Kafkas The Trial aka The Process aka Der Prozess

I love reading Kafka. This book always gets to me at the end where he is very unceremoniously walked off to the quarry to be executed. This book is absurd, metaphorical, and at times makes complete sense. I sometimes feel like things are beyond my control but my individual choices determine what happened to me in my life. And in The Trial that's not necessarily true. You have an unidentified authority, the government, who is telling you what you can cannot do and who you may or may not interact with. The government is completely unfair they do not have to explain themselves and they have complete control over your entire life. It's extremely frustrating that an outside entity makes decisions for us. As absurd as this book may seem if we really step back and look at history after this book was published and look at currently what's going on in the world we can see where we have freedom of choice in our life to an extent and we are completely controlled by our government. There are times where it's very scary but very true where we have no control whatsoever. I feel like this is an ongoing theme in this book that Kafka is trying to tell us how we semi control our lives but really don't. As in dreams or dream sequences we feel like we can control it but maybe we can or cannot it depends upon what is ultimately controlling us our subconscious, our egos, our fears, our wants, needs, aspirations...

Long time no see

So sorry my dears! I have been running, in heels, for months straight. I have been performing almost on a weekly basis. The burlesque world beckons me and I cannot turn down an opportunity to be on that stage. I'll admit I'm a sucker for the limelight! Also I have been preparing for Viva Las Vegas 14! The worlds largest rockabilly weekender. Benny & I will be in Vegas the 21st-24th. Ben's hot rod is in the car show. I will performing with our friends amazing band: The Twang shifters, we have friends getting married & we are both competing in the vintage swimsuit competition. Its going to be a whirlwind vacation.

I will have lots to tell you when we return. Maybe I can actually focus on writing on a consistent basis! Till next time hep cats & cool chicks

XOXOBettie

Oh my

I have completely lost track of time! I have so many things going on I feel like my lil ol head is about to spin off my shoulders! I recently acquired an amazingly gorgeous dress! A 1940's rayon blend in plum. It has a lot of issues and needs some massive overhauling but I love it! I recently wore it to LiveArt PDX!!
I also attended an amazing garage sale the other day where I bought a cute red/white striped 50's dress. I wore it with a red cardigan with pearl buttons to swing lessons with Drew & Chel. A late 50's house dress with a purple/gray hue is also a find from the same sale. Not sure what I'll pair it with but is cute! I seem to be really into gray and purple right now. I always have loved purple but this new obsession with gray has leg to new heights. Gray pegged slacks and a gray ruched tank. That has led to a new navy obsession to compliment the gray. Pics coming soon! Sorry I am so slacking! I also have new performance pics to post plus musings over the trip to vegas!

Holiday Hop at The Woods

The week of Christmas we attended the Holiday Hop hosted by our friend Alicia Carroll also known as DJ AM GOLD. She only plays vintage 45's,

 old rockabilly and country  music! 

 The Woods was built circa 1929 and was home to Sellwoods crematorium. This amazing vintage funeral parlour was a delight to visit. 6637 17th Avenue Sellwood, Oregon. 

Ben entering The Woods

Inside we were met by antique typewriter holding the food/bar menu

I really enjoyed the birdcage tip jar on the bar, very unique & creative. 

The ceiling on the dance floor was adorned with 30's art deco lamps. 

 I must find these lamps for my own home! They are so gorgeous and a must have!!

Beautiful 50's lampshade adorns the steps up to the mortuary office.
A giggling skeleton blocks the entrance to the office.

I love this victorian mourning couch. It is in a sad state of disrepair but still calls to me. 

Beautiful christmas next to the mourning couch in front of a beautiful cabinet and 30's radio. Blocking the doorway to somewhere mysterious... 

This creepy gent kept watch over the back hallway and gurney elevator. Hung above and old transistor radio with mourning chair next to it. He gave me the willies. 

The first band was Boy and Bean. I love their adorable 20's-40's ensemble

 We swung the night away to Chris Olson & his High Flyers. 

It was sadly our friend Kenny's last show

 Kenny is moving on to Texas. We will miss him dearly. 

But wish him the best of luck down south!

Hiccup Kenny & The Bullets! Can't wait to hear what he comes up with in Texas!!

Ben & I dancing our socks off. Until next time! Stay Snazzy Jazzy & Razmatazzy!

xoxo Bettie

The Holiday Season

 Wow this holiday season sure took me over! We had so many events to attend and so much work to do in preparation for the big day! 

Here is a small highlight of a few activities!

 First we had breakfast with Santa Clause at The historic Bridgeport Village in Tualitin, Oregon! It was a blast I think Ava thoroughly enjoyed herself! 

This is the roof of the warming station in Bridgeport Village

 Next it was time to cut down our christmas tree. This we did about 2 weeks before Christmas day! I enjoy the holiday but don't feel it's appropriate to spend 3 months preparing/decorating for it. My mother grew up the youngest of 12 children born in 1950 they didn't have a tree until Christmas morning because Santa brings it!

 Our tree was complete with vintage tree skirt & Bens vintage Lionel train that was his uncle's as a little boy in the 50's. 

  Below you can see me throughly enjoying Christmas Eve at Ben's 

Aunt Dolores & Uncle Wayne's home in Vancouver! 

