“The laundry is on fire.” Major Frank Burns, “Deluge,” season four, episode 23
Sartorial Saturday–Summertime Blues
Today I’m taking a look at a knit top with a beautiful chalice neckline from Miss Candyfloss…the lovely Bonita-Lee!
I’ve been looking for a blue top to pair with skirts and pants (like the Donna-Sable palazzo pants here), and the Bonita-Lee is exactly what I was looking for. It’s super comfortable because it’s a knit top, but the collar dresses it up.
I paired it with a dark blue hat, Erstwilder brooch, necklaces from RockLove Jewelry’s “Tell Your Tale” collection (complete with Stitch charms!), and an extra-large stack of Splendette Duchess Bangles:
I love how cool this outfit looks, even on a hot day!
The light colors and breezy fabrics make this a great summer outfit:
I don’t have many knit tops from Miss Candyfloss, but I think this is my favorite!
I’m looking forward to pairing it with a skirt next!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/10/26
“Colonels. You can’t trust ’em. They’re this far from making general. They can taste those stars.” Colonel Sherman Potter, “Deluge,” season four, episode 23
The Pink Elephant Antique Mall
Our latest Route 66 adventure was a trip to the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, IL!
The antique mall is located in the old town high school…you can see in the bottom right corner of this photo the stone that indicates the gymnasium addition (which houses the bulk of the booths) was erected in 1949:
I love that the Livingston Eagles logo is still proudly displayed above the antique offerings!
Attached to the antique mall is the Twistee Treat Diner, a cute place that sells ice cream and classic diner food:
There is a huge fiberglass elephant outside…pink of course!
And a Muffler Man:
Plus this cool spaceship!
I also spotted a Big Boy statue:
And a heart for love locks:
It’s kind of a weird place, but fits the kitschy Route 66 vibe very well!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/9/26
“Well, if truth is the first casualty of war, I guess sobriety is second. I bet Hannibal crossed the Alps on pink elephants.” Captain Hawkeye Pierce, “The More I See You,” season four, episode 22
Chickadee Thursday
Yesterday we visited The Pink Elephant Antique Mall on Historic Route 66 in Livingston, IL, where we did a little shopping, saw a Muffler Man, and had a cold treat!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/8/26
“Heroism in battle must be rewarded or else people will behave the way they really feel.” Major Frank Burns, “Smilin’ Jack,” season four, episode 21
Granite City Muffler Men
Granite City, IL, is quite the hotbed of Route 66 Muffler Men!
Rusty is a “sentinel of the working class.” He represents all the immigrants that worked the gritty, blue-collar jobs at the steel mill, the railroad, and the river.
Earl stands guard at O’Brien Tire & Auto, the oldest auto repair shop in America:
And this conductor, cleverly placed next to a playground shaped like a train, is so new, I don’t even know what his name is!
We even found Abe Lincoln in the style of the Muffler Man!
Rumor has it there’s at least one more new statue in Granite City…a firefighter. I don’t know if he’s the final one, or if there will be other giants ready to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial…they’re a cool piece of mid-century road trip history!
M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–7/7/26
“My mother always said…’wear clean underwear in case you get run over by a tank and have to go to the hospital.'” Captain Hawkeye Pierce, “The Novocaine Mutiny,” season four, episode 20
Tasty Tuesday–Dining Down the Mother Road (At Home)–Part Six
You’ve already seen our Route 66-inspired Fourth of July dinner, but there’s more…this has been a busy week for recipes from The Mother Road!
I have a really good chili recipe that we all love, but that didn’t stop me from making “Goldenlight Cafe Chili” like they serve at the Goldenlight Cafe in Amarillo, TX, according to the recipe in The Route 66 Cookbook. It was a decent recipe, but everyone here decided (before they even tried it) that they like my chili better…they just can’t comprehend chili without beans! It was a pretty easy recipe, though, which was nice!
To go with the chili I made “Green Chile Grit Cakes” like they serve the Classen Grill in Oklahoma City. This might be my favorite recipe I’ve made from this cookbook so far…they were so good!!!
For dessert I made “Bobby’s Egg Custard Pie” like they serve at Mama Jo’s Pies & Sweets off in Vega, TX. With the sprinkling of nutmeg on the top, it kind of reminded me of eggnog, which I love!
Next up was “The Vernon–The Ultimate Route 66 Burger” like they serve at the College Street Cafe in Springfield, MO. I scandalized my family because it was served on Texas toast, but in the end, they agreed that with the combination of American and nacho cheese, plus pickled jalapeños, this was the best burger so far this summer!
For dessert I made one of my favorites, a “French Silk Pie” like they serve at the Country Dove Gift & Tea Room in Elk City, OK. It was very similar to the recipe I usually make…smooth and rich and delicious!
We’ve had quite a few Route 66 dinners at this point, but I still have several left on my to-do list, including another burger!