self distancing

Stay The Fuck Home It’s Time To Move On Edition!

Well folks, I think it is time to put the Stay The Fuck Home series to bed. I’ve had a lot of fun writing it and hope I helped a few people out. Now that we are past our toilet paper and flour shortage/hoarding situation, and things are opening up again, I feel like it is time to move onto blogging about something else. So….. I AM! However, I am still waiting for a few guest posts and once those arrive, I will post them.

I am going to continue Redheads Writing In Cafes blog posts, except I will be writing from my bedroom/temporary office and occasionally the back yard. Hopefully, one day soon it will be back to coffee shops, patios and other outdoor spaces. Also hopefully I will resume writing with that other redhead Heather Babcock!

BAT ADVENTURES will continue on till late Fall! As long as the bats are out, I will be writing about them!

I don’t want to leave the Wednesday spot empty, so I will be replacing it with a new series called Queen of Schlock! I’m truly the Queen of B-movies and will be posting about them.

It’s been a blast. I hope we don’t get a second wave. Please stay safe and there will be lots more writing coming from this redhead!

Stay The Fuck Home Learn How To Cross Stitch Edition

When I was a kid, I used to do a lot of cross stitch and paint by number. I think a few of the paint by numbers might still be on my parent’s walls. I remember loving cross stitch and recently got back into it. One of the reasons is I want to be able to either cross stitch or embroider onto garments I am making.

One of the main reasons I love cross stitch is it takes concentration and that concentration takes your mind off of the world around you. We all need that right now! If you are interested in taking this us, below are some how to and links to free patterns.

Free Patterns

https://www.dmc.com/us/free-patterns-5041/free-patterns-5042/free-cross-stitch-patterns-5044.html

https://www.freepatterns.com/cross-stitch

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/cross-stitch-patterns-for-everyone-983827

Stay The Fuck Home Bad 1950s Recipes Edition

At this point, some of us are reaching into the back of our cupboards to see what is there. Partly because we need to use stuff up, partly because we are bored of cooking, mostly because going to the grocery store is really fucking stressful.

In the back of my cupboard, turns out, I have a lot of Jackfruit. It’s time to get creative with it. I decided to turn to the 1950s weird recipes for some inspiration. Maybe you should too… or not. There is some weird fucking stuff about to be rolled out below.

What a cruel trick this one is! Click here for more horrifying recipes.

Everyone has a can of Spam or it’s equivalent in their cupboards. Some may have a can that’s been their for 20 plus years. This stuff will survive a nuclear war! Click here for more…. of these recipes?

Yum… Fish Surprise. For more fishy…. and they really are recipes, click here. Or don’t. I won’t blame you.

Why the fuck would you do this to bananas! What the fuck did bananas do to you???

How much stuff can you cram into jello. Click here to find out!

Stay The Fuck Home Obsessing Over Vintage Campers Edition

Lately, I have been revisiting my obsession with vintage campers. A late 50s Shasta to be exact. Maybe it’s because we’ve been couped up for so long and the thoughts of travelling across Canada in a little vintage ditty is exactly what my soul is screaming for right now! To make the dream complete, a shiny candy apple red 1957 Chevy, with those wing like tail lights, would be the perfect vehicle to tow our red and white chariot!

I dream of going from destination to destination and then setting up camp near lakes or vintage looking trailer parks. Putting down the awning, stringing it with fairy lights and setting up our portable BBQ. Then we would sit back with our cool drinks and meditate to the sounds of birds and other musical sounds of nature.

While we are travelling, we could visit antique markets along the way and hunt for treasures.

One of these days I will finally watch Lucille Ball in the movie The Long, Long Trailer. It looks like a blast!

You will need to excuse me while I go back to dreaming.

Why does the theme song from the Littlest Hobo keep playing in my head? Maybe it is time to hit the roads!

Stay The Fuck Home And Make Pie Edition

My all time favourite thing is pie. It can be sweet pie. It can be savoury pie. As long as it is pie! My favourite sweet pie is blueberry. YUM YUM! After that, peach then strawberry. I even like a good strawberry rhubarb pie, but DO NOT try to give me a rhubarb or raisin pie. I detest raisins.

I grew up in a household where every Sunday night we would have pie as dessert. My mom would make her pies mostly with seasonal fruit. Every once in a while, she would make a killer lemon meringue. My Mom learned to make pie from my Grandma Betty (my Dad’s mom) and I then learned to make pie from both my Mom and also Grandma Betty. My Grandma Betty was the queen of baking.

All of the below recipes can be easily veganized.

Mom’s Pie Crust! It is the flakiest pie crust you will make. The trick is and you CANNOT skip this step, is you must add the vinegar! I’m not sure about variations for replacing shortening.

