Fickleknitter

April 14, 2008

Hobbies for Girls

Maya and I spent Saturday in downtown Long Beach to give the Husband a chance to finish our taxes. I've discovered a lovely spot called Parkview Village, in which there's a yarn shop, a fantastic used book shop, an independent shoe shop, a charming clothing shop for children, and (my favorite) a shop that does eyebrow threading for EIGHT DOLLARS (be still my beating heart). Once you've exhausted yourself from all the wonderful, the Village Cafe is the perfect mix of all day breakfast fare, Mexican food, or a burger and fries if you wish. The whole place is a throwback to a gentler time when the price of bread was a dime. Or you know, $2.50. It was a pleasant place to spend a few hours since we were banished from the house during tax time. I must mention the weather. When we arrived at the Village at 10am it was 93 degrees. Oh yeah. What other choice did we have but to shop?

Our first find were "Sun-San" sandals, these sandals are so cool! They can go in the ocean and pool. I'd never heard of them until I spoke with a salesman at the shoe shop who informed me the company had been making them for 60 years. Perfect for an afternoon hearkening to time past.

The best part is the shoes have a prehistoric kid proof buckle The second best part is you'll save enough dough for a few skeins of yarn if you normally prefer the robeez and pedipeds of the world.

I spent my savings on the coolest book in the Universe, "Pastimes, Hobbies, and Sports for Girls" by Mabel Kitty Gibbard.

I dated the book based on an illustration of the solar system, without Pluto. And since the book mentions "the War" and Pluto was discovered in 1930, the book must have been written between 1918 and 1930. Maybe as a reflection of the time, or bearing insight to prevailing society, the book does not cater to the lowest common denominator. Instead it encourages the use of hammers, saws, electricity, having wild dingos as pets, and entrepreneurial enterprise such as raising chickens (in your self built hen house).

I've included some photos of the photography box circuit, the Ship drawing with the inscription "A Ship always looks attractive, and may be used on a variety of objects", and my favorite the Hen House--the poultry as a hobby has the most amusing passage:

You will naturally want as simple a design as possible for your pen, because you are sure to build it yourself--all good poultry keepers do that. Of course, you may have neither the time nor the patience to do it; if the latter should be the case, it does not augur well for success with your hobby, and it would be better not to embark upon it.

I love the high expectations of the book. I'd like to see a return of these types of standards for boys, girls, and most importantly, adults. I'll leave the topic with the meager rose trellis the author suggests for construction by the rose enthusiast.

Heh.

Since I had a few pennies left and our banishment from the house wasn't over, I decided to pick up some summer vegetables for our container garden, in the spirit of self sufficiency, enthusiasm, and pastimes for girls.

Upon laying eyes on my hard work, Maya immediately ate dirt (in the spirit of self sufficiency, enthusiasm, and pastimes for girls).

I think Mabel Kitty would be proud.

Posted by Michelle at April 14, 2008 06:45 AM