Can a Flair range be saved...no matter what??????

[Dick_S.]

OMG Kelly....

....what did you do? Bring home the entire church congregation for Sunday dinner?? ((--:: From what you write makes me think I was at the wrong house for Easter dinner. (Yes, I will always remember that beautiful dinner you put out back in '06)And washing all the pots and pans before sitting down to dinner? Now I'm a total believer in washing and cleaning up as I cook and go but when the food is served I'm right in that chow line to get some along with everyone else and take my seat and enjoy the fruits of my labor. And when dinner is over I've got a bunch in that kitchen helping on clean up detail and another bunch helping to wrap up and put everything away. Of course I'm right in the middle. ((--::

I used to LOVE to put on dinner parties like you do and if I say so myself, I was quite good at it. But most of us change with time and I must say that I am one of those who now keep things simple BUT always very nice and very pleasant. I had five at the table and that was plenty. Time usually changes all and I must say that I've slowed down quite a bit lately. Being on the short side of 70 has had a lot to do with it I believe!

 

[mixfinder]

Washed the Pots?

We had 22, mostly family for Easter dinner.  14 sat in the dining room and the remainder at the breakfast table in the great room.  There's a center island which held a walk though buffet.  It allowed me to clean up the pots and clear the counter to lay out the desserts.  I would have been last through the line last regardless.  The guests did load the dishwasher and stack the excess plates.  It is very casual here in the barn made into a house.

It is good to see you at home in your new home, Dick.  I wish my Flair was in as good a shape as your's but there's always one more over the horizon waiting to be found.

 

[Dick_S.]

Well......

the christening (for loss of a better word right at this moment) was last weekend and it was awesome and totally fabulous.

Kelly-look forward to seeing you sometime this coming week.

 

[tlee618]

Dick, your home is looking fantastic!!! Love the one of you mashing the potatoes at the Flair. You have got to be so happy that you made the move. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[vacbear58]

Awesome and totally fabulous

Sums up that room. Dick, you are doing a great job, keep up the good work. Wishing you very many happy years there
Al

 

[Dick_S.]

Thanks to you both....

.....for your nice comments and wishes. The house just keeps growing on me and friends and I are constantly looking for more "period" pieces to furnish it with. I've been having lots and lots of company lately and entertaining them all in the house has just been a breeze. More like fun than a chore which it has been at times in the past.And cooking is delightful on the Flair. Gave it a good workout two weekends ago with a 24 pounder and various casserole side dishes baking in both ovens and numerous foods in pans on burners, all at the same time. Oh, and I musn't forget the pies. The stove was going all day long and just took it in stride.

 

[Dick_S.]

The sweet potato pie

 

[mixfinder]

I Know You Have an Empty Freezer

The all new improved plan is to visit Palm Springs in the spring for the tennis tournements.  Feel free to start putting some of your amazing pies away so I can taste them all.  It should be really nice to be in the new house with the cottage museum when winter comes and its warmer and easier to work on beloved project. One word about staying in the old place....Yucca!

Kelly

 

[Dick_S.]

Pretty soon....

.....you all will have seen every nook and cranny of my home and be familiar with every stick of furniture in it. ((--::
Pictured is a headboard I found while "saleing". It is similar to the dresser and night tables I have and has that 60s look so I brought it home. It was then that I realized I have never had a bed with a headboard. I love it!

 

[pdub]

Just beautiful!

My mother has a headboard in that blonde wood very similar and with the matching highboy chest of drawers that she has had new since she got married in the late fifties... They are nice solidly built pieces of furniture. Congratulations on this find. Will it go in your room or the guest room?

 

[Dick_S.]

I'm just amazed........

...at what I'm gathering together in my "travels" for the new place. And much to my surprise I find I'm not alone in this venture. I have come to realize that a number of my friends also share my passion and are calling me with items they've come across that they think will compliment my home. And they do!

My dear friend Cheryl who I "adopted" as a sister years ago came back from Wyoming with an item that I couldn't believe. It looks great in the master bedroom and to think she carted it all the way down here for my place. I consider that something. And a picture will be "forthcoming" as I just realized I left the camera at the other place! What a dunce I can be at times! ((--::

 

[Dick_S.]

It dawned on me.....

.....that I have never posted any pictures of the outside landscaping. Here is a shot of the "cactus farm" that is in the front and middle of the circle driveway. There are also some beautiful ocotillos.

 

[Dick_S.]

and.........

......these gorgeous beauties!

 

[Dick_S.]

And this is.........

.....what my dear Cheryl found in a thrift store 1800 miles from here, thought it would fit into the "period" theme I am doing with the house and hauled it back home. Needs a little sanding and staining but otherwise it is fabulous. She is on another trek right now and I can't wait to see what she brings back this time.

 

[mixfinder]

Love Comes From the Most Unexpected Places

Dick, this thread gets more exciting with each new pictured acquisition.  Once people and things come into your healing power and touch they are transformed, just like this house that is now a home because you're in it.  I know the past months have taken a toll on your body. The emotional drain on the psyche from care giving is mind numbing at best.  It makes me feel better knowing you have this oasis and sanctuary for your own renewal and to invite your closest circle in for your TLC.  This home has become a vehicle for you to continue your life long gift of nurture, encouragement and love.  You are the brightest light in a desert filled with light.  This project allows you to massage and heal the wood into it's once glowing patina but to also use one of your machines.  Like an artist you will create a new canvas (literally) for the chair to occupy a place of pride in a house filled with spectular artifacts of the Mid Century.  Rest with in and without and be ready to live this house to it's fullest.

 

[rp2813]

So Dick, are you tired of hearing people tell you that you're living in their ideal Palm Springs dream home?  Because is sure it that to me!

