So Come, Kiss Me Kate! - movie review

I had a spare evening and the house to myself so I decided it was high time I watched another 50s movie.  With PJs on, a cup of tea at hand and two cats in the lap, I slipped the DVD of 'Kiss Me Kate' into my computer.

After the usual loading screens I was greeted with a title screen for the movie - our lead character, played by Kathryn Grayson looking every bit like a pinup girl while being gleefully spanked by a devilish looking lead, Howard Keel.

My last movie review of 'On Moonlight Bay' included a spanking scene and before that, 'Pillow Talk' included a scene of the lead actress being manhandled.  I'm starting to pick up a theme here....

 

The story of 'Kiss Me Kate' revolves around a divorced couple Fred and Lilli who are thrown together again to act as the lead actors in a musical theater production of the 'Taming of the Shrew'.

If you've read/watched the play (or watched the excellent movie adaption starring Elizabeth Taylor), you'd know that two leads, Katherine and Petrucio, are pitted against each other - one aiming to tame, woo and keep his ferocious bride, the other, bitter, easily angered and determined to remain free from male domination.

With such two actors playing such two roles in such a play - what could possibly go wrong?

The answer to that is 'Lois and Bill, incorrect deliveries, dinner before acting, gangster thugs, a rancher and a whole lot of spanking'.

Come on!  You know you have to watch it now!

The whole movie was fun from start to finish.  All the characters are hammed a little but this doesn't detract from the movie at all because it doesn't try to be serious at any point.

As most of the movie is set on the stage, there aren't many scenes which showcase the actors in fashions of the day.   There is one or two scenes in which Kathryn Grayson wears a yellow housecoat which she makes look so chic.  I definitely need more housecoats in my life!  Also, keep your eyes peeled for the white, scalloped petticoat that Lois wears under her pretty dress during the 'Why Can't You Behave' dance number.

I think it's only fair to warn you now that this movie does involve men in tights...
 The music numbers are fun and not too long.  My favourite songs from the movie are 'Why Can't you Behave' and 'Brush Up on Your Shakespeare'.  I'm not terribly fond of tap dancing but those tap performances included were thankfully short and not too out of place.

Jack Handey wrote, in his book 'Deep Thoughts'.  "If you ever discover that what you're seeing is a play within a play, just slow down, take a deep breath, and old on for the ride of your life."

Indeed!

Apple Relish Recipe

Apple Relish (Mrs. H. Offner)
page 96

• 1 banana chilli (because I'm a great, big chilli wuss), cored and deseeded
• 500g green apples, peeled and cored
• 500g brown onions, peeled
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup castor sugar
• 3/4 tblspn salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• sterilised bottles or jars

Put the chilli, apple and onion through a food processor or mincer in batches.  Ensure that you get a good mix of the three ingredients in each batch.  Process until fine.  Add the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.  Bottle in sterilised jars.  Ensure that there is sufficient vinegar in each jar to cover the other ingredients and try to remove any air pockets.   Seal the jars and keep in a cool place.   It is good to use after two days.

This recipe turned out to be very cheap and quick to make.  It was also very economical, producing two jars full.  I don't forsee myself going through even one jar so I may have to give the other to my Mum. 

I would be very interested to see if using my food processor produced the same texture and consistency as using a mincer.  I do wonder if a mincer would create a more juicy mixture and make it hold together in a different way.   Really, the food processor just produce tiny sliced up bits of each of the vegetable ingredients.   I don't have a mincer of any kind at home so I made do with the food processor.

I ate the relish atop of pork sausages after the prescribed two days and enjoyed the flavour very much.  I haven't found any other way of using the relish as yet - if you have any ideas let me know!

Mrs H. Offner

In December 1932 a Mrs H. Offner attended a kindegarten college graduation ceremony - was this as a graduant or a parent/friend to a graduant?  The Courier Mail unfortunately didn't provide any details in the article.  

There were also a few reports of a Mrs H. Offner assisting in fundraising events on the Northside of Brisbane, including attendance (as a committee member of the R.S.S.I.L.A) of a Bridge Night at Nundah in August 1939 to raise funds for Kingshome and running the drinks and ice-cream stall at a Virginia Carnival to raise funds for the Australian Comforts Fund in September of 1941. 

In May 1940 a Mrs. H. Offner was the president in attendance at a fund raiser in Virginia to raise funds for the scouts and cubs' new hut.  Some of the attractions at the fete included 'Rides in a breeches buoy', 'fire-lighting by friction' and 'chariot races'.  

Thrifting in June #2 - and a few lessons I learned from the day.

Another weekend in June saw me getting up early to go to another garage sale which sounded promising.  Unfortunately, when there I found nothing that excited me except a small decorative jug - and I wasn't going to be rude enough to ask the seller to break a $50 note for a $1 purchase! 

 Lesson #1 - Have change!  Large notes are often unwelcome to the seller and might limit what you want to or can buy. 

The weather was unseasonably wet and I was feeling miserable as I drove back home.  En route, I spotted another garage sale and faced the wet once more to see what this one had to offer.

 I saw a little red transfer-ware decorative saucer with a hunting scene on it. It came with it's own hanging wires and was $4.

A dig through a box of linens produced two barkcloth curtains.  I wasn't sure if it was enough to make a short skirt from but for 50c I was willing to try.   I asked the lady running the sale if she had any sewing patterns.  She replied that she didn't but a few minutes later dug out a 1950s sewing manual which she sold to me for 50c. 

Lesson #2 - If you are after something in particular it pays to ask the seller.  The clutter at garage sales can sometimes hide that prized item.

