless of whether it is cleaning toilets or working at the top. 

Thank you for teaching me forgiveness....for accepting my "I'm sorry" when I was 18 for being such a shit when you first came home from Nam. You hugged me and told me it was OK and part of growing up....my growing up.  

So, thank you, Dad. You are still missed and thought of often. You might not have been perfect but you were perfect for me. 


Post by Eileen Patterson.....GoofingOff

Sewing Patterns: SummerTime Fun

I love summer....the food, the activities, and....the clothes. I love halters, shorts, sleeveless tops...Absolutely LOVE Them, so imagine me jumping up and down when I found these honeys at an estate sale. OK, no jumping up and down...at least not until I got home and didn't have an audience, other than very confused looked dogs and hubby. 

Simplicity Primer 1118 size 16, bust 34 inches, from  1955. Featured in Simplicity Printed Patterns, June, 1955

Simplicity 4728 Size Large, Chest 42-44 inches COMPLETE

This cutie is from the early 1960's.

A fast-sewing JIFFY pattern from Simplicity. I LOVE Jiffy patterns. I think I learned how to sew with them.

Simplicity 6900

Simplicity 6807 from 1974 UNCUT in size Juniors 9/10

Simplicity 8483 from 1975 in size 8 UNCUT

Simplicity 7008 from 1975 in size 6 & 8 (all in one pattern) 

Simplicity 9408 Hip Huggers and Halter Top from 1975 in size 12. COMPLETE

 AND, Saving the best for last........

Simplicity 6358 UNCUT in size 10 UNCUT

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is Goofing Off and loving the summer. Woo Hoo!

Grooming the Poodle Posse

This weekend marks the start of summer, maybe not officially but Memorial Day weekend means grilling, beaching, and taking out those white shoes you stashed away during the winter. In my world of sewing patterns and fabric, Memorial Day weekend doesn’t mean eating a burger out by the pool. It means my dog groomer went on vacation and might be gone for six, count them, six weeks. That also means leaving my redneck, digging in the dirt, looking for frog poodles still need haircuts and baths. After being attacked by blood thirsty fleas, having poodle wool up my nose, and re-cleaning the bathroom, they are somewhat presentable. Not as good as Miss Shirley (she is truly gifted with clippers) but at least there are no more mats, a few less fleas (where’s the Advantage?), and one less tick (EWWWW!) to attack the posse….that is until they go frogging again.

Fred and Annie. Salty ’s sitting on the porch swing.

Don’t forget to check out the Judaic fabrics listed. There’s new ones. Lots more patterns for sewing, knitting, and crochet, too.

 

You could crochet or knit a blanket while at the pool. Pick out an easy one and knock it out over a weekend. Fun and a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

 

Oh, and here’s an idea for Father’s Day…..a vintage fishing lure key chain from MetalWoodsnWater.

Have a great weekend and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks 5.27.11 Getting Ready for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is a few weeks away. What a good day to show the men in our lives how much we appreciate them. In my case, the hubby is a creative soul re-doing an old motorcycle, showing me the paint job with awesome orange undertones and metal flecks (I can’t paint with a spray can…. I so appreciate a person who paints well) yet still has time to cook supper when I work and do his own laundry.  I thought it would be a good idea to look at things for the men in our lives on Etsy and allow for shipping time.  As always, poll is on the top left corner. You pick who wins the interview next so don’t forget to vote.

NYC Subway Token Vintage 1953 NY Transit Cufflinks (SB) by Subway Cufflinks 

OK, I am a little biased due to the fact of my birth but these are still very cool. They also satisfy the vintage part of me.

Me and My Daddy... Your Child's Artwork on a Fine Silver Keychain...Made to Order by Metalmorphis 

A great way to keep that special artwork forever.

Old English Signet Ring by Christienano

A single initial done strong and masculine.

Recycled Bicycle Chain Cufflinks by Bicycle Recycled

Wear your passion!

Bass Bath Soap Set of Two by MosoSoap

Wonderful idea for the fisherman (who eats, drinks, and breathes fishing).

Nautical Gentleman’s Cowl with Hand Painted Buttons by Gypseatree

Classy look, don’t you think, with a hand made touch.

Recycled 3pk Bottle Cap Fishing Lure by Luregasmic

Awesome way to recycle, and catch dinner. Be ready to hear about the one that got away.

Leather Cord Eyeglass Necklace Chain Holder by Eye Wear Glamour

Keep those sunglasses from falling in the water (or off the back of his neck).  Hubby approved.

OK, there’s the eight. What do you think? Did I do good? There are so many awesome things on Etsy it’s hard to pick only eight but here’s mine. Don’t forget to vote.

When you get the chance, take a look our shops, GoofingOff Etsy and Goofing Off Artfire for authentic vintage sewing patterns and sewing supplies, Miss Eileen for vintage house wares and vintage fashions, and MetalWoodsnWater etsy or MetalWoodsnWater Artfire for cool men’s gifts and bones (yes, bones).