Readers, the next few weeks are going to be a bit tumultuous. My building is undergoing a major renovation of our heating/air conditioner system, and we have to vacate our apartment (during the day) for quite a few days this month (actually the work started on Friday).
Vacating the apartment isn't that big a deal but we can't leave the dogs when the workmen are here and there aren't that many places we can go with two chihuahuas. (Where my Mom lives you can't even visit with dogs.) We can hang out in the kitchen and bathroom if we must -- I'm in the kitchen now -- but it's not very comfortable given that it's also where we're storing a lot of the stuff we had to move out of the bedrooms and living room, and it can be noisy. At least I can blog from here but obviously I can't start a sewing project. We spent most of Friday at a neighbor's house and we've been taking very, very long dog walks to pass the time.
Fortunately for me, I have now twenty episodes of "Petticoat Junction" to distract myself with -- plus, of course, there's also the option of actually reading a book. Somehow amid the chaos it's easier to concentrate on DVDs. I hadn't ever seen these early black-and-white episodes from the first few seasons of "Petticoat Junction" (the show ran from 1963-1970) but they're very charming and funny and most of the actors are marvelous. The show changed radically when Bea Benederet, who plays the main character, the widow Kate Bradley, died, and the show never quite recovered from her absence. Obviously "Petticoat Junction" is an acquired taste but I'm thoroughly enjoying it, though I still can't keep track of which daughter is Bobbie Jo, Betty Jo and Billie Jo -- does it really matter?
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| Why couldn't they have named those girls Marcia, Jan, and Cindy? |
In other news, much to my surprise, there is tremendous interest in purple corduroy amongst many of you readers. I don't know how much of my bolt I'll end up using, but maybe I will try to divvy it up somehow. There's always MPB Day (Saturday, August 10)!
I think it's time to walk the dogs again before the thunderstorms start.
Have a great day, everybody!
(Was there ever a catchier TV theme song?)
Petticoat Junction was a different century, a different world.
ReplyDelete...look how radically different our TV programs are today. I much prefer the world of the Carol Burnett show, Cher, and Walter Cronkite.
Fifty-two yrs old here and I loved this show when I was a little kid. I remember my dad saying he thought it was "saccharin" and it was several years later that I figured out what that meant. I think what I really liked about the show was the hotel-it looked like a big old Victorian house-and the train. I don't think the show would hold up for me now but I find Green Acres even funnier now than I did as a child. Did you know the hospital was named Cedars of Pixly?
ReplyDeleteI could never get past the fact that the girls bathed in the town's water supply.
ReplyDeleteI think that might have been the water supply for the steam engines that were still used in the area. Drink up!
DeleteMy Tom, such a sensibility you possess.
DeleteIf it's any consolation we have the same type misery going on in the form of a remodel. Dh decided we could do all the painting not that I would mind but I now have some knee /back issues and the painting is working wonders with those. The garage and the whole house is full of stuff all over and the pets are stressed with it as well. It will be at least two weeks or more of chaos still to go. The plumber is dragging and hasn't ordered some of the stuff and the tile people are now busy for two weeks since the plumber doesn't have his act together. We are in the fourth week of house of horrors-no sewing here as I am overwhelmed with all the junk the closets and rooms have spewed forth and the endless painting. Guess I'll go hunt Petticoat Junction dvds if that helps during the insanity.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that you can't sew today. Have you considered taking up embroidery? I find it too be just as enjoyable as sewing and far more portable. I bring mine to school and work on it during break, you can also work on it outside, as long as it's not too windy.
ReplyDeleteHand sewing works too, as long as the piece you're working on isn't too big. If you don't have regular access to a sewing machine then it's time to practice hand finishing!
We're in the middle of earthquake repairs here, I've been living in my sewing room which has no room for anything other than handsewing and trying to concentrate on work and failing miserably. Hoping the painting will be finished this week, but that still leaves the floor laying, and a few other bits and bobs; plus I have to paint and plaster the laundry. I keep telling myself it will be worth it when it's finished and it does help, a little.
ReplyDeleteHa! I did love Petticoat Junction when I was a child along with Green Acres. They seem a bit silly now, but I can still enjoy them. They are certainly better than "reality shows"
ReplyDeleteOh well....a renovation would probably be good. Besides, you may need to take well deserved 'off days'. Hope the long dog walks will keep you and the dogs in great shape...I have a feeling a reorganization of the sewing room may be on the way as well... :)
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to visit Pixley and Bug Tussle.
ReplyDeleteFree Willy!
ReplyDeleteRenovating by choice is bad enough, being forcibly renovated must be very stressful. Hope all goes well and you are back at the sewing machine quickly!
ReplyDeleteI avoid watching old shows like Petticoat Junction because I know watching them now wouldn't be the same. I would think, "Why did I, or anyone, ever find this stuff entertaining?" It was never one of my favorite shows but it was fun and I'd rather just keep my memories.
ReplyDeleteI hope the renovating goes quickly! I can't sew much lately either, I have a newborn to kiss on ;) I remember watching those old shows on Nick at Nite when I was growing up! They are well before my time but just wonderful!! Green Acres was my favorite...Do you knit? I would pass the renovating time with reading Jane Austen and knitting...
ReplyDeleteWow, cornball at its best. As kids my brother and I changed the words. "There's a little outhouse called the Shady Rest at the junction..." I'm debating if I should go on with the potty humor. Okay here's part "And there's uncle Joe he's a poopin' kinda slow at the junction." Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteWasn't she related to Jed Clampett of Beverly Hillbillies in some fashion? Perhaps sister-in-law? Obviously, the folks at the the Shady Rest were much more well to do than the Clampetts...at least initially. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd hopefully, the heat/AC will be improved on the other side? And new paint colors perhaps? At least the patches will need to be painted.
ReplyDeleteI do believe Aunt Kate was related to Jed. And now if I could only remember which sister was which. I liked the one in the braids with the reddish (on black and white TV) hair.
ReplyDeleteHope the renovations go quickly!