My husband has a decanter with Brandy in it but we've been on the lookout for a nice and reasonably priced one with matching glasses for his whiskey.  I saw this decanter and glasses set for $35.  I asked the seller if they'd take $25 for it and they were happy enough to agree.

Lesson #3 - Don't be afraid to haggle on prices.  Often people just want to get rid of things and are flexible on price.  

I had better luck finding clothes and accessories at my next thrifting attempt.... but that's another post.

Winter Outfits - June '13

Between a bit of thrifting, a bit of sewing and a visit to Atomic Martini Vintage (one of Brisbane's best vintage stores for good quality vintage pieces) I had a lot of 'new' pieces to play with in my wardrobe over June.  Below are a few outfits I wore and managed to get photos of. 

Skirt: Handmade from a 40s Hollywood sewing pattern. 

Blouse: 50s Mustard scalloped shell top (Cassie's Corner)

Cardigan: SAS blue cardigan

Shoes: taupe Wittner peep-toe pumps

 

Skirt: Sage green pleated skirt with belt (Atomic Martini Vintage) 

Jacket and blouse: Lovers black work jacket, Target black blouse

Shoes:  Naturalizer t-bar heels

Accessories: Black opaque stockings, vintage green bangle (Remember When), navy and white polkadot scarf (thrifted), green headband.

Dress: Red and white cocktail sheath dress - Brisbane designer (Atomic Martini Vintage)

Jacket: Long red microfibre jacket

Shoes: Target black pumps

Accessories: Black Kate Hill handbag & string of pearls (gift)

Thrifting in June #1

In June I decided to try 'thrifting' to see what Brisbane had to offer at op shops (goodwill stores) and garage sales (yard sales).

The photos of my success below make it look like Brisbane is awash with thrifting goodness but the truth is that for every win I had there were also three visits to garage sales or op shops that ended in empty hands and wasted car fuel.

This first lot of goods below were bought from a garage sale in Cooperoo (South Brisbane).   The whole lot was $50.

I loved the sweet little 1940s hooks and eyes still with original packaging.  The coffee coloured lace is tatted - I haven't yet measured it to see how much there is but it looks to be about 3m.  The light blue sateen fabric will be made into a project sometime in the far off future (we all know what a slow-going seamstress I am!) but the white lace collar is finished and ready to wear immediately. 

I was sorely lacking a nice, medium sized crystal vase so I jumped at this one.  The little glass jar will join others in my bathroom to store some lavender for baths.  The pretty jasperware plaque (much lighter green than the processed photos makes it look) is already hung up in my downstairs hallway above a washstand.  The little embroidered doily was too pretty to pass on and the small cherry serving bowl took my fancy. So pretty!  I wonder if I can lace ribbon through the slits in it for a nice effect?

There was a soft sheepskin hat like a shaped beret, I think from the 60s. A floral bandeaux style half hat covered in blue and white flowers and ribbons took my attention and for $3 I couldn't say no.  But the real find was a sage green 1950s (60?) hat heavily decorated with flowers.  Both of the large hats were $5 each. *gasp*  

Sassy D has already poo-pooed the sheepskin hat and husband has said I look like Ivona Humpalot from Austin Powers when I wear it... but I love it.  The other accessories I bought were three scarves, a pair of gloves and a light green bag.

Who can say no to pretty 50s aprons?   Not me, especially when they are sheer blue with flocked polkadots on them. 

I spied a set of 1950s nylon Pajamas in lavender.  I spied a pretty pink bed jacket.  I spied a long slip.  And I spied a mint long sleeved, long nightie which would serve me well for cooler weather.  God bless my husband for putting up for my love of unattractive 'grandma' sleepwear! 

Last of my buys from that garage sale was a lot of linen.  There were three table cloths - a light blue damask one (top left), a pretty minty-blue barkcloth one with fruit and walnuts printed on it and a pink runner with lace inserts.   I also picked up a little mint napkin which I intend to embroidery as a placemat.  I also loved the traditional style tea-towel with red and white stripes as well as a funky 70s tea-towel and a quaint blue and white tea-towl... cute dutch girls and boys. Argh!

There was also an Edwardian era parasol that I bought but I seem to have deleted the photo I took of it and am feeling too lazy to take another one.  (I know! Bad blogger!)

It was a splendid buy and I don't know that I'll ever find another garage sale to match it's great value.

Ginger Cookies

Ginger Cookies (Mrs E. Miller)
page 11

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup crystallised ginger, chopped
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup cornflakes

Prepare two cookie sheets and pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees celcius. 
Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the egg and beat well.  stir in the preserved ginger and sifted flour.  Drop spoonfuls of the batter on the tray about 5cm apart.  Press cornflakes into the top of each biscuit. 
Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown. 
Let cool on trays for a few minutes before placing on cooling racks. 

Quick, simple to make and delicious to taste!  I enjoyed these biscuits so much that I made a second batch a few weeks later.  (Yes - I'm very behind in my blogging right now!)

The cookie texture is soft and crumbly but the addition of the cornflakes gives an excellent crunch.  The crystallised ginger gives all the flavour and it packs a punch!

Goodbye Google Reader

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6346971/?claim=8e4ckb3gfyp">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
Google Reader, used by so many to follow all the pretty and interesting blogs on the web,  has ceased to be as of today (1 July 2013).

What to do?  How can you keep up with all of those blogs easily in one spot? 

Well - you could sign up to bloglovin' and follow blogs (maybe including my own! - hint hint!). 

Or Feedly , which I'm using and loving almost as much as I did Google Reader. I like the different options for viewing new entries and the easy way to categorise blogs.

Is anyone else using other feed readers in replacement of Google Reader other than these two options?  I'd love to hear about any others which are worth a view.