How to Butcher a Rattlesnake, How to Make Home Made Yeast and other Interesting tidbits.

I am listing cookbooks and Household tips this week on cemetarian and I found this section in a cookbook I was listing and just had to share the information because I know that inquiring minds want to know.

Cut head off about 4 inches behind head. Hang by tail just below rattles so that snake may bleed well. With sharp knife, on belly side and beginning at head end, split skin entire length. Starting with head end, separate skin from meat and peel upward to place where snake is tied; strip entrails from body of snake and dispose of.

Clip body of snake where it is tied and drop in fresh cold brine water (either cover container or be sure to stand by it, because the snake will crawl out of water). Take down skin, salt well and roll scales on outside; place in container with lid and freeze until ready to tan. When body has stopped crawling, remove and wash in fresh cold water; chop in lengths 3 to 4 inches long.

Note: Be sure to dispose of heads in covered container. DO NOT USE HANDS.

There ya have it folks...........just what you always wanted to know.

And here is the cook book named CHOCTAW NATION Sharing Our Favorite Recipes



And then there were these little tidbits:

"To remove the taste of turnips from Milk" (use one pound of saltpeter to one gallon of boiling water), "Simple Home Made Yeast" (One cup water, one half cup sugar, enough flour to make a moderately stiff batter. Let stand in warm place for 4-8 days or til it rises and falls) YUM!

Those and many more great hints are found in Tempting Traditions! Fannin County, Texas Cookbook

Or here's a great article (1951 style) on Natural Birth Control Why? When? How? in the October 1951 issue of Pagent Magazine.

More as I find them.....LOL... or you can go look for yourself in our Books and Magazine section

Autumn.....Time for Skirts and Sweaters

Cooler weather calls for digging the sweaters our of storage and thinking more about layers. And if you don't have just the perfect period piece to wear, there are many many instructions for re-creating those fabulous sweaters from years gone by. At cemetarian we have vintage knitting and crochet booklets with wonderful sweaters for both him and her.......young or not so young.




Chadwicks Red Heart, Mohair, Spinnerin are just a few of the brands as well as Annies Attic and McCall's.

Love this Botticelli and Raphael reference to the sweaters below.

And of course, what you wear under that sweater is as important as the sweater itself. And what better base for the perfect sweater than the perfect skirt. Long or short, Full or slim..or somewhere in-between.




And don't forget pants..........skinny pants, full legged pants, short pants just about any type of pants you want, you can find them in our Separates categories.




So come and visit our revamped website today. We're offering a "Under Construction" Sale to thank our fabulous customers for their patience while we redecorate and restructure the place. Just use the coupon code UC and receive 15% off. Good till the 15th of October at 11:59PM

Joan Crawford Shoulders or 90's does 40's

I just got through listing a rather large batch of 1990's Vogue Patterns to my website and couldn't help but be reminded how the padded shoulders of the 90's were reminiscent of the padded shoulders of the 40's.

So I put together a little show of the ones I thought were the most Joan Crawford-ish.

How to Catch a MAN!!! 1960 Style

Of course they didn't tell us what to do with him once he was caught...but that information really wasn't suitable for publication in 1960. Actually the article is entitled "How to be Popular" But the answer to that wasn't suitable for publication either so they just beat around the bush, and taught us girls to tease a lot.



Lots of pretty dresses with full or very slim skirts were designed to catch a man's eye............after all no self respecting woman was worth her salt, if she didn't have a man to take care of poor little ole her. So to get that perfect hour glass figure it was recommended that you
"dream" your way into the proper foundations.


LOL............this was written with my tongue in my cheek because I bought the whole package in 1960 and parts of me still does...........which could be why I'm still married after 36 years. Or I could just be lucky.

But if you want to read it for fun or to really see how the distaff side lived in the Mid Century this charming Ladies Home Journal is listed on ecrater at cemetarian.

Evolution of Women's Career Suits

With more women entering the work force during World War II, the clerical jobs formerly occupied by men were filled with women. Trying to maintain some status and not look frivolous in the serious world of commerce and industry, women adopted a Masculine Look with Wide padded shoulders and complete covering from neck to below the knee. But you will notice that they did manage to keep a semblance of femininity with a very fitted waistline and peplum jackets that emphasized their hips.

This lovely Gabardine suit, found on Babylon Mall, is completely dart fitted in front and back and the peplum jacket flares nicely over a pencil slim skirt.

Vintage 1940's Sexy Fitted Navy Blue Gabardine Suit Sm

After Johnny Came Marching Home, women we reluctant to give up their new found status in the professional world and some managed to keep their jobs and opened new employment opportunities for young women who wanted a career instead of a life of domestic bliss (notice that both was seldom an option at this time.)

The 50's ushered in a similar but softening look in career wear. These three suits have a less structured feel although in the first shoulder pads are still prominent but smaller. The waist is softened with velvet trim on the jacket and a velvet pocket. The Pumpkin Spice flecked suit is boxy over a still slim skirt. But the fabric flows and shows all those feminine curves within the box. And the 3rd in this series is Femininity Personified. Fitted waist, small peplum that is enhanced with ruched trim and a full flared skirt and don't forget the lower V neckline.

Vintage 1950's Black Rayon Crepe Suit with Asymmetrical Trim & Pocket
Vintage 1950s Pumpkin Spice Sexy Secretary 2pc

Vintage 1950's Black Faille Fitted Peplum Flare Skirt Suit

The 60's brought us a very new look with the influence of Jackie Kennedy. Her taste and particular figure requirements brought us the A line skirt and short boxy yet softer jackets. Less emphasis on the waistline and more emphasis on the Total LOOK!

These three beauties are all distinctly tailored for that Classic Chic Jackie Style.

The first is a pink brocade with glittery buttons. The 2nd is a blue shantung with heavily beaded collar and the last is a heavy slubbed silk in pink with cranberry trim and a ruffled cranberry collar.

Vintage 1960's Pink Silk Brocade 3pc Set B38 Neiman Marcus

Vintage 1960's Blue Silk Beaded 3 pc Chic Jackie Set B40 NOS

Vintage 1960's Pink Slubbed Silk with 3 pc Suit B38 (not listed yet)

Just prior to the British Invasion and the MOD era, swingy pleated skirts and lowered waistlines were not only casual and comfy but practical and just plain fun to wear. This fab suit from Donavan Galvani is a cranberry and wine combo. The skirt is pleated and the jacket is semi fitted in the waist with a belt. Shawl collar and ribbed sleeves finish off the look.

Vintage 1960s Donovan Galvani Berry Tweed Knit