This recipe makes 2 pie crusts.

2 cups of flour
3/4 cups of vegetable shortening
pinch of salt
4 TBSP Cold water (the colder the better)
1 TSP White Vinegar. (this is the only vinegar that will work)

In a large bowl add the flour, shortening and salt.

In a small bowl add the cold water and vinegar together.

With a pastry cutter or two forks cut into the flour and shortening until it is crumbly.

Once it is crumbly add the water, a few tablespoons at a time. If you find your mixture too dry, add more water. Make sure you only add a bit at a time.

Don’t over mix, otherwise your crust will be tough.

Roll out as desired!

Fruit Pies

Blueberry Pie https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-blueberry-pie/
Apple Pie https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12682/apple-pie-by-grandma-ople/
Strawberry Pie https://joythebaker.com/2015/04/strawberry-lattice-pie/
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/best-strawberry-rhubarb-pie
Lemon Meringue Pie https://www.veganosity.com/vegan-lemon-meringue-pie-with-aquafaba/
Cherry Pie https://www.inspiredtaste.net/22872/easy-cherry-pie-recipe/
Pecan Pie https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/vegan-pecan-pie-recipe/
Chocolate Cream Pie https://pinchofyum.com/vegan-chocolate-pie
Pumpkin Pie https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-gluten-free-pumpkin-pie/
Vintage Pie recipes https://antiquealterego.com/2014/06/20/vintage-recipes-1950s-pies/

Savoury Pies

Pot Pie https://www.acouplecooks.com/savory-vegan-pot-pie-with-sage-crust/
Onion Pie https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/vegan-cheese-onion-pie/
A list of ideas! https://happyhappyvegan.com/vegan-pie/

What is your favourite pie?

Stay The Fuck Home Vincent Price Edition

There are three actors that I had major crushes on when I was younger. Harold Lloyd (silent film star), Jon Erik Hexum and Vincent Price. Yes, that sounds like a mixed bag, but they all had a uniqueness that had me crushing hard. I know… I know… you need more info than that.

Harold Lloyd had an adorable awkwardness about him. Watch any of his movies (Girl Shy, The Freshman or Why Worry) and you will get it. Jon Erik Hexum… his time travelling, swash buckling hero character of Phineas Bogg got my heart a pitter pattering. But Vincent, Vincent Price was this horror loving, spooky story girl favourite.

Vincent Price was not only the voice of many radio plays, he was a Film Noir star and a campy horror god! I’ve long been a fan of his horror movies and radio plays, but it wasn’t until recently that I have really gotten into his Film Noir movies. I highly recommend Shock!, Laura and The Long Night. Here is a link to some more of his well known Film Noir roles. Check them out, you won’t be disappointed. However, it’s his horror films that we know and love him for the most.

However, before I get to the horror stuff, I need to talk about the Vincent I remember from my childhood. If you are not Canadian you many not be as familiar with this as we are. There are box sets out there of the entire series, you need to go buy them. What am I talking about, well, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein of course! This show, along with the Addams Family were my favourite things to watch. They were dark, funny and I loved all of the characters. I also love that it is a Canadian show filmed in Hamilton.

Then comes The Last Man On Earth. This is still one of my favourite of his horror movies along with The House On Haunted Hill, The Witchfinder General, The House of Wax, The Pit and The Pendulum, The Bat, Theatre of Blood and The Fly. There are so many more, but this post will end up being really long!

Let’s not forget that Vincent also loved to cook! He and his wife Mary created a cookbook called A Treasury of Great Recipes! Oh how I would love to get my hands on a copy! My birthday is coming if anyone is looking for gift ideas!

Stay The Fuck Home The Creature From The Black Lagoon Edition

I have a soft spot for B-movie creatures. My biggest soft spot is for King Kong, Frankenstein and the Creature from The Black Lagoon. I often wonder if I’m drawn to them because I always feel like I’m out of my element, especially when I was a teenager. I felt like I was growing up in a place I not only didn’t belong in, but was put there without my own choice. The three creatures I just mentioned, were either yanked away from their home, brought back to life against their will or had their home invaded by unwelcome visitors. All things they never asked for. All things throwing them out of their own element.

Many moons ago, while I was browsing DVDs at Sonic Boom (Toronto), I came across one of many box sets I ended up purchasing, of these beloved creatures. The first one I bought was Frankenstein, then The Creature From The Black Lagoon, Then Dracula and finally The Wolf Man. The only one I’m missing is The Mummy (again… my birthday is coming soon). I’ve watched all of these box sets over and over again, but the one I’ve watched the most is The Creature From The Black Lagoon. I tend to crave it the most right around this time of year. I’m not sure why. I tend to watch it along with the first Jaws movie. Maybe it’s my version so Summer Fever?