 

Our next door neighbors had a similar Philco fridge when I was a kid.  I think it was a little older than yours.  It had a pedal to open the freezer door but I can't tell if yours does.  It seemed so huge compared to our single door '49 Westinghouse.

 

Just a beautiful house and a beautiful job you've done with it.

 

Ralph

 

[Dick_S.]

Thought I'd keep posting....

....items of interest that are going in the house. Like this Voice of Music portable phonagraph. I had one just like it when I was a kid back in the 50s. The button in the lower right corner of the face is of interest. When records are playing and the lid is closed, you can push on it to reject the record curently playing and start a new one playing. I think that's neat.

You are right Ralph. The rather large freezer compartment on the bottom has a foot release lever but the flat ribbed part your foot rests on to push open the door is broken off. I welcome thoughts and suggestions on how to remedy this situation. I also need to put a new door seal on both doors but as far as it working -- it works great. I love it.

And Kelly-once again, thanks for your nice thoughts. ((--::

Dick

 

[Dick_S.]

a pic of the record changer

 

[Dick_S.]

And by no means....

...could I ever forget to take along my GE tube combo unit that I purchased new in 1963. It works well but does need to be taken apart and all contacts given a good cleaning. The old record players are great for playing my 78 rpm records.

 

[112561]

I love those GE systems, I had a GE console with the VM changer instead of Garrard, and it had that same (wrist-action) tone arm and record overarm. I wish I still had it. The TOL GE portables seem popular on eBay.

 

[Dick_S.]

I can't stop....

....hauling home things I tell myself I can't live without. I think I have a problem! I swear, everytime I go out "browsing" in thrift stores and garage sales, which I tell myself is just for fun-something to while away a few hours, I come home with the truck bed at least one third filled. (The other day it was a full truck load of old vacuums.)

But for now, it looks like one of the bedrooms will soon have a "theme", and that will be "The Phonograph Room".

I just brought home another GE combo. It appears to be around a 65 or 66 model and transistorized. The changer is not a Garrard and it doesn't work but the radio works perfectly.

It's just so much fun bringing home old linens, dishware, records, furnitures, old 50ls, etc., etc., I guess this is just a part of me and I'll never stop until the day I die.

Now, I have to focus on a color scheme for the exterior of the house. I want colors to make the house really stand out and alert everyone passing by that it is there.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

So does this unit

have the " vacuum " tone arm?

 Paint something tasteful , that will compliment the roof rocks.... Darling!!!!

 

[twintubdexter]

the "Phonograph Room"...

...I really like that idea...I always wanted one of those wood cabinet GE stereos with the pull-down changer, you see them on ebay now and then but the shipping, if offered, kills you!

This has been a fun and long-lived thread which has gotten on and off it's original topic...I think that's just great!

 

[pdub]

Long thread.....

So, is the Flair range that started the thread still baking and simmering away flawlessly?

I'll bet it is so fun to look at the glass doors and stainless steel every time you walk into that kitchen.

The whole house seems to be coming along really well. Any more updated pictures?

I'd love to see what you are doing with the wash house in back.

 

[Dick_S.]

Yes, Patrick...

....I am glad you brought that up. I am needing to focus on that issue next as things will come to a standstill if I dont't have the back of the guest house closed in so I can line up and display my "chosen" washers out there. The washers are house presently in the three adjoining room of the guest house which I will need free when I start setting the rooms up with things from the cabin. It's going to be so much fun out there in the guest house with all the washers in a big room behind it.

I seem to be moving in a lot of different directions lately and not concentrating on what is important. Did I really need to run off and buy that Easy Spindrier last Monday? ((--::

More pics to come soon.

 

[mixfinder]

Green Chevy

Are you moving the old body of the 52 Chevvy pickup?  You could make a barbeque pit out of it and then roll down the windows when cooking on hot days!

 

[beekeyknee]

For Cleaning Your Contacts And Pots

http://techspray.com/

Look for Blue Shower II in search. Don't know if it's still acceptable to be used everywhere anymore or not. Has CFC's in it but works well. Don't get it on certain plastics, paints or back painted translucent glasses. It can remove the finish, but cleans really well.

Replace the lubricant the Blue Shower takes out with Caig DeoxIt lubricant. There's several different kinds. The gold kind has gold particles in it to help rebuild scarred pots. There's also regular lubes and cleaners too. You might be able to get everything in one place so you wouldn't have double orders. Or if you're near by a big electronics parts store you might be able to pick it up yourself.

Any cleaner that removes the lubricants needs to be replaced. Don't know if you know this stuff or not. Just thought I'd offer some information.

http://caig.com/

 

[Dick_S.]

The moving and collecting...

...is still going on but now it's coming time to cease all that and start preparing for those wonderful holidays. The house is coming along just fine but I still am searching for more old wall hangings and period art.

Here's something I spotted in a friend's garage just gathering dust. In fact there are two of them (different styles tho') I brought home and he was thankful they are out of his garage. Little does he know!!! Yes, I know that two of the boomarangs are not all there but it still makes a nice lamp for the living room. I found the globes on ebay. The three of them only cost me a dollar! What memories I'm forming in trying to furnish this home!

 

[Dick_S.]

I just keep picking up things off the street. Found this chair the other day in a pile of items that had a big sign in front of them with the word "FREE" written on it. It sure blends right in with everything else I have found for the living room Now if I could only find an aqua Mixmaster and some old Mel Mac in the same color! ((--:: This house has grabbed hold of me big time.

With the holiday fast approcaching let me take a moment to wish everyone a very warm and happy one.

 

[pdub]

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.

So what kind of Thanksgiving do you have planned? Any special guests coming? What kind of menu do you have planned? I know you will probably cook up a storm.

Hope your holiday is a good one.

Patrick