Which Patsy Cline song are you?

For all you aching hearts out there, the cure is Patsy Cline. And whiskey. I've made it easy for you, follow my Patsy Guide:

"I fall to pieces" - You're trying to get over your ex, and be "friends" (pffft), but everytime you see them you have a complete breakdown and feel totally pathetic.

"Walkin after midnight" - You spend your nights searching for your lost love on foot.

"She's got you" - You still have all of your ex's stuff... but you don't have their heart :(

"Sweet dreams of you"- You're having recurring (sexy?) dreams about your ex.

"If you've got leavin on your mind"- You have a sneaking suspicion you're about to get dumped.

"Back in baby's arms" - You and your ex got back together! WOO! (subtext: yea... it's probably still going to be a disaster though...)

Happy Valentine's Day!

The best euphemisms in music part 1

Presented without comment.

Vintage Christmas- From the Library and Archives Canada

The awkward moment when your Christmas card has a swastika on it.
This is from the William Lyon Mackenzie King fonds.
There's no date, but we can probably assume this was sent pre- WWII. 

Pork Cocktails

Earlier this summer I tried to get all Martha Stuart by inventing my own summer cocktail. I borrowed a historic recipe for Lemon Balm Tea added some rosemary, added some honey and added some gin. I served it to friends, some of whom loved it and some of whom politely told me it was more suited as a beverage to accompany a pork chop, rather than to imbibe at happy hour. Thus, the drink came to be known at the "Pork Cocktail."

The recipe is as follows-

Chop up lemon balm leaves and steep in boiling water with a sprig of rosemary for 10 minutes, strain the liquid and add honey to taste, serve hot or cold and add some gin if desired, garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Vintage Wedding

Over the weekend I attended a gorgeous Scottish wedding at a beautiful historic house, which has inspired me to do a vintage wedding post. Enjoy!

Gord Walker's wedding St. Cuthbert's Church, Leaside,  1938

Vintage Garbage

Some Torontonians are making a stink (pun!) about Mayor Ford's privatization of garbage collection in the city.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/clock-ticking-for-private-garbage-collector-to-clean-up-its-act/article4476163/

With this in mind I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the garbage of yore- how did our forefathers in Toronto deal with the perpetual problem of trash? Hint: they dealt with it with style.

 

Dan Griff

As some of you may know it has been a pretty rough week, so I surprised even myself by mustering the energy to haul my butt down to the Dakota Tavern to see Dan Griffin Thursday night. I'd been waiting for this show for ages and I am so happy I went and that Caroline came and helped prop my tired self up. The only thing that would have made the show more epic-ly awesome is if our other friends had been able to be there.

I was so happy when Dan played his song "East Coast" and then I was sooo sad, I had to actively stop myself from crying openly over my gin and tonic.

Some songs will always have memories attached to them. When we embarked on our crazy adventure to Halifax I remember making the playlist for our two day journey. The first song was Two Hours Traffic- "Sure Can Start," naturally. The next song was Dan Griffin's "East Coast" and the rest of the CD was Joel Plaskett.

I was piled into the back seat of a tiny ford focus with Styne half sitting on my lap. The car was jam-packed; garbage bags stuffed full of clothes, two keyboards, a guitar, a fiddle... not to mention four girls. The rest of our worldly possessions were on a greyhound bus somewhere between Kingston, ON and the maritimes.

Though we were more than cramped, we had good tunes, clear skies and good company. I really can't think of a happier or more exciting two days.

So it made me really sad that the girls couldn't be with me at the Dakota Tavern jamming out to "East Coast" in the front row.

But the silver lining is that everyday Styne is doing better and better, she hasn't lost her sense of humour and is still cracking jokes and making the nurses laugh. She is rocking the physical therapy so far, and specifically requested that we play "Eye of the Tiger" for her. I know that soon she'll be able to stand again, and then walk, and then it will be no time before she is up to her usual antics and getting into all kinds of shenanigans. So keep sending out your good vibes for her, cause it is working!

Styne and I- cuddled in the backseat

Me and Court after a few too many hours together

Claire was a pro navigator

Captain Courtney

lol

We strapped Styne to the roof when we felt too cramped... just kidding

Is there anything more exciting than open highway?

Old Soul

After some introspection, I have realized that I have the soul of a 75 year old retired man. I Base this conclusion on the activities I like to do such as; drink gin, complain about how people dress, glare at noisy children on the subway, listen to oldies, go on walking tours, and attend public lectures on local history.

For those of you who share my love of old stuff, I thought I'd provide a reading list, or as I'd prefer to call it, a Gateway to Discovering Toronto's History! In addition to these blogs, you can also go on FREE walking tours of Toronto with the ROM, and also Heritage Toronto. Plus, don't forget to visit your local museums!

