Boogy-Woogie Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day.

More vintage valentine cards.

Vintage Mt. St Helens

Mount St. Helens blew 30 years ago today. The Spokesman Review put together an excellent five minute slideshow on the influence of mountains of ash on Eastern Washington.
http://www.spokesman.com/video/2010/may/14/looking-back-mount-st-helens-comes-town/

Notice how thin everyone was in 1980.

Chinese New Year Sunday - Get the Chop Sticks

(Pictured: Menu from former Mandarin Cafe in Spokane)

Only a few things will get Bob to venture down a dark alley (he shuns anything city-like) one thing, hopefully, would be to rescue The skirt if she finds herself abducted by sex traffickers, another is the hunt for authentic Asian food. Sunday is the Chinese New Year, and to capture any incoming good luck (doesn't hurt to try, right?) we'll probably go eat at one of the small restaurants in the Spokane Asian community that cook for Bob the way they like it, you know, not the way the round-eye likes it. Be sure to check out the prices on the old menu below, maybe from the mid-40's.

We wish a happy and prosperous new year to all our Asian friends!

Happy Thanksgiving Day In USA

We are thankful customers still walk through our door and pay us to build stuff for them. I write "to build stuff for them" because to survive in a down economy sometimes you have to diversify. Custom car builders have a unique skill set. What are you thankful for?

Love Is In the Air - Mid-'60's Valentines

Seems acknowledging your love on Valentine's Day is falling out of favor. As usual, some people had to go to extremes with their expectations and now there is the resulting lack of interest. The Skirt still likes Valentine's Day. It is always a good idea to tell someone you love them. It's considerate. Good vibes result. Something we need today. Just keep it simple, send a card through the mail, bake a cake. Valentines have always been collectible, but they may become even more so. These are my favorites from my little collection. I've had these since my schoolmates gave them to me, in 1967. (Our more "gentle" readers may enjoy the above links to The Farm Chicks and Vintage Indie.)

1960 Space Themed Birth Annoucement

The Skirt had a birthday on Saturday. My mother picked this nifty space themed birth announcement for me. I pulled it from my baby book which is why it's damaged and yellowed by the cellophane tape. It's pretty old.

The space race and Sputnik was all the rage then.

So Much To Be Thankful For

Admittedly trying to make a living from a hot rod shop in beautiful, but off the beaten path Spokane, Washington hasn't always been a romp on the beach. But sensible business practices, a terrific crew, dreamy customers, and trusted suppliers has brought us to this place where we have a solid little business, and we are thankful. We know for some people money is tight right now, some experts are predicting the economy may take a sharp nose dive next year. But if you're in a financial position to have work done on your car project, give us a call. We're here, we're staffed up, we're really good at what we do, and we are fair and square on our pricing. If you have found this blog entry via a search and you would like to see our work, check out our web site. Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and Happy Thanksgiving, USA.

Slice the pumpkin pie already, will ya!

Holiday Cards For Heroes

No mail days are sad days, so follow this link to the Red Cross Holiday Mail For Heroes and send

a soldier and their loved ones on the home front a Christmas card. Hurry deadline is December, 10th.

Read 100-Year-Old Halloween Post Card

The Skirt loves vintage post cards. This card from Brooklyn, New York has landed 2560 miles away in Spokane, Washington 100 years after it was posted. I got it on E-Bay. Just love everything about it, especially the note. I wish someone living at 166 Russell St, Brooklyn, New York would see this post and send us a photo of their building. It could happen, right?

Wood Storage - Preparing For Winter

We'll be splitting and stacking fire wood this weekend. We know blog readers from far Eastern locales find this rustic, but it's a pretty common practice around the Inland Northwest. It does help to have neighbors who also heat with wood. A pellet stove in our basement keeps the chill out of the air and in the evening we light a fire in the wood stove. In the spring we cut down the dangerous and wind damaged Ponderosa Pine also known as Bull Pine on our property. By late summer it's dry enough for splitting and by winter it has just the right amount of moisture for a good fire. Bull Pine is probably not the best wood fuel, and you can see from the photo it has a thick, messy bark you have to get rid of, but we are surrounded by it, and it would just rot if we didn't burn it. All that aside we enjoy the ritual of storing up for winter.
P.S. This is a scan of a sketch done by family friend and Montana artist, Ace Powell.