 Lil miss did get a visit from Santa Clause on Christmas Eve. This is Dave (Ben's Dad) dressed up in his father's Santa Clause suit from the late 40's early 50's. 

Dave was born in 1949.

 Last but not least we drove to Portland International Raceway and attended Winter Wonderland! The largest light display west of the Mississippi! 

 

 I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and the 

New Year finds you in good health & high spirits!

xoxo Bettie

The holiday Season is upon us

I don't Christmas shop at the mall! In fact I never even go to the mall! I don't shop in big box stores either. That means no Walmart, Target, Kmart basically nothing with the word mart in the title or a store that is not a locally run business. Therefore I introduce to you The Carriage House. 

Located in Old Aurora Colony.

Nearly 600 people, almost all German and Swiss emigrants, 

established and lived in the Aurora Colony, a Christian communal society, from 1856 to 1883. 

The Carriage House is now privately owned but opens to the public a few times a year for craft fairs and holiday sales. Linda(Ben's mother), Ava(my daughter) & I started our Christmas shopping here. 

 The stables. This mare was very friendly she allowed me to take many pictures of her.

This antique Lawn Jockey greeted us at the circular drive to the Carriage House with an information packet about his origins in hand.

The black "lawn jockey" was an important signal on the road to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

At the time of Washington's crossing of the Delaware, a 12 year old African American Joque Graves was at camp, a groomsman for Washington. He wanted to make the crossing with the army; however, Washington, aware of the danger, ordered him to stay on the Pennsylvania shore, and shine a light, so upon return the company would know where to come to retrieve their horses. After the surprise attack on the Trenton barracks, Washington returned to find Joque had frozen to death, guarding the horses, the lantern still ablaze and frozen in his hand. Moved by the boys devotion, Washington commissioned a statue, 'The Faithful Groomsman', to stand in honor of Graves at the General's estate at Mount Vernon. It is ironic that this statue, commissioned and made popular by slave owning Washington, would eventually become a beacon for freedom for runaway slaves. With spies and bounty hunters everywhere, even safe houses were not always safe. It became necessary to be able to convey, in a low-key fashion, what condition any Underground Railroad stop was in at any given time. The answer was the 'lawn jockey', painted to wear a red cap. If a safe house was 'safe', and prepared to accept visitors, a lantern or an American flag would be placed in the forward reaching hand. If the house was under scrutiny or compromised, the lantern or flag would be removed, signaling the travelers to move to another house down the line. Further south, along the Mississippi, green and red ribbons tied to the statues arm - whether clandestinely or with the owner's knowledge - attested to the status of the owners of the house: red ribbons alerting danger, green ribbon announcing safety

 

The Carriage house had many gorgeous features outdoors & in. The architecture was amazing and the astethic of horse culture was profound. Love this triangle. Curious as to what is for since it so far from the house. Maybe a dinner bell for the horses to return to the stable?

 

The side door to the garage has this fun accent the door lock is an upsidedown heart. 

I also fell in love with the bell turn crank. The outside of the door has a hand turn crank that the guest winds it up & then it rings the bell!

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Now on to the festivities!! There were so many christmas trees! I have featured a few of my favorites here. There were literally 12 in the garage alone!

Above you'll see the Gold Tree with golden bird cages, giant swirling noels & a few silver baubles.

Below an all pink tree adorned in ballet slippers, ballerinas & 

pink marabou puff ornaments!

 

 

This is the Irish tree my favorite! There were many an ornament all ready bought off this tree so in this picture its a bit spare! But it was quite a sight for my wee Irish eyes!!

The red & white Christmas trees were immaculately gorgeous as well. I really love the monochrome tananbaum look!!

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 My little miss peering into a Victorian cone ornament. "What's inside mama?"

This beautiful Edwardian cabinet was covered in Christmas decor. Ava & I peered inside to authenticate it and to find a NSF sticker of course! :(

 

 This handsome Scotsman was our greeter. He allowed me to take a picture when we left. He reminded me of my Grandpa Bobby and he thanked me and said he would take it as a compliment comparing Irishmen to Scotsmen is alright in his book! "A Celts a Celt!" he said! 

Thank you for taking your time to gander at my pictures! More Holiday shenanigans to come. 

XOXO BB

Thanksgiving at Heidenrich Century Farm

We spent the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving at a 100 year old century farm outside Milton-Freewater, Ore.

 This is the house circa 1913

 and this is the house now in 2010! We had -3 degree weather and lots of lovely snow for Thanksgiving! Along with 35 family members & friends!

 Above is the blacksmith shop now & circa 1904. 

 Acceptance of Workmen's compensation law signed in 1932! In pencil!!

 Antique oven & pie safe inside the blacksmith shop!

 Phyllis & Louies parents! 

Louies mom to the left is sooooo adorable! 

Look at that pose in her amazing 

edwardian sailor suit & hat!

  Phyllis & Louie on their wedding day! Circa 1949 if I remember correctly

 Gorgeous artwork in our room! Below the vanity and antique timepiece. 

 In short the week was lovely. The house was amazing and now I have many a great idea for blogging and for the home I wish to own someday! Preferably a bit older than this! Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving! xoxoBB