Nekkid Men, Vintage Lingerie, and The Grim Reaper

Did I get your attention?

Second things first. 

Two weeks ago, we had Alida's wedding gown hanging in the parlor,

where it could stretch out in solitary splendor, covered by sheets.

Now, another fluffy white garment is temporarily hanging on the same breakfront.

Remember peignoirs?

This is the peignoir set that my mother gave to me at my bridal shower,

back in covered wagon days.  So, yes, it is very vintage.

There's a slinky nightgown under a robe of lace and layers of chiffon.

I had thought of giving this to my daughter at her shower, but honestly?

I didn't know where it was!  Instead, I gave her a new peignoir set.

"Ma!  Don't put this on the blog!"  "Oh, of course not, honey."  Now don't tell me you don't lie to your kids.

My mother walked miles through the department stores, unhappy with what she thought were second-rate peignoir sets.  Striking out at her favorite Abraham & Straus, she got my set at Lord & Taylor.  Coincidentally, Lord & Taylor is where I bought Alida's set.  But I surfed miles online to find it.  Much easier on feet and fuel.

Mama also gave me a pair of white satin Daniel Green mules with big puffs of maribou feathers on the vamp.

I don't have them anymore; they wore out.

And speaking of things that wear out . . . 

third things next!

This past weekend Howard insisted on ditching the wedding flower

arrangements that were scattered all over the house.

Remember reading Great Expectations in school?  We were well on our way

to having Miss Havisham's flowers.  Not A Good Thing.

So, to my dismay, the Grim Reaper grabbed his big black trash bag,

and went on the hunt for fading blooms.

That is supposed to be a fierce and scary face.  This might be why our girls giggled when Daddy scolded them.

Oh, the massacre!  Oh, the gleeful gleam in The Reaper's eyes!

But all was not lost.  Never one to cry "Uncle,"

I grabbed scissors and hacked off some still-surviving blooms.

 Plopped 'em into a clean container.

 And there they are still.  Fading, yes, but not horrible.

I figure the G. R. can come and do his thing again on Saturday.

Two weeks after the wedding.  That's a pretty good run for fresh flowers.

Now, first things last.  Those nekkid men.

Get your glasses on, ladies.  These guys are sweet.

 It's Calvin (L) and Luke, diving into the ditalini and sauce at home on a hot day.

Don't you love orange babies? 

My niece Maggie's twin boys are 9 months old, and vertical.

Well, mostly vertical.

*********************************************************************

Loose Ends.

Ok, if I didn't know where my peignoir was, how did I find it?

By cleaning out Rubbermaid bins in the basement.

I also found the dress I wore on my first date with Howard.

Now . . . a Moment of Real Shame:

 It was after the wedding that I noticed a hanger on the parlor breakfront.

Where the wedding gown had been hanging.

The empty hanger dangled there through all that company we had.  I never noticed it!

Oh well.  One thing about That Old House -- nothing's perfect.

What is perfect, though, is this peignoir set.

My mother told me that I'd have it forever, and it would stay like new.

Why?

"Because, honey, you will only wear it for 30 seconds before it lands on a chair."

Oh Mom, how I'd have loved to hear your comments on the family weddings that you have missed.

If you want the recipe for my mother's go-to fun and dee-lishus crowd pleasing cocktail,
my niece Alice was a guest blogger today at Cailen Ascher. 
Go visit for the ridonkulously easy recipe for 
Muttinis.
Alice will explain -- here.
Salut! -- Cass