My good friend Carlin who passed away in December of 2019 created dolls and made me my very own Creature From The Black Lagoon. I will cherish it always.

The Creature From The Black Lagoon had two sequels, Revenge of the Creature (1955), in 3D and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956), filmed in 2D. Abbott and Costello even had a comedic episode on the Colgate Comedy Hour called Abbott and Costello Meet the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Then… there was failed attempts at a reboot. I’m generally not a fan of remakes. I love when movie creatures inspire other movies such as The Shape of Water, but when a movie doesn’t need to be remade… just leave well enough alone.

Watching all of these amazing b-movies and creature features, really has me wanting to finally make one of my own!

Stay The Fuck Home Creature Features Edition

I find some of the best cinematic entertainment, for me anyway, is b-movies. Especially, 1950s creature features and scifi. Honestly, how can you not. Not to mention how inspiring it is to hear stories about what the creators did to ensure their movies got made! Below are some really popular b-movies as a well as some of my all time favourites!

I have most of these in box sets, but you can find many on YouTube!

What are some of your favourite creature features?

Enjoy!

(links below are a combo of full movies and trailers)

Creature From The Black Lagoon

Little Shop of Horrors

Godzilla

Famous Monsters The Wolf Man

Famous Monsters The Mummy

Other B Movie Creature Features I Love Below are some of my favourite b-movie creature features that I’ve watch many times over!

The Giant Gila Monster

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster

Lady Frankenstein

Attack of the Giant Leeches

The Amazing Colossal Man

Them!

The Giant Spider Invasion

Stay The Fuck Home And Use Up All Of Those Frozen Banana’s Edition

Raise your hand if half of your freezer is frozen banana’s. Let’s get those hands up. Yes, you in the back, get that hand up!

Chocolate Covered Katie has an amazing blog post that has many recipes for banana, go give it a read. The recipes are delectable. If you are just looking for one or two recipes, below are a few of my favourites.

Smoothies are possibly the number one thing I use my frozen bananas for. I make them several times a week. Sooooooo goood for you! If you want something basic, a banana oatmeal smoothie is a good option.

Banana Bread is my second go to for frozen bananas. The below video is not only a great recipe, but the host of Rainbow Plant Life is a lot of fun!

Banana Chocolate Chip Squares are as close to a healthy dessert as you are going to get! Please don’t eat the whole pan at once!
https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/vegan-chocolate-chip-banana-squares/

Banana Pancakes are soooooo yum with real maple syrup! Also, the trick to fluffy pancakes is don’t overmix the batter! You are welcome! https://avirtualvegan.com/vegan-banana-pancakes/

Banana Muffins are one of my favourite things to have for breakfast. https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-banana-crumb-muffins/

Breakfast Cookies are a great thing to have if you need to take something with you on your walk. This recipe has raisins, which I HATE, so I swap them out for dried cranberries or dried blueberries. https://beamingbaker.com/easy-vegan-peanut-butter-banana-breakfast-cookies-gluten-free-v-df-one-bowl/

Banana Cream Pie is such a decadent treat. We all need a decadent treat right now!
https://minimalistbaker.com/banana-cream-pie-vegan-gf/

Banana Popsicle’s are such a nice summer treat. Plus, you can buy Popsicle moulds at the dollar store!

Banana Nicecream is something I am looking forward to making once it warms up. Mind you icecream is a nice treat all year long!

Stay The Fuck Home and Browse Vintage Catalogues Edition

As a child, I was quite shy and would spend a lot of time with myself. I preferred my own company. Aside from that, I also spend a lot of time with my Great Grandpa Bill. He was a great story teller, especially ghost stories. More than that he was a very interesting man.

One of the things he enjoyed was collecting vintage catalogues, eventually, he would collect reproduction catalogues. I was intrigued with them. He would let me look at the reproductions while he supervised as some of the vintage catalogues were too frail. Two of the ones I loved the most were from 1901 and 1927 (Eaton’s). I obsessively looked at them. When he passed away, those two catalogues were given to me and I still have them.


Occasionally, I will use these catalogues or other online catalogues as inspiration for characters in stories I’m writing for for garments I am making. Below are a few I often peruse. You might get some enjoyment out of them as well!

Eaton’s Spring and Summer Catalogue 1907 https://archive.org/details/eatons190700eatouoft/page/n5/mode/2up

Archives of Ontario http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/microfilm/eatons.aspx

Library and Archives Canada https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/canadian-mail-order-catalogues/Pages/canadian-mail-order-catalogues.aspx

Digital Kingston https://www.digitalkingston.ca/presents-from-the-past/store-catalogues