Out of the Ashes Sewing: McCall's 6515 Fashion Diva's Smocked Hats 1962

Only a high of 77 today - what a great break in the weather for us. Our blood is so thin I'm actually wearing a sweater.

Keep an eye out for the Thanksgiving holiday sale that I will start probably on that Thanksgiving day or the evening before. I am committed to reducing my inventory to be at about 4000 so almost 3000 patterns will be deleted or relisted at a reduced price. Every day I check to see what old listings haven't sold and decide what will stay and what will go. Anything I already have a picture of I will list so not to waste all the time and effort it took me to do the work but I will only be buying the more scarce and collectible patterns from now on. The more I can stay off the keyboard the easier on my hands.

Do you have any special dishes that you make for Thanksgiving? Our family tradition always includes creamed pearl onions. I added the use of feta or goat cheese to enrich the white sauce and it has become an even bigger hit in the family. Also - my brandied cranberries. OMG have you seen the price of cranberries??? Well of course the prices of everything has skyrocketed. I bought some extra bags of cranberries and have dehydrated them. They are handy to have on hand when making breads or adding to cereal. Crossing my fingers that they go on sale so I can stock up my cubbard - which reminds me I need to get more mason jars.

I've been making my own yogurt lately and though it's a bit of work it's so worth the effort. So rich and creamy. Once it's made I drain a can of mandarin oranges, squeeze the juice out (to keep the yogurt richer), add a banana and a little sugar, and some vanilla, and a few tablespoons of lime juice, blend until smooth and then freeze in small containers for my evening snack or even breakfast. I've made all kinds of flavors but this is my favorite.

Also made a batch of mascarpone cheese that is so rich I want to wear pearls while tasting it. The mascarpone chicken last night will make a wonderful leftover dinner tonight. On Tuesdays we have Bible study so cooking is a hassle. I made some blueberry ice cream and some lemon bread for snacks for the study group.

A couple of big winners today to put in:

McCall's 6515 Fashion Diva's Smocked Hats 1962 the style so very reminescent of Jackie Kennedy's "Pillbox" look. A rare unused pattern. Hats don't seem to be in style like they used to be which is a shame.

Mail Order 2886 Sexy Summer Dress / Early 1950's - don't you wish you had seen this before cool weather set in? Well you have all winter to find the right fabric if you snatch it up now. It comes to you Factory Folded. Neat little button shoulder and side buttons too. Maybe more important than the fabric would be the buttons ....