Photo from Toronto Before

http://torontodreamsproject.blogspot.ca/

http://torontoist.com/tag/historicist/

http://vintagetoronto.wordpress.com/

http://torontobefore.blogspot.ca/

http://www.heritagetoronto.org/discover-toronto/walk

ROM Walks

In Miss Bennets news...

Courtney stayed with us in Toronto for a good long stint in June. Of course, that meant lots of wine and music. It seemed that every night we were either going out to shows or making music at home. Happily, Apple finally fixed a software glitch that had prevented us from doing any recording for many months. We ended up recording the fruits of one jam session- a traditional Celtic tune. We originally had guitar and mandolin on the recording but we took them out and replaced them with violin. You can hear it on our Band Page, but I'm happy to e-mail the Mp3 to anyone who wants it. Cheers!

https://www.facebook.com/TheMissBennets?v=app_178091127385&app_data=eyJjb250ZW50LnRyYWNrIjoiOTg2MTA5MDkxODU4MzkxMDQifQ%3D%3D

Put a lid on it

I like hats. Some of you may even remember the time I wrote a song "Red Beret" about my favourite hat, a red woolen beret my mother purchased in London in the 1960s. In high school I used to wear a vintage grey wool fedora I stole from my father. Sadly, some cruel person (with great taste) stole my hat from a pimps and hos party and I have never seen it since.

It was only recently, however, that my grandmother casually mentioned that her grandmother used to work at a milliner shop and created hats for the Queen Mother. I just about died when I was told this. And it was the final push I needed to splurge on the summer hat I'd been ogling at Goorin Bros. http://www.goorin.com/shop-hats/cloche/toots

The Toronto location just opened this summer at Queen and Spadina. Stepping into their shop is like taking a step back in time, it is so rad! I am a firm believer that there is the right hat out there for everyone, so if you're shopping make sure to try on every shape and style. The staff at Goorin Bros. were really helpful. I actually visited three times before I purchased and tried on almost every hat in the store.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mum- possibly wearing one of my Great- Great Grandmother's creations?

hat + dress + g&t? must be summer!

Mad Hatter

Shakespeare in the Park

It has been a resolution of mine to attend the theatre more often. And really, I have no excuse not to when there is a most delightful Shakespearean production happening all summer long just a stone's throw from my home!

 I won't pretend to know enough about theatre to write a review of the show, other than to say I LOVED it. The setting is perfect, the cast was amazing, I laughed from start to finish, and did I mention you can bring your own picnic?

Here is a more thorough review from the globe: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/theatre-reviews/a-midsummer-nights-dream-even-the-queen-can-approve-of/article4380897/

and for more information on the show click here !

Baked Goods

My dear friend Caroline was kind enough to bring me back several souvenirs from her sojourn in London, one of which was a box of apple tea from Fortnum and Mason. Since it is horrendously hot in Toronto I decided to make a great big pot of iced tea, along with a batch of yogurt and blueberry muffins. Naturally, I got the muffin recipe from Caroline's amazing cooking blog, and they were delectable!

http://scrambledeggsetc.blogspot.ca/2012/03/blueberry-yogurt-muffins.html

Tea and muffins cooling

Caroline is a much better food stylist than I am, these photos don't do the deliciousness justice!

Cheap Beauty

A few weeks ago Ally invited the girls over for a spa night. Ally is a genius at finding home recipes and affordable all-natural alternatives to the overpriced drugstore cleansers/moisturizers/exfoliaters etc. One of my favourite things we did as a jojoba oil and sugar scrub. There's only two ingredients, it is so easy to do. I bought a bottle of jojoba oil from a health supply store near my apartment, it was $13.99 for 118mL.

Just combine the jojoba oil and sugar in a bowl, scrub your face with it. Ta- da! The oil has a mild smell and you can add a couple drops of essential oil such as lavender if you'd like a more fragrant scrub. Use the scrub before bed for optimal results. It's best not to put on make-up right after using this as your make-up won't stay.

July DJ

First, let me apologize for my absenteeism. I've been a very bad blogger since summer began! I've been very busy as I'm sure you have been as well. The unfortunate irony in doing a ton of fun blog-worthy things around Toronto, is that I've had no time to write about them. So I hope to hammer out a few posts today for you, starting with my July playlist.

Summertime always seems to bring out my vintage side. Retro dresses, hats, sunglasses and of course, music. Perhaps it's because my signature dance move is the twist (it used to be the pointy finger dance but that was retired several years ago after a regrettable eye- injury incident) but 60's pop and soul and rock 'n' roll seem to be the only thing I listen to once the temperatures top 30.

So here's what I've been listening to- happy twisting!

Coolest chicks in Canadian music

Amanda Zelina of The Coppertone meets all of my criterion for a really friggin' cool lady:
1. Great hair
2. Looks good in hats
3. Blues vocals that dig deep
4. A white and gold guitar
5. Dirty, crunchy guitar sounds you'll want to snack on

The Coppertone will play The Horseshoe Tavern Friday, June 15th as part of NXNE.

Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II, Dorothy Wilding, 1952. 

     When Elizabeth acceded to the British throne in 1952 there was talk of a “new Elizabethan age,” associating the new Queen with the past glory of Elizabeth I, and hoping for a national revival for a country still recovering from the trauma of World War II.[1] The images of the Queen in the early years of her reign focused on her youth and beauty. The Queen posed for photographer Dorothy Wilding 59 times to mark her accession.[2] In the images she is dressed in evening gowns and jewels. Wilding’s photographs were sent to embassies and were made into the images on banknotes and stamps.  Still young at 26 years old, the Queen was made into a symbol of hope and renewal. Her coronation on June 2^nd 1953 was a huge event, which aimed for public visibility. For the first time ever the coronation ceremony was broadcast globally by the BBC with an estimated 27 million viewers.[3] The broadcasting of the ceremony brought the public into the event, connecting them with a historic moment and instilling a sense of national pride.

Oh hay thuuurrr

So I realize that I have completely fallen of the blogwagon lately, however the upshot is that I have tons of cool things to blog about!

Life has been pretty rad lately. In fact, things have been going suspiciously well. So not to forget times not so long ago when nothing was going my way, I'd like to share a favourite song by Old Man Luedecke "It ain't goin' my way."

Anyways, I hope good fortune is smiling down on you as well. Cheers!

Ain’t goin my Way

I was feeling important, feeling in control
Felt like everywhere I went folks said “there he goes” I was beaming like a noonday sun
My ducks all in a row
When suddenly, all in a flash, I saw it was not so 

Chorus

It ain’t goin’ my way
Ain’t goin’ my way
There’s no denyin’ things ain’t flyin’ my way X2

Well I used to walk around a lot, feeling pretty small
Til people said you’re not so bad, and so I stood up tall But then my inner napoleon said you could have it all
I hit a curve and strained a nerve and headed for a a fall. 

Chorus 

Now I am lonely mole back in the underground,
I make bigger hills from little hills, cause I’m so tightly wound Really am I all that bad taking pennys for the pound?
Cause even from the margins, lord, there comes a holy sound. 

Chorus

Titanic

So Erica and Lynx and I went to see Titanic 3D on Tuesday. I was initially reluctant to give James Cameron any more of my money because I still regret strongly the hours of my life I wasted sitting through that blue tinted Pocahontas rip-off called Avatar, but Titanic is awesome for many reasons, the costumes, the love story, a young Leo. But before you go I'd like to remind you of all the horrible things about the Titanic movie so you can prepare yourself:

- the boat sinks
-1, 514 people die
- you hold your breath through half the movie
- the old couple in the bed about to drown
- the mother and two children in the bed about to drown
- the musicians who play until they drown
- the Irish guy who gets shot
- the captain at the helm when the windows burst and he drowns
- Thomas Andrews when he adjusts the clock on the mantle even though he is about to drown
- The foreign man and his son who go the wrong way down the passage and drown when the doors burst open
- the worker in the belly of the ship who doesn't make it through when they close the doors and he drowns
- all the people who fall off the ship when it is at a 90 degree angle, especially the guy who hits the goddamn propeller! OW
- all the people who sit in the lifeboats listening to the cries of the people in the water, and they DO NOTHING
- Jack Dawson freezes to death

Anyways, the first half of the movie is highly enjoyable, but for your own sanity leave after the car sex, as soon as you see that foggy hand print, grab your coat and get out of the theater. That way you can tell yourself that the boat made it to America and Jack and Rose lived happily ever after, and sold the Heart of the Ocean and bought a big house and Jack did nudie drawings of Rose forever, awwww. Also if you were looking forward to 3D boobs, you should know that the drawing scene is not in 3D.

Also- Erica cried at the end of the film. Apparently, it brought back all the trauma of seeing Titanic when we were 9 years old in 1997.

Rock 'n' Roll

So I popped into the Dakota Tavern on Tuesday for the last Weber Brothers show they'll be doing there for awhile. It rocked as usual and they did a nice little tribute to the great Levon Helm.

Space Sounds

I've found a new trick to relieve my occasional bouts of insomnia. Whenever the sandman is being a jerk and refusing to come visit me, I put on this recording of Jupiter's moon Io. Something about it is so soothing, it's like a galactic lullaby. I won't attempt explain to you the science behind how NASA was able to capture the sounds of planets and moons (I barely understand it), but I would like to tell you about the myth of Io and share my favourite painting of the subject.

Jupiter and Io, Antonio da Correggio, c. 1530,
 Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna